Meet Ellie: she is a sassy, spunky, smiling girl whose heart is full of love for others. She loves bubbles and really, really tight hugs. I do not know how old she is, anything about her family, or that I am even saying/spelling her name correctly, but the only reason is because I do not speak Creole. On July 15th, eighteen others and I got out our passports and mosquito spray to take flight to Mirebalais, Haiti, where we would serve our compassionate and loving savior. This was actually my first mission trip, and I was very blessed to be able to go, even if a last minute, spur of the moment decision. I knew there was a reason it happened, and — boy, oh, boy — let me tell you about it. First off, God's presence produces proof, and this proof shows how evident he is. He has never been more evident than he was during this trip: the beautiful scenery that consisted of absolutely magnificent mountainy terrain, a perfect sunrise, their desire to be hospitable, and children running around laughing. However, it wasn't until the day we were leaving that I realized his presence was the girl that had been holding my hand, giving me kisses on the cheek, and never leaving my side.

It started by recalling me and Ellie's cherished moments. The first one was singing "Jesus Loves Me." She sat in my lap with a confused look staring at me as I continuously sang and did the hand motions. When we finished as a group, I kept singing and doing the motions as an attempt to miraculously teach her the song and her somehow understand. Then, there was a moment where something must have clicked for her because her eyes got incredibly large, a smile appeared, and she very enthusiastically, said, "Jezi?!" She picked up what I was saying and knew we were singing about Jesus. I immediately knew the love we shared was filled with the same love our savior shows us every day. Another day, I was painting their school outside in the heat for several hours, and the entire time, Ellie stood there holding my water bottle and rag wanting to help. Just like Jesus. He is always at our right side waiting for us to come to him, to talk to him, and to cast all our problems and worries upon him. When I was done painting, I had paint all over my hands, arms, and even in my hair. Ellie tried so hard to get that paint off of me, even if it meant it would get all under her fingernails or on one of her two outfits she had. Jesus takes care of us and puts us before Him, even if it means he suffers or struggles; he loves us that much. One of my favorite Ellie moments was how every single day, she would run up to me and take my hand when I got off the tap-tap, or if I had walked off and she did not know where I was, she would run after me, calling me by name, until she had my hand in her hand. JUST like Jesus. He knows us by name, He is always thinking of us, and He wants to always be at our side, holding our hand through everything.

In these four scenarios, God's proof was definitely present simply by his presence being that proof in a small, beautiful child. A child I will never forget, and I pray I never do. I love you, little Ellie, or so you can understand, mwen renmen ou.