All that I own

Two of our beloved students just got married the other day.

Phida and Nosebin <3

Mom and I had the privilege of singing at their wedding. Phida sings with Mom and me in chapel, and the songs she requested us sing on her special day were her favorites from chapel :)

This is the start of team season. In fact, we have a team here right now! So far this week we've visited Streethearts! (http://www.streetheartshaiti.org)

 Usually we spend the majority of our time with the kiddos, but these past two days have been more focused on the staff. We had a Bible study with the staff where they asked TONS of great questions, and Junior was right there, opening the Word and showing them answers. It was just incredible. At one point Bob (a team member) asked how they could live for Jesus today. I was surprised by one of the answers we received. He said, "I will love Jesus with all of my heart, all of my strength, all of my mind, and with all that I own." All that I own. I have never heard anyone say that before. This guys have nothing. The staff of Streethearts come from the street, and thats why its so easy for the boys to relate to them. These guys live in the ghettos, the lowest of the low, and he says that he will love God with all he owns. Its amazing to me that people with so little are willing to hand everything over to God. And then you have me, who has more than I need, and who clings onto everything, unwilling to let God have what I own. I am learning so much from the humble men and women God has surrounded me with. 

I love that place. The boys that live there are so sweet considering all they've been through. If you don't know anything about Streethearts, its an organization in Cap Haitien for boys who live on the street. It provides them a loving home, and a chance to get to know Jesus more. One of the activities we did with the boys this week was writing down our issues or problems on a piece of paper and nailing it to the cross. I helped the little boys who didn't know how to write yet. After a lesson with Joe (another team member), we removed the papers from the cross and burned them. 

Streethearts needs prayer. The kind of ministry they do is incredibly difficult. Street boys have been through so much. They are scared and turn to violence and crime because they don't know any different. Even when they are placed in the program, they still have their old lives calling their names. Its so hard to stay walking the straight and narrow when turning away is so easy. Please keep the staff and the boys constantly in your prayers. 

thanks for reading <3 

The End of the School Year

I simply cannot believe that this school year has come to a close. Already. 

The past several weeks have been full (and I mean FULL) of Emmaus events that mark the end of the academic year. 

We haven't gone to the beach much this year due to all the rain we've gotten, though we happened to find the perfect beach day!

It was absolutely gorgeous all day.

 This little guy decided to have breakfast with us one morning...

Graduation day for all the lovely 4th years. That day was a big day. 

This years graduation was a special one. When we first moved here, they were 1st years, which means we have seen them walk every step of the way towards this graduation. They've  worked so hard and today their goal was finally accomplished.

Ethan moved back to the States for college. We spent our last week with him trying to get him as much time with his friends as possible...

Our Haitian friends were sad to see him go. We moved here when E was only 13, and now he's all grown up (and incredibly tall!).

I already miss him like crazy and I know this next year isn't gonna be the same without him. He is a special kid. 

thanks for reading :)

Harvest Bible Chapel Team!

Ever since November when this team came last year, we have been waiting for March 2017 for Harvest's medical team to visit again. March came and went in a whirlwind! We were so busy with this team but it was a blast!

We took them to one of our favorite churches on Sunday morning...

And straight to the beach afterward!

One of my Mom's former youth group girls, (now good friend!) Sabrina, came the same week as the team for a mission's trip over spring break!

She decided she wanted to be baptized while she was here and it was an awesome experience!

All week I worked as a translator for the dentist, and Sabrina assisted him alongside of another sweet team member, Nicole!

 As well as working in the main clinic Jehovah Rapha, we did mobile clinics in different villages...

 

With lunch at the mobile clinic we had coconuts!

Transporting all the supplies for the clinics was quite the adventure...

The kids loved playing soccer while waiting their turn to see the doctors!

Natalie and I <3

We did one at Granny's church, and Stacey accompanied us as one of our translators!

Consultations were done in the classrooms of the school by the church... 

We set up our little dentist's station on the stage of the church...

There was an old woman who came up to the clinic with a baby. Come to find out she was the grandma of the one-month-old little baby. Apparently the mother was only 14, and she abandoned the baby. The baby hadn't eaten in several days but was surprisingly healthy. I went with Grandma to the pharmacy to get the baby some electrolyte packets, and then I was able to feed the little guy through a syringe. Granny ended up sending someone into town to buy some formula for him. 

He is so precious. 

After a week of hard work and new friendships, of lots of healing and helping, the Harvest team returned to their home in Canada, and Sabrina returned to the States! 

Thanks for reading! Be looking for another blog soon!!

This year so far...

I'm sorry its been such a long time since I've last posted, we've been so busy! Here's what we have been up to so far this year...

This semester Mom taught an intensive Christian Counseling class at the seminary...

Everyone loved the class and really enjoyed learning how to counsel people in their churches!

Last month we had a team from Sharptown church come!

They cooked meals for us every night and were such a blessing 

The guys played basketball with the students...

They even got to visit Linsey at Streethearts!

We did a conversational English night where we split into groups and they got to meet the students!

Love these guys <3

They had great conversations and it was lots of fun

Since Andy and Dawn Buzby were here(!), lots of garden work was done and lots of seeds were planted!

We went to Micheline's church on that Sunday...

It was a beautiful service and a blessing to be a part of.

Thank you guys for coming! We loved having you <3

Haiti's beauty breath-taking even when you see it everyday

Our beloved Boone passed a few weeks ago. He was such a good dog to our families. He was loyal and devoted to his job as guard dog.

We needed a new dog to do Boone's old job, so after lots of research we bought a little female rottwelier mix from a breeder in Petit-Anse. 

Her name is Sadie and she has already won a place in our hearts <3

This past week we had a team from West Park Church!

During their time here they painted our administration building...

And the Ayars girlies helped too ;) 

We hiked to church in DuFour, and the service was beautiful. We had to bring our own chairs as you can see...

One day we had another conversational English night which is always a blast. 

We split into groups and just talked away... 

...and laughed...

...and prayed.

We visited Streethearts, and what you get to experience when you go there is incredible. 

The children are talkative and crazy, but also very giving and sweet <3

They love pictures too!

After a lovely week of hard work, games, and good times together, the team journeyed back to their Jersey home. Thank you guys for coming! You are always welcome here. 

Thanks for reading :)