Random Stories of the first arrival

Story #1:

We went on a prayer walk on Saturday. On our way to our destinations we got into a car wreck. Our car kept giving out and the gears wouldn't change. We were headed up a hill with 18+ people added onto our team of 11 people. The car gave out and we started rolling back and before you know it we hit the car behind us. A policeman came up to the driver, I'm not sure exactly what happened but we never saw him again after we prayed and declared "Lord, help us get up this hill!"

The hospital in Port-au-Prince was pretty intense. One of my team members saw a baby be covered and taken away. In that moment, a life just ended. There were many families there. It looked like a lot of single mothers with month old babies. We got to pray with them, and allowed the Holy Spirit to lead us on what else to do. We didn't have a translator for everyone so it was a bit difficult to make a good connection with a person.

Story #2:

There was a tarantula outside of the main house here. Someone killed it with a rock. =P

Story #3:

Here in the orphanage there are a couple girls that capture my heart. One is Isabella. I'm not sure what problem she has but she is very stiff and has to be in a wheelchair or laying down. Every single time you smile and say something to her she grins the biggest smile of joy and doesn't allow it to fade very easily. I wanted to hang out with her yesterday so I rolled her around for a bit and sang to her. Than when I took her back I wanted her to be able to swing, so I picked up her stiff body and brought her over to the swings and we swung for a bit. She loved it! I get so much joy out of bringing them happiness! I'm so glad we don't have regulations on hanging out with them!

Talking about it makes me want to go check on her, I haven't seen her today yet! =] Catcha Later! =]

Country of Hope

7/9/10

We arrived to Port-au-Prince, Haiti yesterday. It was about an 8 hour drive. We left around 4am thursday morning! So almost everyone slept the whole way, even our driver....the WHOLE ride he was bobbing his head, and his eyes would close every other second. Thank the Lord for HIS protection! Wow, and all the prayers from you guys! I think the worst part of that is that our driver had to go all the way back to Santo Domingo that same day.



My team and I were praying most of the way there, if not all the way. Crossing the border was crazy. Cars, food, tables, chairs, more cars, mopeds, food, drinks, traffic, police men, and on...
They didn't even end up checking our passsports, but we had a few people we had to give money to in order to cross the border. The Lord's favor was on us the wholeeee way! We ended at Petterson's house, it was beautiful inside and outside. Nothing that I expected to see. Petterson is head over this Port-au-Prince base. When we got to his house, he just told us an introduction. He mentioned God spoke to him in Nehemiah, just how God spoke to me to come here for outreach. =] It was just a little whisper of God's voice, reassuring me that He has plans for me in Haiti. We relaxed at Petterson's house for a while in the air conditioned room. After a bit, we packed our bags on the truck and a few ended up riding in the bed of the truck with the luggage and the rest in the van. We arrived at New Life's Children Home, where our home will be for the next three weeks! =]

We set up our 3 tents. Boys on one side, girls on the other with huge white cover's for our luggage and stuff. The weather is not as humid as Dominican Republic was. It actually gets a little cooler at night here, which is nice. The orphans are sooo fun. Right away they loved our company. Some of them, it takes a bit of time to get comfortable, but I'm sure by the end of three weeks they won't want us leaving. There are two babies--John, and Kevin. They are beautiful. There are many orphans in wheelchairs, and a lot with medical problems. Half of the orphans are from the earthquake. There are about 120 in all. We have free range into the orphanage at anytime except bedtimes. It is so nice to have the freedom we have. I love to be able to actual have real relationships with them.

7/10/10

One of the most touching moments for me was their night worship. They were watching and singing with all their hearts to a Michael W. Smith (live) DVD! I haven't felt the Holy Spirit like that since before we were in Dominican Republic. Overall, this is a very humbling experience. I'm always asking myself, if I was in their place what would I want from a visitor. I try to live out the command "do unto others as you would have them do unto you".

My team and I will be teaching this week to tent cities. I'm excited to see lives changed. We will be teaching on the "Father Heart of God", "Hearing the Voice of God", "Prayer and Bible", "Holy Spirit", "Relationships, "Obeying God's voice", "Intimacy with Christ" and more. I am teaching on "Prayer and Bible" with Jorn. My goal is to bring them to realization of how important Prayer and Bible is to your daily walk with the Lord.

