Sunday morning worship service in Thozin

Sundays are really the highlight of the week for me.  I enjoy church, hearing the Word of God preached, worshiping in song and praying with my brothers and sisters.  I think my very favorite part though, is seeing the children.  In Matthew 18, Jesus talks about children and tells us that we should become like them.  As I observe the children, I realize how much joy they bring to me.  I pray that I bring joy to my Heavenly Father, too.

Cuties

This morning several of the children were wearing tiaras and little Christy was dressed like royalty for her birthday – she’s two years old, now.  Renord borrowed one of the tiaras while he was doing some silly acting during children’s ministry this morning.  It was great fun!

There seemed to be an abundance of royalty present this morning in Thozin

In America we do a great job of teaching our children ownership and responsibility.  Here in Haiti, parents do a great job of teaching their children to share.  This is something that I see in my husband.  I don’t know that he knows how to finish a plate of food on his own.  No matter how hungry he is when he starts eating, if anyone else is around they are likely to eat some of it, as well.

Share…this is what we do

Lex’s dad raised crops in huge gardens.  Lex told me how his dad came home one night with 8 small watermelons.  He put them out on the table.  All the children knew that he’d brought one for each of them and were eager to receive theirs.  However, he started cutting the watermelons and passing the pieces around to the children.  He told them that whatever they have to never keep it all for themselves.  Whatever God gives you is meant to be shared.  This is one of the many fundamental differences in our cultures that Lex and I have had to face.  To this day, he is MUCH better at sharing than I am.  For me, I give because I choose to (out of the “goodness” of my heart – ouch!).  For Lex, he gives because that’s what we do when we receive from the Lord.

Children’s Ministry

We’re excited to have another team from Bless Back Worldwide serving with us here in Haiti this week.  They arrived last night.  Tomorrow they begin medical and dental clinics.  Please pray for God’s wisdom and knowledge to be imparted to the care givers.  We’re grateful for God’s amazing provision!!!

The team from Bless Back Worldwide

Remodeling has begun to make room for two new rooms, one medical and one dental.  We have been digging to bring water into these rooms.  We’re doing the concrete finish on the ceiling and finishing the window frames.  One of the rooms used to be the director’s office.  We had to take down all the shelving and relocate the library books, too.

Let the work begin! – dental and medical rooms in Thozin

Tammy and Pelio pack the library books

It’s so cool to see the growth in the medical ministry here at MOHI.  We miss Leah, but Angela has still had lots of others working with her.  This week several UN Peacekeepers assisted, as well as Kristin who was here for three weeks at the Be Like Brit orphanage.  We are grateful for all the team work!!!

An old friend is back.  Colonel Nandana was here in Haiti with the third Sri Lankan contingent in 2009.  Now, he has returned as the commanding officer for all the Sri Lankan Peacekeepers in Haiti.  We were honored to give him a tour of the new school and show him a bit of the medical ministry.  The school kids loved seeing his men up close.

Colonel Nandana, commander of the UN Peacekeepers from Sri Lanka

The Thozin School

Pastor Kevin and Tammy Groder are back from their quick trip to the States.  Kevin was able to have some medical tests done, which showed that he has a herniated and bulging disc in his back – the source of the pain he’s been experiencing for about 9 months now.  While it’s very painfully, it doesn’t look like it requires surgery.  Please join us in praying for healing and relief from the pain.  Thank you.