We first met John Murray last year outside our house. I now know that this was one of those "God meetings". After meeting with him, getting to know him a bit & praying for him, God provided a sponsor for John Murray to be able to go to school last year. (see old blog post for that awesome story) We registered him for school & he worked very hard last year. He finished the year in the top % of his class. We began to get closer to him & realized although he lived with a cousin he didn't eat often. We made him promise to come eat with us everyday after school & we got to spend more time with him. Anyone who came on a Missions trip last year got to meet him. He LOVED getting to meet everyone. I was so excited when his school sponsor from last year said that their family had been praying & wanted to sponsor him for school again this year. YAY!!!! What will surprise most is that John Murray is a teenage boy who works so hard & always does his best. He always has his bible & is digging in the word & asking questions. This year with John Murray I have gotten even more personal. He has opened up to me & I asked him if I could share more of his story. He smiled & told me I could.... When you meet this sweet kid you would never know that he never knew his dad. He left when he was little. Unfortunately here in Haiti culturally things are difficult on most kids whose mom re-marry. John Murray was only 5 years old when this happened & he was put out of the house. YES, you read that right. :( When a mom gets re-married other children are often put out or become the help to keep from becoming street children. I knew that John Murrays biological mom had lots of other kids & could not take care of him but I didn't know all of the other until this year.....BROKE THIS MOMMAS HEART!!!! You know what though.....GOD KNEW!! God led him here & here is the rest of the story!!!! <3 Although he lived with a cousin near our house I hadn't been there until today. I have pictures to follow.... But here is the GOOD STUFF!!!
When we returned this year with a letter from John Murray's school sponsor I was shocked when he asked if he could go to a different school. I was like WHAT?? You want to go to a "Harder" school?? I had to do a little more research to see about the school he wanted to go to so of course I went to our friends at The House of Moses. They have lots of older kids that go to local Haitian schools & I knew Chrisit Barnes would know all about it. With Edrils help Gordon went with John Murray & retrieved his school records & testing scores & went to an appointment at the new school. The School CNDL is known here as the best Haitian school. We prayed & everyone was so excited that he was accepted. He knew right off that this meant he wouldn't have the extra few dollars he had had last year, the new extras for school to start because of the cost difference but he didn't care. He wanted the BEST education he could get. (I LOVE this about him) Thankfully we had an extra backpack from the Loxley United Methodist church. We packed it with school supplies that were given to us from Searcy First Assembley of God in Searcy Arkansas. We added soap, deodorant, a new toothbrush & some extra snacks that so many of you helped us gather. He was proud....so were we. He showed up his first day of school for a picture as promised. **if only it would upload now --but here are others...
Now you would think that THIS is the most exciting news....well, it is NOT!! For the past few weeks John & Christi Barnes have been talking with John Murray & praying!! You see the House of Moses is a leadership/discipleship home & they have an opening for 1 individual!!!! They have talked with us about the fact that we all believe John Murray displays the characteristics they are looking for. This decision is not an easy one. Yes you move in to their home & become part of the family but you sign a contract. You agree to try your best to follow Jesus, to work in your community, to help others, to do your very best in school, to abstain from sex before marriage, to attend church together as a family as well as daily devotions/men & woman's bible study! They are truly pouring all they have into these children who are going to make a difference in this world!!! THEY ACTUALLY ALREADY ARE....JUST SEE SOME OF OUR DAILY POSTS. They serve at Hope Vision Childrens home, another local orphanage, they do prision ministry, street ministry & weekly bible study on Thursday nights at the House of Moses with many people from our community including us. All of this while doing their chores & keeping up their grades!!! All of this to say.....JOHN MURRAY has been accepted. He & I have had several good talks lately but when he came over to make sure I knew how much he loved us & wanted us to still be a part of his life I cried my eyes out!!!! I made him promise to let me go with him when he moved in & TODAY was moving day!!! I went with him & took pictures of where he lived in his cousins house & we walked to his new home....YES, I cried again!!! GOD HAS HUGE PLANS FOR THIS KID!!!!!!! Here are pictures of the old home where he slept by himself on the floor & his new house & family!!! <3 <3
His old house
bathroom & shower bucket
his bed
heading to his new home with all of is belongings!!
WE ARE HERE!!
HIS NEW HOME
HIS NEW BEDROOM & REAL BED!!
MOMMA CHRISTI
HIS NEW AWESOME ROOM MATES/BROTHERS!!! JOCELYN (T-Jo) & JAMES (T-James) *James is also in the same class as school!!!
I LOVE LOVE THIS!!! John & Christi with John Murray....LOOK at HIS SMILE!!!
He made it right in time for Dinner & Devotions!!! This Blesses me so much because I KNOW he will not go hungry again!!!!
I am going to bed tonight with a Heart overflowing!! Over & over tonight I kept hearing in my spirit / feeling Jeremiah 29:11..... For I know the plans I have for you, "declares the LORD,"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
John Murray will need sponsors at The House of Moses! They have prayed & know God will provide. If you are interested in being a sponsor for this awesome young man please check out the following link & email information!! To find out more about The House of Moses also - Please check out their website -http://www.houseofmoses.tv
You can also find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/theHouseOfMoses
LIFE IS GOOD!!!! <3
So Thankful God is allowing us to be a part of this young mans life!!
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