More updates to come!
In Christ,
Lisa
Monday, October 3, 2011
The Next Step
It's official. I am submitting my resume to El Shaddai Ministries this week! I am SO pumped. I can't wait to get back to see my babies!
Friday, August 26, 2011
6 weeks home...and still wrecked.
I must be honest with myself and with those who read my blog.
My heart is hurting today. Since my return to the United States, I can't help but feel that I'm not where I belong. I miss my babies. I miss hearing their sweet voices and their tiny fingers and toes. I miss seeing their smiles and feeling their hugs. I. Simply. Miss. Them.
I miss Louna. Her beautiful braids. Her willingness to serve. Her bright spirit. Such a precious child.
I miss Sheldon. His adorable underbite and watching him play the air guitar always made my day. God has definitely designed him to bring laughter to those around him.
I miss Esterline. A child of four in the body of a two year old. I miss her high pitched singing voice that butchered every single word to "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and the proud smile she would display once she was done.
Father. You know me better than I know myself. Help me to remember that it's not about me, but about You. Still, comfort me and God Almighty, hold me closer.
My heart is hurting today. Since my return to the United States, I can't help but feel that I'm not where I belong. I miss my babies. I miss hearing their sweet voices and their tiny fingers and toes. I miss seeing their smiles and feeling their hugs. I. Simply. Miss. Them.
I miss Louna. Her beautiful braids. Her willingness to serve. Her bright spirit. Such a precious child.
I miss Sheldon. His adorable underbite and watching him play the air guitar always made my day. God has definitely designed him to bring laughter to those around him.
I miss Esterline. A child of four in the body of a two year old. I miss her high pitched singing voice that butchered every single word to "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and the proud smile she would display once she was done.
Father. You know me better than I know myself. Help me to remember that it's not about me, but about You. Still, comfort me and God Almighty, hold me closer.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
July 16, 2011
*Written yesterday, 07-16-2011*
Yesterday we flew from Jeremie to Port au Prince and were able to visit a crush. Over 50 children ages 6 months to 12 years wait patiently for their adoptive parents to pick them up. It is a stark contrast to the orphanage we served at all week. They use toilets instead of latrines, have air conditioning, are free of scabies and worms, and even spend time in a luxury swimming pool. The home is designed to get the children ready for life in the United States and I think it probably does a good job.
Last year when I got home, my mom asked me if I had wanted to bring home a dozen of the precious children I'd met over the week. I had said no, simply because the smiles on the faces of the orphans in Jeremie were and are so much more genuine then the ones on our American faces. Now, I still feel the same way. I don't want to bring them to the US, but I do want to parent them, to care for them, and to love them. God has called me to.
On Monday morning, I will begin preparing to return to Haiti for an extended period of time. I'm still not sure what God's whole plan for me and Haiti is, however, I do know that He will shut the doors to the path He doesn't want me to take and open others. He will never present to me anything I can't handle. In HIM I find my strength.
I write this blog from 31,000 feet. We are somewhere above Texas. When we land, I will tell my family of what God has called me to do this week. I must admit, I am scared. I know I may meet some resistance. But if God is for me, who can be against me?
God is for you too. PLEASE, let Him in! Let Him fight your battles. Let Him change your heart. Let Him take control. He wants a relationship with you, not just your belief that He exists. Even demons believe He exists yet, they will not inheirit the Kingdom of Heaven...are you headed for the same destination?
The hands I am typing with are covered in scabies. No one else on the trip has them and as I am typing this, God is revealing to me that this is the sign I have been praying for all week. Though they are itchy and look like leprosy, I can only rejoice in this. Why, you ask? Because God has once again used an illness to show me His will. Just like He did when I was diagnosed with epilepsy my junior year in high school, God has directed my feet to the path He has chosen for me. By being diagnosed with epilepsy, God directed me to missions work. And now, with scabies, God has directed me to heal the children who I played with all week, hugged on, and contracted scabies from. I now know what these children feel like everyday. God wants me to fix that.
Pray for me as I start my journey. Pray for my family as we adjust to what God has done in my life. Pray for El Shaddai Ministries as they consider allowing me to work alongside them in Haiti. But most of all, PRAISE GOD for calling me to be His hands and feet.
In Christ,
Lisa
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has annointed me to preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengence of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
Isaiah 61:1-3
Yesterday we flew from Jeremie to Port au Prince and were able to visit a crush. Over 50 children ages 6 months to 12 years wait patiently for their adoptive parents to pick them up. It is a stark contrast to the orphanage we served at all week. They use toilets instead of latrines, have air conditioning, are free of scabies and worms, and even spend time in a luxury swimming pool. The home is designed to get the children ready for life in the United States and I think it probably does a good job.