We Made it to Dominican!

Here is a quick update on things:

We had 11 hours in the air, a five hour lay-over and about 30 min. ride to the YWAM base here. We are still recovering from jet-lag. =] We like the food here better than the food on the base! haha. =] It's good! We only have designated days to get on the internet, it's a rule on the base. Being photographers, we have only been allowed to take pictures, and have only 2 photographers for the whole group. It is for safety purposes. It is hard because it's our passion and we see all these awesome things we want to take pictures of, but the Lord knows our hearts, and He also knows the best for us.

=] The driving here is very adventurous! I love it! People don't use the lines and you feel as if you are going to crash but then right before you hit the car, the driver puts the breaks on! haha. =P There are always people selling things on the street. For expamle, they sell cold water, snacks (like wafers), cell phone chargers, newspapers, sunglasses, and more! =] With the driving, comes the honking, haha, I still do not know why they honk? haha =]

This has been awesome so far. We will be leaving for Haiti on thursday or friday depending on whether we find a ride or need to rent a car.

Today we went to a leprosy colony. Most of them were in their old age. Many of them did not have all their limbs. We went to encourage them. We played and sang 2 songs for them, shared 2 of our testimonies, and shared a teaching on "Hearing the Voice of God". They said they enjoyed it very much.

This is Julita:

There were a few people who touched my heart. One was Julita, she didn't talk very much, but for some reason my heart went out to her, so I tried to communicate with a translator. There was another lady, 75 years old, I cannot remember her name at the moment, but she was so joyful and the only one really to show her excitement towards us. She loved to dance and sing. Jorn would play the ukelele and we sang to her how beautiful she is and she would join in and add-lib to the song. It was awesome!

Yesterday we went to help a church feed the homeless. I went with Hannah to help in the kitchen as the others went and invited people to come. We made beans, rice, salad (I tried a piece, it was very good!), and fried meatballs! It was so hot in that kitchen, frying the food, I would not stop sweating. As I stepped outside, there was a temperature difference, and I thought it was cool outside! =P phew I enjoyed it soo much! I bonded with a girl named Yesther. She was about 14 if I can remember correctly and these people were just so sweet to us.

We will be going back to both of these places to help again when we get back from 6 weeks in Haiti. I can't wait to get some pictures, stories of hope, and testimonies of what the Lord keeps doing!

Please keep praying for us! Love you all, Elizabeth

POUR down

The Lord has sent rain to Hawaii, right now as I am typing. It has not poured like this in a while, I have heard. It is coming down pretty fierce. =] After spending time in the prayer room reading a bit of Nehemiah. The Lord has told me to rebuild Haiti. Rebuild their hearts for God and their country for God. To rebuild their schools, their religion, all of Haiti. =] Well it started sprinkling and I went to my room at that point.

My roommate asked me if I wanted to go play in the rain, she didn't even finish her sentence and we both put on some clothes to get wet in! =] Take up this opportunity we won't have for the next 3 months, nice, cool rain on our skin! While we were splashing and laughing we made our way to the fountain and Emily started walking around the fountain on the blue tiles...she said the wall of Jerico and the next thing you know we are marching around 7 times declaring restoration of rebuilding Haiti. Jerico is found in Joshua, where the Lord had led me earlier in study in His word. God is so good. The Holy Spirit truly unites each follower of Christ through love. It is so cool. =D I know I will sleep well tonight, it is still raining, but no longer POURING. =] Thank you Lord.

"but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name." Nehemiah 1:9

"But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. There fore you did not desert them..." Nehemiah 9:17

Haiti is the Lord's.

Has it really been 9 weeks already!?

Woahhh. God has been so good. Here my life is changing. My mind is being transformed by a new way of thinking. I have not experienced the Lord like I have here in my life. I love to people watch, and especially here because when I see that true passion, it makes me want to dive deeper in my intimacy with the Lord.

