July 9

Haiti is an experience that cannot be explained.  Dick and Colton came here in 2009 with Cornerstone and shared so much but it did not prepare me for what was waiting.  Life here is so hard, so stretching, and yet so amazing!  The country is beautiful and the people are so lovable.  Our whole team of 40 went and spent 2 nights in an orphanage that was about 4 hours away by tap tap. We were in a place called Seline Myette at the orphanage that housed about 129 kids.  If I knew the conditions that we would be facing ahead of time I would not have wanted to go but life is not about comfort.  God showed me how He can fill your heart with so much love for these kids that rough conditions can be tolerated for the blessings He graced us with.  Actually is that not how life here on earth is even in Canada?  If it wasn’t for God coming to us - reaching out to us through His Son - to give us a hope in eternity, life here would be unbearable at times.  There is pain and death and injustice all around us but it is ok when we remember we are aliens here awaiting a better home in heaven.  Eternity in heaven with our Father is our inheritance.  While we are here on earth, He encourages us and showers His love on us   in His mercy.

These kids at this orphanage were incredible.  One little girl (who seemed like 4 or 5 but  actually was 6) came up to me and was so silly.  She was dancing and hyper and jumping on me.  I taught her some clapping games and she tried to teach me some.  She loved to wear my fancy hat and then the hat made its rounds to all the other kids.  After about an hour of silliness she sat on my lap, put the hat on top of her head, stuck her thumb in her mouth and fell asleep for about two hours.  She was by my side most of our time there.  She was helpful and tried to look after me.  She sang praises songs in my arms with some of us girls.  She made it all worth it.  But leaving her behind when we left broke my heart.  She looked so sad and I cried for many reasons.  But I do rejoice because even though life here seems unbearable it is better then what she had.  She is learning about Jesus here and has a good chance for really knowing our Savior.  She is an alien here and her inheritance will be a much, much better home!  I can hardly wait to one day to see my little Maimma at “home” one day and clap with her again.  Thank you Jesus for your goodness and your love!

Carol Bercier