WRITING HOME FROM HAITI ORPHANAGE: DAY 1

LaRee teaching orphan children
30 June 2015

About an hour ago, LaRee wrote home from Haiti where she is teaching sewing to children at an orphanage. After two days of gruelling travel, she and my daughter were up early teaching orphans.

Here is the text of LaRee's note to me:

Laying out material to measure & cut

"Hi Mark -- Well, this has to be the most humbling experience I've ever had in my life. I feel disgusted and ashamed with myself. The people here have nothing, and I do mean nothing, and yet they seem happy and content. I honestly could never have imagined this kind of poverty, I have so much to write about, and we have only been here for 1.5 days.

The heat is unbearable. The humidity unreal! I was literally dripping huge droplets of water onto the sewing machines as well as the students!  The kids beamed with excitement when they actually began using the machines. I had to keep taking deep breaths in order to keep myself from bursting into tears! They are so keen to learn. 

Children with
Grandma LaRee

They constantly touch you, and if they were allowed they would climb on you and never let you go. Each of the children have their personal stories. They may not know the story yet, but possibly someday they will be told. 

One little fellow with CP is the most loving endearing little fellow, with a wonderful sense of humour. Karen, the lady that runs this orphanage, was told to just "throw"him away. That he would never see, hear, walk or talk. He does all of the above. Granted, with some difficulty, but he just glows with the love of life!  He is full of humor as well. Another little girl, who I instantly locked eyes with the moment we drove into the orphanage, has no parents, to anybody's knowledge. She is the sweetest child, I only wish I could bring her home with me. She absolutely beamed and giggled when she got behind the sewing machine. 

Another boy, mmmm about 13years old was found in a basket by the river, at about age 1.5 years old. His little legs were so crooked  that Karen was told to just throw him away as well, and choose another child that would be able to help himself. His name is (guess?) Moses of course💓

Anyways, I am exhausted, mostly from the heat. I have something wrong with my eye, and am using polysporin for it. I have feet that would match yours....very swollen from the heat. But hopefully my body will adjust in a day or so.

Our sleeping arrangements are much better than we expected. I'll send photos later this evening. 

I have so much to write about, but can't possibly get it all down. The food is delicious. The cook is adorable. I would like to bring her home with me (as well as all of these children)

The noise at night is CRAZY! The crickets, frogs BIG FROGS, goats, tons of ROOSTERS! I hate roosters! Dogs, horses. Mosquitoes, noseeums.

The morning worship time was heartbreaking, heart warming, and I

just know that Jesus was in that room.

Mark, it is so overwhelming. If I stop to think about the things I have seen, I would break down completely, so you just keep going, and move on. 

It's getting close to supper. I will try to write more tonight.
I love you with all of my heart. LaRee"

God is Father to us all; we are His children through Jesus Christ.[1] 
(Help defray LaRee's costs here
http://www.gofundme.com/vvqtt8 )

Click image below or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuQ-IOA412w for "I Have A Father" by Marantha.

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[1] John 1.12, Phillipians 2.15, 1John 3.1-2.