Last Haiti Update

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Day 4 (Tues)
We spent the morning playing with the younger kids before they went to school.  It's amazing how happy they are...we look at their circumstances (no parents/family) and surroundings (dirty, cramped living quarters, old/broken computers, limited food & clothing etc), and we feel sorry for them, but to them it's a luxury and they seem very content because it's better than being on the street and wondering when their next meal will be. 
The older kids love spending time talking to us because it gives them a chance to practice their english.  They are all very intelligent.  It amazes me how much they study, even when they aren't in school they are walking around with their notebooks studying into the late hours of the night.

This afternoon the director of the orphanage (the guy who started the orphanage) took us on a tour of Hinche and then over to the future girls' campus.  Right now the UN is renting the property from the orphanage, but when they leave the orphanage will convert the buildings into a cafeteria and a dorm. He also showed us the property across the street where they will be building a vocational technical school.  It's pretty impressive to see how God has blessed them and provided for them over the years, and to see what their vision is for the future.

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Day 5 (Wed)
We left the orphanage around 11:00am this morning to make the long trek to the airport.  It was a very emotional morning as we played our last games with kids and had our last conversations with them.  A lot of them drew pictures and wrote us letters telling us how much they loved us & hoped we would come back someday.  We have truly bonded with these kids.  It's hard to imagine starting our mornings without these kids; their smiles and their laughter bring us such joy!
Brother Mike (one of the guys who helps run the orphanage) prayed and talked with us before we left.  He challenged us with something I won't forget...he said "don't look at this experience as the seed you have planted in these kids, but rather to ask ourselves 'what seed has Haiti/these kids planted in us? How will our lives change from this experience?'"

For me (Heidi) personally, I almost think there will be more culture shock going back home.  After seeing the lowest levels of poverty we've seen & experienced this past week, having totally forgotten about our lives at home, and completely putting our heart & souls into the lives of these kids, I just think it's going to be so hard to go back to the materialism, the hurried pace of life, our cushy jobs, technology etc.  

As the leader, I feel so blessed to have had such an incredible & amazing team to have this experience with.  Everyone has such heart for serving God and wanting to help others & to make a difference in this world.  I can't wait to see what we are all doing months/years from now that will be a result of our trip to Haiti, and I know we all hope to go back many more times.

Thank you all for your prayers and support - we had a safe and healthy trip, and God did some great things in people's lives!