life in Haiti

So, I should really get in the habit of blogging more often so I am not always playing catch up...
Sunday, June 10th, was a busy Sunday for Haiti. We had church in the morning, then went back to the mission for lunch. The afternoon was full with a Survivor Challenge, Nutritional Program graduation, and a soccer game NWHCM staff(including me) vs. some of the boys in the youth group-we actually won 7-4! After supper we had our first Tribal Council and each team had to eliminate one player. The Green Goblins sadly lost Nastassja. :(
The rest of the week was full of the teams finishing up their trips. Lots of VBS, a visit to Tortuga, a visit to Port de Paix to play with the kids at House of Hope, and on Friday seeing the teams off as well as Nastassja(one of the interns). I miss her already!
There were also several hard things that happened. Things that broke my heart. On Monday, a mother left her little boy in the clinic.The little boy was SO skinny and had special needs, but he was so adorable. The boy's mother had come to the mission a week ago hoping that there would be room for him in the Miriam Center, but was told that it was full, but that he could be a part of Jonathan's Sake(the outreach program). His mother must have felt out of options when she left him in the clinic. It was so hard knowing that we couldn't keep him. God had an amazing plan for him though. Stephanie and Jackenson took the little boy to Port de Paix.  They were going to drop him off at the hospital, because that is where the major told them to take him, but the hospital wouldn't take him. After going to another place they met a nun who worked at an orphanage that was willing to take him. Stephanie said that when they got there and the nun showed them around that she didn't think that she was still in Haiti. I praise God that His plan is always better than ours! The orphanage is even willing to work with NWHCM in the future with similar situations!
The next day my team went to House of Hope in Port de Paix where I met Wisa. Wisa is a little girl probably 3 or 4 years old. She was so tiny and malnourished. She was just content with being held. Which she was the whole time that we were there. It is so hard to see so many kids who could be healthy if they only had enough food and water... It breaks my heart.
Another little girl that stole my heart, was little Nakia(one of the other interns named her because her mom wouldn't give her a name because she didn't think she would survive), when she was born, she weighed only 2 lbs. She only lived for a few days, but she had a lasting impact on my life and others. Nakia means faithful. Even though she didn't survive I know that God is faithful and used her short life to teach me and break my heart.
 There have also been some really fun and exciting things that I have experienced. Last Friday, I got to help deliver a baby! It was really hard watching the mom being in so much pain for so long, but when she was ready the baby came so fast! It was amazing! I definitely hope to help with another birth this summer. The mom and baby girl were both healthy! Praise God!
And on Saturday, all the interns, Katelyn, Ashley, Jackenson, and Sam headed out to the Mole! The ride only took 5 1/2 hours, which was great compared to the 7 hours we thought it was going to take. It was so amazing to come back to the place where God and I first started talking about coming back to Haiti. I was so overwhelmed by His goodness and faithfulness!
   We spent the weekend relaxing. We went swimming in the ocean, ate great food, and had time to just hang out! Melissa brought goggles and so Sinclair swam out to the buoys and found a reef. It was so cool! It was like watching Discovery channel! There were fish, coral, and all sorts of plants! It was sad saying goodbye to the other interns on Monday when they headed back to St. Louis.
  Caitlin and I have been spending our mornings at the orphanage. It has been a lot of fun getting to know them and love on them. Since the kids take naps in the afternoon, we have been using the afternoons to get to know the town and our neighbors. We have already made friends who like to play cards with us. We have also been getting to know the staff here.
  I'm excited for the team to get here tonight! Praying that the rain holds off until they get here!
God has been working in my heart so much these last few weeks. I'm praying that His will for my life would be made clear and that I would always follow it no matter what.
Thank you for your prayers!