Ask and You Shall Receive

 “Ask, and it will be given to you;

 seek, and you will find; knock,

and it will be opened to you."

Matthew 7:7

 

I'm going to be really honest right now, I don't like asking for things. I tend to be very independent and try to get things done on my own. I don't hesitate to ask God for things, but when it comes to other people, I typically avoid. I don't want to be a burden on others. This is a problem. In the effort to be independent, I neglect the beauty of the body of Christ.Why do I bring this up?

 

I mention this because while in Haiti, I struggled with this thought. Upon coming to Faith, Hope, and Love I met a joyful little boy name Mackenzie. Mackenzie has been in Momma Dorothy's home since the early 2000's. He has more or less grown up here. Mackenzie is now 9 and has difficulty speaking. In Creole he can say one word: Qui (which he pronounces Whey).

 

 Meeting Mackenzie I was reminded of Sanders Morris. Sanders is a little boy that I did an Occupational Therapy Home Exercise Program with 3 days a week my last year of graduate school. If you look back a while you will find a picture of this precious one in a blog where I was talking about things I will miss about Birmingham. Since working with Sanders, I have become close friends with the Morris family. I cherish his parents friendship and love all 3 of their boys dearly. The beauty of the Lord to bring the Morris family and Mackenzie both into my life at two specific times puts me in AWE of the Sovereign Goodness of God!

 

The first week I was here I looked in Mackenzie's chart and saw a document from the Kaufman Clinic in Michigan. This is the speech clinic where Sanders spent 4 months learning how to speak! The founder of Kaufman clinic was Sanders therapist during his stay and is now friends with their family. I instantly knew I should talk to Rebecca, Sander's mother, about Mackenzie. BUT I waited three weeks. WHY? Because I don't like asking for things. WHY? Because I don't want to burden people. WHY? Because I wasn't choosing to participate in the goodness of the body of Christ. Thankfully, the Lord wouldn't relent. I couldn't quit thinking about it and 2 weeks ago I emailed Rebecca as I shot in the dust. I just couldn't go anymore without just simply asking. 

 

Ironically, Matthew 7:7 is the verse I was teaching the kids last week, amidst me seeing the fruit of asking myself. Rebecca didn't hesitate even overnight. She got the email and sent it directly to Mrs. Kaufman that night, she said she couldn't sleep before forwarding it. Throughout the past 2 weeks, we have emailed back and forth information about Mack, the requirements for Mrs. Kaufman's  program, and finally I sent her videos yesterday of his speech. By 11 AM this morning Mrs. Kaufman had responded saying that he was DEFINITELY a candidate and asking how we could make this happen? WHAT, JESUS?!?!?! Amen, as we ASK, we do RECEIVE. We receive your goodness. His goodness amazes me time and time again, it knows no bound!  

 

I received this good news right before lunch and I am still like a little giddy child! I'm SOOO excited and thankful about this opportunity! JESUS is AWESOME! As you can imagine, there are MANY things that have to be worked out in the meantime. But God is SO capable of making a straight path! With all of this said I would ask that each of you join me in praying for the following:

 

1. Please pray that we are able to contact Mack's mother or aunt and get their permission to proceed with him getting speech services in the states.

2. Please pray that we get a certified birth certificate

3. Please pray that the Visa process go quickly. Both Dorothy and I are not sure what this will look like. She is contacting resources she has, I will ask a woman I met at the hospital yesterday, and I plan on going to the US Embassy tomorrow and seeing if I can get any information about this. Please pray that I have favor as I go and hopefully get accurate information to get the process started.

4. Please pray for all things in the US to pan out. I don't foresee this being a problem due to the willingness of all involved who want to help. With this I would ask you pray for provision, as I am sure this will be an added expense Faith, Hope, and Love didn't foresee coming; however, our God lavishly provides for His children!

5. I would ask that you pray for a quickening of all of these processes!

 

Thank you for reading, for praying, and for joining in this journey. May God alone be glorified in Mack's journey to speaking. When I sat and asked Jesus for words over each of these little ones, the word's I got were PROCLAIMER OF TRUTH, the Lord reminded me of Moses. I am so expectant of the day when Mack proclaims the truth of the Gospel to all he encounters!

