Nothing short of a miracle... Nothing but the Hand of God

Hello Everyone!! Many of you may remember the story I told in my last update about beautiful Karah Esther. If you've heard me speak about Haiti a lot, you've probably heard about Karah and how much of a role she played in my decision to come here. If not, let me quickly remind you. Karah was the baby girl that the group I came in with last December brought to the mission from Port-au-Prince. The moment Pastor Andy handed her to me I understood what it was like to see Jesus in someone. She was a miracle! Anyway, about a month and a half ago, Karah was playing on the balcony of the Creche and her finger got shut in an iron door leading out onto the porch cutting the tip of her finger off and leaving quite a bit of bone exposed. To make a long story short, when she was brought to our house she didn't cry. She slept through the entire cleaning procedure at the hospital without the help of any medication. The next day she was smiling and playing! She handled everything better than I did!! The doctors said our biggest worry was infection and that she would never again have a full finger- her finger would stop at the top knuckle. That night as we got home from the hospital with Karah asleep in my arms I was praising God for the fact that she was able to sleep so peacefully after all that she had been through. At the same time however, I was upset. I was so frustrated and could not for the life of me figure out why God let this happen to her of all people! So I began to pray. I began to pray for a miracle. The next day as I held Karah and as Daniel and I watched mom (Cindy) change her bandages, there was a peace that came over me. As Daniel and I were talking, it was almost like we both knew that everything was going to be even better than just ok. We jokingly said that one day we would take of the bandage to clean her finger and the whole thing would be there... nail and all! I laughed, but deep down it was my prayer. I knew that the God who made blind people see, the God who made the lame walk, the God who raised Lazarus from the dead, and the God who conquered death, was the same God that could heal Karah's finger! So the days went by and Karah's finger showed no signs of infection. The wound was healing nicely and tissue and skin began to cover the bone that was once exposed. One day as Cindy was changing her bandages she said, "Look at that. Huh, that almost looks like a nail bed. Wouldn't that be a miracle. Her nail bed was taken with the rest of her finger. We'll have to keep an eye on that." My stomach churned, could it really be? As the days passed it became very clear... her finger was regrowing!! A couple weeks later as Cindy was once again cleaning her finger and applying new bandages she said, "There is some discolored tissue on the front of her finger. It's kinda hard" Surely not infection, I thought, she's been doing so well. As I walked over to see Cindy exclaimed "It's nail! She's going to have a fingernail!" It was amazing! I can't really say I couldn't believe it, because I knew it could happen, but I had never seen the hand of God so powerful! Fingers don't just "regrow." Father was working a miracle through this little girl and once again using her to greatly impact my life! Below are the pictures of Karah finger. The first is her finger right after the incident happened. The second picture was taken only a couple of days ago... almost totally healed! The third is a picture of her and I! Let me tell you something... never let anyone tell you that there is no such thing as miracles! NEVER let anyone tell you that there isn't a God or that He doesn't care about you. I can assure you, there is a God- and he cares about you and loves you more than you could ever ask or imagine. You may not understand everything that happens in your life, but if you are being obedient to Father, He will guide you and you WILL see His glory. I see Him everyday! When I walk out of my room every morning I am greeted by precious children yelling "Audrey, Audrey!" I spend every day here with 26 beautiful little girls who now I can't imagine ever living without. I have an amazing family in the States who I love sooo much and praise God for everyday! And Karah... :-D I have seen the Healing Hand of God! Look at your life, is God a part of it? If so... just look... you'll see it too! If not, you are seriously missing out on the wonderful blessings that each day has to bring! God bless you all and thank you for your continued support as I continue to follow God's will for my life here in Haiti!

Little Girls!

Well hello everyone! I apologize that it has been so long since I have updated you all on what is going on in my crazy exciting life here in Haiti. Things have ben very busy but I wouldn't have things any other way. I have seen Father move over these past few weeks than ever before and am watching His perfect plan unfold right before my eyes! It is AMAZING!!! I would encourage you all as you go throughout your day to really try and look at things not through your own eyes but through the eyes of Jesus. You will be amazed at what you see.