Last year when I got home, my mom asked me if I had wanted to bring home a dozen of the precious children I'd met over the week. I had said no, simply because the smiles on the faces of the orphans in Jeremie were and are so much more genuine then the ones on our American faces. Now, I still feel the same way. I don't want to bring them to the US, but I do want to parent them, to care for them, and to love them. God has called me to.
On Monday morning, I will begin preparing to return to Haiti for an extended period of time. I'm still not sure what God's whole plan for me and Haiti is, however, I do know that He will shut the doors to the path He doesn't want me to take and open others. He will never present to me anything I can't handle. In HIM I find my strength.
I write this blog from 31,000 feet. We are somewhere above Texas. When we land, I will tell my family of what God has called me to do this week. I must admit, I am scared. I know I may meet some resistance. But if God is for me, who can be against me?
God is for you too. PLEASE, let Him in! Let Him fight your battles. Let Him change your heart. Let Him take control. He wants a relationship with you, not just your belief that He exists. Even demons believe He exists yet, they will not inheirit the Kingdom of Heaven...are you headed for the same destination?
The hands I am typing with are covered in scabies. No one else on the trip has them and as I am typing this, God is revealing to me that this is the sign I have been praying for all week. Though they are itchy and look like leprosy, I can only rejoice in this. Why, you ask? Because God has once again used an illness to show me His will. Just like He did when I was diagnosed with epilepsy my junior year in high school, God has directed my feet to the path He has chosen for me. By being diagnosed with epilepsy, God directed me to missions work. And now, with scabies, God has directed me to heal the children who I played with all week, hugged on, and contracted scabies from. I now know what these children feel like everyday. God wants me to fix that.
Pray for me as I start my journey. Pray for my family as we adjust to what God has done in my life. Pray for El Shaddai Ministries as they consider allowing me to work alongside them in Haiti. But most of all, PRAISE GOD for calling me to be His hands and feet.
In Christ,
Lisa
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has annointed me to preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengence of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
Isaiah 61:1-3
Friday, July 15, 2011
July 15, 2011 - Noon
Saying goodbye never gets any easier.
We just returned from our last few hours at the orphanage. Tear marks streak our face and red eyes hide under sunglasses. What an amazing week it has been.
Before we left, all the children gathered on the porch of one of the homes and said a prayer over us. With their hands hovering over our heads, they whispered words none of us could understand. Still, we could feel the presence of the Lord.
We weren't the only ones crying. Louna, my dear, sweet Louna, weeped as I whispered "Lisa renmen Louna" in her ear...I love you. Esterline, clinging to my neck, wiped the tears from my eyes with her tiny thumb. These are precious moments I will always remember.
My God is good. He has once again placed me in the midst of children who understand how much I love them, and even better, how much HE loves them. They truly understand the gospel and I have no doubt we will spend eternity in heaven together.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Lisa
We just returned from our last few hours at the orphanage. Tear marks streak our face and red eyes hide under sunglasses. What an amazing week it has been.
Before we left, all the children gathered on the porch of one of the homes and said a prayer over us. With their hands hovering over our heads, they whispered words none of us could understand. Still, we could feel the presence of the Lord.
We weren't the only ones crying. Louna, my dear, sweet Louna, weeped as I whispered "Lisa renmen Louna" in her ear...I love you. Esterline, clinging to my neck, wiped the tears from my eyes with her tiny thumb. These are precious moments I will always remember.
My God is good. He has once again placed me in the midst of children who understand how much I love them, and even better, how much HE loves them. They truly understand the gospel and I have no doubt we will spend eternity in heaven together.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Lisa
Thursday, July 14, 2011
July 14, 2011-Evening
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.
Proverbs 16:3
With our last full day at the orphanage complete, our team sits exhausted. Several sit looking at pictures. Several sit blogging. Several sit packing. Several simply sit, doing nothing at all. We are all wiped and we are all wishing tomorrow was still a week away.
Tomorrow we will travel from Jeremie to Port au Prince by air. We will then have the privilege of visiting a crush, a halfway house for orphans being adopted by American families. We are all looking forward to seeing another side of Haiti.
We all got a big laugh tonight when Pastor Dony, the head of El Shaddai Ministries, came to visit. All week when the kids asked us for an item that we didn't have, such as candy or flavored water, they would respond with "you sheesh". The meaning? Stingy. We all enjoyed that Creole to English translation.
I was able to give one of the pillowcase dresses my grandmother made to Esterline today. Esterline is a four year old that weighs about twenty pounds...on a good day. In comparison to a healthy American child, Esterline looks half her age. She was so excited to receive that little dress. When she saw it, her eyes got really big and she immediately started taking off the tattered velvet maroon dress she had on. I will never forget the sweet "thank you" she whispered in my ear later this afternoon.
Pray for our team as we travel tomorrow to Port au Prince!
