Well-being Orphanage.
Thursday we spent the day at Well-being. There are 20+ kiddos who seem pretty used to having visitors. They sweetly and calmly came out and greeted us with hugs and kisses on the cheek. We had a Bible lesson, played soccer, sang lots of songs, helped with laundry and helped serve lunch (which I inevitably do wrong and need lots of instruction on exactly how much to put on each plate!).

The main "momma" had left a couple days before because of some kind of disagreement, but somehow they got word to her that we were there, so she decided she would come back. She has a prosthetic leg from diabetes, and everyone was helping her walk across the very large property, as all the kids went to greet her. She is obviously well-loved.

The property is big, but it's leased, and some body of believers has built buildings on it. The problem here is that at anytime, the landlord can kick them off and keep the improvements, making him able to get more money for leasing or selling it. This is a widespread problem with land in Haiti. There are two empty chicken coops, but just one chicken and two pigeons roaming around.

We had just a fabulous day with those kids, who are so sweet and loving.

This morning, Hellen and David and Neal just left to go to the live chicken market, praying it will be open and praying it will have 40  live chickens to take to the orphanage before they pick us up to go to Children's Household of Tomorrow Orphanage today.

I, for one, am cracking up at the thought of David, Hellen, Neal and our translator, Jonas, in the back of a tap-tap with 40 live chickens. I'm glad I went to the market the other day instead! This could be very interesting...

HCRM (Haiti Christian Rescue Mission)

Yesterday we left early for a drive into the mountains to HCRM, where many people from Texas and even our area are adopting children. It was a beautiful drive, and the cooler air felt amazing. The driving is downright frightening, but the drivers handle it all very well. You just have to not look sometimes. Well, you just have to not look often, actually.

When we got there, the children were having school, and stayed in their seats and on task until they were released to come greet us. They seemed a little more hesitant than some of the other children we've met, especially the older ones.

I was asking for Stephania and Sterline, who are being adopted by my friend, when I was introduced to Sunny, for whom I had a message from her parents. I read the message to her, and could barely keep it together as it was so moving. She clung tightly to her parents' friends for the rest of the day. So precious to have that time loving on her on their behalf.

In time, I met the two other girls, who were pleased to meet us and classmates of their brother and take photos with us and even call their mom in Texas. G-d is so good!

Our time there was short because of the longer drive, but so much fun.

On our way back, we stopped for a sugarcane treat and to take photos of the Presidential Palace, still in ruins.