Flooding in Mirebalais

This is a picture of water coming from under the floor in the orphanage.

UPDATE! The children did not have to evacuate and they are cleaning up after the flood. Praise God!

Emergency

I had planned on updating the blog today with pictures, but just received word that Mirebalais is experiencing flooding. PLEASE PRAY NOW. Pray that the damn (will post pictures/info about it later) will remain intact. Please pray that the children are safe and that they will not have to evacuate. Please pray for the people who have built tent housing in Mirebalais, and the the structure of the stores, homes, etc. will remain intact. Please pray for Shae, that she will be given wisdom on how to proceed further and for God's lasting protection and peace to surround and encamp about her and those around her.

Love you,
Dorian

You Know Part 2

I thought of another one last night.

5. You know you're in another country when the rats are bigger than your shoes. I'm just sayin' :-)

(I know it's not a laughing matter, but trust me. When you come face to face, or face to tail in this instance, with something like that, you've got to make light of it.)

Les Etats Unis

Okay. First, let me pause to PRAISE GOD for a safe return with no issue. That's amazing. I know it. I don't want to miss out on all the little ways God is reminding me that HE is with me. It's still hard. I still want to cry. I have already cried. I don't know what God has done in my heart, but it is turned toward Haiti. HE's helping me though. And even when my natural tendency is to back away from all the feelings and emotions I'm experiencing right now, something my friend warned me could/would happen, I know that HE will help me get through it. Thank you for your prayers. Continue to stay tuned as I will be posting additional pictures and commentaries/stories from Haiti.

With much love,
Dorian

Leaving this Morning

I cried. I did. For those who know me, I know that doesn't take a lot. But, actually I have done a pretty good job of NOT crying. It is the funniest or perhaps the most surprising thing, but I didn't want to go. That's such a loaded statement. There were so many thoughts that were passing through my mind. Life here is a lot less complicated and I still feel like there's so much more...more I could have done, different ways in which God could use me. Things seem undone, or unfinished. But even that doesn't quite fully articulate how I felt. I wonder exactly what is to come. This scripture has been a great source of comfort for the past few hours. May it continue to be for the rest of my days...

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11

Pictures from My First Two Days

You know you're in another country when...

1. "Off" bug spray becomes your perfume of choice. (Yes and Amen)

2. The bathroom, if you can find one, becomes one of your most favorite rooms.

3. Toilet tissue is a precious commodity. Sometimes more valuable than eating.

4. Hand sanitizer is a close personal friend.

More to come...

Stories of Hope

The second night I arrived, my friend Shae told me of her good friend's reunion with family. They were at the orphanage and a man walked in the yard. Her friend, Saintilye, (pronounced san-sil-lay) jumped and ran to meet the man. It was his cousin who they had not known if he were alive or dead.

A little boy at the orphanage was praying at the end of the evening. He thanked God that he had a home and then he prayed that all the boys and girls would have mommies and daddies. AMAZING.

I cannot recount the countless times I would be discouraged, or more to the point inconvenienced, when I would hear one of the nannies praying or singing, or the children singing "Hail Jesus, you're my king". Even the children singing "God Our Father We Thank You" as they blessed their food reminded me of God's great love and care for all those who fear Him. Not just for those who happen to have money or more access to finer things. GOD IS HERE!

What a praise. Yes, there are the sounds of the voodoo drums at night, but PRAISE THE LORD there is the resounding sound of HIS praise going forth the next day. It would be quite easy to focus on Satan and his trappings. I've been praying and am still doing so that GOD would help me focus on Him. I've never been more content with something as small as having a pillow at night or just being glad to have electricity so the fans would work.

I pray GOD would keep me here. Not necessarily in the same place outwardly. That will change. But inwardly, I pray that I would always be grateful for the little things that GOD has given to me and remind myself that if He can bless an orphan with gratefulness to have food and a home, He can do the same for me.

GOD bless you.

Dorian

It's been a while...

Yes...I know it's been a while. Through sickness and lack of internet access, I've not been blogging as often as I would have wanted to. And so an update from the last.

Day 2
Our second day you can imagine was full of rest. Although I was still processing through everything. I was most definitely on information overload. My meetings were with two Canadian volunteers to the orphanage and few of the boys who live at/help around the house.

I realized typing this how hard it is to remember all the little things that stick out to you at a moment. I will share this...

One can never have a full picture of Haiti. It's easy viewing the tent communities and shambled buildings to remember how devastating the earthquake was to the country. We would drive by the buildings and I could imagine people being in them crying out for help. I would hear from one of the gentlemen I met that what was so hard was how helpless they felt. They would hear the cries and were just unable to move the rubble. i would hear stories of someone texting from the rubble stating exactly where they were and the amazing use of facebook to rescue 23 lives. AMAZING! Yes, there is devastation. Yes, there is in some respects brokenness. But there is also hope.

Love,
Dorian