You can make a difference today by donating $20 a month to provide vitamin enriched meals to children in need.

RU4Children had an amazing year in 2011.  We celebrated 10 years of serving children around the world – thanks to our incredible partners and friends.  We feel so blessed to be surrounded by the many generous families and individuals who continuously improve the lives of orphans and under-privileged children.  We are always overwhelmed by your generosity and support each year.

We also want to announce that our founder, Trey McAlister, will be celebrating his 43rd birthday on January 16.  He has committed his life to serving those in need for the past 10 years and we’d like to surprise him by making this birthday one to remember.  In honor of Trey’s birthday, would you be willing to give $43 to provide nutritious vitamins to a Guatemalan child in need? 

* One $43 gift will provide nutritional supplements for 28 children for one month.  

* A $43 monthly recurring gift will ensure those same children receive vital nutrients and vitamins all year long! 

Thank you so much for making a difference in a child’s life,

The RU4Children Team

Years later I would take a trip to Ukraine and visit these orphans. I have always wanted to work with children, but my love for missions was birthed from my first trip with Trey and the R.U.4 Children team. Six months before the trip, the team and I began our preparations for the trip.  We began to fast and pray together weekly. We also read a book called ‘The Missions Addiction’ by Dr David Shibley; it is a great book that really helped to prepare me for the experience I was about to have. We developed prayer bracelets with Ukraine’s colors on them that we gave to people to wear so they would remember our mission.

We arrived in Ukraine just in time for Christmas break. There was snow on the ground, it was freezing cold, and we were going to stay in the actual orphanage for 12 days.  I learned so much about the culture and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I experienced what it was like to live, eating and sleeping in the same conditions as the orphans’ around us lived every day. Each day I ate and shared life with girls who had few options for education and knew that life might end up leading them into a career of prostitution. We shared and encouraged them to each find their identity in God.

Being able to visit and stay in the orphanage where RU4Children committed their time too and see the living conditions was a great eye opener. There was carpet, nice furniture, paint on the walls. It was super clean and most importantly the environment was stable and calm.

Toward the end of our time in Ukraine Trey took us and showed the team a normal orphanage only a few blocks away. As we entered the smell of urine was strong and there were stray dogs living in the rooms. The beds were old, there was alcohol everywhere, the lights were barely working,  it was disgusting. It was a stark change from what we had seen and experienced. It really helped us all grasp how orphans and children are treated and just how much of a difference R.U.4 Children and their donors were actually making.

The characteristic that makes R.U.4 Children stand out so much to me is their compassion and commitment to the individual child. They are more well known now and have an even broader scope than when I originally went to Ukraine , but they still have the same heart and passion.

- Jenna Cameron

One of our partner orphanages, The Bataillie Boys Home, ran by The Gerald Bataillie Foundation, suffered damages during the earthquake. The wall surrounding the complex was completely destroyed, the south wing of the orphanage was reduced to rubble and there were cracks in the foundation and in the walls. Their water well was the only source of water and it was contaminated during the earthquake. We immediately began to fix and repair all of the listed damages. The wall surrounding the orphanage was rebuilt first due to the safety problems and threat of outsiders having access to the children. The building foundation and cracked walls were fixed and we even added a communal bathroom equipped with 5 toilets and 5 showers. We drilled a new water well and after it was completed, The Gerald Bataillie Foundation raised funds to put in a water treatment system that can produce 300 gallons of UV filtered water every hour. We then purchased four 500-gallon storage tanks for the clean water. Now, not only will the boys always have access to clean water, but the entire nearby community will have access too.

Feedings

R.U.4 Children has overseen the delivery and distribution of more than 500,000 meals to displaced families and endangered children living in tent cities.

Medical Care

In the days, weeks and months after the disaster we led countless medical teams into Haitian hospitals to work alongside medical professionals from around the world. We have also worked to get hundreds of orphans vaccinated with tetanus and albendazole (de-worming) shots.

Nutrition

R.U.4 Children has delivered thousands of vitamins to orphans. Our vitamins help in the fight against malnutrition. In one daily dose a child receives every vitamin and mineral that a body needs to thrive and grow.

