This is our 5th day here is Haiti and every single day it is amazing to see how God is working in each of us and through us. Each morning generally starts with big daddy Joel being our time clock stating that is is time for either our, "spiritual feeding, or or physical feeding."  Although it may seem that I am being sarcastic, both are important for the day that lies ahead of each of us. Shortly after our morning feedings we take a bus to a location  where we will do a VBS for who knows how many kids.  They have told the pastors to have no more than 100 at each, but if you could see the look in the kids eyes that we see, your heart would break like ours does and you would not help but know that God brought them to this place and we will adjust accordingly.  These kids are so hungry for so may things that we take for granted in the states.  For you to hold a child, means the world to them. Their smile tells a story of joy, that we can't understand, because the conditions they live in, to our standards, are so heartbreaking. I must say that I know I was not fully prepared for what I would encounter here, yet the hearts of the people are so open and their love for one another is so abundant.  Today we made "wordless book bracelets" that tell the gospel story.  You can tell these children cherish the piece of leather with beads on it, and they listened intently as I explained to them what the beads stand for.  Since it costs 8 dollars American to buy a bible in Creole, very few have one.  I was so thankful that I took the time to translate verses into Creole before we left. Thanks to Joanne for making the copies, and thanks to biblegateway for the translation. This scripture may be all they have written down from the bible.

Each evening just before dinner we do a "prayer walk."  We walk the village area passing out food to the houses that we pass.  A typical "house" here consist of 4 walls made out of plywood, a dirt floor or concrete if you are truly blessed, and some curtains to divide the living areas up. I would estimate that the living space is no larger than my 700 sq.ft. condo, yet 12 people will reside in it.  As we walk, and talk with the people the joy and thankfulness that the people in Haiti show for a small bag of rice and a small bag of beans is at times more than I can comprehend.  All I keep saying to myself is that I am a spoiled "white-girl."  I have made a list of "I will think twice before..." and although is is somewhat comical to us team members, it is a reminder of how truly "blessed" each one of us is, yet we often fail to recognize it and give thanks each day for what we have.  In Isaiah 55:11-12, it says "My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.  You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you and all the trees of the fields will clap their hands." This verse is what we see here. God has revealed himself to these people in so may ways, and I have witnessed first hand the validity of this verse.  Where there seems to be no hope, there lays great joy among a people whom we would declare have nothing....but I must say that they have a richer joy with their "little" than I can say that I have had for my "everything."  

I hope I was able to express in part what God has been doing here.  If you would like to pray for us, you can pray for: continued health, continued unity among our team members, if you are zealous..maybe rain :o) as the heat here gets old pretty fast.

I will close with a final greeting that Paul left the church in Corinth.  "Finally, brothers, good-by.  Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace.  And the God of love and peace will be with you...All the saints send their greetings. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you."