Love A Lot

By Tami Heim, Video – Kim Powers, and Photograph – Pam Ferguson

 

Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances: for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – I Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV

 

Pray continually.

 

Paul’s word to the Thessalonians is the core message we bring to the children of Jeremie, Haiti this week. The cover of our weekly lesson plan highlights why this message matters:

 

For an orphan, prayer is one of the only things

that gives them power or independence.

 

Through prayer, they have access to the

omnipotent God of the universe. 

 

It is crucial to help them understand

the importance and the freedom of prayer.

 

Yes, it’s crucial the children understand. It’s crucial for them, the women who care for these children every day, and all of us to all understand the importance and power of prayer.

 

It’s Thursday morning, the kids are in school, and we make a special trip to the orphanage, but this time it’s to love on and pray for the mommas. Mommas are the women responsible for the care of 10 – 15 orphans living together in one small house. They monitor the day-to-day activity and ensure the children adhere to a daily routine.

 

Eight of the mommas assemble in the church at Dou Dou’s encouragement. The men and teens on our team do a good job of keeping a few of the children, not in school, out of the sanctuary while we meet.

 

Kim Wood and Pam Ferguson are equipped with cameras because we want to have pictures of them with their names just like we do for the children. Dou Dou and I sit off to the side and invite them one by one to come and share their stories, needs, and how they want their Long Hollow family to pray for them.

 

We listen and I record what’s on their hearts. The weight of their life affects us deeply. They share of the pain, loneliness, persecution, and the extreme poverty that fills their life. I write down each ones prayer requests as Sherry Gray and Cory Conquest alternate escorting them to a quiet place for one on one prayer.

 

Once the season of prayer is complete, we present them the gift of something fun and something functional. Pretty headbands fill the space for fun and functional goes to the duffle bags they can use to sort and keep their belonging ordered. They are genuinely grateful for both the prayers and the gifts. To show their appreciation, they sang for us.

 

We do what women do well – we shed tears and then wipe them from the cheeks of others. We hug and hold each momma with the same love and compassion we show the children. Another day passes and with the gift of prayer we’ve discovered more about how to do justice, show mercy, and walk humbly.

 

On behalf of the women on our mission team, we ask you to pray for the mommas of Jeremie, Haiti.

 

• Whisper their names before the throne of grace.
• Ask God to meet their many, many needs.
• Implore Him to empower them be the women He is calling them to be.

 

Gueline Guilloux

Elise St. Ilfort

Roselene Julot

Rosete Valentin

Miclaine Louis

Joslaine Bienneme

Emela Lindor

Francois Mondeuis