Hey people!
This is my second trip to the Mole and each time God has done something different. I am so heart-broken that I have to leave. I have shed my tears and there are more to be shed. My heart is for these kids. The Bible says that to enter the kingdom, we must have the heart of a child. Kids, whether they are here in Haiti, in America, or anywhere else in the world, they are our future. God cherishes them just as much, or maybe even more than us adults. They love without caring. They love without any expectation of getting something in return. Kids love with everything they have and if we do not cherish them like God does then what are we doing? How are we raising the next generation? As you continue reading know that God protects. He comforts. He heals. God is bigger than anything we go through. He is working here in Haiti while He works all around the world.
This morning I woke up and came up to the place where we eat to prepare myself for the devotion I was giving that morning and the rest of the day. As I was reading Hebrews 11, I heard a woman yelling at her children. I then heard her run inside, and once inside I then heard a little boy screaming and crying. I heard the sound of a whip (or branch). The woman was beating this innocent child. She was choosing to make this child suffer.
There is a point in punishment when it becomes abuse, and that scream was beyond the point of just being in trouble. Every morning I have been here, I have watched this woman yell and scream at her two boys. This morning I heard audible evidence that this woman abuses her boys. Words can not describe how heart-broken I was to hear that scream. I don’t understand how one person can treat a child with such little love. It breaks my heart to think that this is “normal” in Haiti. In this culture, children are the lowest of the low. Kids don’t matter to some people, but they matter to God. They matter to our creator. They matter to me.
These kids don’t know what it feels like to be loved. They don’t know the joy of getting to play with their dad or mom. They don’t know they matter. Who is there to tell them they matter? Who is stopping the abuse? I hear these screams and it resonates in my head. We came here to be the hands, feet, and face of Christ but when I hear those screams I wonder how much we are even doing. It breaks my heart to think that even when I leave I will still be hearing the screams of these children.
I have been apart of VBS for the past two days and it has blessed my heart so much. To see the faces of these children light up brings joy to my heart. All we did during these programs was share the story of David and Goliath, sing some songs, and play with them, but it brought them and me so much joy to spend quality time with these people. In Hebrews 11 it says that many of the men in the Bible never saw what God promised them. They never got to witness the greatness of God’s promise. Going to these VBS’s and reaching out to these people is just like those situations in the Bible. The men of the Bible had faith. They trusted in God’s plan and even though they never say the promise they knew it would happen. I have faith for these people. I trust that God’s plan is greater than my own. I may feel as though I can’t do anything for these people, but me being here with this team and being the face of Christ is all part of God’s greater plan.
I believe that sometimes we get overwhelmed by circumstances because it reminds us to lean on Him. He wants us to go to Him with EVERYTHING. No matter how much the world throws at you, no matter how much you want to give up, God is ALWAYS there. He wants us to cry out to Him. He wants us to completely fall in love with Him. He wants us to completely go to Him for anything, big or small. I leave you with this, trust in what God has for you. Know that God’s plan is greater than your own. It breaks my here to have to leave, but I know that God isn’t leaving just because we are. He continues to do work 24/7. He is working in my life, He will continue to work in and through the kids of Haiti, and He is working in yours.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Kathryn Truckenmiller
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Please feel free to leave comments. We will read them each night.
love you babe!!!! enjoy your last few days, soak it all up and continue to share God’s love to these sweet babies!!!!
we are looking forward to seeing you soon!
Love and prayers ALWAYS!!!!!
Sweet Abbey we love you and miss you and we are so proud of you! You all continue to be in our prayers. Be safe and love you, mom, dad and Cole
I said I would write y’all today, so here it is. Be encouraged. Y’all have been the hands and feet of Christ in Haiti. Y’all have shown Christ’s unconditional love to those kids. Kathryn, your blog broke my heart for those children. I’m not even there with y’all, but know that the stories y’all share move us here to be prayer warriors for those children, for those families, for the nation of Haiti. God is looking down on y’all smiling right now, saying “well done, My good and faithful servants”. Y’all went into this broken nation without fear, with total faith in God, and He is so proud to call y’all His precious children. Thank you, from all of us, for following God’s call to this nation. Thank you for depending on the Lord, for trusting in Him and His plan, and faithfully serving.
Y’all are constantly in my prayers. Love and miss y’all so much and can’t wait to see y’all and hear more about this amazing trip.
Shannon, enjoy your last day in Haiti. Can’t wait to see you, hug you and hear all about your amazing adventure. We all love you and are so proud of you.
Easter can’t come soon enough.
I love you!
Mom
Sarah Love. Enjoy your last day in Haiti. Love on those people. We are so proud of all you have done this week. The picture of you reading the Bible with that young man is precious. I will continue to pray for you and your group. I love you to the moon.
mom
Rachel,
Wilby and Inigo loved the pictures of you! I’m sure you are tired as this has been an exciting week. We will pray for refreshment and strength as you complete the tasks God still has before you in Haiti.
We all send our love!
Madre, El Papo, Bugg, Wilby and Inigo
Hi all…your last day. Ouch…bittersweet, I’m sure. What you will take away with you no man, no force on earth can take away from you. Now is where your faith comes in. Believe that God will see His plans for these people come to fruition. You have been faithful in what He sent you to do. God will do the rest. The cries of those little children resonate in the heavens. Pray without ceasing for their mother’s salvation and that she will come to know Christ and walk in His ways. Pray that God will raise up a mighty army – a holy army of christian warriors in all of those children that will reach and teach others of the gentleness and love of our saviour. Remember that God’s word never returns void. Neither does His love. Those children will never forget you because what they received from you was the light and love of Christ working through you and that is something that can never, ever be destroyed or taken away by human hands. Your footprints will not be erased and many of them will walk in them long after you’re gone. Believe. Don’t doubt. Have faith. God has got this. I love you all. Safe journey home. Love, Chris’ mom
Marie, Finally-just learning to do this after talking to your mom. So here goes Tried it eariler in week. We love you and miss knowing you are not in Lubbock this week. Looks like you have had a great week and God has been good to all of you. We have prayed each night for you–I sure have. Grandad has been pulling calves some nights this week – till midnight. Haven’t seen enough of you in pics. Enjoyed seeing kind of what the country and where you are looks like. It is beautiful here most of week. We love you very much and hope you have a good trip home. Still praying for you and the orphanage and children. Grandma and Grandad
I would like to wish Elise a very happy birthday – I know it has been a good one because you are where you want to be and doing what you feel led to do. 22 years ago when God blessed me with such a little bundle of joy, I had no idea what a wonderful, compassionate, Godly woman you would become. I love you – Happy Birthday!!!!! I hope your last hours in Haiti are the fullest and that His spirit moves in a mighty way – for the team and for the Haitian people.
Mom
We love you Abbey! We love the pictures and seeing the precious children. Prayers for your last day in Haiti and your safe travel home for the team. We can’t wait to see you and hear all about your experience! Love you, meme and aunt terry
Hey Seester! I miss you like crazy! I hope your having a good time. Wish we could see more pictures of you. I love you and can’t wait until you get home!