 

Thank you to Rebecca Morris for asking and for Mrs. Kaufman for saying yes!

 

I now challenge you to ask God for something BIG and just wait to see what He does! You WILL NOT be let down! He is Faithful!

 

 

 



Where to Begin?

I am so thankful to be in Haiti again. I'm so thankful to be fulfilling a dream. I love these little children and learn so much from them. I'm pretty sure I could write a chapter of a book with each new day. The Lord shows up in mighty ways constantly. I am so blessed to be involved in the work of God at Faith, Hope, and Love Infant Rescue!

 There is so much to update people on, I don't know where to begin...hints the title of this post! I'll start with Saturday, if I recall that is where I left off. Saturday was a busy day in our house. We had returned visitors with extra supplies, I am always thankful for what teams bring. Saturday was also a day for revamping. We have all new shower heads, the guest bedroom became the new room to Claudine, Rosa, and Emma,  and 4 of the boys shifted rooms. Excitement and curiosity ebbed with all the changes! Saturday was fun for me also because I got to eat out for dinner and lunch. I was able to go to Epidor (the Haitian version of McDonald's, however not like it at all) and Munchee's. These are 2 places I wanted to go before leaving, so thank you Lord for making that happen! While eating dinner in Petitionville, the nicer area of Port, we heard lots of sirens and noticed a lot of cars with lights driving through. Due to our wonderful driver, I now know that this is likely the President. Well come to find out today it was the entourage of the President and his family. The president's son got married on Saturday night and we were seeing the cars go from the wedding to the reception. I thought this was pretty neat. I also enjoyed seeing the pretty gowns the women were wearing. Yes, I am a girl! ha.

 Sunday, I went to church which is always a treat! To worship with the saints blesses my spirits. I returned home and instantly started my 2 tasks for the afternoon. Shampoo the boys heads and clip their finger nails. Some of our boys have a fungus on their heads. Likely due to one kid getting it and then it quickly spread. I recently learned from another experienced orphanage person that putting shampoo on their heads and letting it sit for 30 mins will often help get rid of the fungus and then the boys don't have to take medication that is strong for their little bodies. It was quite an adventure washing all their heads and the bathroom was quickly a mess. The boys without the fungus were quite sad that they didn't get to participate. After this event and clipping fingernails, I took some time to rest and enjoy the Haitian sun!  Sunday night I made Pecan Pie. It makes the think of my Grannys and all things Southern. It was a small, but wonderful comfort of home. The pie was finished to late for the kids to eat it, but don't you worry they had no problem eating it today! YUM!

 Today was EMMA'S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! SOOO fun! She loved it and looked wonderful in her new pressed uniform. Her smile was extra wide today! Fred also went to the hospital for a routine check up. He didn't particularly care for the visit. Waiting forever he just slept, and then seeing the doctor made him cry the whole time. He didn't get a shot, blood drawn, or anything. His crying didn't make sense and made me sad. Fred is a hard one to figure out. He's so hard most of the time then other times he wants to be held and will run up and hug you. I often wonder what kind of world these kids experienced before coming to Momma Dorothy. In my wondering, I'm so thankful for the Lord's provision to bring them to a place where they are loved, cared for, and taught about Jesus. I pray that this home be a place of restoration and healing for them in all areas: physical, spiritual, and emotional.

 Today we also received Aaron's final blood test results back and they were the same. He is running, playing, jumping, and seems without any symptoms. For that I will PRAISE YOU LORD! 

 This afternoon, I got Tamara standing with a little support on her walker! This was a big step. She was afraid and tearful, but kept saying she wanted to do more. I'm hoping that her ability to do this increases exponentially with each new day! It rained this afternoon and the children ran outside to play, dance, and slide along the sidewalk. This was so much fun and I captured the fun times with the camera! I know I will look back at these pictures in a few weeks and smile really big remembering their freedom and joy they walk in. Lord I ask that you bring us all to that place of freedom and joy in You!  Tonight we also walked! Always fun, but tonight it was a group of the older ones and we walked a different route. While doing down one street there was no traffic and we all acted like motos vavavooming down the road! This was delightful! Prior to the walk we were on the roof and I noticed the beautiful clouds and sunset. I said "Mesi Jezi" and asked each of the kids what they were thankful for. It was sweet to hear the 6 of them thank Jesus for specific things and say "WOW" at His beautiful painting in the sky!