Energy

We provided finances for a large generator at the home of Gerald Bataillie, were all of the R.U.4 Children mission teams stay.

Clean Up

A tremendous amount of clean up has taken place since the quake. Roads that were once impassable because of high towers of rubble are now open and traffic is flowing. Fallen buildings have been demoed and the rebuilding process is starting one brick at a time. It has been a slow process, but after 17 months, progress is finally being seen. Now the greatest clean up problem facing the people of Haiti is trash and sanitation. It seems as though no trash has been removed since the day of the earthquake. Where piles of rubble once lined the streets, the rubble has been replaced with piles of trash. It is a growing problem and it seems an outbreak of sickness and disease loom with every passing day the sanitation problem goes unaddressed.

Spiritual Climate

There is a great since of unity amongst the people in spite of the trials and struggles they have faced. Our partner church, led by Pastor Gerald Bataillie has seen growth in salvations, baptisms and attendance since the earthquake. The desperation they have faced has drawn them closer to the heart of God. Hundreds and sometime even thousands are still attending a sunlight prayer meeting everyday. Meetings were believers pray for Revival to overtake their small island nation. They believe the only hope for change is a move of God. The church is alive in Haiti!

Life has gone back to normal as much as it possibly can considering what the people have been through. Markets are open, people are working and every day life and vitality seems to be in full swing.

Despite all of the progress and hope we have seen, Haiti is far from where it should be. It is still a place full of turmoil, political unrest, famine, hunger, malnutrition, disease and death. According to Pastor Gerald Bataillie, “a lack of vision among leaders is one of the greatest things holding back progress. Haiti is still in a place of great change. Couple the corruption with the lack of education and Haiti finds itself in great need”.

It was my third time to visit the country, so I already loved the people and I already loved the land. I knew that I was going to work but the details of it all evaded me. In the past I’d been there to love on orphans, to play in the worship band, and to be a sold-out servant. I figured my role would fall somewhere along those lines but God isn’t so interested in what keeps us comfortable. So I guess I shouldn’t have been so surprised when He started calling me to speak.

I would rather sing in front of a million people that speak in front of a million people any day. To memorize a three-minute melody and a few lyrics (that repeat often – bonus!) is so much less intimidating to me than organizing a mixture of words and phrases in efforts to evoke ideas, passion, emotion, change, etc. Leave the speaking to the pastors and people who have the talent to talk. I’ll just sing the pretty song.

But from my very first trip to Africa I told God that if someone asked me to do something, I would do it. If there was an opportunity to fill a need, I would fill it. With His grace and His help, it would happen because He sent ME. It’s a scary philosophy but it has birthed a new kind of boldness in me. Which is why when my uncle, who was with us at the time, said he needed some volunteers to be on a radio show with under twelve hours notice, I leapt at the opportunity.

The very next morning I found myself sitting in a studio with three other Americans in Nairobi, speaking to upwards of 2 million listeners about our passion for God and their country. The strangest thing started happening; every time a question was posed to me I was able to answer without the smallest hesitation. I never knew what I was going to say, but I always had something to say. I shared about what it’s like to be a Christian in America, discussed body image and other issues that American girls face, and I did my best to dash the common idea that problems will vanish if you just get a visa and start over in the States.

By the end of the week I was sharing part of my testimony in front of 700 African teens at Count Me In teen camp. By the next month I was talking about boys and faith in an auditorium crowded with 600 girls at one of Nairobi’s top boarding schools. I was beginning to live by the promise that if I opened my mouth, the Holy Spirit would fill it.

I see now how all along God was cultivating in me the qualities and skills of a teacher. Come September I started teaching art and Bible to six classes at a tiny school in the heart of Kibera, Africa’s second largest slum. I knew from the beginning that I was there to plant seeds and hopefully someone else would see the fruit. Of course, I was wrong again.

God planned for a harvest that I never could have anticipated.