As many of you may know I have recently started devoting most of my time here in Haiti with the 24 girls we have at the Creche. Jessica (another intern) and I go over to the Creche every morning at 6 am and help them get ready for school. After breakfast we walk them to school and I make sure to tell them each to have a good day and tell them that I love them the same way my mom did for me. We pick them up from school at one and spend the rest of the evening with them. Because many of them struggled in school before, homework is priority after nap time. I have been amazed to see the progress that many of them have made in such a short period of time. Aside from just helping take care of their basic needs, I am just loving. Right now, more than ever I kow that these girls are in great need of love. They need to be told how much they are loved and even more, how much they have a heavenly Father who loves them more than they could know. I may not have everything figured out but I am trusting in God to guide me and every night I thank Him for placing Eve, Marcilia, Ronise, Gueditte, Manise, Ishmeldine, Soumene, Vanillia, Jedina, Youseline, Chrissy, Olivia, Sophia, Chandeline, Wilmise, Jasmina, Lily, Jorana, Islande, Lydia, Fredline, Monese, Douthline, and Bella into my life. As always it is In the Father's Hands. Thank you all for supporting as I continue to follow God's will for my life here in Haiti! This is my heart for Him~ We're more than a mission... we're a family! God bless!

Hello Everyone! Well for all of you who have been following my life :-) I have officially made my big move to Haiti! I have been here for two weeks now and with each moment that I am here I understand more and more that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. For so long I fought with whether or not to finish a four year college degree or if I should get some sort of "missions training" before I jumped into missions full-time. But now I know, all of the excuses I made up and road blocks that kept getting threw at me were Satan's attempts to make me step out of God's will! Praise God I didn't listen! Thank you all for your prayers!

Last Saturday and Sunday we had the Christmas parties for the boys home and then for the Creche and both went amazing! For the kids who have just recently come to the mission, these gifts were the first they have ever received! To see the smiles on those childrens faces is something that can never be replaced! Thanks again to those of you who played a part in making Christmas for these children so wonderful.

As I walked through the market place in a nearby town today with some other missionaries, I began looking in the faces of the children as I walked. We had been explaining to a visitor of them mission how some kids are only able to eat maybe two or three times a week. As I looked at the faces of all of these kids and thought aobut that fact I saw the face of one of the girls at the Creche. It looked to much like her that I had to take a second glance and hold myself back from running over to get her, pick her up, hold her, and love her. This has happened a couple times as I have been here. Walking through town I have seen the faces of some of our kids at our home. As I do my heart goes out for the children of Haiti. I want to love them and I find myself wanting to "give the world" to each one I see. However, most importantly they need Jesus. Please pray for me as I continue to seek God's will for my life here.

With each and every hug and each and every smile that I give and receive daily I am reminded of why I am here. I am not here to help "run a mission," or to help feed a bunch of kids until their adoptions are complete. I am here to show Father's love to His precious children here in Haiti and while I have left my family in the States to follow Him, please know that I have not left my comfort zone, I have found it!

God bless you all and thank you for your prayers!

This is my heart... for Him!!

Ready to Fly!

