"My kids will follow me..."

"This type of ministry will age you. If you look at pictures of me from when we first came to Haiti 4 years ago and compare them to what I look like now, you would be AMAZED! Boy, how I have aged! But what am I going to do? Go home, get back to being pretty and work on my art in my own little art studio? What good does that do? My art and looks will not follow me into the Kingdom of Heaven. My kids WILL follow me there and THAT is more precious than beauty or gold." -Jasmine Martinson

48

     48 is the number. There are now 48 children here at the orphanage.
Yesterday we received a new little girl, Valencia. She is 5 years old. Her mom heard from a friend that she could drop her child off here, so she took up the offer. She did not want her daughter and we, of course, willingly accommodated her.

There is such a need for Jesus here.

     Valencia's mom is 6 months pregnant. She told us yesterday she wanted us to keep the child inside of her too. It looks like we will be delivering yet another baby here at OLTCH sometime in the fall.

There is such a need for Jesus here.

     4 days ago, a new baby was born here. At 3:50am on Monday morning, we welcomed Hadassah Sabbath (we call her "Haddie") into the world. Her mom immediately gave her to Jasmine and was gone the next day.

There is such a need for Jesus here.

     Today, there are 48 children. 48 children to feed. 48 children to teach. 48 children to discipline. 48 children to clothe. 48 children to bathe. 48 children to play with. 48 children to empower. 48 children- such a large task at hand.

There is such a need for Jesus here.

     They will learn. They will grow and become. They will follow Jesus, or they will be enslaved to sin and death. Some will have new families and venture outside of the country. Others will remain in Haiti.

There is such a need for Jesus here.

     We know much responsibility has been given to us. As their teacher, I know much responsibility has been given to me. My desire is to empower them. I want to teach them to read, to write, to listen and understand. I want to teach them to dream and believe in themselves. Believe in God. They have potential. Each child has a voice. Each was designed for a purpose. May God give me the dedication, creativity, beauty, grace, patience, energy, confidence, courage, willingness, perseverance, compassion and love to do what He requires of me. May the children see Him in all we do. 

There is such a need for Jesus here.

"...'Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.' "  -Mark 10:14b

     

Valencia is to the far left...

Roselaine feeding Haddie...

Haddie's first "rag" bath...

 Hadassah Sabbath...