 I think that's all for now. I love this place and can't imagine what it will be like to leave, but for now I'm trying to soak up EVERY LAST BIT of what He has for me here!

I just couldn't resist

Today was a GREAT day in Haiti! All days are wonderful, but today even more so!

 

We started off the morning with the typical school rush to get kids dressed, eat breakfast, and head out the door. I start hearing the kids sometime before 6 am. There's nothing like waking up to their little chatter and hear them scurrying through the halls; and of course, the occasional crier who woke up on the wrong side of the bed. haha. I rode to the handicapped school with Samuel and the kids..... AND EMMA! Yes, she got dressed ready, had her lunch box in tow, and ran around with Sam and I today until we took all the kids after school for their yearly test. Not quite sure how this works, but they all passed so I will take that as a positive thing and keep trucking along. Sister Judith, the principal informed us that Emma is going to have therapy at school for handwriting. It's an interesting concept, seeing that her hands are deformed from the warts that are on them, but WHATEVER it takes for her to go to school I am all for!

 

For more background on beautiful Emmanuella St. Louis, referred to as Emma. She joined the Faith, Hope, and Love family after being found by short term missionaries while walking the streets of Port Au Prince. Someone stopped them and asked them to come and look at this girl. Emma was found in the backyard of a nice Haitian home living in a tent. Her aunt lived in another tent nearby. Emma's basic needs were met with food, water, and shelter (I guess a tent is better than nothing); but essentially she was isolated from the outside world. The mission team was familiar with the incredible founder here, "Mama Dorothy". After discussing Emma with doctors (to make sure Emma's skin condition wasn't contagious) and praying about it Dorothy quickly welcomed this beautiful child of the King into her family. Emma came to Faith, Hope, and Love last September. Since being here many people have tried to assess her skin condition. She has warts all over her feet, hands, knees, and elbows. Her little fingers and toes are splitting. This at times can be painful for her, but she rarely breaks a smile. Beauty radiates from this child. From what has been determined so far Emma has a hereditary skin condition which hasn't been fully identified. She daily uses a special cream after her baths. I am just extremely elated that she is getting to get out of the house now. Today while riding around in the car with Samuel and I she was taking everything in. She loved eating her snack from her OWN lunchbox! I can only imagine the ways that Emma will be blessed by social interaction and being challenged at school. I think she might be brighter than most think! So praise you Lord for making a way for her!

 

Speaking of short term missionaries. We had 2 groups come by the house today. The first group had a woman that sponsors little Mawens (the boy with hypoglycemia). She brought pictures for him and he showed all the kids. The children were eating up the attention, photos, beanie babies (such a hit!), love, and affection. This team also brought goodies for all the nannies and some candy for me! It was a joy having them in our home. The second group came sometime after we finished eating Lovensky's birthday cake! (This too was a hit! Lovensky choose Johnny to pray over his next year of life. Please join with our prayers for health and increased knowledge of Jesus.) This group had previously visited and supplied us with water filters! I'm thankful for this! Today they came with 2 wheelchairs in tow! One for Tamara and one for Emmanuella! During a previous trip they had fitted the girls. They came later in the day so I wasn't able to sit the girls up in them, but I can't wait to do it tomorrow! I love having people come visit! It's great to speak English and to show off the precious little ones that amaze me with each new day. I'm also always encouraged to hear how the Lord is at work changing people's hearts to align with his Kingdom purposes. Fellowship with the body is always refreshing! So thank you Jesus for double portions today!