I would like to update you all on what is going on here as I prepare to fly to Haiti on December 29th which is less than three weeks away! So many amazing things have happened that I give God all the glory for. First off, three adoptions have been finalized through the mission over the last couple weeks. Joshua Franson and Samuel Leopaul Lewis are now with their family in Alabama where they belong! To your right is a picture of Joshua. After six years at the mission in Haiti we will miss them greatly. Through this time that I have been going to Haiti, Joshua has became my brother and I praise God for bring him and Samuel to the mission and then putting them in an amazing family. Also John Sutton is now in Indiana with his new mommy and daddy so praise God for that. This is also a prayer request too. Please pray that these children will adjust well to this culture shock and that they will thrive in school and that they will continue to grow into the Godly young men that God is creating them to be. Also, both families are still in the process of other adoptions. Rob and Margo Sutton are adopting baby Davidson who is almost 6 months old and Chris and Natalie Lewis are adopting Jasmina, Jorana, Lydia, and Annabelle. Please pray that these along with all the other adoptions go through smoothly so that these children will get to come home quickly where they belong!
Also another huge praise, the Derby high school youth group raised over $2300 for Christmas at the mission and their church will be pitching in and making the grand total of their fundraiser an even $2600! They went above and beyond anything that I expected and I praise God for their willingness to serve Him and His kingdom. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!
As for me, I'm great!! My support is coming in and although it's not where I would ideally want it to be, Father has always provided and I know that through His power, all funds will be taken care of. I fly out on December 29th and am so excited to be reunited with all of the beautiful children at the Creche and with all of my brothers at the boys home! Please pray for my family in Haiti and for my family here as leaving will be very hard on them and for me.
Merry Christmas to you all and God bless as you go into this New Year!
In Haiti... we're More than a Mission... we're a Family!
This is My Heart... for Him!!
God's Love to you all... Audrey

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

My Support is Coming In... and I would just like to Thank all of you who are playing a part in this in any way! Whether it be through prayer, a one-time donation, or monthly support, I praise God for YOU!! God Bless and I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!!

Christmas is coming... so very soon!!

Well it's already the middle of October... time has flew by! I only have two and a half more months before I leave for Haiti and there is still so much to do. My first newsletter is complete, but we are still working on getting them all addressed so they can be sent out. Right now I am working on getting supplies a little in advanced so I don't have to worry about getting all of it last minute with Christmas being so close to that time. And with our group doing Christmas at the misson, there is more to go along with that! Having the privilege to be there as these beautiful children open their presents and seeing the light on each of their faces is such a huge blessing! Because of the hurricanes that have recently taken place, Keith and Cindy were worried that Christmas for their children was going to be very limited because of the great number of priority needs, such as food that had arisen. But Father has provided once again and this weekend I have the privilege to go to Derby Kansas and speak with a youth group who has volunteered to help in whatever way they can. I believe that God has saw our hearts and heard our prayers and has sent this youth group to bring happiness and joy into the mission on Christmas. While I, as well as all of the children and staff at the mission know what Christmas is truly about, it is always an added joy for each of them to have at least one present! I praise God for sending this youth group and please pray that all of their fundraising goes well. Also please be praying for family as the time of my departure is drawing near. This will be especially hard on all of us since I have never been away for more than a couple of weeks. However, God has brought us this far and we will rest in His care and I will trust in His call... this is My Heart, for Him!

I'm sure that many of you have all heard about the major hurricanes that have recently went through Haiti. You may have also heard that the U.N. has been sending troups to the areas that were hit the hardest by the hurricanes. Praise God!! These people are in desperate need of help! However, what you may not have heard is that Port-de-Paix Haiti, (which is where I will be living), has been completely cut off from the rest of the country. Between Gustav, Hanna, and Ike, three of the four major bridges that connect Port-de-Paix with the rest of Haiti were completely washed out; and the fourth bridge does no good without at least one of the other three. My point is that NO food has been able to come into Port-de-Paix!!!! The, rice, oil, fresh fruit, flour, deisel, and many other necessities have dwindled very quickly and the prices for what is left has skyrocketed. A cup of rice that used to only cost $.14 american is now cost just over $1.00 american. With the average Haitian salary being only $1 a day, you can see the problem. People are getting hungry. The mission has constantly had people coming to their gate asking for food and money. While we have been generous with this... we are running out too!!!! Please join us in praying that the roads and bridges will open up quickly so food and other needed supplies will start pouring back into Port-de-Paix and the costs on these items will go down. Through all of this I know that Father will continue to love and protect my Haitian family as he has always done before and I am leaving this situation... IN THE FATHERS HANDS!!!!!!
God Bless You All!!!!!!!!