Fireflies

I have always enjoyed the summer months. Perhaps it is my Texas roots that help shape my view of summer versus winter temperatures. What I love most about the summertime is sitting out on a porch with our neighbors while the fireflies seem to dance around us.

You might be wondering about the connection between fireflies and the children that lived in the St. Louis orphanage. Beautiful bonds formed between the LCF congregation and the children. It has been painful for many with the latest developments of not being able to locate the children. Yet God has other plans at this point that will ultimately bring His glory to the situation. When the LCF team first found out that the government would displace the children, many of us grieved for the loss of the connection with the children. One night we prayed in small groups for the children. Many of us felt so helpless in the situation yet knowing that God was and is in control. As we were praying, I saw a visualization in my mind of the children as fireflies on a summer night. Little lights in the darkness. They are dispersed and moved throughout Haiti, but God's light in their hearts continue to shine. Since that night, I have been focusing my prayers on our Haitian fireflies...the precious children from the orphanage.

I encourage you on your summer nights, to pray that God will dwell in the children's hearts even though they are separated from each other. What many of them knew as family has been changed dramatically. Yet, God is so faithful and so good and so real that I know God will use the children to further His kingdom no matter where the children are. He ordained each of them as His light...His fireflies. Thank you, Jesus, for being our light and being the light for the children.

Blessings,
Amy

Isaiah 49:16

I received a book of pictures beautifully chronically the last Haiti team trip to the orphanage. Looking back on these pictures, it seems that it was God's design to have so many pictures as a remembrance to pray for the children that are now separated and placed in other situations besides the St. Louis du Sud orphanage. I encourage those that hold the children close to your heart to look over the pictures or just picture the children in your mind and PRAY over the children and the tough situation in Haiti.

God never promised us anything to gain for ourselves as a result of loving and caring for these particular children. I believe that God wants us to continue to pray for each child's physical and spiritual well-being just as if they were living in the orphanage. It is a difficult challenge to pray over people that we don't have contact with. It is difficult because our nature is to want to see physical results of our prayer requests. When God has other plans that do not involve us, it is difficult to understand and yet, I am so relieved that God is in control of the situation.

There is no way LCF could go on this journey of helping those most in need without God leading the way. So, what is left after the children have been displaced? Continue to pray. Do not let Satan crowd your mind (and mine) with our daily lives that we forget to pray over the children. The children need prayers for their faith to grow. For the seeds that were planted to flourish not matter what situation they are facing right now or in the future. And, in a sense, I believe we need to pray for them because our faith grows to allow us to "let go and let God".

Isaiah 49:16: See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands, your walls are ever before me.

Focus on God's hands... the children and the circumstances in Haiti are right there before Him. Set your mind on Him, pray for the children, and continue to pray for LCF's involvement with Haiti missions.

Blessings,
Amy