Spent yesterday painting the girls dorm. Yellow and blue. When they got home they were eager to join in and we started singing in both languages. Emily serenaded Herbie at one point (video below). Even the little girls got involved, it was so amazing to help them take ownership over their space.
We had "girl" time last night instead of closing out the day as a group. Someone, can't remember who, decided we should have a dance party. And the girls here are ALWAYS watching us, even when we don't realize it. We thought they were in bed but slowly they came out of the woodwork and joined in dancing from everything ranging from Britney to Beyonce to the world cup song. It was so beautiful. There is so much beauty and love in this place. I feel like a broken sometimes but I cling to knowing it is true, in this home, there is love and beauty in the midst of brokenness. I close my eyes and see their smiling faces from last night.... (the video below is kind of dark but its from the first of many dance parties that were to follow).
When we arrived in Port-au-Prince, I remember getting the distinct impression/feeling of "home". Which was totally crazy, because it was absolute chaos in the airport.
But, I distinctly remember that word coming to me as we waiting in the heavy heat of the airport to get through customs... I've had so much peace this whole trip. I was telling Em that originally I had wanted to be in Haiti last xmas & how I have been thinking if God can make it happen I want to be here for it this year. And then one of the girls asked me today if we could come back.... for Christmas. I feel like I'm at home here. I know that sounds crazy to most of you... But, it's on my heart to come back, I've voiced it to Emily and Sammy Jo so far, this is the first time I'm writing it down.
The importance of not letting them feel forgotten weighs on me. God is funny because I really hated being a teenager, mostly because I hated the experiences I had with "girlfriends" at that time and yet it is the older girls that keep coming to me and I've had a huge heart softening. They're loving on me so much. I look forward to my time with them so much.... so this sense of home... could God be showing me His picture of home, family, and community? I'm learning so much both from the girls here but also from our team. There is so much love (I know, broken record, can't write, remember?). I've never been a part of something where people are so intentional about building each other up and checking each other when we stray from that. We breath life into each other daily and it is an amazing thing to walk through....
Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss♫
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