It's our last day in Haiti and we head out to buy water and oranges to give out. We wait for the time to come to go back to the place that changed it all for me. I have been waiting for this day since the day I left it, but I have been waiting even more impatiently since returning to Haiti. I forgot to mention that in the middle of the night I am awoken with pains in my stomach, and know I am in for a long day of sickness. But I refuse to let anything stop me from going. As we start driving there, I know we are in for a bumpy ride off the path so all I can do is pray. I pray "Lord, please just get me through my time here. Let me be here for the children and for you. Amen." We arrive and I feel this instant relief in my stomach where I feel comfortable enough to get out of the van. We head into a one bedroom house where there squeezed in are at least 130 children and teens. I see familiar faces, faces that changed me. They welcome us and we give thanks for them allowing us to come visit. The man in charge asks if we would like to go outside and play with them. In my head I am jumping and screaming "YES,YES, YES."
We head outside to spend time with the children, and all I hear are kids yelling to get our attention. I no longer see Chris's legs at this point, all I see are children hugging him. I pick up one little girl and a smile spreads across her face and she snuggles in. We walk over to watch the other kids play soccer. I bend down to be at the children's level. I ask each child that comes to me what their name is. Some answer others just smile and hold my hand. I smile and thank God for these beautiful children He has put in front of me. I see the sweet twin boys who stole my heart the first time and I hold one tight in my arms and there he falls asleep. I ask myself if I can hold him forever, can I hold them all forever?
It's time to hand out the water and oranges. The children line up and one by one they come and receive. I hear faint Thank-you's and once again am blessed with those little smiles. We finish and it's time for goodbyes. Once again we are thanked and I with sincere intention reply "I'll see you soon."
Back at where we are staying, I sit and let my time there sink in and once again the Lord has broken me and has put it deep within my heart where it has always been that that's where I am suppose to be. There I know is where it will begin and I pray that the Lord shows me the way because I know it's not I that can do it but Him.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free, - Luke 4:18
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