(From Thursday, July 30)
Thursday was one of the best and yet hardest days of my life. Today was the day we met the 16 orphans who have been chosen to live in the orphanage. It was actually the first time Wowo, the orphanage director (along with his wife) had met all of them.
The day started early as the orphans were due to arrive at 6:30 am. It seems quite early, but the sun rises about 4:00 am here and we think the mentality was that the earlier it was, the better since many had to walk 2-3 hours each way to come and meet with us. This way they would return home before the heat got too bad. The smallest child, a little girl named Serline lives about 7 miles away.
When the children arrived, our team greeted them and had them come inside the house we are staying in. There was just enough room to seat them all around the table we eat at. We had many activities planned for these children, but they were a bit nervous at first. So we played board games with them to help them relax. After that, we did a few crafts. The best one being a canvas with their name on it. We wrote their names and they painted the rest. Those special names will hang in their room at the orphanage.
While all of this was going on, Dorina and I each pulled a child aside and with the help of a translator, we asked them some questions about themselves so that we can create a profile on each child. We’re not sure where God is leading, but we have dreams of finding at least a sponsor for each child, if not a family that is willing to adopt them. It was difficult to listen to their stories and see the faces that go with the names we’ve been praying for. We were also able to give outfits to the 16 childresn of the orphanage.
We finished off our day with a storytime and playtime back at the church with the Pignon children. Just like yesterday, it was a shortened timeframe because we needed to leave by 6:00 pm to travel to Gerby’s outstation. They were putting on an evening service for us.
I do have to confess that this was indeed my favorite day. It was the day in which I felt like this was what I was made for. This was the day in which I got to minister to the fatherless with my own hands. Just like Eric Liddle says in “Chariots of Fire”–”When I run, I can feel His pleasure.” Well I wasn’t running, but there was a deep satisfaction that I believe comes from doing what God made you to do. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for these orphans and how God has in mind to use me.
-Brandy Freeland
From Wednesday (July 29, 2009):
We have done a lot of respecting of the Haitian culture and graciously doing our construction projects their way even though it doesn’t make sense to us, but today we were able to do things in a more efficient way and the Haitians were impressed. Mind you, it didn’t start out that way. We are pretty sure that Pastor Peter was humoring Nathan and his crew when they gave their suggestions.
You see, our team was asked to help with the pouring of the cement for the floors on the level the children will live on. Pastor Peter stated that there are usually plenty of helpers around when they work on the orphanage, but not when they need do concrete because it requires that they carry buckets of cement up the flight of stairs. One of the workers that we talked with later said that he did that once and he’ll never do it again. He could not even touch his arms afterward. Imagine carrying heavy buckets of cement up and down the stairs all day. Maybe now you can understand.
So Nathan, Paul, Bryan and Ernie stumbled upon a pulley and began formulating an idea. They found parts and pieces around and rigged up a pulley system to carry the cement buckets. They even tore pieces of rags to cover their hands as they pulled on the rope. Well when they completed 3 times the amount of work that Pastor Peter had expected to get done, the guys were pretty proud of themselves. That is when Pastor Peter admitted that he was impressed. Pastor Louie is now suggesting we complete the rest of the work on that floor tomorrow…
Anne and Stacie worked among the Haitian women in the kitchen, organizing it in there. They were able to complete the task of going through food, throwing some things away and also clean it. Clorox wipes are an amazing inventions! At one point, they found a big storage bowl of rice with mice droppings in it and decided to feed it to the chickens in the backyard. We’re pretty sure the Haitian women were trying to understand why we’d throw such a perfectly good bowl of rice away.
Speaking of chicken, yesterday Ernie came upon the women who work in the kitchen. They were catching some of the chicken who run around the yard and killing them for our lunch. So he asked if he could kill one too. They said yes! So Ernie learned a new skill yesterday and today, on his birthday, got to enjoy the product of his new experience as we ate lunch. Don’t worry, we’ve got pictures of that one!
One of the core values of The Bridge is dependence upon God in prayer.
The Bible makes it clear that all good gifts in life come from God and we can accomplish nothing of spiritually significant apart from trusting and abiding in Christ.
The Bridge is entering a new and significant season of ministry and in light of this, we believe that this is the perfect time to call our church family together in collective prayer and fasting in the areas we are asking God to move by the power of His Spirit:
Vision: That we might truly love God, enjoy His presence, power and His protection.
Leadership: That our Elders, Staff and lay leaders would truly seek the heart of God and lead our church body into His perfect will.
Outreach: That God might bless our church family with 250 new people, seeking Him as we officially launch a new service, in the form of our first Video Venue on September 13.
Community Life: That the Lord would cause our LifeGroup ministry to grow and bless our various ministries when they relaunch in September.
Families: That our families and marriages would be greatly blessed by God and that our children would choose to follow Christ whole-heartedly.
Students (Junior High, High School, College) & Young Adults: That God grows these groups of believers and leads them into new chapters of discovery, service and spiritual fruitfulness.
Extended Bridge Ministries/Service: That our Deaf Ministry, El Puente (our Spanish-speaking church plant) as well as our Celebrate Recovery program, experiences God’s favor like never before. We also pray that many would step forward at our church to fill critical ministry roles by serving God through serving others.
Would you please join us in creating a week-long chain of people calling out to God in prayer and skipping at least one meal to show our Father our seriousness in turning to Him for His favor and blessing?
Sign-ups will be available on the Plaza on Sunday, August 9, or you may sign up now at thebridgefresno.com. We are asking you to commit to a week of prayer and a day of simple fasting during the week of August 9-15.