 

Now for some interesting points of the day. Driving down Delmas 33 (a route we frequently travel) we noticed a large crowd gathered. As we passed I saw 2 dead people. Very sad. This is now the 3rd dead person I've seen in Haiti this trip. Not sure what happened, but Samuel (our wonderful driver) said he would listen to the news in the morning. Please join me in praying for all of those affected by this lose. On a lighter note, I just have to tell this. Samuel went to pay the power bill for the second time this week today (the first time they didn't have internet signal) and the power company didn't have power. WOW. Some things amaze me here. That makes absolutely no sense, but at least it makes me feel better to know that we don't have power, but they are also doing without it!  Oh and I can't leave this out. I've officially taken a rain bath. We don't have running water at the moment due the pump being messed up (please pray this gets fixed soon) but after a long day it was fun to stand under the drainage pipe and at least get cooled off. The girls on the roof with me enjoyed the rain bath clothes and all! I hope I don't get on the nannies bad side when 3 wet little ones came back in the house!

 

For now, good bye from Haiti. This is a wonderful place with incredible people and I am honored to have had the chance to live here! Please keep us in your prayers, not a day goes by that we don't need Jesus for every second! Bless you all in Jesus Name!

 

Tori

Merci Anpil

What a week! Since I last updated we have been going non-stop, but the Lord has given us such grace to proceed. On Saturday, we went to the Sugar Cane Museum. This was a hit! This kids watched a video of many different parts of Haiti, got to see relics ancient Haiti, see pictures of previous Kings and Queens, and much more! Last Sunday, we celebrated Wilson’s Fet.  This was so fun! During our celebration we asked Wilson who he wanted to pray for the next year of his life, he chose Aaron and it was the sweetest little prayer! Oh, and of course, everyone enjoyed the strawberry cake.

Speaking of little Aaron. He was admitted to the hospital last Tuesday with an infection and extremely low Hematocrit. Due to the many prayers and good care from the Haitian medical staff Aaron received some IV antibiotics and a unit of blood and was released on Monday afternoon. Aaron was so glad to go home, he had been crying for his brothers and sisters, the staff here, and wanting to go to school. He returned home to the family chanting “Aaron, Aaron” as he walked down the back steps. This too was a precious moment. The love in this place is tangible! Jesus reigns here! Hallelujah! This afternoon Aaron went for a follow up blood test. He was VERY unhappy to be at the hospital, but thankfully the test only required a prick of his finger. We are awaiting the results which will be in on Friday! Pray that all his levels are good and his home medications are working! He loves being home, going to school, swinging, and just being with his family.

Now on to school. What a production! The kids were up bright and early on Monday morning taking baths, getting dressed, putting ribbons in their hair, grabbing lunch boxes, you name it and they did it. Excitement was ebbing through their little bodies! Son Son, Frantzo, Mackendy, Tamara, and now Emma (more to come on this) have begun the year at the Handicapped school. Our other little ones are just down the street. They’ve successfully walked to school in the mud now without falling! It’s been raining almost every night so I think they might soon be experts at this.

Emma. She is going to school! Praise you King Jesus! She starts school tomorrow with 4 of her other brothers and sisters. I am so glad for her to get out and get social interaction. She is a bright little girl and I can’t wait to see how this increases just being out of the house and in the world! What a blessing she was accepted today. I told Sister Judith “Merci anpil” many, many times!

Prayer Requests:

-         -Emmanuella: We get her chest x-ray results back tomorrow. Pray that her lungs are clear and she has been responding to medicine.

-         Emma: Pray that she quickly get accustomed to going to school. This will be a big transition as she is 10 years old next week (yes, we will have another cake!) and from what we know hasn’t attended school before.

-         Richardson: He’s just a boy full of lots of energy. He is eager to be involved in any and everything. His energy is a gift. We have been having some trouble with completing homework assignments and inattention at school. Nothing to abnormal for a boy his age, but please pray that he makes choices that reflect the responsible leader that he is!

Praises: Aaron, Emma, and Mawens (He no longer needs blood sugar checks, just a nightly snack that he sure is enjoying!)

 Bless you all for your prayers. If you’re on Facebook I just posted lots of pictures. Look at the album and see their beautiful little faces for yourself!

 

As promised....

Yep, this one is going to be a little more on the humorous side. I thought I would take the time to share some interesting experiences I have had this trip.

