1st week

We have finished the first week of English Camp! Things actually went quite smoothly and we are very happy for that. The only bump in the road was that more than 50 campers showed up throughout the week and there was some confusion about who had or had not turned in paperwork. We have had a ton of fun and the kids are starting to learn a lot. Some are able to recite a couple of Bible verses in Jeremiah. Most of the kids can sing the chorus to the theme song for the summer. The little ones made motions for "down by the river, roots go down by the river. down by the river , up come fruit and leaves are green". They are absolutely adorable!!! Our kids are younger this year. We have a number of 5 year olds and only go up to 16 or 17 this year. The majority of our campers are 6-11 yrs i would say. SOOO cute. We went swimming yesterday for friday fun day and none of the campers could swim. They had a blast just splashing around all crammed in the shallow part of the pool together. SO FUN!!! Keri and I have been giving Bible lessons about Jesus being our "Perfect Tree" and how we need to stay connected to Him to be able to be strong branches and to produce fruit (fruit of the Spirit) --love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This next week we will focus on love and in the following weeks after we leave they will finish up with the other 8 fruit. I may not get a chance to blog again until I get home, so stay tuned for pictures and to hear about our second week. Love to friends and family!! I can't wait to tell you how the kids enjoyed all the crafts, games, song books, and t-shirts you helped provide. Love, SARA

1 week until Haiti

Thanks to a few of my closest friends in Winona Lake I was able to raise close to $1000 for crafts, games, school supplies, and camp t-shirts. Thanks to Jon, Nicole, and Jessica for all your hard work and most of all for your love and support!! I miss you guys a ton! The painting you see here is an original watercolor by Nicole Moore and is this summer's camp t-shirt design. AWESOME Nic!!!! The verses you see on the design, Jeremiah 17 and John 15 are our theme Bible verses for the summer. We will focus on being rooted in Christ and producing the fruit of the Spirit. I wrote a theme song for the summer called "Down by the River". Here are the lyrics:

Don't be a weed tossed in the wind. Send your roots down deep, go down down in. Trust that Jesus cleans your sin. Go down to His river and JUST RIGHT IN!

CHORUS: Down by the river. Roots go down by the river. Down by the river, up come fruit and leaves are green.

The sun comes up. Its HOT HOT HOT. I'm not scared. No I'm not. I'll stand strong and I won't go. I'll stand with Jesus and GROW GROW GROW!

CHORUS: Down by the river. Roots go down by the river. Down by the river, up come fruit and leaves are green.

I can't wait to see those kids singing and dancing again!!

Keri, Joe, Emmanuel and I leave on Saturday June 28th and return July 13th. Emmanuel is a 7 year old Haitian boy. He is living with Keri and Joe currently and recieving medical treatment for club feet. He will be coming to Haiti with us to visit his family and then will return to the US for more treatment. Please pray that his paperwork goes smoothly so he can return to the US with us. He has never been able to walk and with about 1 more year of treatment he should be able to walk for the first time. I have been living with Keri, Joe and Emmanuel for almost three weeks now until my apartment opens up in here is Vermont in July. I am blessed to see such sacrificial love in action as Keri and Joe love this little boy as if he was their own. Emmanuel is a precious soul !! And a TON of work :) Potty training a 7 yr. old paraplegic....phew!!!

Okay, stay tuned for news from Haiti !! Bonswa zanmi. (goodbye friends)

One year in review

What?...I have a blog....oh yah. This year has blown by. Last year at this time I was finishing up grad school and those of you who remember the computer fiasco/crash know that was a crazy time!! Seems like I just got back from Haiti and now I am preparing to go again. Yes folks, again. This time only for two weeks; the first two weeks in July. Keri, Joe, and I will be going and getting camp kicked off. I can't wait to see those kids again.

This year has been a good one. I loved seeing my best friend get married in September. It has also been great having time with my family, resting, and rejuvenating the financial situation didn't hurt either :). I have loved to spend time with my awesome neices and nephews, brothers and sisters, and dads. And mom...what can I say...I love my mom, so this year has been great. However, I feel a change in the wind and I will soon be off. I spent a week in New England and had two interviews. I accepted a job in southern Vermont. I will be a houseparent for 7th and 8th grade girls at a large residential school/home. Check the place out at www.kurnhattin.org. It is a great place.

So, once again, on June 7th ish I say goodbye and move on. God's ways are above our ways and beyond our searching out. "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps" proverbs 16:9. I'm am so thankful for a God who is in control of all things and will be with me no matter where I go. He is my constant.

More to come about the move and Haiti.