Coming Soon – Part 3  of Destination Africa by Brittany White

On Christmas Eve of 2009 I boarded a plane to leave a life that I knew and loved in New York City. I was the embodiment of the strong-willed, goal-oriented, knows-what-she-wants girl. I went to college twelve hours away from my home in Texas and then I moved to New York City to work a dream job in the music industry. I was self-sustaining! I made the best friends I’ve ever had! I played in the worship band at my cute Brooklyn church! Things seemed to be pretty perfect so when I started feeling trapped in my job and unhappy with the day-to-day, I was surprised and confused. It became apparent that God was calling me to make a very tough decision. After almost three years, He wanted me to swallow my pride, go back home, and move back in with my folks. No more salary, no more benefits, no more rubbing shoulders with celebrities at work events. It was a humbling blow.

After a few months of seeking a way out, of any way that would bring me closer to my old lifestyle, I was facing closed doors all over the place. And then one Sunday, some missionary friends from Africa were speaking at my church and I found myself bawling the entire way through. The pastor talked about how God only shows us the next stone in our path, and sometimes less. Sometimes He only lights up a part of that stone and it’s our job to have the faith to step towards it.

After the service I went to talk to the pastor and his wife and she said to me, “Why don’t you just go to Africa for three months?” Just like that, the next stone was illuminated. It was a flippant comment – I don’t even know if it was meant to be taken seriously – but to me, it was like  a flashing sign on a dark road. It was a direction. An order, even.

For the next few months I immersed myself in preparing for my trip. Doors opened like crazy when I started looking for temp jobs. I nannied, I cooked, I dog sat, and I was always busy. I prayed, I asked others to pray, I wrote letters, I planned car washes, I sold hand-sewn aprons, but most importantly, I gave. The best word I received during my time of preparation was this: sow what you need. I had travelled in the past and was rather stingy with my funds. I saved everything. I never bought coffee (major sacrifice), and my tithe dwindled. This time around, I gave toward other people’s trips. I gave my tithe. I not only bought myself coffee, I started buying coffee for strangers in the car behind me. I gave like I knew that God would return it with interest. And He did. I never had to raise more money and I never gave away more money, but I never received more money.

Eight months later, I boarded another plane and I followed God’s directions all the way to Nairobi…

Stop by next week to hear about Brittany’s exciting three months in Africa!

CLEAN WATER

Currently our boys home has a contaminated water well. It is imperative that we replace this well immediately. Their lives depend on it. Partner with us as we provide clean water to our boy’s home in Haiti.

Our Goal: $6,000 to replace the damaged well

Donate Now

Our team and partner church, Casa de Dios, went into the flood zone on Wednesday, September 29th to distribute tickets.  Tickets were given to local families in need. Each family had to present that ticket on the day of the feeding to receive the 35 lb bag of food. On the day of the ticket distribution the water was standing 3 – 4 ft and we were still able to drive through the flooded area. The flooding was supposed to subside, but instead the water took a turn for the worse.

Wednesday afternoon our team went to our beachside house, which was on high ground and has never experienced flooding in over 100 years. One hour into our stay at the house, the weather began to worsen. No forecast could have predicted how bad our night would be. By 10:00 pm, just 6 hours after our arrival to our safe-house, the water had risen 8 – 10 feet and and had surrounded the house, trapping us in. The out-lying roads were too bad for us to make it back to town, so we waited. By 1:00 am on Thursday morning the water was beginning to seep into the house. Needless to say the entire team spent the night on the 2nd floor. The next morning the water had risen an additional 3 ft and was on our door step and by 6 am the waters overtook the house. The bottom floor of the home filled up with 18 inches of water in 45 minutes. At this moment, our team fervently began to pray and intercede that the waters would stop. Miraculously, the water stopped within minutes. By the time the water stopped rising, it had risen 17-20 ft from the previous afternoon. Even if we wanted to leave, the standing water in the street directly in front of our house was between 7-10 feet deep. By noon on Thursday the 30th, we were rescued by boat. We traveled down a river channel that was so high, we were traveling above the power lines. Just when we thought we were on a perfect getaway to safety, the current carried our boat into a tree. After the crash, we made our way to high enough ground that we could walk. Our team set out on foot to dry ground. We walked 1.5 miles through waste to chest high water until we were met by rescue trucks. God had his hand on us throughout the entire crisis, proving Himself to our team once again!

