November 30, 2016 - Heather/Lisa

Our second serving day in Haiti was emotionally draining, which is why this blog post is being written a little late:  We were wiped out last night.  But now the roosters are crowing, the coffee is brewing, the sun is up and we begin again. 

We arrived at the Home for Sick and Dying Children yesterday and were greeted warmly by the nuns and staff.  Our role was evident:  To do whatever we could to help them serve the needs of the dozens of little ones left in their care who are too sick to be cared for by their parents.  Kids who could walk immediately latched onto legs and arms, and begged to be taken outside to a sweet little playground, but then mostly just wanted to be held, to be loved.  I spent the entire three hours of our visit in the baby room, going from one precious child to the next -- holding them, rocking them, singing to them; wiping noses and changing their cloth diapers and giving even the smallest of them little sips of milk from plastic cups.  Putting one child down to pick up another was heartbreaking as their contentment turned to sobs.  And I couldn't help but think of the parents who love their babies as much as I love mine, and the heartbreak they must go through each time a visit ends, some of them knowing that each visit could be their last.  After feeding the kids their lunch of rice and a vegetable gravy, we left, all of us with our hearts still there. 

We went to the Apparent Project, a organization that helps parents learn how to provide a stable income for their families. This is one of the most uplifting and innovate initiatives we've seen in Haiti So they created that provides jobs for 160 Haitian parents and on-site daycare for their children. We toured the production shop of the parent company "Papillion," and got to see how everything is made, from clay beads for jewelry, beautiful hand made coffee mugs and bowls, to screen printed t shirts...they even use recycled cereal boxes to make the most beautiful colorful beads! We then were able to shop in their store, and bought handmade gifts produced by those employees and treats from their rooftop coffee shop.

And we ended our day at Gertrude's -- a home for special needs children.  I didn't want to go.  Three years ago, my visit there broke me.  The needs of the children, many of whom had been abandoned, were overwhelming as they were understaffed and under-resourced.  But things have gotten so much better.  The children were clean and joy-filled and clearly well cared for.  Two team members and Sam (the long-term missionary at Healing Haiti) played the guitar, and we sang worship songs with the children.  We were surprised at how many of the songs the kids knew, with "Glwa pou Bondye" (Glory to God) and "Jezi Remmen Ou" (Jesus Loves Me) tied for first place.

It was a good day.  My devotional this morning reminded me of why that is so:  'The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not defeated it" (John 1:5).

Mary Midthun

EBC Heather/Lisa Nov. 29th-Day 2

Glory to God (Glwa Pou Bondye)

The sound of roosters crowing and goats bleating woke us from our slumber and our first full day in Haiti began.

After breakfast, our team huddled for devotional time and worship and we were off for water truck day.  Water truck day consists of climbing into the tap-tap and being transported to a local well in Cité Soleil which is an extremely impoverished and densely populated community located in Port-au-Prince; then delivering the water to the people.

We waited for the 3,000 gallon water truck to be pumped full and then began our journey. Our first stop we unloaded the tap-tap and were immediately swarmed by a variety of children, some for hugs and attention, begging to be picked up and held. We quickly toured Hope Church, the pilings had to go through 20 feet of garbage before being drilled 80 feet into the ground in order to be earthquake proof. The church partially funded by Eagle Brook Church and run by the Haitians offers Sunday services and is now one month into offering education for kindergartners, which is limited to one child per family. Next year they will expand to 1st grade and include a new group of kindergartners.

After the Hope Church tour we began distributing water. Buckets after buckets lined up for fresh clean pouring water pumping out of the truck. Team members steadied the hose while others laughed, hugged and played with the kids.

One boy I held kept singing to me "Glwa Pou Bondye" (pronounced Gwah poo bone-jay) which means "Glory to God." And he did not want to be put down for anything. At one moment even though I was holding him and hugging him, he grabbed my face with both hands and pointed mine to his so we could make eye contact, a connection. It reminded me even though I am here, I need to be present in each moment.

It also reminds me that as much as these kids love and crave our attention, so does God our loving Father. He also yearns for our love, affection, time and attention, like any other relationship of being known.

From there the day was filled with highs and lows, helping and caring and having to leave too. We filled the water truck three times today with different stops following. Each time the kids almost more desperate than the last, some delighting in the refreshing water splashing over their scantily clad bodies. Helping them carry buckets of water and helping set the brimming buckets on top of the women's heads to carry back to their home which is far from what we might consider a home in its stature.

Looking at photos from the day the memories burned deeper into our minds, some will last a lifetime.  We did a team huddle and shared our highs and lows from the day and the one word we felt encapsulated the day as a whole. "Overwhelmed," "smile," "love," "present" are just a few of what was felt by the team.  Ask whichever team member you know or helped support for their take on the day, I know they'd love to share their experience with you.

