I'm HOME! wow that went fast! I was greeted in the Grand Rapids airport by My Dad, Scott, David, and my Grandma! how nice to see their faces!!!!
I want to apologize for not posting as much as I had planned. Between the power going out and sometimes having internet and sometimes not, it was just too much (plus the busy schedule!).
The conversation of the month was that God is NOT a coincidental God. He knew who to put at Christian Light and exactly when to have them there. His timing is always perfect. The team from Tennessee was there when I got there, they helped make the transistion in very easy...they welcomed me with lots of smiles and laughs. The team from Kansas was just amazing, they brought lots of cement dust and hard working men that made me feel like I was part of a lot of good things going on....they also reminded me of my past two teams being on construction. They also brought the schedule of doing devotions as a group in the mornings. Isaac was a great example for me and for the kids, I'm really glad we got to know eachother...he has an awesome story of coming to Christ which I really needed to hear. (thank you Isaac).
The teaching team that was there for 4 days from Florida was there for me when I broke down crying and they prayed for me when I needed it most. They had some great insites and great faith.
The girs from Kansas that stayed for the month were incredible. Keyanne reminded me of how much love a mother has for their children...made me miss my mom but also made me love the kids a little extra since they don't have their mothers around either. Donna was great to have around, especially when it came to our 4th of July celebration (her and Keyanne did all the planning and cooking!).
Sally (who is nurse) arrived on June 23, I got sick on June 24, and on June 25 went to Bernard-Meves hospital. Sally was there just enough time to take care of me and give me medicine and get me all back to health (that was incredble timing! and I love Sally even if she didnt take care of me).
Ms. Beverly (from Texas, a retired special ed teacher) showed up just in time to start a new schedule for school and have some fun things to do with the kids. She brought a whole new energy-- Desirae and I called her an angel! :) Then Miss. Jessie (who is also a teacher) showed up and was able to help with the new schedule and teach another class with Ms. Beverly! The kids really like her!
Then there is Miss. Desirae... Miss. Dez! She was my saving grace for the entire time I was there. She loved on the kids just as much as I did (which is a LOT!) and I learned a ton from her. She turned 18 while we were there and we got to celebrate her birthday together (even though I was sick). She was my partner in Christ and went to the hospital with me, helped take care of me, we did devotions together a lot, played basketball with the kids together, and just about everything....we did together. Desirae reminded me daily how much God loves us and how much God wants to spend time with us. She is an AMAZING young lady! She went to Africa last year, Haiti this year, and next year planning on a trip to Russia. She has great faith and loves sharing God's love with everyone. She was also my entertainment for the month (and I was hers) which caused a LOT of giggles. We spent the last 2 nights bringing our matresses up to the roof and sleeping up there. There was a nice cool breeze all night long! This also made us start the morning off in laughter because we were COLD!!! :) I can not say enough good things about her. We talked a lot about God's timing, his humor, and his placement of people. I wouldn't have made it through the month with out her!
Sherrie has an awesome vision for the school in Haiti. She has a lot going on and has a lot to be in charge of. Talk about a woman on a mission! Her plate is overflowing with things to be done, things to look after, schedules to keep track of, and full with love for the school. Being there for a month and seeing how it all works with people coming and going, watching the kids in their adjustment of how they are when people leave, when new ones show up and how stressful it is on Sherrie and the kids to accomadate a new team on top of everything else going on.
I hope to make another post about my experiences with the kids and some of the things we got to do, some of the things they said and more about my time spent with them. I have some people I need to see and a nice shower that is calling my name! :) some things we just take for granted....
I hope that when you read this, you too will look for ways of how God is NOT coincidental and how is timing is always perfect. Leave him to be in control of your life because his ways are always better than anything we could plan for ourselves. His love for us is SOOOO much greater than we can imagine.
There is a song the kids sing that goes like this: "Read your Bible, pray everyday, pray everyday, pray eveyday, read your Bible, pray eveyday and you grow grow grow!"
Blessings,
Amy Worst