Unanticipated Explorations

My word today was "sickness" because 7 of our 17 fell sick today. Therefore we had to be flexible. We were going to go to the Home for the Sick and Dying Babies, but we are not allowed there on Thursdays. We decided that we would go to the museum of Haiti history. Our tour guide was very knowledgable. We learned a ton about the history of this beautiful country. After that we drove back to the guest house, we checked on the sick and we had lunch. We decided to go to the Fluri Farms. It is a farm that was bought by Healing Haiti to help Haitians gain employment, and to divert Haiti back to one of their biggest industries in agriculture. At Fluri Farms, they grow mangoes, bananas, coconuts, limes, and cherries. All the food was delicious. Although this day was stressful in someways, we persevered through all these challenges, but we know that this was all part of God's plan, and we hope that He believes in us, and lets us be His hands and feet here in Haiti.
-Logan

Water Truck Day

My word of the day was "potem" it means 'hold me' in Creole . All the little children wanting to   be held walk around with their hands up saying "potem" They are incredibly poor, but all the children want is to be loved. When we are there they don't have a care in the world, all they want is to be held, and played with. This fun day was also very educational, we learned a ton about Hope Church and all that it entails, we learned about the kindergarten that keeps growing, and how everyone is allowed to come no matter what district they live in. The kids there are very sweet, and very cute, to get your attention they yell "Hey you!" They also love to play hand games. Both of our stops were really fun, it was an amazing day!

My word of the day today was “heartbreaking". I knew this trip would be emotional, but that God would fill my heart up with so many amazing experiences. Today we visited Gertrudes in the morning,  a home for special needs children, and in the afternoon we visited the Home for the Sick and Dying Babies.  Both heartbreaking, yet amazing experiences.  We have been told to allow God to work through us in whatever way He feels necessary and everyone in our group did just that.  Parents and children jumped right in to love up these kiddos. Our morning was filled with playing, blowing bubbles, touching, massaging, holding some of them, playing on the playground that is provided, and throwing balls.  The smiles and joy seen in their faces is how I believe God has worked through us.  

The afternoon was spent at the Home for the Sick and Dying Babies.  There was not an empty crib in the place.  We were able to feed these children, hold them, maybe two at a time, they just wanted love. Some fell asleep in our arms others held us tight not wanting to be let go and many just looked around.  The room was never quite, there was always someone crying out to be picked up, but when a smile spread across their face, it was all worth it.

In between our morning and afternoon we stopped at Aparent Project.  This was started by a couple who were adopting a child and realized the parents of these children could not afford to raise them, therefore, placing them in an orphanage.  They began to think of a way that these Haitian parents could be empowered to make money for themselves and to support their children.  They make many things from jewelry, to t-shirts, to recycled bags and the list goes on.  It is amazing to see the work that is put into the product you will buy at the end.  A way to empower these people and empower Haiti!

~Angela

Our journey begins....

Our journey begins....bright and early at 4 am our entire team (minus 2-whom we met in Miami!) met at the airport in MN.  We all got through security and made it through to our connection in Miami to meet up with Emily and Matthew!  All 17 of us then made the adventure to Haiti.  The long-anticipated adventure that each one of us has been preparing ourselves for both mentally and spiritually, as a team and as individuals.  It's so exciting to see what God has in store for us, what He has prepared for us in advance.  We are all so blessed to have been able to make this journey with our parents and kids team, so grateful for all that He has shown us and will show us this week.  We are ready to serve and be a shining light to all we encounter in Haiti.  After arriving at the guesthouse and  meeting the missionaries, we sorted through all our luggage to prepare our donations, had a fantastic supper (shepherd's pie, biscuits, and salad!), and headed to the pool to cool off from the Haiti heat!  Back to the guesthouse for team devotions, and off to bed early to begin our first day serving in the field tomorrow!  We pray that God would be ever present in all we say and do, and pray for a fantastic week of team building relationships!  God bless all of our families back home (we love you!!).

