Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Send Me!... to Haiti?




Yep!  I'm going to Haiti in 1.5 wks : )  Above is a pic of the kids I'll get to hang out with while I'm there.  The name of the ministry is The Hands and Feet Project.  There are approximately 70 orphans  that live there.

This is my cousin Carrie, her husband, Stephen, and their adorable littles...Ella, Mikah and Grady.  They are the directors of the orphanage at The Hands and Feet Project in Jacmel, Haiti.  They sensed the Lord's call on their life a year ago and moved their family to Haiti just about 6 months ago.  You can read about their adventures in Haiti here.  Can't wait to spend some time with these people!!

This is a pic of part of the facility at The Hands and Feet Project : )  Sweet rainbow too!

I have felt a strong desire for over a year that the time for "going" to do the ministry of orphan care I so passionately advocate for was near.  God has made it clear to me over and over again that my part in orphan care is to be a mouthpiece for the voiceless to His Church.  However, my heart longs to kiss little cheeks and embrace these ones that God has asked me to advocate for...  to remember the reality of their plight and their desperate need for Hope and a Kinsman Redeemer.

Of course, when Carrie and Stephen were called to Haiti, I thought what a perfect place to "go"!  I did not want to go for the sake of going but desired to only go if there was a divine purpose in me "going".  I asked the Lord if He had a purpose for "me" personally to go.   And if there was, then, "send me" because I was willing.  God put it on my heart to use my love and passion for teaching the Word to the nannies that care for the children at The Hands and Feet Project.  I suggested this to Carrie in conversations about whether or not I would be coming.  God affirmed my desire to teach the nannies when Carrie expressed what an answer to prayer that ministry would be.  Lastly, the Lord confirmed all of these leadings by speaking to my husband David's heart that "yes", I was indeed supposed to go on this trip.   David felt the Lord saying there was specific purpose in my week there.... so, within the week I was on a search for the best, cheapest flights I could find : )

If you would feel led to partner with my trip to Haiti in prayer, I would be very grateful.  I have never taught the Word using an interpreter before.  This makes me feel very inadequate and unprepared.  Yet, I trust God has a plan.  I will be teaching 2 different groups of nannies each day and 1 group of kids every evening.  I will be teaching from Equipping the Saint's model for teaching discipleship and also teaching inductive Bible study methods going through the book of Ruth to the nannies.   I will also be using some curriculum and Bible story telling with the kids.  

Please pray I would be flexible to adapt to God's agenda, sensitive to the Spirit's leading and trust God's  all sufficiency in my weakness.  Thanks to all who come alongside this 7 day trip in intercession for children in Haiti : )

2 comments:

Debbie Welz said...

Marianne,
You are such an inspiration to those of us who pray for the orphans of this world. Karie told me she was able to spend the weekend with you during your adoption seminar and I could tell how blessed she had been to have been a part of it. I have wondered so many times if God would ever use me in China (or elsewhere), but haven't felt His timing yet (maybe someday). Please know that I will be praying for you and know that it's obvious that He WILL use you in a very big way there in Haiti. Many seeds will be planted and hopefully someday you will get to see what they are able to accomplish. I just know you will be blessed as well as bless those there. Can't wait to hear how it goes! In His love, Debbie Welz

Ginger Newingham said...

We'll be praying for your trip and your teaching. My husband has taught with an interpreter in Africa a few times. The people there are very relational and visual. He found it best to teach them in a similar manor to teaching youth group students here in the states - interactive and personal. God bless your work with God's kiddos!
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