Creeping up on one month...

It has been almost a month since we excitedly jumped on a plane (or three) and traveled 24 hours to get to Marose, Haiti. I wish I could say that every step of the way has been AMAZING, but that wouldn't be honest and that would not be me. It was hard. Hard to say goodbye, hard to leave all the comforts, and just plain hard to be here. We found ourselves wondering what on Earth God had planned through all the sickness, and scariness. We spent time daily praying and questioning and talking. Everyday things got a teeeeeny bit better. Progress was slow and we were impatient for things to feel like we had done something right. The encouragement that we received from home pushed us forward and helped remind us that we were NOT alone.

A month later, and I can honestly say we are doing really well. Every single day there are things that happen that deepen our commitment and our love for each other and for what we are doing here. We are making plans for our house when it is finished, finding solutions to keep out the scorpians and the tarantulas, and finding out where we fit best here. Building relationships is slow going. The kids are wary about love and never trust that anyone is staying long. But, we are winning. Love is winning.

Along the way we have gotten to do a few fun things with the kids here. Last night Jake took his punching bag outside and taught the older boys a workout that he plans to do with them each evening. :) They loved it! They laughed as they watched him do it first, and teased him about how red and sweaty he was, but every one of them wanted to try it next. After they were done, they laughed at each other as they all got just as sweaty as Jake did. :)

We also got to play Ratatouille on the projector for them all, and a movie about rats in a third word country had some pretty hilarious reactions. So much laughter and so many noises of shock! Lol. They really like movies and so we are planning another movie night this weekend. :)

Tonight I have asked a few girls over to help me with my hair. I have really thick long hair and I wanted to know if they would braid it into small braids for me. They excitedly accepted. :) They aren't exceptionally gentle here, and I am a bit of a weakling when it comes to having my hair done so we'll see how this goes. Lol. :)

Again, Thank you all so much for encouraging us and loving us while we figure life out in a whole new world. Without the love and support from home, we wouldn't be doing as well as we are. :)

Also, here are a few prayer request for things we are working on:

1. logistics and money for a refrigerator
2. Our house to be finished and done well
3. a stove/oven for the house
4. beds for the kids
5. relationships built with both of our older girls moving with us.

We love you all and can't wait to share more of our life here with you!!!!

~Amber Leland~