Thursday evening we were taken back to safety in Guatemala City. Even though we were now clean and dry, our hearts were broken for the families left in the flood waters. We learned many of the homes in the outlying villages were completely washed away. Some villages were under 17 – 20 feet of water and sadly, there were elderly and small children who were lost in the flash floods during the night. We did find out that thousands of people made it to high ground during the night. By Friday morning, the waters had reseeded enough for us to go back into the flood zone to deliver food and dry clothes. We drove our trucks as far into the flooded waters as we could. The people were so grateful. We had a special bond with the local people, because they knew we had suffered through the night alongside of them.

The Challenge

Our team is going back today! We have an amazing opportunity to bless the hurting families of Puerto San Jose. With your help we want to continue provide for this region through our local church partner, Casa de Dios. We need your help to offer food, shelter, dry clothes and the life-changing message of Christ. Please join with us in prayer and share this story with others.

$10 will provide 100 meals

$100 will provide 1,000 meals

Give now: giving.ru4children.org

August 9, 2010

Tonight we had a very interesting night.  We were scheduled to leave DFW at 6:50, but our flight was delayed 3 hours.  We ended up not arriving in Fort Lauderdale until extremely late and barely had enough time to even take a breath before we had to head back to the airport to catch our 6AM flight.  Needless to say, we did not get any rest and have been exhausted as a result!

August 10, 2010

Our flight left EARLY, and we barely got there in time to leave.  While flying, there were some technical difficulties with the plane, so we had to circle around Port-au-prince for about an hour.  That was definitely a blessing from God (as was the free first class upgrade we all received) because we had the opportunity to get a little bit more rest before we arrived in Haiti and hit the ground running.

After we landed and made our way through customs, our small group—consisting of the 2^nd time returning Philip Creamer, the newbie Ryan Edgar, the veteran Michael Laymon (RU4C Projects Director) and myself—met up with Paul Waggoner, the leader of MMRC and previously mentioned rock-star-status rebel from Nantucket.  It was so good to see him again!  He recently took a job in Europe for a few weeks to support himself, and though he told of his travels to Paris, he could not WAIT to be back in Haiti, serving his fellow man.  Incredible guy.  So glad to know him! The five of us headed over to Kola, one of the orphanages that RU4C supports.  It was unbelievable getting to see those kids again!  When we arrived, they ran out to the car, giving the most passionately whole-hearted hugs I have ever received in all my life!  I even heard a few of them exclaim with excitement “Mama!” It was so good to wrap my arms and my heart around them once again!

We spent the afternoon there, playing with the kids, making puff paint tee-shirts, watching them dance and pretend to walk the run-way (haha), and just loving on them.  I couldn’t help but think that they have lost everything and everyone (most of them because of the earthquake).  How devastating it must be to feel as though you were abandoned—left all alone in the world.  It was my prayer that they felt loved as I held them, that they felt special, and that they felt the love of God beaconing them to Himself through those moments we shared.  Never have I wanted to adopt so many children in all my life…. And oh how I wish I spoke Creole so that I could audibly tell them what they mean to me and to their heavenly Father….

After we left Kola, we had the opportunity to go over to Paul’s compound and help their team unload a new HUGE delivery of supplies.  The boys did the work, assembly line style, sweating through all their clothes to make sure that the orphaned Haitians in need could benefit from this enormous donation of Pedialyte (an anti-dehydration, electrolyte rich fluid compound).  They worked so hard to get those supplies out.   This makes me realize that it doesn’t matter what we do, as long as we are willing to do it.  No matter what the task: easy, difficult, sweaty, or not, if our heart is in it, God is going to do great things through us and in it.  I was proud of those boys today J

We eventually made our way over to the airport to pick up Trey McAlister, the founder of RU4Children.  I am so honored to be able to serve alongside this passionately driven, Godly man.  His vision for RU4C came many years ago while he was serving in Ukraine, and since then, his ministry has reached hundreds of orphans all over the globe.  God truly has his hand on this man, and I am so excited to get to spend what little time I get to with him as we serve the Lord!

