My favorite part of being here is seeing and hearing the Haitian people worship our Lord and Savior. For the past few weeks the staff here have been having devotions with the boys in the mornings before baths and breakfast. They sing, they pray, they clap their hands, they worship. We feel the Holy Spirit moving in this place. There is no time limit. They just let the Holy Spirit lead, and it is a most beautiful time.When I came here the first time (it’s hard to believe it has been a year already), I felt a spirit of oppression, depression, an evil, unsettling presence looming over this place. Today there is a different spirit. There is peace, contentment, joy, people working and worshipping together as a family. The whole atmosphere has changed. There is more laughter, less fighting, more singing and fellowship.
We still have disputes, disagreements, some who don’t want to do chores, But that is in any family. The most important thing is that we are becoming more like a family. The children are learning the importance of working together as a family; helping each other when there is a need, sharing responsibilities that go along with living together as a family.
Our biggest problem we have right now is that things keep disappearing. We haven’t been able to stop the stealing that’s going on. Please pray with us that God will change the hearts of those who take what doesn’t belong to them. Pray that Ron and I will receive wisdom to deal with this problem.
We have crates of food and supplies on their way from the states. They could be in Port-au-Prince, or maybe they are on their way here. We do not know for sure, but we are running very low on supplies so please pray with us that they will be delivered soon. Our gracious Father continues to supply all we need and we are very thankful to Him for His provision. He is always on time!
We are looking forward to having some new interns here in the coming months. We will have 2 ladies who are staying for 2 months. They have been here before on short-term trips so they know what they are coming into. The other lady is a friend from our home church. She will be here for 6 months. She recently spent 4 months in Africa, but hasn’t been to Haiti before. We are looking forward to serving with them. There will also be a young man from our church who will be here for 2 months to serve with the boys. Ron and I are very excited to see the Lord sending laborers to this place.
There haven’t been any more reports of cholera here so Pastor Andy has allowed the children to swim and fish again. They love the water and most of them love to fish. There are several boys who have shown an interest in using nets to fish with.
Osiaste is learning to cast a net and has been successful in catching some small fish. Everything that is caught is cooked by the boys and eaten. It may only be a mouthful but nothing is wasted. Ron also gives fishing line and hooks regularly to our boys and the neighborhood boys so that all can fish. What the neighborhood boys catch may be all they eat.Yesterday the boys had a “Haitian” soapbox derby. Some of the boys are “skilled” at making carts to push around and be pushed in. There were some old plastic casters that were found in a box so some of the boys built carts and Ron gave them paint to decorate them. They raced them on the basketball court. There was so much excitement! It really is the little things in life that count. It still amazes me how such small things can mean so much to these boys.
Today was the last day of school until after Easter. Ron and I are hoping that we will be able to take the boys on an outing or maybe 2 while they are out. We look forward to sharing more of our life here with you. We are extremely blessed to have the opportunity to serve here. Please continue to pray for us and the ministry that God has provided here.
I would like to share this with you from a book called "Forty Days with Jesus-Celebrating His Presence" by Sarah Young:
"I Have Loved You with an everlasting Love. Before time began, I knew you. For years you swam around in a sea of meaninglessness, searching for Love, hoping for hope. All that time I was pursuing you, aching to embrace you in My compassionate arms.
When time was right, I revealed Myself to you. I lifted you out of that sea of despair and set you down on a firm foundation. Sometimes you felt naked-exposed to the revealing Light of My Presence. I wrapped an ermine robe around you: My robe of righteousness. I sang you a Love song, whose beginning and end are veiled in eternity. I infused meaning into your mind and harmony into your heart. Join Me in singing My song. Together we will draw others out of darkness into My marvelous Light."
"The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.""
Donations may be sent to:
Ron and Karen Cockerham
c/o Kingdom Builders Missionaries
610 Falling Water Rd.
Cookeville, Tn. 38506
Ph. 931.544.0134
e-mail:
