"Lessons From Me" (until I think of a new clever title)

 In September it marked my 10 year anniversary in Haiti.  In October, I turned 32.  As I sit here and think about the past 10 years and the 22 years before that, I just well up with tears.  Tears of gratefulness to the Lord for not giving me what I wanted when I wanted it, but giving me something better.  Ten years is a long time to see a lot happen.  When I first came to Haiti on my first visit almost 11 years ago, Danita had one house and was building a second floor.  We would go up to the 2 nd floor at night, sit on cement blocks, and drink coke from a glass bottle.  The property that now has a school, church, dental clinic, playground, cistern, cafeteria, 8 new homes, and a children’s medical center was just a field with grass and cows and goats when I first came.  The children that were 4, 5, and 6 years old are now 14, 15, and 16 years old and tower over me.  The joy and purpose that our children give me is more than I could ever express in words... Ther

Throughout the past several weeks, I have sat down at my computer so many times, wanting to write…starting to write…a few sentences come and I press delete. I write a paragraph and then delete it. Other times I just fall asleep out of exhaustion. There are so many times where I want to communicate my heart, share stories, tell about God’s amazing provision, but I want it to be the right words…the right timing…and nothing about me.   I am terrified of writing something that glorifies me and does not bring honor to the Lord.   He must become greater; I must become less seems to be the resounding words in my mind and heart lately.    That is the cry of my heart, but so many times my life does not show it.   To so many people, I or “we” who live down here are heroes or angels, but it is just our calling. It is an odd feeling when you know you are far from perfect...or far from hero or angel status.  I fail at pleasing the Lord. I fail at spending the time I should with Him.   I g

Most of my days are spent doing a variety of things, one of them being working in our office, handling receipts, payroll, construction orders, etc.  I LOVE doing it because I get to see the faithfulness of God and see how He provides our every need. I recently celebrated my 9-year anniversary in Haiti and am beyond grateful for the privilege of seeing the ministry grow since almost the beginning. There is something about seeing something when it is beginning to form that develops an intense appreciation when those things begin to expand.   Our Orphan Home for Special Needs Children! Almost 10 years ago, I visited Haiti for the first time.  I was living in New York and felt like a different season was coming. I had no idea where I would be going, but had a strong desire to go to the mission field and to be surrounded by extreme poverty.  After my one-week trip to Haiti, I knew that was where I was supposed to be.   All of that to say, during those 4 months in NY, my desire to r