#1. I've ridden a PUBLIC tap tap. For those of you who don't know tap tap are a major form of transportation for the Haitian people. Imagine a 1980 (or older) Ford Ranger with the bed of the truck enclosed on the top. Now add LOTS of colors and some random sayings about Jesus or bible verse or yes even pictures of Nathan Lee (an American I met in Haiti who was famous enough to be painted on a tap tap-he goes down in history for that one). It was interesting that while riding the Haitians didn't want  to sit by me. I think they were taken aback by a Blanc on a tap tap. After the 14th person crammed in I quickly had people on either side. The public tap tap was quite an experience and I've decided I will try to avoid from now on, primarily due to the fact that I am too tall and hit my head both times I entered and exited.

#2. I've walked through the streets and played with some of our kids in the rain. This BY FAR might be one of my favorite times in Haiti. We jumped over puddles hand in hand and even found a drain running off the roof of a school and stood under it to get doused in the rain. Cha Cha, a brilliant boy, had the best time playing in the rain. Even sweet Rosa who is typically timid and shy, jumped the puddles and laughed as we made our way around the neighborhood!

#3. To follow that one up, I've walked through mud to church. This was quite humorous. It took about twice as long to get to church, as I was trying to avoiding slipping and falling on my bottom. Cha Cha goes to church with me and on our way he got stuck in the mud and I had to pull him out. Not ideal for his black leather church shoes. The Haitians are very practical about their church and school shoes, so I assume the nannies didn't appreciate our escapades! Oh, and I got to do this twice because I forgot my Nalgene at church. Good one, Tori! Cha Cha, however jumped at the chance to go through the mud again!  

#4. I've ridden in a machine (this is the Creole word for car!) without a battery. Yes, that's right, you can drive a car without a battery. Since you're all wondering I will just tell you how. You take the battery from the generator (because the car battery isn't working), connect it to the car, then start the engine, then disconnect the battery and somehow tie the cables. Viola! Off we went through the streets of Port Au Prince! Yes, this happened for about 4 days before we were able to get another battery! I certainly learned something new with that one.

#5. I've been stranded on the side of Delmas (quite possibly the craziest/busiest street in Port). As we were crossing the street the car battery died. Some men offered to help push the car to the side and after about an hour (which I didn't mind getting a sun tan!) we were back to running our errands.

#6. Speaking of Delmas, I have also ridden a moto (yes, I've ridden a motorcycle in Haiti, but never in America- I know this makes a lot of sense, right?!) through rush hour traffic on Delmas. I was thankful to complete the ride with all my limbs intact. The drivers weave in and out of traffic like I've never seen. I spent about 80% of the transit in prayer for my safety and wisdom for the driver! Nonetheless, I safely arrived a dinner at La Reserve, my favorite restaurant in Haiti (not that I've been to many- it's just been a ritual for most of my trips).

#7. I know how to operate a generator and inverter now. The things I have done to have power! I'm just beyond thankful to have the opportunity to have power here.

#8. I've read by the light on an old gasoline lamp. My grandmother showed me one of these at her house a few years ago, but now I can say I've used it. Those few nights without power were pretty cool to read in the simplicity of light and I had a really sweet time in worship one of the nights also!

That's about it for now as far as my funny stories go. Please continue to pray for me, the children, and staff. You prayers for unity have been felt. Today was a wonderful day working with everyone and great things were accomplished! Pray for some of our sick ones, it seems that the common thread right now is fever. Please pray that fever be gone from our home in Jesus Name! AMEN!

Faith. Hope. Love.

The Founder and Director of Faith Hope and Love Infant Rescue where I am staying asked that I write a weekly update for all of those on the email list.  I wanted to share with all of y'all also.

 

Faith: as it says in Hebrews is the substance of things hoped for and the certainty of things not seen.

 

Hope: I've recently heard defined as the anticipation of good.

 

Love: the laying down of one's life for another. Simply put....JESUS. He is the definition of love and modeled laying down His life for us all.

 

These three things are the only things that keep us, I'm referring to believers, going. They are the driving forces to waking up everyday. They are what allows every person here to care for these children. It's not an easy task, but it's certainly a rewarding one. It's one that I'm thankful I have the opportunity to take part in, if even for a short time.

