Eliza and I, flying from Port au Prince to Port de Paix.
Our first week in Haiti was extra special, since we were blessed to share that time with my sister, Eliza. She came during her spring break week. We were able to do a girls retreat with twelve of the teen girls both from campus and from the orphanage out in Salines Mayette. Ednide, Eveline, Lovely, Nerlande, Natacha, Daschna, Miseline, Taylen, Loudia, Naika, and Rose Guerda, with help from Nedjie and Angie, our two interpreters.
Eliza taught the girls a dance to the song He Reigns/Awesome God by Kirk Franklin. They practiced several times each day. The girls LOVED dancing with her and worked really hard. We studied the book of Esther, looking at Inner Beauty, Meanness and Friendship, Purity and Relationships, and Purpose and Choices. Going along with that, we watched “Akeelah and the Bee” (which they LOVED) and then “One Night with the King” to wrap up Esther. For fun, we made friendship bracelets (purple for royalty, white for purity), painted nails (even with those sparkly nail stickers!), went swimming, and did an art project. They also helped with painting handprints with the kids in the Miriam Center (special needs) and then sang and did their dance for the Gran Moun (elderly home). Our grand finale was an evening performance of their dance for everyone, along with an encore performance. The girls also taught us a song they knew in Creole that recounts the story of Esther.
What a gift to get to know these girls! I’ve met them all several times, but never gotten to spend a number of days with them. As one might imagine, it’s never simple when you bring together twelve teenage girls. But even with challenges it was beautiful – I loved getting to know these girls. Thank you for your prayers for us – I think God spoke into so many lives in this time, including mine. I pray they learned lessons that will carry them through hard decisions in the future.
It was an intense, busy week for sure – but so beautiful. (pictures to come…)