The evening came to a bit of a close as we had some car trouble, made our way back to Paul’s, ate some amazing spaghetti (prepared by two recent Nursing graduates from the states and a Marine that have been here for several weeks volunteering), and talked about Haiti and how effective we are as servants to this country.  We headed over to Pastor Gerald Bataille’s house, where he welcomed us with a warm hug and an even warmer smile.  I am now preparing for bed in my nicely air-conditioned room, awaiting a team meeting and devotional, and I keep coming back to this prayer that God use me this week.  Please will join me as I pray for that!?  He provided my way here through your giving spirits, and I want to use this opportunity to the fullest, making the most of this time.  I am very excited about meeting the physical needs of the people here, but more importantly, I want to make a KINGDOM impact.  I want the effects of our efforts to go beyond “aid” that lasts only a few weeks, a few months, or a few years at most.  I want to make an eternal impact.  That is what the people here need most… what we all need most.  Please help me as I pray that God would do as the lyrics of Hosanna express:

“heal my heart and make it clean,

open up my eyes to the things unseen,

show me how to love like You have loved me….

break my heart for what breaks yours

everything I am for Your Kingdom’s cause

as I walk from earth into eternity…..”

I love you all.  Thank you for sharing in this journey with me!

Jessica

August 11, 2010

Well, today has been a most interesting day…. Full of surprises, twists and turns.  This morning around 7:30, after an amazing breakfast prepared by Pastor Bataille, we went out to pick up our new rental car (because yesterday’s car broke down).  The Hertz guy gave us the run around and finally said they couldn’t get us a car: time wasted.  Then we went—6 in one small vehicle—to the airport to pick up the Pastor’s daughter, Rose Bataille and her friend Marie on their return from San Diego. We got another rental car at the airport, only while we waited for her arrival, the new car died: more time wasted.  Then we tried to get another car, and some swindlers tried to get our money while attempting to charge $600 for 3 remaining days of rental.  And as Michael was driving the car away, the guy’s wife called and wanted the car returned: much more time wasted. Needless to say, we had a LONG morning, all the while never being able to rent a car successfully.  Haha.  So I have had the privilege to ride in the back of a pickup on the bumpiest roads that may have ever existed

We finally gave up on the car and headed over to the land that was donated to the Bataille family: 400 acres on the beach.  It was beautiful!  We brought some city officials so that they could begin the “building approval” process for the orphanage and village that they plan on building.  I cannot wait until they get the construction underway.  The Bataille family is going to impact their country so much, and it is through their partnership with RU4Children and the commitment that their church body has to their community that this dream of theirs will come to fruition.  I can’t say it enough: I am so blessed that I have gotten to know and have ministered alongside this family.  They are truly incredible. I pray for their ministry and hope that any help that I have offered this family will be multiplied exponentially through the work God is certain to do….

We then made our way to the Bataille boys’ orphanage.  They are the sweetest kids!  And it was so good to see their faces once again.  As many of you know, RU4C asked me to return so that I could help them interview some of the orphans that they help support in order to set up information pages on each child and begin a sponsorship program (much like World Vision or Compassion International). We decided to begin the interview process tomorrow, giving them a day to get a little more comfortable with me so that they can tell me their stories with a little less fear and awkwardness So we spent our time handing out shirts to all the boys and playing with them in the rain.  Since we were last here, they paved a basketball court and put up a goal, as well as hung a swing, a rope to climb and a hanging ladder.  We played basketball, “football” (soccer), pushed them in the swing, and jump roped until it started getting dark.  Having now spent two days with him (the first being a day in June), I have absolutely fallen in love with one of the boys there!  He has the cutest smile (he’s missing both of his electric white canines) and he worked so hard to remember my name and pronounce it correctly.  He is precious, and I will most definitely be sponsoring him….