Kennebec Community Church - June 3rd 2017

Children, children, everywhere! God has blessed Haiti with so many beautiful little ones, and what a joy it is to spend the day holding and sharing the love of God with them. Today we went to La Loo, an orphanage in Port-Au-Prince. Unfortunately, the needs in Haiti are so vast that it feels like we are not doing enough. However, we need to remember that God makes much of little. Like with the bread and fish that He multiplied to feed 5,000 plus men! All we need to do is follow Gods call and allow him to work a miracle. God is the only one capable of controlling that child's fate. We need to trust His plan and serve Him with a whole heart. Though it may feel like we are not doing much. Know we are making a difference in each and every child's life that we touch, hold, and play with. God is smiling in heaven when we are loving His children.

We also were blessed to be able to visit the General Hospital here, and visit the pediatrics section of the hospital. We went in, talked with the sick kids and their families, asked for prayer requests, and prayed with them. It was so powerful to do all this in the mighty name of Jesus. Thankful to be able to come to God with all of our requests, even for our fellow brothers & sisters here in Christ in Haiti.

Our words of the day were: Soften, receptive, able, contrast, power, heartbreak, comfort, spoiled, warrior, joy, struggle, proud, and ordained.

~ Danika & Stephanie

Kennebec Community Church - June 2nd 2017

Heartbroken, but yet so much joy. 

We started our day off at 6 AM by attending a worship service at Church on the Rock. It was powerful and humbling to be blessed to witness the expressive and dedicated faith that the Haitian people have for God. It was an excellent start to our day! It brought us so much joy to be able to witness their faith. 

Today was also an emotional day for our team. Torn between heart break and overwhelming joy... Today was our first and only water truck day. We delivered 12,000 gallons of clean drinking water to Cite Soilel, the poorest slum in our hemisphere. The joy is overwhelming because of the smiles and thankfulness... But the brokenness is deep knowing the depths of their circumstances. 

We want to do so much, yet we can't do anything. By partnering with Healing Haiti we are helping their mission and therefor helping and healing Haiti.. But our hearts crave more! We desire to be able to serve more and give more. 

"Father, we come to you and ask for your peace. We ask you to wrap us up in your comfort where we can trust that you will supply for the beautiful and precious people of Haiti. We know that you are God, we know that you know the depths of their despair and every need they have. You know them by name and you know their hearts because you are the Creator of all. We ask you Father to make your presence so apparent in their lives. Keep their faith strong. Keep them close to your heart. Thank you for blessing this team with the opportunity to love these people with all we have. Thank you God for breaking our hearts for what breaks yours. Our hearts are truly broken for our brothers & sisters in Christ here in Haiti. Please continue to pour out your love and compassion over them. We love you Father, thank you for watching over them and continuing to move mountains in their lives every single day. In Jesus name, Amen." 

Our words of the day were: Love, possibilities, reliance, blessing, Holy Spirit, supplier, thirsty, hands, hungry, humbly, stinkin', dedication, worship, and caring. 

~ Danika & Stephanie

Kennebec Community Church - June 1st 2017

Today was a relaxation, take-a-break sorta day for our team.

We were blessed to be able to visit Peace Cycle today first off. Peace Cycle is a business in Haiti that is recycling the plastic water bags, and turning them into truly beautiful things such as place mats, purses, wallets, and so much more! In Haiti, on average there are 15 MILLION of these bags used and trashed each day. This business is really doing something that God has already done for us. Like Peace Cycle, God has picked us up from the dirt, washed us clean, and transformed us into beautiful works of art with a purpose! We want to encourage you to check them out at www.peacecycle.com! 

Next we took a beautiful drive up the mountain, overlooking all of Port-Au-Prince. At the top we were able to spend time together as a team, and barter with some of the vendors. It was a great day to be able to be outside and just spend time together as a team. Our team, in only 4 short days, has already established a deep bond. We really consider ourselves like a family now... 

There were several words of the day that were very powerful, yet one resonated more then others; The word that was chosen the most was 'family'. Without a doubt, with Gods sufficient grace we have formed a family. A disfunctional, yet loving, uplifting, and forgiving family. With God as the center of all relationships, we have been able to serve one another in compassion and in love. What a joy it has been to share experiences, trials, emotions and sadness with such an amazing group of people. God has presented Himself through each and every individual on our team, and we have been blessed as a result. Our words of the day were family, perspective, persistent, passion, ingenuity, awe, craftsmanship, valuable, peace, pride, and commitment.  

We are SO blessed!

~Danika & Stephanie