by: Licia

I want to tell you a story today about two special ladies in my life.  They met here in Haiti.  There names are Mary and Daphna.  This is their story from my view. 

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Mary came to RHFH in September. She came to be the new teacher for the Betor boys.   She knew a  good friend of ours Caroline.  Caroline filled her in on life here in Haiti and how things are around RHFH.  Mary was excited and a little bit nervous about coming to Haiti.  She came down with her dad and met us and the staff her at RHFH.  Her dad stayed for a few days and then Mary was on her own.  A new place, new country.  A lot to take in.  A few days after her arrival we had a child die in the RC.  This is a very hard thing to go through for the first time.  Many people shut their hearts and do not want to hurt anymore about going through this experience.  Mary was shaken.  Her first experience with a malnourished child dying.  It hurts when you want them to live so badly.  Mary came to teach the boys- remember.  This was the need she was filling for us at RHFH.  Mary did not need to do anything else.  She was doing a wonderful job teaching my boys.  She could have been fine just completing this task.  But….she opened her heart and let that still small voice speak to her.  She said here I am Lord use me, even when it hurts me, let me be used by YOU!  Oh the change that happened. Two lives forever changed. 

Daphna was very sick when she arrived at RHFH.  She was suffering from kwashiorkor.  She was weak and very ill.  She was going down hill fast and needed help.  She did not have a will to live.  She was tired of being hungry, she was tired of fighting, she did not care anymore.  She would not eat.  She would not drink.  We had to put down a feeding tube for her.  The rescue center was full with over 70 kids at that time.  We had to hire more staff to be able to care for everyone.  Mary went to visit the RC and met Daphna.  Would she dare to open her heart to another child?  She could have said I have a full day and do not have time for her.  It will hurt my heart to bad.  God has not called me to that.   I am doing enough.  I must have time for myself.  I need time to rest. Let me just take one of the cute kids not a sick one.  I need time to relax.  But instead she said Lord I am here, change me, use me for your glory! 

Daphna went home to Mary’s house.  They shared a room together.  Mary cared for her.  Mary learned how to fed her through a tube.  Mary learned about the foul diar that comes with children with kwashiorkor.  Mary learned so much from Daphna.  Daphna was in a coma state for several days.  Mary would wake up at night to make sure she was still breathing.  Mary cleaned her up each time she would vomit and have diar.  Mary loved her.  Mary poured out her pure Jesus love to her.  She let Jesus work through her.  She did not complain.  She did not say it was to much, when it was.  She just did it.  God moved and  these two lives were changed.  

It took Daphna many weeks to recover.  It took many bowls of Medika Mamba.  It took a lots of patience and love.  But she made it! 

I marvel and thank the Lord for both of them.  I thanked Him for again saving a child’s life.  I thanked Him for bringing Mary to RHFH.  I thanked Him again for reminding me that when I ask for a teacher for my boys–each time–He has given me so much more.  God is good.  He is just so good.  It was a honor for RHFH to have Mary with us.  We loved her, she loved us.  It was so very hard this week.  Mary had to return to the US to continue with her education. Beleive me, she would have stayed.  She wanted to stay. But the Lord had other plans for the rest of her school year.   

 Again the Lord has sent us another blessing.  A new teacher named Angela.   We are so happy to see what God has in store for her life here.  God moves and changes lives.  We just have to be obedient to His call.  Not want we think we are supposed to do.  But what God would have us to do.  

Psalm 100:1-3 

 ¹ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
 ² Worship the LORD with gladness;
   come before him with joyful songs.
³ Know that the LORD is God.
   It is he who made us, and we are his^[a];   
   we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.