Monday, January 25, 2010

Home From Haiti Again

I am home from Haiti again. This week has been one of the most difficult and rewarding weeks of my life. It was both physically and emotionally draining. A week that makes you appreciate what you have and where you live. It makes even the most difficult and trying times I experience at home and in my life so trivial. I saw people with no homes, only the clothes on their backs living on the streets or in the park areas, taking baths, naked on the street in broad daylight, standing in a long, long line just to get a bottle of water to drink, or a bag of rice to eat, what a humbling experience. I saw shelters built from sticks woven together to form a "house", a stick on each corner and across the top with a sheet or something similar spread over the top to make a roof, just to shelter them from the sun. In PAP it was extremely hot. In the midst of this, the people were singing praises to God, thankful for their lives, because basically that is all they have left, their lives and the greatest thing that they could ever have, the love of God. I saw greater expressions of faith from these people who have nothing, than the people here at home who have everything.
The time spent at GLA was very different than when I was there before, the Haitian nannies had such sad eyes, everyone of them had lost family members and or their homes. Some had found their children and had brought them to the orphanage to live with them. On the morning of the 6.1 "aftershock" the sad eyes where even more evident, it was just one week before that their lives had been turned upside down. Through it all they were trying to keep calm for the sake of the children. They would periodically break out in songs, praising God for His love and protection.
The love, caring, and concern the Haitians have for each other was exhibited as a lesson to be learned. Oh how privileged and selfish we are. We need to put aside all hatred we feel and love one another, our lives can be turned upside down in an instant, life is too valuable and short to spend time hating one another.
My prayer is that we never have to experience what the people of Haiti are experiencing and that we would show the love for one another that I have seen the Haitians show this week. I praise God that He allowed me to be a part of their lives for a brief period of time and that He brought me home safely.
I praise Him for His love, protection and a lesson learned.


God Bless You!For He shall give His angels charge over you,To keep you in all your ways.
Psalm 91:11 NKJV
I will post a little later to tell you a little of my experience at the orphanage and helping to bring the children, who were coming to America to live, home to their "forever" families.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

I am back in Haiti

We just arrived at the orphanage just a few minutes ago. It was an incredible day. I will try to post info about the day later. We were totally safe, brought in a plane load of supplies.

Looking forward to a night of rest and will start another full day tomorrow.

Keep me and the Haitian people in your prayers.

Mary Jo In Haiti (Praise God)

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Haiti and Earthquake



The above picture is of the children sleeping outside because of the aftershocks being felt.

I know that you have been hearing about and watching the devastation experienced by the country of Haiti as the result of the earthquake. Watching what has transpired in Haiti has weighed heavily on my heart. My prayer since Tuesday, day of the earthquake, has been, God what can I do?. My prayer has been answered and I am heading back to Haiti and in particularly to God's Littlest Angels Orphanage. Praise God for opening the doors to allow me to go and offer my support for the people of Haiti, and the Children & Staff of the orphanage.
I will be in Haiti on Tuesday of this week. Praise God! I will post if possible while I am in Haiti.
If you do not see a post, please know that we are in need of additional prayers. I have been told that the supply of food, water, and fuel is extremely low. All water is brought into the orphanage by truck, normally they receive at least 10 truckloads in a week, this has been compromised as a result of this earthquake. Their food supply is also very low and is being rationed. Pray for some relief concerning these matters.

The orphanage building is intact, still experiencing aftershocks, which I understand are a little unnerving. The children are all safe and as of this morning all of the Haitian Nannies have been accounted for. Some have lost family members and some have lost their homes. Pray for them, please.
This is information provided by Dixie Bickel, director to the orphanage:
If you would like to help, here are some suggestions:
We are collecting donations now and will be sending a shipping container to Haiti as soon as we can. For the orphanage, we always need powdered formula, diapers, baby wipes, baby cereal, infant tylenol, infant and childrens vitamins, and baby care items such as lotion, powder, baby shampoo. We also hope to be able to assist the surrounding community with clothing, medical supplies, household items, hygiene items such as soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, blankets and towels. We have also set up a fund for earthquake relief for our staff and surrounding community. Many of our staff will need assistance with home repair and funeral expenses. Donations should be sent to:

God's Littlest Angels2085
Crystal River Dr.
Colorado Springs, CO 80915
Financial donations for earthquake relief can be sent to the above address, or via Paypal on our web site http://www.glahaiti.org/, (Canadian donors should use the Canadian Paypal button at www.glacanada.ca) or through the following link: http://godslittlestangelsinhaiti.org/ and click the "Chip in" button.

I thank you again, as I go, for your prayer support.