As I sit here and reflect on the day, as there is way too much more to share on our experiences and impact, I'm reminded of John 4:13‭-‬14:
"Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,  but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”"

As much as the Haitians desire clean water and delight in the delivery of it, so our soul should crave the eternal life that so freely and abundantly flows from God if we're willing to receive it.

Nicole (the one spelled without an "h")

EBC Heather/Lisa Nov. 28th Day 1

I'm pretty sure that everyone could agree that today has been one big adventure as we began this weeks journey. After a few hours of flying, we landed safely here in Haiti. As we arrived closer to the airport, we were able to get a glimpse of the lifestyle that we were walking into. The airport here was completely different from what we just experienced in the States. We exited the plane outside instead of indoors and instantly we were hit by the beautiful weather in Port-Au-Prince. I think it's safe to say we all welcomed the heat with open arms considering there's cold weather and snow on the ground back home. It was an experience getting our baggage back because we had Haitians abundantly requesting to help carry our things but we had to politely tell them no. This was one of the ways the Haitians were trying to earn a living and it was heartbreaking walking away.
We got transported to the guest house in what we call a "tap- tap. The tap-tap is like a circus car with benches that face each other inside and caged around us for our safety. This way we can see what's around us but nobody is able to reach in. During our drive to the guest house, we got to see a little bit of what Haiti's like. This was our first encounter with the smells, sounds, and culture we were coming to serve. It's definitely a culture shock when you see half-built houses, trashed streets, tied up goats, and kids looking for food for your first time. At first it was shocking, but then it gave me some more excitement to be here. It gave me some reassurance in regards to knowing that they need the help and here was my team in full force, ready to help them. Once we arrived at the guest house, we set our stuff down and began the tour. The rest of the day was filled with rules and regulations, dinner, questions, and intro the rest of our week. I am beyond grateful to be here and I'm so excited that I was blessed with such a brilliant team. I can't wait to see how God is going to shine his love through us for the rest of the week and see how He transforms each one of us individually.
Thank you for following back home and continue to keep us all in your prayers. Don't worry too much about our safety here just breathe easy, and remember we're in Gods' hands.

It's all good.
Yours truly,
Bobbi

KCC Day #7

Worship service with Grace, belting out her love for Christ before the service. Lessons to supply us for a lifetime. Mountain top bargening with locals, trinkets fill our pockets as we support the cause.  A rough ride up the mountain, but God never said it would be easy, He only said it would be worth it. Ahhh, what a breath of fresh air over seeing the city from the top looking down. Houses on houses, changed perspective pouring out. Shopping at the market to bring home pieces of Haiti to our family. Lining up one by one, told one another how much they meant to us individually and how much they meant to our team, individual love for each person, filling their hearts and filling their cup. Gods love is enough. Followed by breaking bread together in communion, sharing Gods love and His blood and body with our new Healing Haiti family. As we prepare to close, we all begin to reflect on the day to come, where we will no longer be in Haiti but back home in Maine. The rain immediately begins to pour down, in our hearts and literally outside! We ran into our room grabbed our baiting suits and shampoo and off we were. Showering in the rain! Thank you Jesus for your power, for your rain, your  sun shine, for Haiti. What a joyful closure to our perfect week. Amazing friendships built, love shared, grace, patients, kindness. We made for an amazing team, we will never be the same. Blessings upon blessings. Thank you Lord!

Thank you everyone who has been praying for us this week and following the blog. God bless!

Our words of the day are: Beyond, temporary, love, relentless, perspective, majesty, growth, and mountaintop.

- Danika & Stephanie

KCC Day #6

They have everything and we have nothing.  Our last active day in the field serving the Hatians the pieces all start to fall into place.  While serving water in the local slums we really get the opportunity to see the beauty in it all. We started to realize who really is rich, us or the Hatians. Americans with our sense of entitlement, or fancy cars, our money, or these Hatians who find joy and satisfaction in basic needs being met. Today as one of our team mates was serving water, wee little ones bowed at her feet, only to clean them, and what an honor this child felt to simply be of service. Another example was a teammate slipped into a puddle of standing dirty water, and child grabbed her shoes right off her feet, ran to the water truck line and insisted her shoes be washed. Mind you this child has nothing, but again, what a joy this child felt simply to be of service. These children are so rich in character, joy, hope, love, but we are missing the basics, we forget about the important things.

As we wrapped up our last day, I was overwhelmed by how amazing our Creator is. He provides for His people, and meets every need. Even something as simple as needing water, God provides for us. He provides for us in America and He provides for the people of Haiti, all our needs are different but He meets them. God has blessed us individually this week as well as together as a team. Just as He has blessed the people of Cite Solei with seeing the water truck coming toward them. My prayer is that God shows us how even water is a huge miracle, how to be simple again, how to be greatfull again, how to appreciate, and how to love again!

