Happy birthday to me!

Well what a day. Today was a day I will never forget. My 30th birthday, spent doing what I love - loving on orphans. We had another full day at the orphanage, and even though we girls had our "plan", God had His own plan, and of course, we had a great day.
When we left on Monday, we challenged the girls to continue the work we had started. The freshly painted walls were filthy and so we started cleaning them. Crystal put one of the older girls in charge and said "When we come back on Wednesday, we want to see what else you've done." When we pulled up in front of the orphanage, the first thing we saw was orphans cleaning the outside of the orphanage! They had soapy water and designated rinsers and dryers. It was awesome! We got so excited and started cheering them on, which made them excited and work harder. It was so cool to see "Okay, maybe we are making a little bit of a difference".
After that, we had such a girlie day with the girls (and even some of the boys *cough* Aaron *cough*). It started with painting their finger nails/toe nails, which is interesting to do when you have antsy little girls who don't understand "sit and let them dry" even with a translator. "Sit still? Wait? What?!" So needless to say that took a little longer than we thought because we had to re-do some girls over and over again. Our final "girl" did a great job though. Aaron's toenails are a nice shade of burnt orange.  After that, and a little more loving on the girls and playing "hair salon" (Tashina was a trooper until they brought out scissors), we had a lunch time "debriefing", where we enjoy some lunch and talking about things that happened that morning.
After lunch we busted out the colored thread to make bracelets with the girls. That was a hit! On my wrists I currently have 4 bracelets in additions to the ones I wear all the time, and oddly enough they're all the same 3 colors (blue, yellow and white). I guess the girls could tell I'm from Michigan. Even the little boys got in to this one (Aaron and his orange toes were back to work at this point). During this time, I had the sweetest present ever - 15 little Haitian girls sang me happy birthday in creole and then again in English. Best. Thing. Ever.
The end of our day was pretty great too - a dance party. It started with my dad (*sigh so embarrassing - yes, there is a video of it) and pretty soon all of us were dragged into the circle to copy the little dance leader. Not to toot my own horn, but when I was done she said to me "Good job!" All those years of dance paid off mom!
Tonight, we're having a quiet night, enjoying the electricity. It's been a good day, and a great birthday. Thank You God.
Mom, dad's "dance skills" are a hit with the girls. They even started copying his "leg move"! He's doing well with the clothes he picked. No "Uncle Jack" down here. Thanks so much for the birthday message this morning. If I wouldn't have been scared for my life on a tap-tap, I would have teared up. We both love you and miss you and can't wait to talk to you once we land in Atlanta on Saturday. Glad to hear Jay is taking care of you with the snow.

Jenna

Dance Party!!

Today our morning devotional time was about expectations. Coming into this trip I expected to spend lots of time just playing with kids at the orphanage. I knew there was going to be work to be done and other things we were going to do, but my expectations were to just play and have fun. As usual, God's plan for this week has been much greater than mine. On Tuesday, we spent most of the day spending time with two incredible men of God, Roni and Pastor Robbie. Listening to them talk about their passion for serving the Lord and then seeing how they put that into action was truly inspiring and challenged me to look at myself and see that there is so much more I can do for the Lord.

Today was a very encouraging day. I thought that playing with the kids would be the best part of the trip, but working alongside them has been even more rewarding. We arrived at the orphanage today and found a large group of the girls scrubbing the walls. They were laughing and joking and truly enjoying themselves while also cleaning up their surroundings. It seems like every time we start another project, there are little ones lining up with work gloves on ready to jump in and help us out. I have grown so much already in my walk with God by seeing how faithful the people we have met are. So many of them have so little as far as money, or material possessions, but they find their joy in the Lord and they truly have faith that he will provide them with everything they need.

Of course the day was not all work. It ended with some of the girls from the orphanage challenging us to a dance off. I'm not sure that there was a clear winner, but Pastor Craig and Pastor Steve definitely represented Path of Life well!!

Katie, I wish so much that you were here with me. I miss you, love you and am praying for you. Kiss all my kiddos for me and also give yourself a kiss from me!!

