Ayiti. Day 21.

Today it is 3 weeks since I arrived in Haiti, and I have less than 3 weeks until I leave. That is bittersweet for me. I love my time here, and am beginning to get glimpses of what God might have for me to do on a bigger level while doing what He lays before me each day while I am here.

I have to be honest, I'm missing this every once in awhile...

Certainly, I am much more aware here of the difference between wants and needs, but sometimes amidst the hard work and high prices I let my mind wander to a quick trip to Target...today for the air conditioning if nothing else! :)

Last Sunday some girls from the church and orphanage danced to a song that the Praise Team sang. I was surprised to learn that the song was by Beyonce, but it is beautiful. You may want to look it up and/or listen to it. Here are the lyrics:

Took me a while but I'm finally here
So I just wanna testify, make it crystal clear
See I've been picked out to be picked on
Talked about, out my friends mouths
I've been beat down til He turned my life around

Seems like I always fall short of being worthy
Cause I ain't good enough but He still loves me
I ain't no superstar, the spotlight ain't shining on me
Cause I ain't good enough but He still loves me

I used to wake up somedays
And wish I'd stayed asleep
Cause I went to bed on top of the world
Today the world's on top of me

Now everybody's got opinions
They ain't been in my position
That it breaks my heart
When I hear what they have to say about me

Seems like I always fall short of being worthy
Cause I ain't good enough but He still loves me
I ain't no superstar, the spotlight ain't shining on me
Cause I ain't good enough but He still loves me

And I'm not perfect
Yes I do wrong
I'm trying my best
But it ain't good enough

Shunned by the world
If I don't succeed
Cause I ain't good enough
But He still loves me

If you ain't worthy just raise your hands
And let me know that you understand
That we are all so blessed to be loved, loved

Stand for him or fall for anything
Cause through his eyes we all look the same
What will we do without pain?

Seems like I always fall short of being worthy
Cause I ain't good enough but He still loves me
I ain't no superstar, the spotlight aint shining on me
Cause I ain't good enough but He still loves me

I'm not perfect
Yes I do wrong
I'm trying my best
But it ain't good enough

Shunned by the world
If I don't succeed
Cause I ain't good enough
But He still loves me

I'm not perfect
Yes I do wrong
I'm trying my best
But it aint good enough

Shunned be the world
If I don't succeed
Cause I ain't good enough
But He still loves me

No, I ain't good enough
But He still loves me
No, I ain't good enough
But He still loves me

No, I ain't good enough
But He still loves me
No, I ain't good enough
But He still loves me
(But the Lord still loves me)

Here are a couple of photos

And those lyrics, with the somewhat haunting melody, sung by Haitians in this hard world, where their praise is so sincere, and the dancing by those young girls, some of the orphans, well....it was an experience I won't soon forget. I believe that Tom videotaped it, so hopefully if he hasn't posted it yet, he will be able to soon.

Ketura worked so hard with those girls....and we could hear the Praise Team rehearsing hour after hour. And Leonie and her friend from church made the costumes. All of the time and intention that went into this made it a so special.

Ok, back to today...

After some necessary team time this morning, we went to Torbeck a little later than usual. The girls did some activities with the kids and Tom, Leonie and I took first steps on making the raised beds. Here are some photos from those hours:

This is our "Before" photo. All of that rebar had to be moved before we could do anything...

Measuring and re-measuring. For those of you familiar, we are using the Square Foot Gardening method, with a few necessary adaptations for our situation and available materials.

Level? Nope...very low and uneven ground. We moved the yarn (yes, the yarn I brought for the knitting projects) to a place to show the workers how much soil to fill with.

This method took us quite awhile, and it was just about the hottest part of the day. We knew it would be easier if we could make some sort of 4x4x4x4' frame to mark the places of the 5 raised beds, but after much discussion, there was not any material available to do so. Tomorrow morning we are going to see if Leonie has any scrap (that word is unheard of here, we use everything!), fabric that can be cut to the appropriate size and then laid out to mark the beds.  I am hoping so...I wish I had something big enough to use that I had brought with me....

More on that tomorrow, I hope!

Today happened to be Ruth's 13th birthday, but we didn't know until we got there and the other girls told me. Here is her photo after being sung to multiple times...

 I just love Ruth...she has a great spirit and a terrific sense of humor.

And the girls got to play "beauty shop" and got their hair done!....

Later this afternoon they took the kids to Gelee Beach for some cooling off. They also used some of their extra money to purchase apples and cookies for the kids, which both were a real treat! 

And this photo

I took while I was doing my devotions in the early evening. This is from up on the roof of the house in Les Cayes, looking over the soccer field. You can't really see them here, but there are mountains outside the city, and they are just beautiful in the waning daylight. I can't help but think when I am there....

I lift up my eyes to the hills- Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip -
He who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you
The LORD is your shade at your right hand;
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm -
He will watch over your life;
The LORD will watch over your coming and going
Both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121

I have been reading a couple of books during my time here...both by Beth Moore, and both changing my life. I also began on August 1st reading 1 chapter of Proverbs each day and studying it. 

My little rooftop perch is not only cooler at this time of day with a breeze, but a great place to spend my alone time....

I pray that you too have a place to go to meditate on all that God is trying to tell you....