1/24 Day 5

Ginger:  

Matthew 25:35-36  “for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”

On our way to Balan, we stopped at VOH to pick up one of the Doctors at the clinic and there, we met Raymond. Raymond was two weeks old and was brought into the clinic by his neighbor, to get some formula and other necessities. Most of us had a chance to hold Raymond and even feed him. Raymond captured our hearts along with his new care taker; you see, Raymond’s mother had died the day before from a heart attack and now the neighbor was his new family.

As we drew closer to the village of Balan and passed the child playing with a handmade pull toy made from a string and an oil can, with wheels made from plastic bottle caps and a woman bathing in a stream of water while another was washing clothes in the same stream, we realized that this scripture was never going to be truer than today. Waiting inside their church were 105 children who mostly had never seen a “blanc” person before. Evens, our interpreter, greeted the children with songs and praise as each team member introduced themselves with, “our you ready to know me?” Gina read the story of Jacob’s Ladder to the children while Evens interpreted.  Pastor Dave lead the children in some music and much to his surprise, they knew a song he thought he was going to ‘teach’ them. He continued the message of Jacob’s Ladder and that “God makes his home in us”.  We divided the children up into two groups at this point, boys and girls and while the girls put together a Jacob’s Ladder craft, the boys went outside and played soccer, duck-duck goose and also played several different games with a parachute and then the groups switched.

After the activities, we gathered back in the church where the pastor blessed the peanut butter sandwiches that were to be handed out to the children; for most of the children, this would be their only food for the day and in some cases, a couple of days.

As we prepared to leave, the children lined up and were handed a gallon size zip lock bag full of some snacks and small toys.

On our return to VOH to drop off the doctor, some had an opportunity to participate in a soccer game with some of the children while others we able to talk to some of the older students, with the help of an interpreter of course.

Once back at Hope House, there were projects waiting to be finished and a delicious soup dinner with fresh fruit, salad and bread.

As we do every night, we reflected on the day and shared our thoughts and closed out in prayer and then had our nightly game of UNO before turning in.

Thank you to all who have continued to pray for our team and blessed us with all the donations, without you all, we could not be the hands and feet of our LORD so, we thank you and may God continue to bless you.

Peace & Blessings,
Joyful Spirit Haiti Team