Simon di! Ruff!

What kind of game do you play with wild and crazy kids? SIMON DI! or Simon says in English. The kids loved it. Eric led an awesome and crazy game of Simon says out in front making the kids jump up, sit down, spin in circles, and just letting them act like goof balls (or just like Eric :)) It was the funniest thing ever! But the funny part of the story is yet to come.
     At the end of the game Eric shouted, "Simon Di, Bonswa Josh!"
     All the kids screamed, "Bonswa josh! "
     Eric screamed again, "Simon Di, Bonswa Ben!"
     All the kids screamed, "Bonswa Ben!"
     Then Eric screamed, "Simon Di, Bonswa Kelli!"
     All the kids started barking like dogs! I guess the translator translated my name for the creole word for dog! Ruff ruff ruff! Everyone was rolling on the floor laughing. I am now known as Kelli G. dog...  :)

Adventure to the Market

Our trip to the market was quite an adventure. Dodging cars, people, trees and trash we hiked our way to the store to buy cups and protein shakes for the kids. Besides learning the ways of Haitian traffic, a little boy, Jif (who named himself after the peanut butter) about 11 years old taught me a valuable lesson through that trip. Elisabeth, Sydney, Betsy, and I took two of the orphans boys with us, Jif and Stanley. The Haiti super market was like an American gas station closely guarded by soldier holding a giant machine gun (a little scary but I felt safe). I told the boys they could get anything they wanted. Instead of getting candy or blow pops or some thing that kids love for themselves they stacked 2 big boxes of corn flakes, 2 big cans of milk, 2 big bags of Tostitos, and 2 cases of apples.
     "For the orphans!" they said with a huge smile on their faces. My heart melted once again.
     "Of course!" I said while giving the lady the huge basket of orphan goodies. Boys who had nothing wanted to give everything for others.
Philippians 2:4 "Each one of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."
I spent 489.93 goods (Haitian money/ about 50 dollars on food for selfless Jif and his buddies.

 

My Jif the peanut butter kid! 

The power of prayer in Haiti!

"Do you have a machine?"
"A machine?"
"Wi."
"Oh you mean a car?"
"Wi."
Sheylove, a little boy about 13 years old was asking about my family, my friends, my house (cai in creole),and my car. I talked with him about Jesus and my life back in America. I showed him pictures of my mom and sister. I saw tears come to his eyes as he was probably remembering his family who was somewhere in Haiti. Without words I comforted him with my hand in his.

In broken English he said, "Will you remember to pray for me?"
My heart melted. 

 

Remember to pray for my dear Sheylove!

How Great is Our God

     God's creation surrounds the people and the orphans of Haiti! A part of my heart is still in Haiti, and I will never forget the stories and relationships made there. I can't wait to share with you all how Christ worked through us! How great is our God!
      The sweetest and most beautiful girl, Bethany (she is about my age) came up to me with the song How Great is our God written out in English. She started to sing it to me bringing tears to my eyes.Her voice was like a voice of an angel. With her hand in mine,  I tried to sing with her (way off key and cracks every now in then) making a joyful noise in the ears of our Christ and Savior. She told me about her family, but she had know idea where they were because she had not talk to them in a very long time. I asked her if she had Jesus and a smile broke out across her face.  God's greatness was truly moving in this place! Thanks to Josh for teaching Bethany that song and letting God use your musical talents to touch the hearts of others!

                                         Bethany listening to Christian songs on the computer :)

FINALLY IN HAITI!

Omgoshhh best day ever! We have arrived in Haiti and I am LUVING every minute of it!
Our flights felt like they dragged on and on because we were all just itching to get to the orphanage. We were pushed from plane to plane (almost getting on to the wrong one oops), san antonio to dallas to Fort Lauderdale to Port Au Prince. Finally we were in HAITI! While waiting in a huge line for baggage amongest several other church groups and thousands of people (I felt so embarrassed because i was the only one wearing shorts) the nerves were growing larger every minute. Outside the airport people were shouting for our bags, thousands of cars and gas smells covered the streets, and millions of eyes peered through the fences. Through a long archway, we walked in the midst of complete chaos. But for some reason I was at complete peace smiling all the more bigger on every step. A kind haitian man helped me with me bags because something told me I should trust him. I saw elisabeth at the end of the line and gave her the biggest hug ever. We piled our stuff on top of cars a complete OVERLOAD and we squished together no room what so ever in the back. The streets of Haiti were like a rundown circus. No traffic rules at all. If your bigger you got the right away. It seemed like all the crazy drivers were in the streets of Haiti. As we peered through the windows people walked the streets some with hige bowls and luggage balanced skillfully on their heads, rummage broken down buildings and shacks lined the curbs, people hanging out of  colorfully painted haitian taxis (tap taps) swereved every where, tent cities covered the fields and grasses. I was in awe but again totally at peace  because I could feel that God was in the works. Our drivers were long term missionaries in Haiti (Herreras) who were in the process of creating an awesome ministry for the girls and women of Haiti. They were seeking to further the kingdom of God and to give hope to Haiti which is what I sought to do as well. They are Truly my heros. Our ride was a long bumpy one and we drove up through the mountains to reach the orphanage. At nightfall we had reached our destination. The lights of the orphanage flickered and the several bodies of kids ran across the patio. When we drove in we were welcomed with shouts of "Sac Pase!" and "Nam boule!". Elisabeth and Eric held their beautiful girls close and millions of kids swarmed us asking for our names, touching our hair and skin. They were truly adorable! I was so engulfed in the kids that I forgot that I was starving! The food was amazing spaghetti meatsauce, rice beans, and fresh fruit. Yum it hit the spot :) I was exhausted my head hit the pillow and I passed out to tired to worry about tomorrow, to tired to get anxious, but absolutly not to tired to thank God for the day and to pray for his leading for the nex.t

Good bye New Braunfels! Hello Haiti!

Counting down the HOURS! I am sooo excited! Too excited to sleep! But who needs sleep anyways.Seriously this week was the longest week of my life, but now its so close and our whole group is now feeling the last minute gitters.  Our flight leaves around 6:00 tomorrow morning and soon we will be on the streets of Haiti.  I still cant believe it.  It is incredible how God has provided every step of the way. He has truly blessed us with such amazing people who have supported us through out. 14000 dollars raised, bags stuffed full of toys, and the prayers of our brothers and sisters. What an awesome God we have! I cant wait to see what God has planned for us there.  Shining for the Jesus with our hearts and smiles! ahhhhhhhhhh omgoshhh Haiti here we come!

Words of Encouragement!

Haiti here we come! Friday is almost here and our group is pushing hard to make some last minute preparations. Right now our greatest enemy is nerves, but our greatest ally is Christ's encouragement. Prayer and words of encouragement are more special to us than anything! I mean an athlete cannot reach the championship without the help and encouragement from his team players. Become a part of our team for Christ and write encouraging comments for our Haiti mission group below :) God uses everyone for his glory!

Peanut Butter Packing

LESS THAN ONE WEEK UNTIL HAITI! ooooo my goodness I can't believe it! We finished the majority of our packing today... peanut butter, jelly, diapers, bouncy balls, and toys flew everywhere, but we managed to stuff all of the necessities in our bags amazingly weighing exactly 50 pounds. The donations we received are incredible. It felt like we had the whole HEB in our high school youth room. We had more than enough thanks to all of you. We have an awesome church body :) Today really showed me how God provides even with two small fish and 5 loaves of of bread. Keep praying!