Home: Ray

“Look at the nation and watch- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not even believe, even if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5

I’m not even sure where to start. Bear with me as I recap and try to sift through all my memories and thoughts over the first few days. It is hard to describe the feeling I have for this beautiful place.  There was so much praying, preparation, and anticipation for this trip and God blessed me so much in the process with amazing support in all areas and continual confirmation that this is what He had for me. I have been overwhelmed, in an incredible way, by all of the love and encouragement I have received from people I am close to and many others that I am not. For those of you who are close to me, you know I have had a heart for children and missions since I was a young one myself. I have always wanted to work with kids internationally, loving on them and doing life with them. God has taken me to a couple different places so far, but this is my third trip to Haiti in a year span. I knew the moment I stepped off the plane on my first trip and saw my first Haitian child, that my first trip would certainly not be my last. God wrecked and bonded my heart with this country and it’s people.

I stepped off of the plane on Friday morning with nothing, but complete peace and comfort. I knew, in that moment, that this was right where I was supposed to be.  I don’t know if that has ever happened to you…when you walk into a certain building or visit a certain place and your only reaction is ‘this feels like home.’ There was no huge ‘hit me like a brick’ moment or panicking feeling about being here for a longer period of time, just the feeling that I was home…home for the next 11 weeks AT LEAST! What happens after that God only knows for now.

Because we came in on a Friday, we were able to go straight into the feeding program. Child Hope’s feeding program is for the street kids in the surrounding area and happens three times a week. The children get to come in, get loved on, hear about Jesus and worship, and are then fed a vitamin, bowl of rice and beans, and a clean cup of water. For some of these kids, these meals are the only meals they get to eat. This is one of the main things that stole my heart the last two trips. There is something about a small child, with a large language barrier I might add, climbing into your arms just to be loved on or have a safe place to sleep, that will both break and melt your heart. This is normal life to them. They know nothing different and they have pure joy. Unlike the kids at the orphanage, Christa and I were not sure if we would be able to see the same kids we had met and played with before. Well, we did and it was wonderful! After the controlled chaos of playing with, feeding, and cleaning up after over a hundred Creole speaking children, the kids from Child Hope came out. A lot of these children both young and older know a lot of English, so between my last two trips I have been able to bond with quite a few of them. 

Now, just know that I have pictures of these Haitian children (both feeding program and Child Hope) all throughout my apartment in LA. For visual effect, picture at least six on my fridge, seven in my hallway, two in each of our two bathrooms, and multiple in my room.  I get to pray for them and see their beautiful faces everyday, but there is an entirely different affect when I get to see them face-to-face and hug them…and a whole new fluttering of my heart when they remember me the moment I walk in and call my name. I will get into specific kids as time goes on, but I am thrilled to be back with “my” kids. 

The weekends are pretty relaxed here, as the staff gets some time off on Saturday and especially Sunday. Since we were fresh however, we wanted to get a head start! So…Christa and I ventured over to the familiar Transition House where we spent MANY hours on our trip in November sewing the Christmas costumes for the the kids' play.  From there, we began to organize the sewing room by sifting through donations, the supplies we brought, and current materials they already had. Praise Jesus that they have been blessed with these things, but it was a big task. It is looking pretty good so far, but we will be doing it all over again when 19 barrels of supplies get here in a few weeks.

Saturday night we went over to the Bens (the concrete open area at the boys home) and did worship with all of the kids. This is ALWAYS one of my favorite times here.  Worship is led by some of the older boys who are incredibly musically talented and most of the songs are in Creole, but they do some in English for us. Particularly this night, I had 5 year old Jefflina in my arms as she was singing at the top of her lungs,  “Here I am to worship, Here I am to bow down, Here I am to say you are my God”, all while playing with my hair and touching my face. In this moment, my heart is full and I love every second of it! 

Here this week with us is a group from Time Square Church in New York. There are twelve on the team and almost all are in the medical field. Although the clinic is normally only on Fridays due to Brooke being the only nurse here, they will be able to hold a week clinic with the skills they have.  Almost all 12 members of this team are from a different country, but all live in New York now. Three are actually full Haitian. Others include: Jamaica, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Hungry, Ireland, and others I can’t seem to remember. I think is so amazing how people come with completely different background, life story, ethnicity, etc., but are bonded with Jesus Christ and all come to serve one purpose.   

“There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to one hope when you were called- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and in all.” Ephesians 4:4-5