We have since come back to the Bataille home and are sitting in a circle, singing the blues, eating junk food (not all of us J), telling stories, and enjoying one another’s company. As I sit here, I am already praying for tomorrow. What an impact it will be to get to hear all of the boys’ stories!  I am also thrilled that I will have Rose all to myself, there to translate so that I can have some meaningful conversations with them.  Please be in prayer for all that we are going to do tomorrow. I am grateful for each of you making this trip a possibility.  May He be glorified and His kingdom come! I love you all….

Jessica

August 12, 2010

Greetings one and all J I hope all is well in America.  I miss you all so much. However, I can’t deny that today has been an exceptionally wonderful day!  I woke up in the best mood, ready to attack the day with full force! And I needed that vigor for what today held….

We left this morning around 8:30 and went straight over to the Bataille Boys Orphanage.  We spent the first few hours playing games with them.  I played mostly on the basketball court.  At first, I was just getting rebounds, but eventually I was showing them how to post up, dribble between their legs, and was passing off a lot of dramatic assists (Yes, I played basketball in high school.  I was no good.  At all.  Haha. Yet somehow I was captain–?  I’m pretty sure it was by default though.  I was the only senior and there were only 6 girls on my team LOL). I got the sweatiest I have been in all my life in the torturously hot Hatian sun.  Actually, if you combined my past two sweatiest moments in life (both of which would probably exist within my last trip to Haiti), I still think I’d top that.  We had so much fun though and I feel as though I bonded with the boys and moved past their view of me as some white girl who likes to take their picture.

The kids took a break for a little bit and during that time, I took the opportunity to sit down with Rose and individually spend time with each of the orphans.  We got to hear a little bit of each of their stories—how old they were, where they were from, if they have siblings, what they like to do, what happened to their parents.  I was so moved to hear their sweet, quiet voices tell a little bit about themselves. Some of these kids have been at the orphanage for 14 years.  Some of these kids are newly orphaned, feeling scared and all alone. Some of the kids still have one or both parents alive, but they are at the orphanage for the opportunity for a better life.  Think about that…. They are at an ORPHANAGE to have a better life.  That is so heartbreaking to me.  Yet at the same time, I am so happy that they found their way to the Bataille orphanage. This family truly is helping these kids reach their full potential by educating them, feeding them, clothing them, loving them, and teaching them the importance of a relationship with Christ.  Because of the impact that this family has had on them for the kingdom, when asked “what do you want to be when you grow up,” about 80% said “a pastor.” They are the most amazing boys.  I love them all so much!  God is going to great things through each one of them J

As each boy finished his interview with Rose and me, they were sent to be fitted for some more shirts and shorts.  Philip, Ryan, and Michael took turns fitting each boy with their new clothes.  What a blessing it is to provide something that seems so obviously essential to us as Americans to these sweet boys.  They were so excited about their new clothes and the hugs they received from the guys. Just by Philip, Ryan, and Michael being there, they were—even if unknowingly—impacting these boys to the core: being examples of what it means to serve the Lord, put others first, and give with a cheerful heart.

We then gathered the boys together and made a craft with them.  It was very simple (we made framed artwork using crayons, construction paper, popsicle sticks, glue, and foam animals) but we had such a good time.  They really got creative and were all smiles.  I spent some time with Benoit Schneider (my favorite little electric-white-smiled boy I mentioned yesterday).  He taught me the French alphabet and I helped him with his picture.  Our time together today was priceless to me.  I LOVE HIM!