 

Quick updates on the children. They start school on October 7th. As the new school year approaches I'm excited to see what it looks like. Sally, the Haitian Director, has worked so hard to get all the necessary items and prepare them for the big day. The kids have been learning a truth from scripture every week. This week the verse was "Nou konnen Bondye fe tout bagay travay ansanm pou byen moun ki renemn l yo" Romans 8:28. I've been able to take a group of the kids on walks in the afternoons. By God's wonderful Grace we've even been able to take even Son Son, Cassandra, and sweet little Lovena. The kids have been also participating in handwriting lessons. Some group and some individual. Tomrrow 10 of the children are going with us to the Sugar Cane park. I thought this would be very educational for the kids to understand a major industry in their country and it's history. Oh and did I mention a fun outing with ice cream?On Sunday, I plan to teach the older ones how to tell time. Please pray that they don't just live life constantly on "Haitian Time". There is importance to being to school and future jobs on time!

 

One HUGE praise that I absolutely must share is Tamara. Since I arrived on September 7th she has made incredible progress! She feeds herself while sitting up in the wheelchair, she can sit up on her own, she can bear weight some weight on her legs without pain, she pushes herself in her wheelchair, and she crawled from one room to the next last week. The biggest accomplishment that brings tears to my eyes is when the nannies told me 4 nights ago that she was in bed during devotion and they looked over to find her kneeling on her legs to pray. I got to see it for myself last night and I was overjoyed. She is much more active and constantly wanting to be included in all that her peers are doing!

 

Life in Haiti is fabulous, but we absolutely can't do it with your prayers! 

 

Please join with me in praying for the following:

 

- Tamara to walk. I'm believing this will happen before I leave on October 25th.

- Emma: tonight she complained of her knees hurting her. Please pray that the Lord would take away the pain and miraculously heal her body and free her from warts!

-Mawens: the doctor came today and we are thinking he might be hypoglycemic. He has had a few episodes this week of weakness before meals. I will be checking his blood sugar in the morning per doctors orders. Pray that this isn't the case and maybe he was just tired and hot.

-Myson: we went to the hospital today for a routine check up. He CD4 level was 564. Above 500 is the safe zone, but in reviewing his notes from previous visits his number have decreased 60 points. This could mean he isn't responding to the retroviral meds, please pray that this isn't the case!

- Please pray for unity of the leadership and staff here. That we daily wake up and commit ourselves to the Lord. That we constantly are driven by the Faith. Hope. and Love. our Savior died for!

Rooftops and Bedtime Kisses

I've had this title in my head for quite a few days now so lets see where this goes....

 

Rooftops. All but one of my trips to Haiti the places I have stayed have roofs. Thankfully where I currently reside this also is the case. Throughout the past 3 years I have spent quite a few evenings watching the sun go down over a country that I love. The sunsets in Haiti are particularly magnificent! The colors that He paints over this great country put me in AWE of my Creator King. Here I often spend time with the Lord as the sun goes down. More times than not during this ritual tears well up in my eyes at the majesty of King Jesus.

 

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork." Psalm 19:1

 

His handiwork is unlike anyone else's! It can't be contained. It can be compared!

 

During this trip my times on the roof have taken on a whole new meaning. One night after exercising I told the older kids who come up/semi-participate to go on downstairs. They said the wanted to stay. I then replied "If you want to stay go get a Bible." They ran downstairs and back upstairs with Bib la's in hand! I told them they had to be silent and either le (read) or prie (pray). The 5 older kids have joined me for a few of my evenings on the roof. The first time as I sat and watched them read and kneel to pray tears welled in my eyes (yes, I admit I'm easily moved to tears at the things of God! I like to consider it a strength and say I am tender hearted!). How sweet of these children to just want to be with me and the Lord give me the idea to include them in my times with Him! I'm not sure how well they can read or how much they truly focused, but I fully trust Jesus to speak to his little ones! My prayer is that in these sweet times He reveals Himself to them in ways that they can't deny, in ways that they will never forget, and in a way that they long to sit before Him more! May these rooftop nights become a part of their new normal. May time with Jesus be something they crave even at the ages of 7, 8, and 9!

