In the hands of God

It's a cool evening, and i sit on the rooftop pondering today. stars peek through the smattering of clouds that cloak the dark night sky, and a gentle breeze wisps around me. And somewhere beyond that blanket of stars, in a place more beautiful than can be imagined, a tiny little girl angel named Lovely is being cradled in the hands of the One who created her and knew her more intimately than we could ever know. My heart aches for her young mom who is experiencing a loss that i cannot imagine. She was here with her baby girl faithfully since the day she brought her to us. Her love for her baby was evident. And then this morning her baby went to Heaven. We'd all hoped and prayed for little Lovely to grow and become strong, but for reasons we can't understand, God's plans were different than our dreams. it doesn't seem fair that a mama should have to watch her baby die; it's not fair. but our world in incredibly un-perfect.
The only thing different between me and any one of these babies that come to God's Littlest Angels is that i was born in different circumstances. That little baby girl who struggled to survive, who ached with hunger could have been me. The little boy who's tummy is distended, his hair discoloured, his limbs bony and skinny could have been any one of my siblings. But they weren't. Because we were born in Canada (not to say that Canada doesn't have kids that go hungry, but certainly not to the extent that it happens here!). How fair is that? The Bible says that "For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required." Luke 12:48. I have been given much; i have not been called to simply take life easy because i have the means with which to do that, but to use what God has given me to bring glory to Him. He has called me to love and serve Him to the best of my ability. I cannot, with a clear conscience, sit back and do nothing while people suffer. Right now God has called me to this place to serve Him in whatever way He presents opportunity. His call on my life may change one day, but for now, this is where i need to be.
This evening i went into the nursery as the children were being prepared for bed. I spent some to loving on a little miracle boy who went from being a mere skeleton a year ago, to being a healthy, strong, active little boy who loves to run, play, and make lots of noise. I scooped him up in my arms, gave him a kiss, and tickled his little tummy. A belly laugh rose from deep inside his little body, and his eyes sparkled. I put him on the floor, and he scurried around, laughing and yelling. Then he proceeded to spin around in circles, get dizzy,  tumble to the floor, get up, and do it again. Later, when i took him back to the nursery to go to bed, he waltzed on in, marched up to a bed that had a little girl in it, and patted it as if to say 'this is my bed'. i indicated the empty bed next to her and said 'how about this one?' he came over, patted it, then looked up at me as if to say 'will you put me in?' i lifted him into my arms and gave him one last kiss on the cheek. Just as i was beginning to lower him into his crib, i felt his little lips on my cheek as he returned my kiss; he's never done that before! my heart swelled with love for this little miracle who continues to amaze me.
It's a unique opportunity to be in such a close vicinity to miracles and to see the hand of God at work, even if it's not always in ways that we want or expect.

it's been a crazy week!

What a week! Last week we had 9 kids come from another orphanage and 5 who came from somewhere else (the details have been rather lost on me, as we've been so busy getting everything in order!), so this past Tuesday we had 21 family members, mostly parents, come to do paperwork and the other things necessary when new children are brought in. Needless to say, with 14 new kids, plus any others that were brought individually (and there were several of those as well) we were kept busy! if you are interested in reading more about this past week, feel free to check out the blogs at: http://godslittlestangelsinhaiti.org/
These go into much more detail about all the events of the week, and i don't feel like doing that myself. lol!
i will say, however, that it's exciting to see beds that have been empty for over a year start to fill up! i just wish it wasn't like this; that parents have to make the incredibly hard decision to give up their child in the hopes that a family somewhere else can give them a better life than they can provide themselves. no parent should have to make that decision! i wish the world was perfect....

days like today

Today was one of those days where everything seemed more beautiful. The sky was bluer, the sun shone brighter, the mountains were more lush, and the fields more picturesque. Today was an outing day, and several of us were taking the UTV up to the Baptist Haiti Mission for lunch and shopping. I love riding in the open like that because it's so much easier to see everything we pass. As we zipped up the mountain around bends and curves characteristic of mountain roads, the wind whipped my hair and the sun warmed my skin.   

On one side the mountain on which we live rose up steeply. On the other side in the distance, across the river-bed, another range passed in a beautiful panorama, a patchwork of fields, winding paths, and little houses.   

The fields.

It's days like this, when i once again see everything with new eyes, that i realize just how much i love Haiti and how much this country and her people have become a part of me. The people, both Haitian and non-Haitian, with whom i have the pleasure of interacting have become like a second family to me. I am so thankful that God has called me to this place!

It's days like today that remind me just how honoured and privileged i am to play a small part in God's big plan for Haiti.

Just a glimpse of the beauty of Haiti.

eskimo kisses

some days the love i feel for these beautiful babies overwhelms me! many times when i leave the nursery, i blow kisses to the babies before i leave. some of them respond in like manner, blowing kisses back to me, and there are a couple who even say 'a-bye'. one of the babies loves it when i rub my nose against his. He gets a big smile on his face and his eyes sparkle like endless pools of chocolate.

when i go to the Toddler house it's usually around bed time for the kids, so i like to go through their rooms to say goodnight and give them kisses and hugs. it's such a warm feeling to walk into a room and have the kids all greet me with smiles and 'Emelyne!' or to have them come to me for a hug and keep hanging on, just a little longer. i love listening to their little voices ask me questions and have sweet little conversation in a language that i don't always understand; to watch the expressions on their faces as they allow me the privilege of being a little part of their lives. Times like that, i am humbled and in awe. In awe of the realization that God would choose to place me here in this place with these people, these children, and these babies!