Center of My Life

A week ago was my 20th birthday, I never thought that I would spend my 20th birthday overseas or away from my family and loved ones but as my older sister who's lived overseas pointed out: "birthdays are about new life" & I definitely have a new life here in Haiti.

I woke up to the bit of sky changing color through my window; my internal alarm clock wakes me up around 6:30am now which gives me plenty of time to get ready before our staff devotion and meeting before Preschool starts. I got ready for the day, braiding my hair thats been bleached by the hot sun, thinking about my life and where all God has taken me. Missing my family a bit and my siblings waking me up to tell my happy birthday or popping in while I'm getting ready for work to tell me, as I looked into the mirror thinking about change and growing up I felt like God saying "Give me your cares and plans" and so I did.

As I made my way downstairs Isabelle (the baby of the family) met me with a glass cup filled with a special smoothie that Byron had made, "Happy Birthday Hope!" she said giving me a big hug and the smoothie, I thanked her hugging her close and headed to the meeting. James (another intern for Maranatha from CA) wished me a Happy Birthday as I sat down, warning me that he was going to "get me back" as on his birthday I announced it at meeting and then had random kids tell him throughout the day and the whole preschool sang Happy Birthday before we ended the day. Shelley however beat him to it saying/singing Happy Birthday when she joined the meeting and before we headed to greet the children Estacey led the whole staff in singing Happy Birthday; which Estacey did in english and than Kreyol, beginning in her silly, not quite Donald Duck voice; she's hilarious and keeps us all laughing.

I don't teach dance on Thursdays and everything seemed to be ready for the day so I headed outside where Daniel and Elindja were playing (their mother drops them off early for school). Daniel, who is 2, came running to my arms with the biggest smile on his face! Erta calls him Hopes zanmi (Hopes friend) because he always smiles when I talk to him. He cuddled with me as we waited for the rest of the children to arrive.

Through out the day there were little moments with each of the kids that made the day special. A couple were: One of the girls who's been a very big problem, had completely turned over a new leaf the day before and Thursday continued her good streak, hugging me and being very nice to the other children. Four of the girls sat on my lap or as close as they could during storytime, as on days I don't teach dance I help with their class. Sarah and Barbara braided my long bangs, Nahomie, Wilkency and Milande each gave me random kisses on the cheek. Several of the children ganged up and tackle hugged me and everything ran very smoothly through-out the day.

For dinner, Byron made hamburgers (which are honestly the best I've ever had) and are a huge favorite here and for dessert Shelley surprised me with a beautiful cheesecake with twenty red candles and a huge sparkler sticking out of the middle! (I really love fireworks) Top it with mixed berries and mango jelly and you've had a little slice of heaven! Byron and Shelley had taken a little vacation to the Dominican Republic to celebrate their anniversary and had brought me back a beautiful blue sarong with white palm trees printed on it as well as a bracelet with Larimars or "Stefilias Stones" set in silver and connected on a silver chain, Larimar very rare and can only be found in the Dominican Republic, very thoughtful and beautiful presents I was not expecting.

 Twenty candles is a lot; I feel like somehow I jumped from my 8th princess party back on little East Lake Rd to suddenly here an "adult" in the eyes of many. I've made a lot of mistakes, done things that I'm not proud of, didn't give my all in certain things and I'm not the person I want to be; but by the grace and love of God I'm not who I once was and I'm not lost. Everyday He is molding and shaping me and I look forward to this 20th year and all the lessons and trials to come with Him by my side.

We have devotions every evening and two people play guitar and sometimes Jeff or Emmanuel will play the Djembe before and after the scripture reading. One of the songs we sang that night was Center by: Charlie Hall and the chorus is my prayer for this next year of this crazy adventure known as my life.

You’re the center of the universe
Everything was made in You Jesus
Breath of every living thing
Everyone was made for You

You hold everything together
You hold everything together

We lift our eyes to heaven
We wrap our lives around your life
We lift our eyes to heaven, to You

Chorus:
Oh, Christ be the center of my lives
Be the place I fix my eyes
Be the center of my lives