Severson Day 3

Day 3 - Team Severson

Today we were blessed enough to visit elders in the community of Titanyen. We took turns
washing their feet and hands. This is always such a humbling experience. God was working
through us to serve these beautiful people.

While visiting the elders, I love seeing their resiliency in their smiles. It is always painful to
see their need. We prayed several times for improved health. They are true heroes.

We visited Grace Village today as well. It is wonderful to see the children learning so much.
They were having so much fun playing at recess. We were blessed enough to also be able
to see inside the school. I was so happy to see the children getting to use technology.

Sometimes, all Americans see is the devastation in Haiti. Haiti is more than sadness and
poverty. To me, Haiti is powerful and strong. Returning to Haiti has helped me firmly
believe in Haiti’s potential. I no longer see it as just sadness, I see it as what it can become.
Haitians are wise and smart. Haitians are kind and gentle and strong and direct when
necessary. They are full of laughter and joy. What is remarkable is their resiliency to get
back up, and keep going. I always think about what lessons I learn from Haitians. The
United States can learn patience, wisdom, strength and kind-heartedness from the country
of Haiti. As I reflect on my second time in Haiti, all of these things are restored back into
my heart.

Haiti is not what you see on the news or read about on the internet. Haiti is not what
powerful people who have never been here say about it. Haiti has risen before from the
gravel and it will continue to.

Severson Team - Days 1 and 2

Day 1 and Day 2 - Team Severson

Our first two mornings in Haiti began with our 5 team members gathered together around
our table in a lovely patio-style breakfast. The warmth of the sun, the comfort of holding the
hands of new friends as we bowed in prayer with grateful hearts, and the pleasure of feasting
on fresh mango, banana, and avocado with our breakfast were all simple gifts of encourage-
ment to our expectant hearts as we began both of these first 2 days together in Haiti.

Yesterday our team first had the privilege of serving at an orphanage and school, Sweet Home.
Once inside the gated entry, it had a fortress-like feel, a refuge indeed for the people inside.

We played with and colored beside the children and we welcomed to our laps and into our
arms many who wanted to be held.

At this place there was a special building where ladies from the community were learning to
read and also sew. We were blessed to watch as these precious women were eagerly working
on a variety of projects. We were delighted to celebrate in the beauty of their work as we looked
through a stack of their finished quilted pieces. On the wall behind their work space was a
portion of Psalm 46. With the help of an interpreter and by the prompting of God we circled in
prayer, interwoven with our new Haitian friends. We prayed Psalm 46 over these ladies. Oh,
dear women of Haiti, God IS your refuge and strength! And He is an ever present help in trouble.

Our other place to serve yesterday was The Home For the Sick and Dying. No pictures are
allowed to be taken in this place but none of us will probably ever forget what we saw or who
we touched, held and fed there. As tears dropped from a team member onto the fragile arm of
a little babe who was crying himself, she whispered to him the true story of his Father, his
heavenly Father who happens to be the King of Glory, who promises to be a father to him in his
fatherless state. And the kind news that this exceedingly compassionate Father is aware and
present in his suffering and catching each heart wrenching tear into a heavenly bottle for tears
just like his.

“You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?”
Psalm 56:8

Today was water truck / water delivery day to two different locations, Cite Soleil 17 and 26.

Along with delivering water we toured Hope Church and the school in Cite Soleil.

We were told that because this area is so close to the ocean, it is not possible to drill a well.
So a water truck has to go out every day to deliver fresh water to these thirsty people.

It’s such a picture of when Jesus contrasted himself, the Living Water with the water the people
were drinking. He said, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever
drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give will
become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

It’s significant that cool, refreshing water is delivered just outside the gate of Hope Church to
the people of Cite Soleil 17.

The physical water that is being delivered to the people of Cite Soleil is so necessary and will
sustain them for years or decades to come. But the Living Water, Who is taught about in Hope
Church and ever present and ever accessible, will supply their every need for all of eternity.

In addition to pouring and delivering the water, there were lots (and lots!) of opportunities to
cuddle children. A spontaneous game of toss and catch with a deflated basketball provided great
fun and bonding.

Before coming back to the guest house at Healing Haiti, we had the opportunity to tour Fleri
Farm, a 28 acre farm in progress with mango, sugar cane, and papaya growing currently.

They have active plans to expand their agricultural endeavors with tomatoes, potatoes,
watermelon and many other produce options.

Michigan Team Day Seven

Day Seven

    Today started out at Eglise Rendez-vous Christ (church) and it was closer to a more traditional American style service. The Worship team offered multiple song selections and the church provided English-translating headsets for individuals that didn't speak Creole. 

