Hey Everyone!
Wow, what a time! I have so many things I learned. Here are a few of them.
Prayer: It doesn't often work how you want it to but it works how God wants it to, which is way better (Romans 12:2b-God's will)
Children: Wow! Kids are just great! At VBS they just all wanted attention, like 4 of them would be trying to sit on your lap and 3 more would be grabbing at your arms (not to mentions the kids grabbing at your hair, oh and Tanner and Trevor encouraged them to put it in their mouths). The kids at the tent city were also great. They were just starved for affection, so when we loved on them it made a world of a difference. Got some great biceps "going on" from lifting kids!
Church: I was so humbled to be a part of that church service. The amount those people needed God was intense and their prayer life was amazing. The sermon was on being joyful always. Amazing for thinking about where we are. The funny thing is they think I'm the rich one, when in fact I am soo poor in comparison to their faith. They know how priceless God is. I hope to learn that more. At the end I was brought to tears when they said that even though we would probably never see each other again we would see each other and understand each other on the glorious day, when Christ comes back. Amen.
There is so much more.
I love you all and your children are doing awesome!
-Anna
Since the start of this trip my eyes have been opened to so many new and amazing things. Right now i'm sitting in the compound listening to this woman as she is yelling what she is selling, on the streets. There is so much poverty here that I wasn't expecting. I knew there was going to be poverty, but I had no idea it was going to be this severe.
Yesterday was ATL (ask the lord). So after lunch time we all went our separate ways and prayed quietly for 25 min to 30 min and just listened to what God had to tell or show us. After praying we would tell everyone in the group what we saw and what God told us. I told myself that it is ok if God doesn't talk to me because why would he talk to me? So i just went and prayed and went in with little expectations. During my prayer I couldn't get this lady out of my mind. I met this woman 2 days ago at tent city and we wanted to give her a tarp, but we didnt have one to give. So, when I kept seeing her I thought God wanted me to go back to tent city. Karin also had the same woman in her mind.
Before I go on, let me explain what tent city is. Tent city is a place where people went after the earthquake, if they had lost their homes. There is so many people here, a lot more people than I had expected. It is so sad to see such poverty and destruction. But when we talk to the people they had such amazing stories and faith.
Our group went back to tent city to give a tarp to this woman, and while we were there praying for even more people, we realized that people were lining up for us to pray with them. It took so long to leave because so many families wanted prayer. I was surprised by how much God was actually working there and how many people already knew God.
God has taught me so much and mostly about prayer. Prayer has been so big on this trip and I have never prayed so much in one day as i did yesterday. We prayed for so many families it was so amazing!
I thank God so much for giving me this opportunity to come to Haiti. Keep us in your prayers today and everyday.
God bless
Ben
btw gina says hi
Thanks so much for the regular updates! It is fantastic to keep hearing about everything you are doing there and how God is using you to show His love to the people in Haiti that you meet. Someone give Matt a big hug from me (and an extra one from our mom, haha). It sounds like you are having an amazing experience and I know God has so much more planned! Praying for you and sending lots of love from home 🙂
Tonya
Anna, Ben! Thanks so much for the update. I had forgotten all about atl day! :o) God DOES love to speak to us and I get so excited thinking about you all waiting on Him. We will continue to pray.
Hi to All of You!
You are an amazing bunch of teens and the things that you have shared on this blog are really amazing! You are in our thoughts and prayers MANY times a day. May God continue to have you grow in Him through all of this! Cathy Page
Thanks so much for the update. You are making a real difference through your prayers and service and, it sounds as if the Haitians are making a real difference in your lives, helping you grow in your faith. God is great and we can help each other grow, no matter how different the cultures and living conditions.
God IS Good, All the Time!!
He is blessing you as much as the people you went to bless!
It just shows His love for ALL people in this world He created.
Thank you for sharing your experiences. Alice K. (love you Chelle)