 

Bedtime Kisses. I've about decided there is nothing sweeter in the whole world! On my last trip to Haiti I was given a Jesus Storybook Bible in Creole. For you moms out there, there isn't a better books to read to young children. If you don't own it, I HIGHLY recommend purchasing it ASAP! Also, for those of you like me who need Baby Shower gift ideas: there you go, now you have it.  Anywho, I have had the joy of reading to the girls some nights before bed. The Lord has given my such a grace to be able to read Creole with about 85% accuracy (yes, Jetline the oldest corrects me when I say a word uncorrectly!) even though I haven't a clue what the words are saying. Most of the time I infer the story from pictures!  The girls lay in their cabons (beds) and listen intently and get really excited to see the pictures! After I finish I get to give and receive bedtimes kisses. Some nights also after devotion and chante (songs), led by the nannies, I venture downstairs and say Bon Wit (Good Night) to the boys and I have little ones running up to me giving hugs and bedtime kisses too. These times are just precious. I'm so thankful for the Father displaying His love for me through His beautiful little children!

 

I have LOTS more to say and promise a less serious and more humorous blog is to come, but for now I would ask for prayer. Please pray for unity among the leadership here at Faith, Hope, and Love. There is Sally, the Haitian Director, Samuel, the Driver, and myself all trying to make decisions, manage money, and love these kids the way the Father does. Pray that our recently begun prayer times would daily regroup us for what our purpose is in all of this, to serve God and bring Him glory! Pray for the children. Pray for healing. Each of them either came in with or has a chronic medical condition or a disability. Pray that the Mighty God come and restore to them health! That one by one He make them ANEW! Pray for provision. It takes ALOT to care for 24 children, but I'm always amazed at how He makes it happen and know they He cares more than I ever could. Pray for the Founder, Dorothy, as she has returned home: that these season at home be restful, that her back be healed and pain would be gone, and that the Lord grants her wisdom about what it looks like to best care of these children from here on out!

 

I'm so appreciative of each of you partnering with and supporting me in this journey! The love and support from those at home is felt daily!

 

To Him Be the Glory,

 

Tori

Two In a Row

Yep, I guess I’m back at the blogging thing! The Lord often speaks to me through music. Tonight while I was exercising up on the roof with 5 little Haitians attempting to participate a song came on my phone that I downloaded right before coming to Haiti. The song You Are I AM by Mercy Me began to play. The words of the chorus greatly moved me to ponder the GREAT I AM. The chorus goes as follows:

 

You’re the one who CONQUERS GIANTS

You’re the one who CALLS OUT KINGS

You SHUT THE MOUTHS OF LIONS

You TELL THE DEAD TO BREATHE

You’re the one who WALKS THROUGH FIRE

You TAKE THE ORPHANS HANDS

You are THE ONE MESSIAH

YOU ARE I AM

 

After sending the little ones down to play with their friends, I sat watching the sunset and talked to Jesus. I prayed through each of these specifically in regards to these children. I challenge each of you to pray through the giants in your life- Jesus conquered them! Pray through what Jesus is calling you to do. Is it something challenging, radical, out of your comfort zone. DO IT! I promise you'll never regret it! Life with Him is abundant! The God who kept lions from eating Daniel is the same God who protects you! The power that raised Jesus and Lazurus from the dead is a power that you Behold! Acts 1:8 says "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses..."  The Son of God has walked through any fire, trial, or tribulation that you are currently walking through. Follow His leading and Praise Him throughout and you will pass through the fire also! And of course, now to one of my favorite parts He takes the orphan's hand! What a joy that I get to do as the Great I AM and holds these sweet little children's hands! It is my delight to do so. I love that my heart delights in the things of God! Last, but certainly not least, He is the One Messiah! The only one who can SAVE YOU! I hope and pray that if you're reading this you know Him if as your Savior; if not, please contact me I would love to tell you more! If you do know Him as Savior, make time right now to Worship the Great I AM! I'll end with another line from the song...

 

HALLELUJAH, HE LIVES IN ME!

Truth

One of the first few days I was in Haiti I read the following verse:

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the TRUTH."

3 John 1:4

The Spirit prompted me to consider how beautiful it would be if every week while I was in Haiti I took time to teach these wonderful children a morsel of His Truth. I mean the Bible's clear about the fact that the Truth Sets Us Free! This is a HUGE thing I desire for the sweet little angels. That they walk in Freedom! Haiti is a country that through the years has been wrecked with slavery and bondage both tangibly and in the spiritual realm. But Jesus came so that these kids can walk, dance, run, and sing in freedom! 

