Sweet little Kisses

We are back from Haiti! I am unsure of what to tell you really, but will share with you a couple of stories that are most dominant in my heart. There is so much need there- overwhelming, but I am reminded that God deals with individuals- He saw crowds, but had compassion on individuals. That is just what He did there in Haiti this past week. The need is huge, but God showed us just how He works. He had a special purpose for us. One of those purposes was a little girl named Melisa. She is a two year old girl about the size of a one year old here in the states. She was malnourished, crippled, nonrespondant, and very very sick. The first day we got there to the orphanage we went outside to play with the boys and girls. It didn't take long for a couple of girls to take me up to their room in the orphanage. I walked in and saw a little girl lying on the bed. She looked crippled at first look, then I reached to touch her and I knew something was not right- she was extremely hot and her eyes were seizing. I spent some time up there with them and then before dark I prayed with them and then went to meet with our group. I told the nurse with us and we went back to check her out. Long story- but in short Melisa is dying with TB. She has been sick since April and now it has spread to her brain. We did all we could for her while we were there- taking her to hospitals, etc. but it really is too late to do anything for her from a human standpoint. While the nurse was at the pediatric TB ward (finally when we found one) she saw two children die while she was there. We know the need is overwhelming, but God took us to little Melisa and her mother, Wilka, and to the little girls of that orphanage. We loved on them, sang with them, read scripture together- shared Christ's love with them. We cried with them, we laughed with them. Isaiah 58 talks about how when we bring healing to others, God brings healing to us as well. Those little girls were another way of God showing us experientially what that scripture is all about. On Thursday, I walked into the the girls' room to tell them we were going to another school for the day (to share the Gospel there) and that we'd be back later that afternoon. When I walked in, my heart seemed to stop. Melisa was lying on the bed, eyes wide open, chest not moving. Wilka, the widowed mother, was on the opposite side of the room sobbing. I froze and just stared at little Melisa. Then I saw her little eyes seize and her chest struggle for a breath. The nurse and I were able to stay there with Melisa all day....I actually fell asleep midday sitting on the floor beside her bed. Wilka thought that was funny. When the girls got back from school we were reading out of Psalms. One of the girls that could speak English pretty well, told us that Psalms three was her favorite. This was one of the most memorable moments for me. There we were gathered around a little girl who was crippled, brain damaged, and dying with TB, these orphan girls- hearing all they have had to go through and with their future in mind- and this sweet little girl reading to us Psalm three.

"O Lord, how many are my foes!

How many rise up against me!

Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him."

Selah.

But you are a shield around me, O Lord;

you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

To the Lord I cry aloud,

and he answers me from his holy hill.

Selah

I lie down and sleep;

I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.

I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.

Arise, O Lord! Deliver me, O my God!

Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.

From the Lord comes deliverance.

May your blessing be on your people.

Selah"

Another one of my favorite moments was when I was able to read to the girls Matthew 12:50 in their own language. A little girl that I got very close to over the week, Tasania, was just standing there with her huge, white, beautiful smile, with tears running down her face. I will never be able to forget the joy and heartache in those tears.

"For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Another sweet memory was each night when we would tell the girls goodnight and pray with them. After prayer, we would kiss them on the cheek or on the forehead. It reminded me of all the blessings we take for granted. Our God is a Good Father, a Father of Love and compassion. It was such an honor and blessing to be able to be a little part of what God is doing in Haiti. It brings such a smile to my heart to know that all the hours we spent loving on little Melisa, all the hours we spent holding her and trying to care for her, and all the time we spent with those girls in the little upper room of that orphanage, we were really doing it to Christ. What a joy!

While I was going to sleep each night I was able to look up at the stars and think about how mighty God is. At any moment, He could heal baby Melisa, at any moment, he could do anything. He is the one who spoke the galaxies into existence and flung the beauty of the stars in the heavens. We serve a mighty God, a jealous God. He is jealous for His Glory, His renown. Only when we are most satisfied in Him alone is He most glorified. And only when He's most glorified, can our hearts and lives live out our songs! Oh how my heart leaps with joy!

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life." 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

The pastor there said that since the earthquake, they can see God working in such a powerful way. The sounds of voodoo drums once permeated the night- and now a national day of prayer! The sound of the young guys in the orphanage singing to God at night was a reminder of the very real presence of God. The Spirit reminded me often of Psalm 29 during the trip.

"The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare.

And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever.

The Lord gives strength to his people;

the Lord blesses his people with peace."

Praise God for His workings!