Our words for today were: Provider, grateful, servant, simplicity, endurance, chrysilis, undescribable, and matrix.

- Danika & Stephanie

KCC Day #5

"God is on the move, God is on the move, Hallelujah!"

Starting off with an early morning, headed over to the local Haitian church, the Church on the Rock. This feeling of being connected with the community despite the obvious difference such as cultural and language bariers, were far surpassed by serving the same God. Worshiping with them in their home church, in their community, was really awesome. We worshiped along side them, they even sang some English songs with us, making us feel so welcome while we visited. There is just something about this community that is so warm and loving, feeling God in the midst of it was evident.

We headed to the Home for the Sick & Dying Adults next. What a humbling experience that blessed us in so many ways!! We went from room to room, painting the women's finger nails, praying over them, singing, and even dancing.  It was powerful to see these sick and dying women dancing and worshipping when clearly they are in so much pain. Even in their poor health conditions, they still were joyful and enthusiastic and happy to see us! How humbling it was as these women ask for us to massage their fragile and weak limbs. God really stretched us, pulling us out of of comfort zone, making us rely on His strength and peace as He used us to serve others. What an honor it was to get down on our knees as we rubbed feet and painted toe nails. God is on the move, using us to touch and live out the Gospel in their lives.

We ended out our day on the field with a visit to La Loo Orphange. It was amazing interacting with the kids. They were so ecstatic over just bubbles and jump ropes, so simple but yet bringing so much joy.  The Bible talks about in Matthew 18:3 having a child like innocence and faith. I can't help to be reminded that this is what God is talking about, these kids with very basic needs and unlimited child like innocence and faith. Something about their joy in the simple things puts my heart in over flow. It still amazes me at how needy they are for the basics such as love, so eager and open to complete strangers. They would jump into our arms, literally, and never want to let go. Just leaves me full.

Our words for the day are: Strength, complete, community, humbling, enthusiastic, touch, continue, and connected.

- Danika & Stephanie

KCC Day #4

How could you not know that we serve a mighty God when you witness the country of Haiti? On day number 4 of our mission trip, our team visited the Elders. We brought them a meal and water, worshiped with them, washed and lotioned their feet, legs, and arms, and prayed over them. It was humbling to get down on your knees and wash someone's feet, what an act of being a servant. It was a blessing to be able to fulfill Gods desires of having a servants heart. It reminds me of how Jesus washed the disciples feet so unselfishly. It was so powerful listening to what they had for prayer requests. They have such a strong faith in God, yet they live in poverty, some without legs and are confinied to their makeshift home of brick and and sheet metal, everyday in less then a 6x 6 space.  With no social security check coming in, no pension, no government assistance, no food pantry, the list goes on and on. How lucky we are in the states to receive free services, yet how often we take them for granted when there are other people in other countries suffering, daily but have an overflow of joy, of peace, of humility. These Elders and their immediate community welcomed us in with open arms. Worshiped along side of us, and prayed with us. It fills me with hope for Haiti that these people still know the love of Jesus, despite their circumstances. It was so humbling and a great reminder of the mighty God we serve, and how big and powerful His love is even in the distraction.. His love surpasses all.

After the Elders, we went to Grace Village. Built by Healing Haiti, it houses children from age 2 to young adults, about age 16-18. And also aids in transitional living for those not exactly ready to leave.  It also serves as a "stop and go" orphanage, with reunification and parental support as the bones of their mission, along with a school for kids and teens. On site their is also a health clinic, open to the public and fully staffed by Haitians, a bakery which promotes job opportunity and growth for Haitians, and Grace Church where people Worship on Sunday's and through out the week. Grace Village brings so much hope to Titanyen, which translates to "little nothing", with a dark history, but god always manages to make beauty from ashes, drawing hope and inspiration to the Haitian community. Places like Grace Village are changing lives and Haiti, one leap of faith at a time.

Lastly we visited the earthquake memorial, also known as Masquerade by the locals. What an emotional stop. The bodies of the earthquake victims are buried there, and they built the memorial structure right on top of the mass graves. The memorial remains unfinished do to lack of funding, none the less the feeling of this symbolic, and visually beautiful sight is quite tangible. The memorial is placed dead center of mountains, canyons and the ocean all in one place. Filled with beautiful flowers and the brightest greens and deepest browns. The tragedity and destruction is very much alive in this place yet such a holy ground! Over 300,000 Haitian people died in the January 2010 earthquake. Once again, we see God bringing beauty from the ashes in Haiti. We serve such a mighty God,who's power and creation is display in clear sight in ways that you can feel and see easier then ever before!



Our words for today were: Perseverence, hope, joy, rebuild, healing, rebirth, mighty, humbled.

-Danika & Stephanie