Heavenly Food !!

One morning recently when I was in Haiti, I sat down with the leaders of thirteen communities. They had come to share with me about the hunger in their villages. Thirteen faces with an expression of deep down grief. Some of them lost their own child, all of them lost children they knew. Nothing humbles me more than sitting down with parents who plead for their children. It could be me. I have held many of those kids in my arms while later I might find out they did not make it.
I did not want to give them empty promises. The only thing I could say was something that happened years ago. In an identical situation, when five centers had been closed because a Canadian government program was cut. All I had to say then ,was for all the villagers to pray and that I believed God would not return their prayers void. Three months later a man called me with a random question. We got to talk and a few weeks later we received the support to reopen the centers. God is so good!
That is what I told them now too. Pray and He will not leave you alone with your problems.
One of them answered "Let's not waste time then" and he started singing "Crown Him Lord of Lords".
One after another thirteen raw voices blended in. People on the bottom rung of civilization praising their Lord for the glimmer of hope they just received. People who carried their children to the grave.
What a faith!
And what an AWESOME GOD, because this afternoon I received a phone call that we will receive funding, allowing us to reopen the feeding centers soon. I am beside myself. Friday we are leaving to go back to Haiti and next week I may sit down with the same group. What a privilege. I know I am going to cry for joy together with them. Together we will be able to praise His Name! There is going to be food again.
Heavenly Food!

Helping someone while cleaning out the fridge.

It says in the bible not to worry about tomorrow. What you will eat or which clothes you will wear. Kids today must really think that 's a joke. Why would you worry, the fridge is so full and mom has to clean it out every week because there is not enough room for the new groceries. And the clothes thing, well my daughters would stand in front of a packed clothes closet and claim they had nothing to wear. So we must not quite understand that thing about worry.
I have my own problem with it. I know I have enough. More than enough. But is it wrong that I still worry what I am going to feed my kids in Haiti tomorrow. I have to leave it up to God who knows what's best for me and who cares for all the creatures in this world, so imagine how much more for the kids in Haiti and me?
It also says ask and you shall receive. Now if I don't have to worry about tomorrow, why should I have to ask?

But then again, maybe it is alright to ask on behalf of others, for our neighbors, for those who God has put on our path.
Yeah, that's what it must be.
So here I go...
People, we need lots more to keep helping the poor an hungry in Haiti. Lots and lots and lots more. I can't help it. I am going back in a few weeks and I know that there is sooo.. much to do and sooo.. little time.
Maybe something to think about while you clean out the fridge or when you are trying to find something to wear. Maybe you can help me worry a little less.

One of the families waiting anxiously to get a home. They now live outside under a tarp.

 

 

 

 

Despite my worries,we are gonna get these people homes to live and gardens to grow their crops. We have already started. Time enough to worry, later! Right?

Stella!!

I don't believe there is anything more peaceful than holding a sleeping baby. I'm sitting here with tears welling up in my eyes thinking about the moment that I for the first time saw my grand daughter. I thought for a moment my heart was gonna burst. And then to be able and sit down and babysit Stella for the first time while Mom and Dad were napping. Els and I were just eating it up, every second of it.
While sitting with her in my arms trying to eternally remember every second of this, my thoughts started to wander to all these beautiful kids I know in Haiti and who are largely missing out on that experience of being held. I think I will hold them even closer next time.
We always talk about "getting a baby" but Stella got a mommy and a daddy yesterday and four loving grand parents who all would like to hold her all day long. How many children can claim that.
In a year that started out with witnessing the most horrible things ever in my life I am also given the indescribable wonder of a new life added to our family. God heals wounds in His own perfect way.
I want to scream it from the mountain tops "I am an OPA"
Help us God to be gentle and sweet to all the little lives you put on our path because they are all worth it!

Stella just 4 hours in this world