Day #3 - Saturday with "the girls"!

Today was awesome! Sarah and I spent the entire day with the girls. The day started with, of course, my hair being braided. After about half an hour of that, I went a hung out with the two oldest girls that were there. Four of the girls are going to special Saturday classes, because they are preparing for the test that will allow them to go to secondary school. While with the oldest two, they put their "fancy" dresses on and had a fashion show/photo shoot. It was so fun! They even let me in on action, and showed me how to do "the walk."
After all of those festivities, Smith, Sarah and I did an interview type thing with small groups of the girls. We asked them basic questions like "What do you want to be when you grow up?" and "What is your favorite Bible story?" One thing that really touch me, is when they were asked what they would like to tell the people who help support them their reponse was typically either to meet them, or for presents. I inquired about these presents trying to get ideas about treats I could bring them next time. Each of them requested three things (the same three things, even if they were not in the same small group): dresses, panties and dolls. I was expecting more "Americanish" things like a tv or maybe even a phone, but no .. they wanted dresses, panties and dolls. It was a joy to be able to deliver two of those three things to them today .. next time I'm filling my suitcase with dolls.
After the interviewing, Smith and Sarah went on an adventure to pick up pizza! Yes, PIZZA! There is a Dominos in Haiti, that is very good (and clean!). The girls and staff enjoyed the treat. After lunch, we had planned to talk about prayer with the girls but their social worker came so we didn't have time. When she left, we gave the girls new dresses and snapped a group photo. We got them to "model pose" in one, and it is so precious.
When we got back at Dottie's we were reunited with Mr. Donald and Mr. Paul. Today there were at what I would call a "reflection service" with the pastors who had been a part of the Experience God series. They each told testimonies about how God had changed them through the study. Amazing testimonies were reported. The one that excited me the most was about a girl in one of the pastor's churches who was born healthy, but became mute. As a result, she was forced to leave school. During the Experiecing God series the pastor felt led by God to begin to pray for this girl while placing his finger on her tounge. After the prayer he told her to say "Praise the Lord!", and she did!! She has regained her voice, and is now able to attend school again. What a mighty God we serve!!
Tomorrow we aren't going to Valley of Hope. At first I was bummed because I've gone to church there every time I've come to Haiti and its so great. Pastor M. will be out though, so we are going to an "Americanish" church. I'm excited! I'm very excited about what we are doing Monday, but I won't reveal that until tomorrow. God is so good. Everything I wanted to do on this trip is working out so well, which is amazing since I will only have been here 5 days.
Thanks to all who are praying.

Blessings,
Han

Day #2 - Pray for Rain.

Yesterday while I was with Serge on the way to the mission house, there was a man throwing water on the road infront of his house. I asked Serge why he was doing this. He told me that it was because the roads were too dusty.
We walked tonight from Ms. Dottie's to the HUG A Child Home. It is maybe a 10 minute walk on roads that are less than desireable. Lots of rocks and dust. On our way to the girls home tonight, I noticed how dusty the roads truly are. Everytime a car would drive by it would kick of dust all around, that you had no choice but breathe in.
While we were walking back the song "Pray For Rain" by David and Nicole Binion came to my mind. Here are some of the lyrics: "Pray for rain, when your heart is dry and thirsty, pray for rain, when your life is void and empty, pray for rain, when you don't know what to pray, pray for rain."
How many 'dusty' areas are in our lives that we need God to come and pour rain on? My prayer is that He bring a time of refreshment through His rain to cover every dusty, unclear, cracked, and painful area of my life.
Tomorrow the plan is to be with the girls all day. We are ordering pizza for lunch! Woot!

Blessings,
Han

Haiti, I'm home! (Get it? Instead of "Honeyy, I'm home!")

Well, here I am .. once again sitting in "my" bed at Ms. Dottie's smelling the lovely Port-au-Prince air. Today was an adventure, but I made it! I don't like flying by myself, but I will know better what to do next time.
My favorite part about traveling to Haiti is the time spent in the airplane before take off. In the airport there is always a lot going on, and people watching to be done. Those 15 or so minutes in the plane is always such a nice time. A time when the stress from the day melts aways, and I get excited because I am going to see some of my very favorite people! I usually take this moment to think about Haiti, and what I am going to do there. Why I go to Haiti. What led me to Haiti. You know, all of the important things.
I think there are the Evangecubes in my trunk. Or atleast that is what they look like. Of course, dragging a trunk around gets me a lot of attention so I was asked several times today what was in it. Each time I simply said "Evangecubes", and so then I was asked "What is that?!" So, I asked a bunch of people if they knew Jesus. I was ready to break open a box if necessary! Revival in an airport sounds pretty cool, right?!
I'm sure I've written on here before how the Haiti airport is 'busy', my previous strategy has been to just pray .. out loud until I have peace. Today though I sang "How Great is Our God" in Creole. Not loudly, but loud enough so that the people asking if I needed help would be drowned out until I saw Serge. It is amazing the places that you can feel the presense of God. Standing there, in a 'scary' place I felt Him right there with me.
Its about 8 o'clock here, and sadly I think I may go to bed. Sarah and Mr. Donald will be here tomorrow!
Thank you to everyone who is praying.

Blessings,
Han