Perhaps many of you remember that last fall I invited you to participate in sending Christmas gifts down to 40 students we are providing scholarships for in Haiti. Your response was so encouraging!
This past week Al and I and three friends from Silver Creek Ministries here in German Valley, Illinois went down to Haiti to learn more about our students and the program, "Help the Youth Get an Education" What a JOY!
When I suggested to TiCarme that we would like to provide chickens for their Christmas meal
in addition to the French Bible she was planning to give them, she responded with enthusiasm. In my mind she would go to the market and buy a frozen chicken for each family...silly me :) Instead, TiCarme purshased a live chicken and presented it to each family. Thursday we met with our students and heard over and over again, "Thank you for the Christmas gifts. Thank you for the chicken." The young woman sitting next to me said, "Mine is still alive. We are saving it for my birthday meal in March." Think about that a little. To have meat on her birthday was so special she saved her chicken for 3 months.
It is little stories like this that help us understand the situation of these amazing brothers and sisters in Christ.
As we gathered with the students last Thursday afternoon Al and I compared the faces we were looking at with the faces we had seen last May. In May these students were not in school. They had no financial resources to make it happen. They desperately wanted to continue their education. They were solemn. Thursday it was like meeting a new group of students. They were smiling, engaging, excited about what was happening. You could tell that they knew they were a part of something God was doing in their midst. They were a family of students.
This was an answer to the prayers uttered last May. The adults working with them, TiCarme, Rodrique and Arnold told them, "You are not just a part of a program...you are a family." Now they could testify to it! Several of the students greeted us, and all started out the same, "First of all we thank God, because God laid it on your hearts to help us, so that one day we can help others." They are already helping others! They are helping me to see God in the lives of these young men and women.
My thoughts as I listened to them were, "How very sad it would be if these young people could not finish their education. They exuded leadership, poise and promise. God made a way, because he knows the potential in their lives...and we get to be cut in on the action!!" Praise be to God for the wonderful deeds he has done.
And now begins the next step in the journey. The dreams and faith of TiCarme, Rodrique and Arnold are bigger than our minds can comprehend. Their response to our questions of When? How? Where? is "GOD KNOWS."
Guide us, O Thou Great Jehovah, pilgrims in this barren land;
We are weak, but Thoug art mighty; hold us with Thy powerful hand;
Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven feed us 'til we want no more,
Feed us 'til we want no more.
Stay tuned for updates on when we will be making our next trip to Haiti. We would love to introduce you to some amazing people, in an amazing place. We guarantee, if you come looking for God you will find Him there.
This past week Al and I and three friends from Silver Creek Ministries here in German Valley, Illinois went down to Haiti to learn more about our students and the program, "Help the Youth Get an Education" What a JOY!
When I suggested to TiCarme that we would like to provide chickens for their Christmas meal
in addition to the French Bible she was planning to give them, she responded with enthusiasm. In my mind she would go to the market and buy a frozen chicken for each family...silly me :) Instead, TiCarme purshased a live chicken and presented it to each family. Thursday we met with our students and heard over and over again, "Thank you for the Christmas gifts. Thank you for the chicken." The young woman sitting next to me said, "Mine is still alive. We are saving it for my birthday meal in March." Think about that a little. To have meat on her birthday was so special she saved her chicken for 3 months.
It is little stories like this that help us understand the situation of these amazing brothers and sisters in Christ.
As we gathered with the students last Thursday afternoon Al and I compared the faces we were looking at with the faces we had seen last May. In May these students were not in school. They had no financial resources to make it happen. They desperately wanted to continue their education. They were solemn. Thursday it was like meeting a new group of students. They were smiling, engaging, excited about what was happening. You could tell that they knew they were a part of something God was doing in their midst. They were a family of students.
This was an answer to the prayers uttered last May. The adults working with them, TiCarme, Rodrique and Arnold told them, "You are not just a part of a program...you are a family." Now they could testify to it! Several of the students greeted us, and all started out the same, "First of all we thank God, because God laid it on your hearts to help us, so that one day we can help others." They are already helping others! They are helping me to see God in the lives of these young men and women.
My thoughts as I listened to them were, "How very sad it would be if these young people could not finish their education. They exuded leadership, poise and promise. God made a way, because he knows the potential in their lives...and we get to be cut in on the action!!" Praise be to God for the wonderful deeds he has done.
And now begins the next step in the journey. The dreams and faith of TiCarme, Rodrique and Arnold are bigger than our minds can comprehend. Their response to our questions of When? How? Where? is "GOD KNOWS."
Guide us, O Thou Great Jehovah, pilgrims in this barren land;
We are weak, but Thoug art mighty; hold us with Thy powerful hand;
Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven feed us 'til we want no more,
Feed us 'til we want no more.
Stay tuned for updates on when we will be making our next trip to Haiti. We would love to introduce you to some amazing people, in an amazing place. We guarantee, if you come looking for God you will find Him there.
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