I know it has been a while since I have written or updated my blog. Time has never flown by so fast in my life as it is now. Thank the Lord I am spending it with Him!!! Haiti is in 18 days! I still need outreach money. Over 1,000 dollars left to raise. If I cannot raise my money, I have to go home and not complete the DTS. Outreach is part of the 6 month DTS. I have complete belief that the Lord is going to provide the money. It is His money, and the Lord is just giving me peace. I know He takes care of my EVERY need. Phil. 4:19! A couple weeks ago, the Lord sent a little 5 year old girl, named Ariel, to come and ask if she could pray for me. Her mother told me she wants to pray for money. That child has no idea that I needed money, but the Lord gave her insight, and her faith (faith comes from hearing, and she definately heard the Lord) influenced my faith! I love how the Lord knows the desires of our heart, and loves to delight in us. A child coming to pray for me completely humbled me. Lord, you are good and your mercies endure forever!

Out of several things, one thing the Lord is teaching me is my family's importance in my life. I was blessed with AMAZING parents. They sought after the Lord, and raised me in the word, to be not of this world. Teach a child in the way he should go and he shall not depart from it. So true! My sisters, both super loving to me. Thank you Lord for my family, pour out your favor and blessings on them Jesus.

I love you all and miss everyone back home in a healthy way, haha, I can't express how much it means to me to know you all are by my side through this journey!

Makapala!

Last weekend we had our DTS retreat! We got to get away from base, and just PhotogenX headed to Makapala! It was about an hour and a half away I think? Anyways, we took a school bus alllll the way there, the wind wacking the girls hair in our faces, and even more than just our own face! haha. It was a windy ride, that's for sure! Once we got there, guys got their room, and ladies got our room! There are only 11 guys in our whole DTS, and over 40 girls! Guys got a room with nothing, and girls got 2 rooms FILLED with bunk beds! We almost made an "Annie" video! So the guys grabbed the beds that were left over to sleep on in the room where we met for worship/prayer/and meetings. That first night we had an AWESOME bonfire! S'mores! That was a treat, back at the base they never serve dessert! The stars were amazing. It seemed so fake like I was in an IMAX theater! The second night we were there, Nate and I saw 4 shooting stars! The Lord is soo good to us, the first night I was asking the Lord for one, but I waited and the second night He shot 4 for us! It's so relaxing to just rest in God's presence and admire His creations. I encourage you to do that, whoever is reading this, just to take a 10 min. break and relax, get everything off of your mind and sit back and let all your senses have a party!

It's funny, in Hawaii it really depends WHERE you are because the weather is different wherever you go! At Makapala the air was so much clearer, and at night it was actually cold to me. I loved it! The second morning I woke up and when I walked outside our door this overwhelming hapiness came over my Spirit. The Love of the Lord was just being drenched on me! As I kept walking I realized the weather reminded me of Costa Rica! =] Beautiful beautiful. =] ahhh It rained a few times we were there, but just for a bit it would come and go.

Saturday we had a choice to go hiking. Of course, I chose to go! I ended up super sore! It was a good hike, all the way down, but back up, we had to climb uphill. We saw a dead whale washed up on the shore, it was dug into the sand by now. The stench was gross! You knew something DIED hahah! There were also 2 made huts on the shore. There were some people who made tower stones. They looked pretty cool! After sweating like crazy, we got back on the bus to ride back to the campsite. Dinner prep was my work duty. We have speggeti and sauce with chicken and salad! Boy that was some work. 2 of my friends were cutting off fat of the chicken for 2 and a half hours! I never saw that much fat, and that many bags of chicken!

Our staff came along, which was AWESOME! We played a game of ultimate frisbee! Loved that, it makes me feel not too out of the loop since we play back home every sunday! =] Well I hope you enjoy these pictures. God blessed us with an awesome weekend with relaxation!

Can't get enough

Two days ago started a 48 hr. of prayer here. It's optional, but Tuesday was awesome. We are celebrating Pentecost. "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. The saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." Acts 2:1-4 "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy...And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Acts 2:17-21

It was an awesome time of prayer and worship on tuesday, and is still going on. It's super cool to be in there for hours and time flies by when your in the precence of your God. He truly does make known the paths of life and fills me with joy in His presence. (Acts 2:28 and Psalm 16:11)

The Holy Spirit is so powerful. Some don't give enough credit to that part of the Godhead. Sometimes we forget He is there! How could we! He allows us to worship in SPIRIT and in TRUTH! =] This picture shows what face you make when the joy of the Lord fills you up! =]