MULTIPLY

We lost power last night just before I could post the blog. Sorry for the lack of communication.  We are currently in the Fort Lauderdale airport.  Below is the blog from last night.  Also the January 10th blog was written by Kelsey, sorry I forgot to sign my name.

We started the week with Amy sharing Mark 8:1-10 emphasizing the word multiply. As usual, God was spot on speaking through her.  We have all had moments this week when the word multiply has struck us.  We were lessened to 7 people a few days before take off and while John and his skills have been missed, God's sovereignty is overwhelming.  I felt our appreciation for the inner workings of the children's home was multiplied as a few of us learned how to do laundry and witnessed how hard the mamas work. Our love for the children multiplied each day we spent with them.  Janese saw the impact of the school multiplied as the teachers embraced kinesthetic learning.  Frustrations were multiplied as Micah and Rick struggled through construction projects, but the joy of the children multiplied when we turned the lights on.  The bond between LCF and Haiti as well as the number of people working were multiplied as we worked together shoveling rubble and cleaning up the community.  The bond between LCF and SDLG was multiplied as we worshipped with them throughout the week and sat in on their leadership meeting this afternoon.  Our love for each other and the Vavals multiplied as we laughed and fellowshipped this week.  Our love for God and His work among the nations multiplied as we have been humbly included this week.
Thank you for your prayers.

With love & and for the kingdom

Kelsey

Acts 17:24-27: Update from Janese

Today's verse:

Acts 17:24-27

²⁴ “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. ²⁵ And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. ²⁶ From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. ²⁷ God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.

Update from Janese via text:
Power, internet, and water have been very intermittent lately.  The earthquake service was 4 hours.  It was filled with great joy.  Much healing has occurred since last year. Praise God!  Micah spoke last night and did a great job. The sermon was from an American pastor that is a missionary from Brazil.  SDLG often seems like the UN for Jesus.  We love it.  Thanks for all your prayers and support.

Friday we went out of the gates of SDLG and cleaned up trash from the streets and the open drainage ditches in the neighborhoods around the church.  When we first began, we joined a small group of men from the church that had already started.  People were curious and a few said "good job" but none joined us.  Halfway down the first street, some kids started to join in.  Then a few adults.  By the third street, more Haitians than Americans were participating.  Some Haitians were giving others a hard time for letting the Americans work when when they were not.  Moise was very pleased of this outcome.  

The orphans got new shoes.  I don't know of any more precious words than an orphan saying "thank you" from the depths of his heart after being fitted for new shoes.  One little guy just kept running laps around the yard in his new fast and protective shoes.  At the close of the Anniversary, the congregation and children danced with joy.  We were blessed to be able to join them.  Great day in Haiti.


*On a sidenote:  I learned on the news last night that the unemployment rate in Haiti is 70% .  I didn't realize it was that high.  Pray for God's intervention with the governmental policies to help Haitians become employed and educated to create a positive future for Haiti.

Blessings,
Amy

Limited internet and power this week

Good morning,
Janese texted me to say she will try to blog what the team has been doing some time when she is at the SDLG church this morning.  Power and internet have been intermittent.  If she is not able to blog, she texted me to tell me to update the blog with what the team has done.  Bonds are building between the team and the local Haitians, not to mention those adorable children at the SDLG children's home.  If she is unable to blog, I will update as best that I can so those reading can continue to rejoice and pray for God's powerful glory being shown on the trip.

Blessings,
Amy

Haiti Earthquake Anniversary today

Today (Jan. 12) is the actual anniversary date of the earthquake in Haiti.  Thank you, Bev, for the correction.

Continue to pray for the people of Haiti as we all know that an anniversary of any kind of loss is thought of in the days before, the day of, and the days after.  May God heal and restore especially during this time.

Blessings,
Amy

Isaiah 26:12

Today's verse:

Isaiah 26:12 (NIV)
Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.

Pray that the team experiences the joy in serving, the peace of God's provisions, and the encouragement of forming new bonds with the Haitian children and adults.

The last prayer time is at 7 pm tonight. Call 415-8508 for information.

Blessings,
Amy

Esther 4:14: For Such a Time as This

Please continue to pray for the team as they search and live out God's plan for this week.  They are a dedicated team to seeking and searching God's will.  May God give them a sense of a peace that He is beyond thrilled at their efforts.

A special reminder that today is the 3rd anniversary of the earthquake.  Please pray for the Haitians in general.  Please pray a special prayer for the Vavals because this is the day that their son perished in the earthquake on this day.  Unimaginable losses to be remembered today.

Today's verse:

Esther 4:14

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

This team was meant for this year, this month, this week, this day, this hour to be in Haiti serving God and loving the orphans through hugs, service, and smiles. 

*Haiti prayer time:  7 pm Saturday at my house.  Call 415-8508 for information.  

Blessings,
Amy

God is exalted!

In the midst of our confusion and feelings of inadequacy and lack of progress, God is exalting himself among the nations (Psalm 46:10)! The day started with great fun playing with the children from school during their break.  Some kids figured out that they could jump on my back by standing on the railing; we hit the ground once, but having six kids hanging on you at once is totally worth it! After break Ashley scraped paint off the floor in the children's home.  Rick and Micah (with some help from the women) attempted to install the pedestal sinks but discovered that the plumbing was inconsistent, which resulted in a road block.  They would not admit it, but they have made great progress amidst several road blocks.  The men also installed the utility sink after Rick re-plumbed it.  It is not yet functional but it is in place and will be functional tomorrow! Tami and I screwed light bulbs in the children's home.  Peterson and Orlondo were in the bedroom when I screwed in the first bulb and tried to convince me to get down from the bed but then I flipped the switch and the light came on.  An unforgettable grin came across both of their faces and they ran to give me a huge hug.  We do not work the praise of men, but praise from orphans for light bulbs is powerful.  The kids seemed a bit more tired today so the play time was less intense but that resulted in lots of time simply loving on children.  A little boy whose name I cannot pronounce was hanging out in the children's home this morning.  He didn't engage with anyone so I went over to him and he kind of sat on my lap.  Then he looked at me, looked down, looked at me, then peed his pants.  Orlondo, who is 10, jumped into my arms at noon when school got out.  He placed his head on my shoulder and was asleep shortly after. I rotated between holding other children in my other arm.  I always feel so unworthy to have the privilege of holding orphans like that because they are so near to God's heart.  Orlondo held tight until it was time for us to leave the children's home around 3:30.  Erica had a couple children nap on her lap as well. Micah spent a good portion of the day at a hardware store again but progress is coming.  Today was Janese and Erica's last day of teacher training.  It has been a great learning experience.  The teachers were excited about adding teaching tools to their classrooms.  Janese felt like the teachers' appreciation and excitement level increased throughout the training and resulted in a deep feeling of partnership with the school.  The women tried to decorate the teacher's rooms but struggled getting anything to stick on the walls.  The frustration was slightly overwhelming but the verse of the day was a great encouragement.  The team had a great time of reflection on the day and attempts to better anything possible tonight.  God willing, the men will finish some projects in the children's home while the women move rubble tomorrow morning.