I have started going to the hospital almost everyday with Anissa to the baby ward to help her hand out bananas to all the babies and mothers, if there is enough.  My heart is starting to break for that place. Its heart wrenching to see the children sick and helpless, some of whom have parents with them, but there are many more who have been left there abandoned.

There is this one little guy (we call him Carter when we talk about him) who we found out this last week that his mother has abandoned him and went to Port A Prince. I cant even imagine how you could leave your child alone in a bed at the hospital with no one to comfort or hold him when he is sick. Every time we go we make sure we give him love and attention.  Sometimes he smiles but other times he is not feeling well and you can barley get a smirk out of him.  Though, it's all worth it to see that little guy smile.  The warmth and joy felt in my heart is indescribable. Carter is just looking for attention and love, and it's so hard to leave him because he just clings to us and cries when we leave him all alone in that bed. All that he wants is someone to love him and care for him.

God brought me back to a scripture that I have been reading a lot lately and reminded me that he knew and allowed it to happen even if we don't understand.

Psalm 139:13-16

 ¹³ For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.

I'm sure at some point most of us have wondered why God allows someone to be sick their entire life. We have probably asked God why He would allow someone to suffer when we ask, "wouldn't it have been better for then to not have been born?" I started to feel like this for this little one who has been abandoned. But God reminded me that He created every single cell in our mothers womb and everything he made is wonderful. Even though we might not understand we should be praising Him that He loved us enough to give us life. God also knew us and saw every part of us before we were even formed. All of our days were planned for us before we were even one day old. He knew the good and the bad would happen in our lives and the things we would choose to do that would hurt Him but he still chose to give us life. 

Instead of wondering "Why" lets thank him for what He did. We are all sinners but because of His love for us He came to earth and died on the cross so that we could have eternal life with Him in forever. John 3:16-17


I myself am also thankful that God has given me life and allowed me to come to Haiti and be able to share His love to these children through the simplest things like a smile or just holding a child who needs the love and attention.  

Reunited and it feels so GOOD

So we have been in Haiti and things are going great. We have had the chance to get out and explore the town these last 2 weeks to see where everything is. 

On the second day here in Jeremie, Haiti we went out as a group to walk around the town. As we were walking a big part of me wanted to go to the point where this little boy that God used to call me here lives, but there was also a part of me that was afraid to go because there was a chance he had gotten colera and died  because the point is where it broke out the worst. As we walked through town  the group ended up heading towards the point which was natural for our group because it is one of the main places we would go on all of our two-week trips. As we were walking i was looking at the house where he lived but didnt see him, then all of a sudden he came from nowhere and was there and ran to me for a hug!!! I was so happy to see him and wanted to be able to focus on him which was hard because there are always so many kids that want your attention. It was great to see how he was not as shy as he had been a year and a half ago when we first were there,  and that he remembered our group and was so happy to see us and wanted as much attention as he could get.

As I was playing with a group of kids it was music to my ears to hear him laugh and enjoy himself.

-Amanda Nygaard

the Pursuit

It was September 15th, 2010.  I was packed and ready to jump on a plane to Jeremie, Haiti on a two week trip; a two week trip that would change my life forever. I remember being told that I would be on the trash team. It was an instant disappointment, though in the back of my mind I knew that the Lord had something to show me, something to reveal through this small act of service. "But God, Trash?!?"

One of the places that we would often visit was called "The Point." It was heart wrenching to see the children running into this filthy water. Some of them were bathing, some drinking, some just trying to catch a break from the extreme humidity. Imagine a child running in to our sewage system to bathe.

In the midst of the heat, I was drenched in sweat, eager to end this day of service... until I saw him.  I saw the little boy that I had been crazy about since day 1.  This nameless, naked child was running to me, dodging anything and everything in his path to pursue me.  As soon as he reached me, I was quick to pick up his small body and pull him in for a tight hug. This "hug" concept must have still been new to him. His limbs were still tentative to succumb to the love I wanted to so badly to show him: the love of Jesus through this small act. 

Look into his eyes. Do you see the  pain I see? Do you see loneliness? Do you see the emptiness?

This nameless boy has prompted an urgency in my heart, an urgent need to reveal the LOVE of JESUS to the lost in Jeremie, Haiti.

It has not been the easiest road thus far. Though, my fears and insecurites have subsided for the sake of answering the call of my Father. And, now, just as this nameless boy had run into my arms, I am running into the arms of my Father. I am running full speed, past and around anything that may get in my way. I am in pursuit of this LOVE and opportunity to give it back.

Coming Soon!

Hi everyone! Stay tuned for some sweet news on the progress that my team and I have made during this season of prep. I am so thrilled that you have chosen to come alongside us to witness a great work to be done.

love.