Aaron

MORE PHOTOS

Here are some more photos from yesterday.  It was kind of a "down day" physically, but we had meetings with some amazing people who are the future of Haiti and are really committed to making an impact for the Kingdom here!  In the morning we met with Rony and his "foster care" children.  In the afternoon, with a group of pregnant women (to talk women's health, pregnancy and child care) and also with the leadership of the church Hearts United with Haiti is committed to ministering alongside.  Then, we practiced English with the students in our training center (we have a beginner class and an advanced class- we just held conversation with them so they can hear a true English speaker and practice)...it has been a BLESSED trip so far!

While we were meeting with Rony some neighborhood children came to peek in through a hole in the roof.  :)

Rony with the kids (he is standing on the left)

playing with the children

Bob making a bracelet (holding it actually while she braids) with Astreede- our female translator

Riley with a friend- also making bracelets

The group of women.... GREAT meeting

Here are the men meeting with Pastor Robby

Practicing English with students

Tuesday- hot, hot, hot, sorry everyone at home. yesterday was a full day at the orphanage and lots of information, we met with the ladies that cook, clean and take care of the children. It was rather discouraging listening to what they had to say as to how the girls treat them, we asked how we could help them that day and it was laundry day so guess what, I did laundry!!! I believe I was more entertainment for them then anything But I did receive an encouraging "you did well" so I feel I have accomplished something. haha It was good to have the girls see that we are not afraid to jump in and do work and to have them come up to us and look at us like what are you doing? Was priceless, I very much enjoyed "Lovely" coming and sitting beside me the whole time (almost 2 hours) and watch and finally joining in and helping, so sweet! So we return to the orphanage tomorrow and the first thing we will do is greet the ladies taking care of the girls and our hope is to show the girls respect for them, we will also be spending time with the ladies and to show them a servants heart we are wanting to wash their feet, please pray the girls really "see" what we are doing. These women are just wonderful and they have such a heart for the girls, they have their own families and children and yet they are there everyday taking care of our girls and I can only imagine how discouraged I would feel and how I do feel when even my own children do not show appreciation, let alone 60-70 children. please be in prayer as to how God will lead us with this.
Today we went to the school that James directs and we met with many expecting women and it was very educational to learn about how they do things here, and very emotional at the same time. We then helped out students who are learning English to practice and wow what deep questions some of them ask, it was very fun but tiring we got a taste of what our translators go through.
Tonight we tried sugar cane for the first time, very interesting. Not my treat.
Aaron and Steve are helping me to relive my childhood with all there pranks and jokes and  teasing and everything else you can imagine somehow I am on the receiving end of it always, but I have to say I do think I am holding my own OK, of course Pastor keeps catching me in paybacks so he has a different view of Tashina now, ladies you will have to help me reclaim my status if I had such when I return home please, lol
To my sweet boys and my wonderful hubby at home, I hope you are all staying warm and doing well. Write something to mommy soon I miss you all very much.
Tashina Molby

PHOTOS

Here are some photos from the trip so far.... sorry, but I have been with the women. Photos of the guys will be coming when we get power again.  :)

Hard Work!!

Today was a physically EXHAUSTING day!! But as exhausting as it was, it was twice as rewarding. As we picked up trash and moved heavy blocks of concrete to clear an area for a chicken coup, it was awesome to see some of the children from the orphanage throw on shoes and work gloves and work right alongside us. It was encouraging to see them taking pride in helping to take care of their surroundings...and as always it was great just playing with them and letting them try and do my hair even though there isn't much of it.

We have an incredible team and it has been awesome to watch how God has placed us all down here together to take care of the different needs that had to be met on this trip. It is an honor just to be a part of God's plan for Life is Wealth. I am even learning to Creole as some of the kids were calling me "chicken" today because I was scared of a little critter running around the orphanage.

I am still missing you Katie and all the kids and am praying your week is going well. I am starting some work down here that I am expecting you to finish in June!!

Aaron

Another great day in Haiti

Lots got done today...very encouraged with conversation with Pastor Yves.  Feel very blessed as I found out last night that my grandson was born.  Wish I was there but will get there after work is done here this week.  I miss my family and wish that they were here but again they will be coming in June and we can once again share this wonderful country together.  Deni, I hope that the boys and Payton are behaving and that Steven has been the man of the house as promised.  Jack, Redgi loved his card and Steven, James really liked the portrait of him that you made for him.  Love you guys and will see you soon.  There is no chance of snow in the near future either.:)  Tell Jon Lipps that Aaron really misses him and Jenna has not been practicing burpees.  My Creole has really improved...I am up to three words!!!!!  Love you guys.