Heart for Haiti

Little feet running, pheonetic intense lanuguage I couldn't comprehend, and lots of laughter .... these are the sounds I was awakened to for the past 8 days. I spent last week in Leogane, Haiti at a Foundation that has home for boys, and a home for girls. It was an amazing week! Not because I got to love on them, play games, and learn a little creoyle, but because I saw transformation begin.

This trip was a follow up to the first, which was 3.5 months ago. To see the love that was poured into them still very precendent was incredible. What does that mean? It means that upon our initial arrival in May 31st, we immediately saw a room full of boys who had fear, abandonment issues, and anger in their hearts. After a week with them, we saw them change before our very eyes. We saw the Lord come in heal their hearts, and when we returned in September, the change had stayed. A worker who was their for the first visit stated the boys had been different since we left. They weren't nearly as mean to each other, they helped around the 'house', and they seemed as though they were just happier.

It's different when you get to a place [in your own heart, or geographically], and it has to be Jesus or nothing. There isn't access hospitals with medicine, you need the Lord to come with His healing power, and make it better. It is a true level of desperation for His presence, or you can't go on - literally. And I beleive when we, as a church body [all Christians] realize, it is about so much more than the here and now - it is about being a reflection of Him - the sleeping giant [the Church] will awake. We will see John 14:12 walked out - we won't just 'hope' it happens, we will see it happening. And only because we have fully surrendered to Jesus.

There are so many stories, I will probably write again about our Sept. Haiti trip - but do know we also built them a basketball court, purchased medicine, brought in mattress protectors, new sheets, supplies, toys, Creole Bibles, Creole Devotionals, hygiene needs and a TON of other stuff :) - but the greatest of these is Love. And I am SOOOOO gratful for the friends and family who brought in items for us to take down - they loved EVERYTHING :)!

And as for Sampson, Stevenson, Eli, Christnov, Ephesians, Miguel and the others - they have a piece of our heart. We will return and continue to pour out what the Lord has given and come along side Him and what He is doing in Haiti - we continue to pray for them, to dream of them, and carry them with us.

So Long Gulf Shores - Hello Haiti!

So tomorrow is finally here and a small team of us are headed down to Leogane, Haiti. Excitement and anticipation are two of the few emotions that have engulfed me these past few months. I have known for a while, that no matter what I do, or where I end up in life, I want to help, to make a difference, to change the world [yes, this is actually true :)] I believe in helping those right outside my front door, and helping those far away. So for now, this means Haiti.

I feel privileged to get to come alongside the The Dezman Fleury Foundation  and what they are doing in Haiti. They are working hard to build back what was lost, care for the orphaned, love the hurting, and help mold the face of their community into something positive and productive. The hearts of those who run the foundation astound me, and only intensify the desire to be a part of the change I want to see in the world. I am not content watching others do the things that burn inside my heart, I want to be right up in the middle of it, giving it my all.

Although The Fleury Foundation has made much progress since last January, there is still more work to be done, and in a place where needs outweigh the aid by unthinkable margins we are setting out to give wholly of ourselves and do anything and everything we can. The foundation consists of an orphanage [where the numbers grow daily], two schools, clinic & church, All of which was destroyed in the January 2010 earthquake that no one will forget.

I am super excited that Freshly Bold Photography will be not only updating all of the photography for their [NEW!] website [be sure to check it out, we hand our hand it that too!], but will also be partnering with Generation Cry as they create updated videography for the Fleury Foundation website as well.

I will definitely be back with more of [of my own] photos, and will also give a detailed account of our adventure. We will not have [easy] internet access, and due to not wanting to literally carry my laptop the whole time, I will more than likely not be getting online. - which I am actually ok with. :)

Please know that all photos from this post are credited to Peter Amend of Amend Photography.