The following was written from the orphanage where Emily and I have served for the past 9 days- we were so blessed God used us in this capacity and we were allowed this opportunity- it gives you a LITTLE glimpse of our life here in Haiti-
Imagine for a minute getting up in the morning and getting medication ready for 35 girls- some are on two or three different kinds that all need to be measured and logged in their charts. Then, joining the Haitian cooks rolling dough to make breakfast to feed about 75 girls only to be called upstairs to your room where your own breakfast of scrambled eggs and Haitian coffee awaits you. (along with the little girl who directs you to the bathroom and holds a basin of water and soap out so you can wash your hands- pouring the clean water over your hands once they are soapy) After breakfast, you get to go play with the girls and “hang out” teaching them English as they teach you Creole. Every one of them fighting for your attention. Mid morning brings with it more “treatments”- soaking swollen hands, dressing cuts and scrapes, washing hair and cleaning open sores, etc… Afternoon meds and “dinner” comes too soon at about 2 to 3 pm. and then the later day wound care again. Dinner is set on the balcony overlooking the entire city of Port au Prince and is a huge meal complete with an ice cold drink bought by our host family again. Finally, the evening routine begins at about 4:30 pm with applying scabies treatment/medicine to ALL the girls in the orphanage as well as some of the family because the Pastor feels no one should be made to feel “different” so he lets them all play together even though many of “our” girls are covered with scabies and sores. We start the treatment so early because it takes a long time to administer to all the girls and we want good light. Then, we hang out again and finally, at about 8 pm. we give evening meds and then we go into one of the bedrooms with all 35 girls and sing songs/pray before bed… So far I have not been able to keep from crying when doing this- good thing it is so dark in there. How blessed to hear the happiness of these girls, to see the love, to spend this time with them! They are happy- you need not worry about them. They are loved. They are adjusting well and have made friends with the 40 who were already at this orphanage and the pastor/family who run the place love them and WANT them there. He is an amazing man of God. They will soon start school and eventually will be trained at his “professional” school where they will learn trades such as sewing, baking, hair dressing, etc… Yes, these children have been abused. Yes, many of them have had to fight to survive. But, survive they have and they are resilient. They are happy here and so are we. God is amazing and both Emily and I consider ourselves soooo blessed to be here serving these girls and Him. And we are so thankful for all of you who have made it possible to be here. There is no doubt in either of our minds it is exactly where God has us right now. So, as we fall into bed exhausted at about 8:30 pm. we say “Thank you”- to you and to God! More photos and stories to follow. J
Morning medications- all counted and ready to "serve"
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