So last week The Lord laid it on my heart to teach the kids

 "...Mwen p'ap vire do ba ou..." 

Joyze 1:5. 

"...I will never leave you..." 

Joshua 1:5. 

This pwomes de Bondye (promise of God) is so vital for these children to learn. My heart longs for them to know this promise in it's fullness and cling to it everyday as long as they journey on this earth. It's so important for them to grasp this truth as most of their earthly parents have left them either through death or abandonment and as we Blancs (white people) love them dearly, but are also guilty of coming and going in their lives. Please join me in pray that this truth set these kids free from any lies the enemy tries to put into their precious little minds! 

It's a New Season

Adventure. That's what LIFE with God is. Everyday no matter where you are choose to say YES! to the adventure. It's waking up to a day filled with new, yet perfectly planned, encounters. Whether it be the man you speak to at the gas station, celebrating a birth, chatting with a co-worker over lunch, or speaking to the librarian (shout out of all of you in school) He has purposed it all. The sunset, the soon to be autumn leaves, a snow capped mountain, or beautiful seas God uses ALL of it to lure you deeper into a personal adventure with Himself. Choose to say YES! to the Living God. He has good things for you.

Today I am saying YES! to a new adventure. I'm currently sitting in Miami waiting to board a plane to Port Au Prince, Haiti. I will be returning to a country and a people that I love. I have the beautiful opportunity to spend 7 weeks in Haiti! This longer than ever before. My heart is glad. My heart is thankful. My mind on the other hand, can't fathom what lies ahead. Praise you Lord that I don't know what is to come, but you do! Praise you that it is good and that through it I will be more transformed into your likeness! While in Haiti I will be living at a children's home. I get to become a part of a new family. As I depart, I ask for you prayers. Pray that I will receive MORE of Jesus. Pray for grace to transition into this home as the director will be leaving a couple of days after my arrival. Pray that the Kingdom will come in our home. Pray that God shows up in RADICAL ways. Pray that His name be glorified in all I say and do. Pray that the kids know how LOVED they are by their Creator King.

Thanks to all of you for supporting and encouraging my YES! Thank you especially to my parents for modeling for the what it means to take the Gospel to the nations and for nurturing my adventurous spirit! I am who I am today because of Jesus and y'all!

Lent Devotion

I was asked to write on Psalm 14 for the Lent Devotion at church. The verse that prompted what follows is verse 3: "They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one."

As we prepare our hearts for the resurrection of our Lord it's important to realize our need for a Savior. Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection changed the course of eternity for all mankind. For me personally it was years after I accepted Jesus before I fully believed that there was nothing good in and of myself. Do you believe that? Not one thing that you do is good. NOTHING! Have you come to the place of depravity? For me personally those years in between of accepting Jesus and recognizing my depravity were interesting. I feel as though I knew there were parts of me that were "bad" and I needed Jesus in those areas; but the majority of me was "good" so I didn't really need Him. I felt like in those "good" areas I had things under control. What breaks my heart about this season in my life is that I feel like a lot of people struggle with this idea of self-sufficiency and "goodness" in our churches today. It was once I recognized the truth of who I was without Christ, then did I truly grasp His role and importance in my life. He became my everything! He crossed all contexts and was a part of each facet of my life. Then did I truly begin living a life bringing glory to God. The process of recognizing my complete and utter need for the Lord came from a season of learning more about God's sovereign plan to redeem this fallen world. For me personally, the Lord often speaks to me through music. A song that speaks to this truth is "The Only Thing" by Ronnie Freeman. If you have a chance take a moment to listen to it. I pray that it helps your heart and mind grasp this truth as it did mine. Another beautiful outcome of realizing my depravity was realizing also that because of His death, burial, and resurrection I now am a new creation. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore if anyone is in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" Hallelujah! Because I've said yes to Jesus and He rules and reigns in my heart I am righteous like Him! "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21 Now that we are considered righteous, Psalm 14:5 gives us this hope: "for God is present in the company of the righteous." Go forth today knowing that the Creator of the universe is with you!


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