June 11th, 2011 - Our 7th Wedding Anniversary
"Therefore since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus..." - Hebrews 12:1-2
Good morning, Jesus! You gave Cody and me this day seven years ago and we're both starting today with You. I pray this morning, Father, that we are able to lay aside all burdens, worries and insecurities - everything that keeps us away from You - and we run gladly, we pursue You tenderly and we work hard for Your people. Thank you, God, for blessing me with an incredible man who is my helpmate, my partner, my cheerleader, my support, my comfort, my heart and better half. You are so great. Your word is so good. We honor You today on our anniversary and bring glory to You on this trip and throughout the rest of our marriage. May You inspire us and ignite our spirits. May our love reflect You. I am so thankful to share in this experience seeking You with my husband and best friend. Amen.
Morning devotion outside our rooms which is our home away from home is a great way to begin the day.
I don't think it's coincidence that I turn on my iPod to shuffle and Jennifer Knapp's 'Refine Me' is playing. I'm overcome with humility. This is my song. "My will has deceived me" and I have looked away putting my needs for the 'perfect' house and my vain, selfish desires ahead of what You have designed for me. "I've come into this place burning to receive Your peace. I've come with my own chains." A butterfly just tickled my hair and fluttered by perching on the tree planted next to me. Then the wind blew, so calming, gently across my face. I don't wonder where You are. You are here in the simplest of things. It's good to start the day in Your word and listen to God-breathed songs. Why is it so easy to get lost or distracted at home? Why do I long to be in Your presence on a mission trip more than I do in my daily life back home? So, "Lord come with Your fire. Burn my desire. Refine me. Lord, my will has deceived me. Please come free me" this week.
Waterfall = majestic, awe, wonder. In the midst of poverty, God created simple beauty. This 50-foot waterfall brought much joy and fun to my team today. Although the ride there wasn't joyful. We were literally in the back of a Uhaul truck with tiny slants for windows. We rode for nearly two hours up the mountain on a very rocky, bumpy, dusty road sitting on wooden benches that made your booty fall asleep. But once we got to our destination, it was so worth it. Kinda like what God calls us to do sometimes...The road isn't always the most desirable, but what God has planned at the end is.
Tons of Haitians waited to help guide us through the terrain. We needed help getting footing on the slippery rock. The Haitians only wanted a dollar. Shavon was my insistent guide. He was very good and very strong. Cody tipped him $3 -more than enough - for helping me. Shavon insisted on more and stared down Cody when Cody declined. Shavon probably put a VooDoo curse on Cody by the way he was staring, but I rebuked it in the name of Jesus. Before we left, Shavon did invite us back to the waterfall for a big party where people come to thank the spirit of the waterfall and receive purification. From what? Satan?
Even though, VooDoo activity was apparent and Cody may have be hexed, we did have a pretty amazing anniversary at this gorgeous waterfall. Made a good memory. This was my favorite anniversary yet.
When we returned to MOH, some of us girls wandered over to the Village of Hope to play with the babies. There were four little ones - Jeremiah and Anna who are two-year-old twins, I would assume they were abandoned because twins are a curse in VooDoo, Matthew, a very spirited two-year-old who reminded Zan of her son, Ty, and then Pierre who is three. Pierre spends most of his time laying on his back. He has the mentality of an infant - probably 2-3 months old. Something happened to him where he almost lost his life. He came to MOH dying and the Mission saved him. He has a deformity that keeps him from focusing on things or people. Tina spent time loving him. It was very difficult to see Pierre because Tina, Zan and I all have three-year-old boys back home. I spent time holding Anna with her big brown eyes. MOH orphans are not adoptable. Shoot. I really wanted to take Anna home. MOH raises the children, sends them to college then helps them find employment so they can be leaders of their country. They are raising the future of Haiti. Each 'house' has two 'mommies' who live with the children during the weekdays, including nights. A different caretaker comes on the weekends when the 'mommies' go home to see their families. What devotion the 'mommies' have to their job, to the Mission and these children. These children are in very, very good hands.
Me and Anna.
Tina and Pierre.
Then Zan, Lisa, Chris and me opened up Momma Lisa's Nail Salon for a few singing manicures. We first met Mezzaline, a gorgeous shy orphan. We kept asking if we could paint her nails, but she was just so bashful! Two other girls, Sophaline and Lumane, came over. They were a bit more spunky, so we cracked open the nail polish (Thanks, Davan!) and got to work. Then Crisimelle and Jenna came by to get manicures. To break the ice a little bit more, Lisa and Zan encouraged me to sing. So I did. 'Eye on the Sparrow'. Well that took care of things because a small Haitian performance was next. Sophaline and Lumane sang everything from 'Jesus Loves Me' in English to something in Creole and the only part we caught was something about 'Satan is under my feet' and they'd stomp their foot.
Mezzaline (above) finally let me paint her fingernails. (That is also above.) We all were very sweet on her all week. She is such a joy and just lights up the room with her smile. It was a very sweet time for us girls to be girls even though we didn't speak the same language. And what was even cooler was Chris was there to supervise. ;)
