It’s really hard for me to believe that Luckson is 11 and will be in 7th grade! Wow! What a smart kid!
He’s a funny little guy! He has chores, like taking care of the dogs, picking up trash, mopping floors, etc.!
He hasn’t decided yet whether he wants to teach school or become a doctor, but whatever career he chooses, he will be good at it! He’s a serious little guy!
Luckson loves soccer and “jumping into our plastic swimming pool” on a hot day! His favorite food is goat!
He will do anything asked of him, and yes, he loves church, too!!
Have you ever had a child help you with your work? It takes great effort to teach a kid how to work effectively, maintain focus, and stick to the task. Now multiply that times several. I took 16 boys to the warehouse to help me finish some work. They can be a “handful.”
I turned my back for only a few seconds, talking to one of the warehouse employees. When I turned back around, the pack was scattered. One was giving several others a ride on a cart. Two were popping wheelies on some old bikes that were lying around. And a couple little ones were struggling to move empty pallets into place all by themselves. The busybodies got sidetracked a bit, but we regained focus quickly. With laughter, sweat, and dedication, these boys got the job done. They are a joy to work with!
These guys are the future. They are worth the time and investment. Thank you for supporting these helpful “handfuls.” Without you, this would be impossible.
Goliath the giant was a bully and mocked the God of David. The Philistine giant said, “Am I a dog […] And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. Then said David to the Philistine, thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” (1 Samuel 17:43-46)
Don’t be afraid to face the giants in your life. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
She was born in Croix-des-Bouquets. When her mother died, her father Fritzner got a job fixing bicycle tires but that was not enough to buy milk for the baby. By the time he came to us, she was malnourished and full of oozing sores. She cried constantly. She is sweet, but she is mentally challenged. Sandraline has difficulty talking and struggles in school. She could not pass her last grade and cried for days. Even though she is “slow,” she faces great challenges and won’t give up! In spite of this, she loves to sing and loves church! She is also “very good” with small children! If she cannot pass 8th grade, we will probably give her a job helping with the babies in our Malnutrition Clinic! She’s a tough cookie! She won’t give up!
Because of strategic reasons, I cannot go into great detail. But I can tell you that some of our security team wanted to explore the topography outside of the high razor-wired concrete walls of the compound.
The security team described where they wanted to go based on satellite images. They saw trails from the sky.
I know these trails well. They are the ones that lead to the lake. I kindly asked the security guys if they minded if some of the boys went exploring with us. They know the lay of the land and would act as tour guides for our guests. Eleven kids hopped in the truck.
I also knew that after reaching the several-mile-long trail’s end, the eleven tag-alongs would take full advantage of the opportunity to jump in the lake. And that they did! Even one of our “special guests” decided to shed his gear and jump in the cool water with them.
When things in our lives go “from bad to worse,” we have hope that the world does not have to also! “Behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.” Revelation 1:7
Have you ever been waiting on a loved one, maybe your son, daughter, husband, wife, or friend? When our son, Jonathan, went off to join the military, years ago, he finally got a few days off to visit us. Bobby, our daughter, Julie, and me, were at the airport waiting for his plane. Julie and Jonathan are just 13 months apart and everyone thought they were twins! Bobby, Julie, and I watched anxiously “as each person came off the plane!” Finally, the last person came. We waited and waited in silence. No Jonathan… I had tears in my eyes and Julie began to cry! As she was crying, a big set of arms came up behind her and grabbed her up… in her brother’s arms! We all cried! We should all be looking for Jesus to come back each day, even more than the expectation of a loved one returning home! He’s coming back for us!
The kids in our orphanage always give one another a nickname! The kids all just take it “with a grain of salt!” Fritzner’s nickname is “Pa sou sa,” or “I’m not interested in that!” Actually, that’s a good name for Fritzner because he is very focused!
He was just four months old when Pastor Justin, from the mountains of Covant, came down to our orphanage with a baby in his arms. His mother had died in childbirth and his father could not handle a new baby!
Fritzner is now 15! He loves playing bass guitar and soccer!! He is very interested in carpentry work! Fritzner loves to “help the cooks!” Hmm! (He’s pretty smart! Ha!) Fritzner will be in 8th grade this fall! We all love him.
Have you ever needed something and at the last minute decided to shoot over to the local grocery store or pharmacy? It’s not that simple here. Boxed in by the gangs, the only place to purchase much-needed items is in the Dominican Republic. And the only town big enough to have what is needed is about a 2-hour drive from the Haiti border.
The process involves leaving Love A Child at the crack of dawn with a box truck and driving to the border. We have to take a box truck because only commercial vehicles have permission to pass into the Dominican Republic. After the long drive, we fill the truck with medicines and food and make the trek back toward Haiti before the border closes at 5 p.m.
Yesterday, we were late. The border was locked up tight. We had to sleep in Jimani, the little Dominican town at the border. But thank God, Philemon and I crossed successfully this morning. The quick supply run was a success!
“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:19
Do not be discouraged this morning. The Lord is with you! The flood from the enemy will not overcome you! God is raising up a standard! When the devil starts messing, God starts blessing! The devil is doing his thing, but God is doing a bigger thing!
He is in love with Mommie Sherry! I don’t know why he has such a connection to me! He’s such a sweet kid, but this “sweet kid,” just missed his mother’s butcher knife! We met his mother when she arrived at our clinic about three years ago! She had many children. When she came to our clinic with this baby in her arms, we had a long talk with her. She had told us that she had lots of children, but some died and some were missing, and she didn’t know where they were!
When our doctor heard this, he asked us to escort baby Zachary and his mother home to find out where she lived! When we arrived, some of her neighbors came to us and said, “Take the baby from her! She’s crazy! She told us she was going to kill him with a butcher knife!” We took baby Zachary home with us, but he has a strong connection to “Mommie Sherry!” It could be that he loves me, but it could be the stash of candy I have in my room!! Ha! We love this kid.
