Going Home

I can't believe our time here has almost come to an end.   We have had so many different experiences, it seems like it's been longer than a week.  Today we were able to enjoy another day of beautiful weather!  It will be a rude awakening to hit MN with below zero temperatures...

This morning the whole team visited Maxo's school and was able to play with the kids at recess in their very small play area.  Some of the boys are amazing soccer players despite the rocky and hilly terrain!  The girls were doing jump rope and playing hand clapping games.  Kids here are full of such pure joy.  Our US kids, with all of their "stuff", could learn a few things.  Adults, too are quick to offer a hug or white Haitian smile and warm greeting.

We read some Bible stories to some of the classes through the translators.  Our group had Jonah and I enjoyed the spotlight, hamming it up to describe how Jonah spent 3 days in the belly of a big fish.  How appropriate that it is the topic of my current women's bible study.  The other group had older kids who were already familiar with the Noah's Ark story so they made up a cheesy skit and then had the kids do one as well.  Fun times!

In the afternoon, we enjoyed some wonderful time at the beach to relax and debrief.  It was so tranquil and beautiful, it was hard to believe some of the poverty and chaos we had been in.  What a reminder of God's ability to make beauty from ashes.

I love this beautiful, terrible place.  I love the people and their perserverence and faith.  There is hope in Haiti and many people are coming to know Jesus.  Yes, there is much to be done.  But I believe in the vision of ReachGlobal and the relationships that are being built, one team at a time.  What a better way to know Jesus than to come to know His followers.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.                 Isaiah 61:1-3