Haiti Day 4

Yesterday began with Dann playing the guitar and leading our team in some worship music.  We are so grateful to be here, serve and see first hand the labor of love of those who now call Haiti their home in order to provide for the children of MDL.   After our holy huddle we split into several smaller groups to tackle some tasks.  The "Depot" an underground storage room at the girl's room is home to donated items from hygiene products, school supplies, craft items, sports equipment and some misc construction items.  We were asked to reorganize it and unpack and store the items we brought.  It has taken 3 full mornings with 3-5 people working to go through bins, suitcases and boxes and create a little more order.  Doing so will allow the staff here to more effectively update the website list of needs for future donations and make it much easier to find items that are needed.  But hot, humid and dusty, roaches and some rodent "souveneirs" provided us an opportunity for a mighty big dose of holy perspiration; probably not at all what our team mates called it over lunch.  Others from the team were next door sorting clothing and setting up a room as a closet that would be easily accessible and clearly marked and seperated by gender and size.  Still another group were doing some painting at the boys home.  Dann, Lynette and Kristen spent the afternoon at the clinic.

A doctor very recently joined Ashley the nurse who looks to be about 25 or so and arrived in Haiti just 2 weeks before the earthquake.  She alone, was the go to person when the boys home became a makeshift hospital. For seven days straight she "deputized" the older boys and other staff members as fellow nurses and treated people with whatever was available including at least one amputation.  Her nursing degree cannot come close to designating her skill, knowledge and all she has seen.  The rest of the women did some crafts with the older girls while they waited for their time with Alicia who would examine and purchase the necklaces and purses each had made for the "store" here at the guest house.  With the money they make, they are required to save 1/3, put aside 1/3 for more supplies and keep the last 1/3. 

All the in between time was spent talking to or holding and playing with any child we could get close to.  Darling little bundles of sweetness and amazingly bright smiles most often mask the history and brokenness of their young lives. 

Each has a story, not that they share with us, nor do we dare ask them to recount such things, but the staff is free to confidentially share some basics with us and the fact that they can smile and laugh, run and play is evidence of what Jesus does and the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the staff and those teams that have come to help.  There is just no more meaningful work if I can even call it that.  Thank you for praying and supporting us.