On one of our trips to Haiti, we spent a long day out and about before arriving back at the compound around 6:00 p.m. It was cloudy and threatening to rain, but the temperature felt nice. We knew the kids would love an evening outside, so Poyis brought the children out to the front of the Regency Home (the “soccer” area) and told them to run around and play. He brought out a few bikes and let some of the older ones ride them around the field. This was a special treat for them, and I took many pictures and videos to try to capture the moment. It was amazing to see more than 100 rescued children running around, laughing and playing. Poyis was right in the middle of them. He truly is their Papi; they respect his authority, but they also love him.

As the outside games were wrapping up, I noticed some of the girls had surrounded Poyis and asked him if they could go across the street to see their new home (the Mercy Home). He said yes. As they walked across the street from their current home to their new home, I could tell how excited they were. The Mercy Home needed a little more paint, and otherwise the kids would be able to move in as soon as the toilets were installed. When the children walked through the gate, they ran toward the new pavilion and their future rooms. Poyis let them play there for about half an hour, and then he brought the boys across to hangout for the last ten minutes. It was a perfect Friday evening. No wind, good temperature, and the sound of kids laughing and playing. To think of where these kids have come from and the horrible things they have experienced makes it especially sweet to see them in such peace and safety. God is good, and His mercy reigns.

We got back to the compound after dark and decided to call it a night. My prayer for this ministry is that God would continue doing the good work He has begun in Haiti, using His church as a light for the gospel. We have future plans—to build a new wing for the secondary school, finish the Mercy Home library, and begin construction on a few Mercy Network churches—and we entrust them all, with joy, to our faithful Lord and Father.

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