Isaiah 58:6-12

"Is this not the fast that I have chosen;
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor
Who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and He will say, 'Here I am.'
If you take away the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
If you extend your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the afflicted soul,
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
And your darkness shall be as the noonday,
The LORD will guide you continually, 
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
Those from among you
Shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
The Restorer of streets to Dwell In."
       ~Isaiah 58:6-12

I love these verses! They challenge me to live in such a way that is even more devoted to God and following His will.

When sorrow gets a face

One morning this week as another volunteer and i were walking down from the Toddler House after doing computer class with some of the older kids (that's one of my duties), a young teen started walking with us. He (i am using this in a gender neutral sense) spoke very good English. He told us a little about his life - how since the earthquake he hasn't seen his mother (he said that the building she was in collapsed); how he would like to go to school but cannot afford it; how he lives on his own....this is when it's the hardest for me. When sorrow gets a name and a face and i hear the stories of those who have been affected by the devastation....that's when it really breaks my heart. It's one thing to see a crumbled wall, or a street that appears (and feels) to be made up of a bunch of rocks and broken bricks that have simply been laid in the streets and packed down by traffic, but it's another to look into the eyes of those who have lost so much, to hear them speak of their lives, and to realize that there's too much pain for me to even hope to make much of a difference. But God hasn't called me to solve the world's problems or to put a bandaid on gaping wound; He has called me to love, and by the power He gives me, with the opportunities He provides, to make a difference in this section of the world, in my little piece of Haiti. One never really knows just how far-reaching their efforts may become, and that's not something we need to know. What we need to concern ourselves with is fulfilling our purpose and answering the call God puts on our lives. He takes care of the rest. And what a great place it is to be in, knowing that I am where i belong, in the hands of God! 

Thus far

I know it's been a week since i've updated my blog, but it's not because i didn't want to. As life in haiti sometimes goes, we didn't have internet access for a few days, and then when we did, it wasn't letting me write a post. Anyway, that's no longer the case, so it's time for me to update you all on what's happening. As there's been so much that happened, i may not go into much detail about some things, and for that i apologize, but nor would you like to read a novel! lol.

it's been a busy week; i've experienced a lot of new things, heard stories of people's experiences, and seen the results of the earthquake. things here at GLA have changed quite a bit, as there aren't nearly as many kids here as there used to be, but that's something i wouldn't want to change back. those kids who went home and left this place emptier are exactly where they need to be! One day last week some of us volunteers were in the nursery relieving the nannies so they could have Bible study, and i opened the door to the balcony that, a year and a half ago, bustled with activity and rang with little voices. it was empty and completely devoid of the sound of children playing. There was, however, a powerful generator filling the silence. ;-S I could almost see the kids i used to know running around, and hear them yelling, see them running toward me and grabbing onto my leg. But all that has changed. I no longer get mobbed when i open the door to the nursery, and it's incredibly quiet compared to what i used to know. however, i'm getting used to it. I love being here, and there's nowhere else i'd rather be right now!

last week we spent a couple of half days filling relief bags at Fort Jaques, and spend part of one morning going to a community and distributing some of the bags.

Saturday some of us took a walk in the community, and even there some things have changed. one path that i know i took last time is no longer accessible. somebody built a gate! who does that??? haha! it was kind of disappointing, because that path led to streets that showed some aspects of life that we don't really see on 'our' streets.
That evening i took a little baby out of the nursery and cuddled with him. a beautiful sunset with a beautiful baby.... life couldn't be any better - until he rested his head on my chest and fell asleep. then it was perfect. :-) it was one of those moments where it feels like 'God's in His heaven; all's right with the world' (Anne of Green Gables)

Sunday we had church in the morning. it was a wonderful, encouraging service! in the early afternoon it rained, but later on some of us went to the waterfall. we climbed back further than i've ever gone before, and it was beautiful! i love discovering more of what i thought i knew. makes me wonder why i never tried to venture further.

And that's all i've got time for right now.

God bless!

on my way :-)

well, i'm on my way! i'm super tired after getting like no sleep last night - my brain had a hard time shutting down - but i'm here and ready to go! i'm sitting at my departure gate in Toronto, and boarding should start soon :-D in about 12 hours i should be nearing GLA!!!!
The goodbyes (which really suck! but i'll see everyone in three months, Lord willing, and time flies, and i wish it didn't go so fast, so i won't complain) are done, and from here on out it'll be 'hello'! (which are great!)
So, here's hoping that my flights are smooth! can't wait to meet my friend in Florida and travel the rest of the way with her! :-D
next time you hear from me, it'll probably be from Haiti. :-)

counting down....

Just a few more days, and i'll be back in Haiti! i'm really excited about being back, and to see what God's plans are for this trip.
I feel that God has called me to Haiti, and it's the one place where my heart seems to find the right rhythm. i know that it doesn't matter where i go; if God has called me there, i will be exactly where i belong - in the centre of God's will. And there's really not better place to be! Following God isn't always easy. there are challenges and bumps along the way; there are times when i have no idea what the next step is, and i'm simply waiting in limbo. However, i have discovered that often God has something to teach me through the waiting, and it may simply be to learn to 'worship while i wait' and to 'be content in whatever place i am'. God always comes through, and it's amazing to see how He works!
Now, the next step of my journey of life is to return to Haiti, the country that captured my heart nearly three years ago. A country filled with beautiful, vibrant, strong people who have experienced incredible hardship. A country that i believe God has a wonderful plan for - one that i pray will soon come to fulfillment. i will be seeing the devestation caused by the earthquake, smelling those distinctly 'Haiti' smells, seeing those familiar streets, hearing the wonderful sound of Haitian voices speaking Creol. and then i will be surrounded by kids who have experienced things i cannot understand; i may not understand, but i can love them. and i believe that is what God has called me to do.
As Anne Shirley says at the end of the Anne of Green Gables book, "i don't know what lies around the bend, but i'm going to believe that the best does".