After a few more pushes in the swing and a couple more soccer goals, we left the orphanage.  We were there for seven hours, though it did not feel as though we were there for that long. J We drove out to the capital to show Ryan some of the devastation in downtown Port-au-prince.  While we were out there, we got the chance to talk to a local artist trying to sell some of his work.  When asking me to purchase a picture, I tried to show him that I didn’t have any cash on me.  I pulled out some trash from my pocket, so he told me to “be a Hatian and throw it on the ground! LOL” Rose took that opportunity to teach him that he should love his country and want to improve it.  What he had to say was so sad.  He explained that Haiti doesn’t care about him, so it is difficult for him to care about Haiti.  “If something were to happen to you as white Americans here in Haiti, the government would search until they found who was responsible, then lock them up forever.  If the same thing were to happen to me, nothing would be done and no one would care.”  He said that he was supportive of Wyclef Jean becoming president because “all of the government officials are in office for the money, but Wyclef already has all the money he could ever want.” It is so sad that the people of this country feel as though their government is against them and doesn’t care (which I believe has a lot of truth to it).  I hope that you will join me in prayer, however, that the BEST president will be elected in 2011 here in Haiti so that social reform will come and their country can move forward and prosper.  They need to get away from the voodoo, Satanic dedications of past and current law givers (fact: many of their presidents, including the one in office before their current president, have sacrificed children as a dedication of the country of Haiti to Satan) and move toward a Christ-centered governmental system.  Because, just as is the case in our own spiritual lives, only then can true reform come.  Only then will they see true, lasting change.

Praying for Haiti,

Jessica

August 13, 2010

Happy Friday that 13^th! I hope everyone is doing well.  Today turned out to be a really great day!  After another wonderful home cooked breakfast and some fresh black Haitian coffee, our team went back over to Kola, the orphanage from the day of our arrival.  It was so good to see their bright, smiling faces again.  Especially my two Kola favorites, Gavenson and Yolanda.

We spend the day hanging out with these kids, playing games, doing crafts and pushing them on their new swing that some of the volunteers from MMRC just put up.  The volunteers also constructed two picnic tables for the kids to eat at and do crafts on, so the children got some paint and went at it.  It was so cute…. They were all walking around with white palms and splotches of paint in their hair.  They had a great time.

We took them into one of their classrooms (a few pieces of wood covered with tarp) and made bookmarks.  We talked about Christ with them as they painted crosses and wrote “Jesus” on their bookmarks.  I was given the opportunity to say something to the entire group, a privilege I had not yet been given.  I was so glad to have Rose there to translate for me as I told them what they mean to me, how special they are, and how much God loves them.  I pray that those few minutes of sharing my heart planted seeds in theirs….

Many of these kids have experienced loss from the earthquake and are in such great need physically, emotionally and spiritually.  One of the little boys in particular shows great signs of malnourishment.  He is all skin and bones.  The lady that runs the orphanage is young, about 21 years old, and often doesn’t make all the right choices (we’ve given out these “manna packs” which have rice and a separate pouch containing a protein compound, and she has admitted to taking out the protein because the children didn’t like the taste).  This is also not necessarily a faith-based orphanage.  The only Christian influence they receive is through RU4Children’s efforts and their contact with the Bataille family.  Today, however, we may have made a great leap forward in improving this orphanage and therefore the lives of these kids.  This was Rose Bataille’s first time to visit Kola, and she got to talk with the owner.  This orphanage’s “lease” is up in 3 months and they have no where to go.  RU4Children is working to get these kids over to the Bataille’s Orphanage as soon as possible.   The owner of Kola is a little reluctant because she likes the control and is the recipient of the money the orphanage receives, giving her the choice to do as she wishes.  Today it became more of a possibility than ever, so please pray that Kola can be absorbed by the Bataille Orphanage so that these kids can become healthy: spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically!

August 14, 2010

I am so blessed that I was able to come here again and do this work for the Lord in Haiti.  We are about to leave for the airport and it is bittersweet.  Having come here twice in such a short amount of time has made me fall in love with these kids, the people at MMRC, and the Bataille family.  The more time I spend here, the more I see there is so much to be done.  Please continue to pray for Haiti as they continue to recover from the physical and emotional damage done by the earthquake.  Please pray for all the orphans that RU4C has reached out to.  Please pray for the Bataille family as they continue to do GREAT work in their community.  And pray for the American group, the MMRC, as they continue to meet the medical needs of Haiti.

Thank you for the support!  I am so glad to call you my family and friends.  Pictures will be up soon on my facebook.  Be sure and check out my old pictures as I took much more during my first trip J Off to the airport.  I love you all!

In Him,

Jessica