In Christ,
Lisa
Proverbs 16:3
With our last full day at the orphanage complete, our team sits exhausted. Several sit looking at pictures. Several sit blogging. Several sit packing. Several simply sit, doing nothing at all. We are all wiped and we are all wishing tomorrow was still a week away.
Tomorrow we will travel from Jeremie to Port au Prince by air. We will then have the privilege of visiting a crush, a halfway house for orphans being adopted by American families. We are all looking forward to seeing another side of Haiti.
We all got a big laugh tonight when Pastor Dony, the head of El Shaddai Ministries, came to visit. All week when the kids asked us for an item that we didn't have, such as candy or flavored water, they would respond with "you sheesh". The meaning? Stingy. We all enjoyed that Creole to English translation.
I was able to give one of the pillowcase dresses my grandmother made to Esterline today. Esterline is a four year old that weighs about twenty pounds...on a good day. In comparison to a healthy American child, Esterline looks half her age. She was so excited to receive that little dress. When she saw it, her eyes got really big and she immediately started taking off the tattered velvet maroon dress she had on. I will never forget the sweet "thank you" she whispered in my ear later this afternoon.
Pray for our team as we travel tomorrow to Port au Prince!
In Christ,
Lisa
July 14, 2011 - Morning
I am really excited for today. We have bundled up t-shirts, shoes, and undergarments to take to the kids. Since they rarely get NEW clothes, it will be like Christmas morning to them!
I spent a lot of time in prayer this morning. I prayed that God would reveal to me His purpose for me and Haiti. I'm scared of what He may be trying to tell me. I know that His plan is perfect, and that He will never present to me any situation that I can't handle. Still, I am afraid. I think that's normal when a big change is about to occur. I'm looking to HIM for security.
Are you?
Lisa
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1
I spent a lot of time in prayer this morning. I prayed that God would reveal to me His purpose for me and Haiti. I'm scared of what He may be trying to tell me. I know that His plan is perfect, and that He will never present to me any situation that I can't handle. Still, I am afraid. I think that's normal when a big change is about to occur. I'm looking to HIM for security.
Are you?
Lisa
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
July 13, 2011
This posting is kinda all over the place and isn't eloquent at all, but it does show where my heart is right now.
There are moments in life where there is no question that you are in the midst of God's will for You. That's the way I feel when I am here. I've felt God whispering in different ways all week, and I've tried my very best to listen and heed His every word. Yet, I'm still not sure what He is trying to say and to be honest, I'm truly annoyed by it.
Today, while all the kids were enjoying their snack durning VBS, I saw something that startled me so much, I knew that it was God trying to talk to me. I just don't know what.
Louna, one of the older girls that I have gotten to know this trip, took her snack and carefully, making sure none of the other kids saw her, tucked it under her skirt and into her underwear for safe keeping. I could have burst into tears. Louna, precious Louna. Seeing kids trying to hide their food isn't abnormal, but this was heart wrenching. I don't know what else to say about it, nor do I have an explanation for my feelings.
We were able to organize the clinic pharmacy today and I was once again reminded how blessed I am to have healthcare in the United States. These kids need someone here with them who can treat their spider bites, infected lacerations, and urinary tract infections
This trip wasn't meant to be medical, yet I have taken care of numerous children each day. This trip wasn't meant to make me question my life in the US, but it has. This trip, well, this trip has me praying about my future.
Pray for me tonight and ask God to speak clearly to me about His plan for me and Haiti.
Please.
Until every orphan has a home,
Lisa
There are moments in life where there is no question that you are in the midst of God's will for You. That's the way I feel when I am here. I've felt God whispering in different ways all week, and I've tried my very best to listen and heed His every word. Yet, I'm still not sure what He is trying to say and to be honest, I'm truly annoyed by it.
Today, while all the kids were enjoying their snack durning VBS, I saw something that startled me so much, I knew that it was God trying to talk to me. I just don't know what.
Louna, one of the older girls that I have gotten to know this trip, took her snack and carefully, making sure none of the other kids saw her, tucked it under her skirt and into her underwear for safe keeping. I could have burst into tears. Louna, precious Louna. Seeing kids trying to hide their food isn't abnormal, but this was heart wrenching. I don't know what else to say about it, nor do I have an explanation for my feelings.
We were able to organize the clinic pharmacy today and I was once again reminded how blessed I am to have healthcare in the United States. These kids need someone here with them who can treat their spider bites, infected lacerations, and urinary tract infections
This trip wasn't meant to be medical, yet I have taken care of numerous children each day. This trip wasn't meant to make me question my life in the US, but it has. This trip, well, this trip has me praying about my future.
Pray for me tonight and ask God to speak clearly to me about His plan for me and Haiti.
Please.
Until every orphan has a home,
Lisa
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