EHM!

Today was such a blessing! I felt like I was at home this morning because Stacie made egg sandwiches!
We left the house around 10 to head to the community where the ministry site is. I had my first experience on a tap tap this morning! A tap tap is a truck (like a Toyota truck) that has a wrap around bench. The driver tries to fit as many people on this truck as possible because that is how he makes his living. We had to ride in the back of this truck for 30 minutes!
When we finally arrived in Montrouis, we walked to the Christian school where some of the children attend thanks to sponsors who pay for their tuition and uniform...if you would like more information on sponsoring a child, please check out Empowering Haitian Moms' website!
The school day for the Christian school in the community goes from 8 AM to 12 PM. We arrived in the community around 11, so we went to one of the mom's house where the ministry takes place. About an hour later the kids arrived from school and from the community! They were so cute!! :) Of course, they were all excited to meet another "white" girl! Most of them were really shy at first, but after about an hour they started to inch closer and closer. It was precious!
Thank you all for the prayers about the language! I am learning actually pretty quickly because I keep asking Stacie or Fritznel every 10 seconds what a word is, or how do you say this in Creole!! :) Thankfully there are some phrases that I have learned to pick up, and I can answer in Creole! God is SO good!
Being here around the people will definitely give you a confidence boost, because I cannot count how many times someone complimented me or stared at me today! :)
The country as a whole is so different than the US. Stacie was telling me that the parents here encourage others to discipline their children. For example, Stacie let this little boy sweep her front yard, and she was giving him food in return. Well, the little boy stole food from her, and Fritznel went and found this kid. He asked the little boy if he stole from Stacie. Of course, the little boy lied, but finally he told the truth. Fritznel then spanked the little boy. In the US you could be sued for spanking someone else's child! Especially if the child is not related to you! The culture differences are very interesting!
Tomorrow thankfully I get to sleep in a little! Stacie and Fritznel have a rooster and chicken. They are wanting to have baby chicks that they can give to some of the kids in their ministry to help them become self-sufficient. Anyway, most of you know what roosters are used for....waking farmers up at the crack of dawn! Well, this rooster has a problem because he starts crowing at 4:30 every morning, and the sun doesn't even come up until like 6!!
Please continue to be in prayer for the vehicle situation.
Continue to pray as well for these moms and their children. It was so sweet to be around them today, but it was so eye opening to see the conditions they live in. They have two room cinder block houses with 7 people or more living in them. Most do not have running water. The children's feet were so dirty because they could not afford shoes, so they walk around the dusty rocky paths without shoes which causes cuts and scrapes. But it was so awesome to see them worshipping God in their own language, and giving thanks to Him even though they live in these terrible conditions. God really spoke to my heart about all the things I take for granted everyday! For example, the electricity goes out everyday from 5-8 at night. Back home, I can just roll my plush chair up to the computer and get on the internet whenever I want. Being here, I know, is going to show me what is really important in life. And that is to LOVE GOD and HIS PEOPLE!! I am so thankful for each of you who donated and prayed for me to be here! I love each of you!  
Blessings and love,
Ashley