I put the word "home" in quotes for a few reasons... this was the first time leaving Haiti that I really felt as though I was going to the USA to visit and would be returning "home" soon because I return in three weeks to Haiti with the medical assessment team (A-team) and then again at the end of Dec. for a group that is coming from California. But, then I thought farther and realized though I love Haiti and the people there so much and though I had the most amazing/blessed trip this time, Haiti is not "home" either... I have a HOME in HEAVEN where I will live one day forever -spending time with the love of my life- Jesus! I will tell you that I believe I have been given a wonderful glimpse of what Heaven will be like the past few weeks. I have also been blessed to experience what pretty much everyone who has gone on a mission trip experiences- I was FAR MORE BLESSED than those I went to serve. Starting with the friends with whom we stayed in the beginning of our trip to those with whom we stayed at the end of our visit to Haiti and everyone in between both Emily and I were so blessed. Let me explain a bit about our trip now that I can share the details- will try to be brief.
It all started when Son of God orphanage was closed by officials in Haiti due to the horrific conditions the children were living in and the treatment they were receiving from the directors of the facility. Children were literally starving, they were sick and covered with scabies, some were neglected/physically/sexually abused, etc... We had been on the periphery of the investigation by Americans compiling data for many months so we knew some of the key people working/advocating for these children so we were blessed when we were chosen to travel to Haiti to help wherever we could just 5 days after the closing of Son of God (SOG).
We arrived in Haiti on Thurs. 10/27 and for the first five days we stayed with friends on the "front lines"- people who were helping locate/identify children moved in the closing of SOG and others who were still considered "missing". The role God gave Emily and I was to stay at the base where these friends live and do work there (physical work, photography, compiling data, etc...) so they could continue to attend meetings and do what they needed to do to find/help the children. They knew where 35 girls were and at least 9 boys (we later found it was 20) and they knew all the "key players" in the investigation on the Haitian side. We felt so honored to be able to be there and be able to free their schedules for them so they could attend to the work God had given them without worry/distraction. Being "behind the scenes" can be difficult- everyone likes to be in the spotlight, but honestly it was a job done with JOY and we made some great friendships in the process (and even learned things/met contacts that will help our ministry in the future).
But, I have to be honest and say that after five days of being in the country and 10 days since the closing of SOG it was really hard some days to listen to stories of visits to the girl's orphanage (where we KNEW Sarafina was) and not see the girls ourselves. But, Emily has even said, God really used that time to teach us both a bit about servant ministry and putting Him and His agenda first.
Then, day six in the country we got to see the girls! I can not explain to you the feeling of driving into that facility to see them and watching them as they tentatively approached us, some saying our names, but hanging back a bit because they were unsure of us/our intentions. They had been told many stories about the Americans and not to trust us. But, it didn't take long until we had little hands tucked in ours and children fighting for our attention.
Bottom line, we were asked to join the pastor there, stay in his guest house and serve the girls by giving them medication and helping with transition to this new, happier place. So, day six meant moving to the girl's home where we would live the next NINE days. I will write more stories about this experience because honestly it is hard to talk about it still without getting VERY emotional. Yes, I am 50 years old and hormonal (and as some of you know I cry very easily anyway) but this experience would bring anyone to tears. The ability to love and bless others that these girls have is beyond comprehension. After all they have been through they still welcomed us into their "family" and we were truly part of the group. Leaving there was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. It was the glimpse of Heaven I talked about earlier. Not physical heaven. It is still Haiti- it is a dirty, concrete place where they live, but the sense of family, the love, the tenderness toward one another is beyond compare. If you look past the physical you will see the smiles, hear the shouts of joy, hear the corporate prayer every night, hear the worship songs sung at dusk on the porch, watch the older ones caring for the younger, etc...
Again we were tested when Emily and I had to leave after nine days even though our "relief" was not coming for another week so the girls would be "alone". We knew they will never truly be alone- many of you are praying for them and will continue to do so and we know God is with them but it was like leaving family when we pulled out of there and went to visit the boys for a day (that was another GOD experience) and then to head back to the place we stayed upon arrival to debrief, process and REST for another four days. But, during that time we were again ministered to and blessed much more than we were blessing. Those we stayed with were wonderful and really helped me at least work through some things I needed to.
Our last night was spent at the Arris house- planning for the Dec. trips and having time with my family there. Getting out of the car and having the family come over and call me "mom" and hug me- seeing their faces light up when they saw me was another blessing. And then having an evening with them was God literally putting icing on the cake for me.
THEN, to top it all off, on the way to the airport our last day we stopped by the orphanage to see the girls and to talk to the pastor about a few last minute things. I wish there was a video crew there to capture the reception we got. I couldn't help but think about the reception we had when we first got there just two weeks earlier- to the day. This time girls RAN to us- screaming our names. They literally knocked Emily to the ground to hug her- crying and laughing at the same time. One got to me first and jumped from about 3 feet away and landed with her body against my chest and wrapped her legs around my waist and arms around my neck. She kept kissing and kissing my cheeks and crying and saying "I missed you" in Creole. Then the rest were "on" me.. all fighting to press in and touch me and I think of how blessed I am.
These girls are now my daughters. God did not put us at that orphanage by chance. We are ONE family now- all 36 of us! (and actually more cause we bonded with many of the girls who were already at the orphanage too) I do not know what God has for the future, but I know He has given me a glimpse of the joy I will have in Heaven when I get there. Returning "home" to this orphanage was beyond what I can describe to you all.
THANK YOU for those of you who contributed financially to this "emergency" trip. It was by far the most expensive one we have taken and we will be "in the hole" for a while because of it, but we were blessed so much by our time there and humbled that God used US to help these girls transition to their new "home". Thank you to those who covered us in prayer. We ask that you continue to pray for us and for the girls as we work with other organizations to see what God has for their future sponsorship/support, etc... Pray that we can reunite many with their families. I truly pray many of you reading this will get a chance to meet these girls one day and know them. They are truly gifts from God and they bless everyone who meets them. :)
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