The End Draws Near...

Hey all,

God is good! We just got done with our team meeting and discovered that all 5 or 6 people that were feeling slightly under the weather last night are completely better! Sickness has tried to creep in several times but we continue to rejoice at how the Lord has brought immediate healing. To travel home with 27 healthy bodies would be such a blessing! And a miracle in my mind...

Today was another hard day of work and the kids got a lot done. All of the posts for a third duplex in Timonette are set and the roof will be ready to get started tomorrow. Our group has been able to take part in helping largely with 3 different duplexes - which will house a total of 6 families. We've also seen 6 of the tin homes get built in the other town of Parisse. It has been neat talking with the Haitians and hearing their stories. Today Jeremy shared about a conversation he had with a man who had lost both his father and mother in the earthquake. The man was still so positive and declared "don't pity me, I have God. I'm living the life..." Wow, what a thing to say for someone who has just gone through so much. To be able to take part in providing solid housing for these precious people of God is an absolute honor. All of us have been greatly humbled and recognize in a much deeper level the many blessings God has given us. Spirits are still high and there appears to be enough energy in the tank for one more work day :) I did ask the kids tonight who all is ready to go home - and they all raised their hands. I told them thats a good thing because home is reality - and we ought to be excited to continue the things God has taught us and shown us back at home. (I think they were thinking of things more like pizza, good fresh water, warm showers, deodorant and shampoo that actually has a smell, mcdonalds, paved roads, not getting up at 5:30 every morning...) It really is so great to have experiences like these because all of these youth will never forget what it was like to live in Haiti for 10 days. They will forever remember the conditions that others live in and the poverty that much of the world is stricken with - and with that knowledge it is my hope it will propel them to give thanks to the Lord all the more for His many blessings. All we have is a gift from God - we only have it because He chose to allow us to have it. May He receive all honor and glory in every aspect of our lives.

Again I have been so impressed with the attitudes of these youth and couldn't be happier or more blessed with how things have gone. The Lord has been so good and has provided our every need. As one of the youth shared tonight in their devotional - one of the biggest things God has shown all these youth is the power of prayer. We look forward to tomorrow and making the most of our last day here! (we are also all very excited for Fried Chicken Friday - they have rice and stew every night except for every Friday they make a special meal). But more importantly we are excited to give it our all in this last day and to be able to pray for the family that will be moving into one of the duplexes. My post tomorrow night will be the last! Wow, I can hardly believe it. Continue to pray for strength in the last day! (I keep saying last day because Saturday is literally all travel from 8am to 11pm). You can also begin praying for safety in all that travel on Saturday. Be Blessed!