     Today's sermon was titled, "Your ability to respond". The topic was very appropriate because there is a pressing issue in the country and it is up to the people to determine what their response will be in the future. Unfortunately, for us we have seen the effects of the protests, which refrained us from leaving the guest house for the first two days. The pastor shared how he squandered a large sum of money as a young adult and how he did not use his gifts and talents.  He explained that whether you are rich or poor you have gifts and talents. He encouraged everyone to exercise their rights and to vote.

      Later today we were able to visit For His Glory orphanage with the other team that is visiting Healing Haiti from Minnesota. Their team leader orchestrated a game for the children and a Bible Story that led to some arts and crafts. Afterwards, we gathered with the children to play and fellowship. Some of the children shared what they wanted to be when they grew up.  One beautiful young lady told us that she wanted to be a nurse and work with children in an orphanage one day. The smiles and the hugs we exchanged will be treasured memories forever....until next time Haiti we love you!  

@fhgmaison

Written By Team Members, 

Maressa Emile and Dylan Grubaugh 

Michigan Team Day Six

Day Six

  Today started with the typical Healing Haiti breakfast buffet of endless pancakes and fresh bananas--- oh how they treat us so well here! Also typical of Haiti? Haitian Time. We left a little after 9 in the morning, or right before 10, depending on who you ask. However, perhaps the most welcomed part of the day was the traffic. As we started our journey up to Titanyen we encountered all sorts of vehicles and pedestrians which was an exciting contrast to the quiet streets that first greeted us when our plane landed last Monday. Our first stop today was Grace Village. 10/10 would recommend not only the people but the view as well. There certainly is something to be said about how much God was showing off when he made Haiti's mountainous terrain. 

   Grace Village always amazes us when we visit. The missionaries, the workers, the children, and the community blend together there in such a perfect harmony. Grace Village now has a fully functioning clinic open to the community, a school, a feeding center, and family-style orphanage homes. It has been amazing to see how much Healing Haiti and its staff truly runs off of faith. In all they do, they first seek God and put their trust in His plan, not their own. 

   We can all agree as a team that putting absolute faith in God is a hard sacrifice to make. Today was a perfect example of those who walk the straight and narrow alongside God. We were able to follow up our Grace Village visit with elder visits. Healing Haiti has essentially 'adopted' elders of the community in Titanyen and teams are allowed to perform foot washing services for them as well as bring them hot meals and water. We were able make a very special visit to one couple in particular, that we (Terri) sponsor. Meeting the two of them was a dream come true. We have been praying for them for a very long time and looked forward to meeting them in person. It was an honor to serve them, pray with them and hug them. It will be a day we will never forget! We look forward to visiting them again on future trips. God is so good!  

   To end our Titanyen venture, we ate at Fleri restaurant just outside of Grace Village. Fleri is the brainchild of Healing Haiti, hoping to create jobs within the area. They have accomplished so much in such little time. Hearing Jake talk about the restaurant and bakery is so heartwarming as you can tell he has truly been lead by God to do this. He is such an awesome guy with an even more amazing heart for the people of Haiti. Fleri's staff made sure to treat us well to an abundance of pizzas and fresh squeezed juice. We even managed enough room for dessert! God filled our buckets immensely today and we were overjoyed to be able to leave the guesthouse and serve God's people.

Written By Team Members,

Madi Kench and Terri Grubaugh

Michigan Team Day Five

Day Five

This morning we left at 5:45 to attend The Church on the Rock.  The Church on the Rock runs a daily sunrise service which consists of worship and an inspirational message.  The service was a mix between English and Creole.  Even though most of us speak very little Creole, we could feel His presence and the power of the message.  The Haitians are a faithful people.  They are proud of their faith and are certainly not afraid to show their faith.  We left the service to find a large rock wedge between the duallies, which led to a consistent "bump" every 3 feet for the ride home.
   
When we arrived back at the guest house, we had breakfast and quickly changed into our "water truck clothes".  We were all excited to hear that we would be making the trip to Cite Soleil to visit Hope School and finally get to help with water delivery.

Hope School was built on a waste area, where people sent trash and human waste and even buried their dead in 2015.  It has progressed since then to include a school, a church, an innovation center, and soon a health clinic. 

Once we finished our tour of the school, we started water delivery.  Dylan was on hose duty and pumped approximately 3000 gallons of clean water into containers of various shapes and sizes.  The rest of us loved on some babies the small children who were playing in the area.  We also helped to deliver the water back to the homes of individual families.  This gave us a glimpse into the everyday lives of these hard working and strong men and women.

As we moved from our last water delivery stop, we were able to walk out to a pier and witness life by the water's edge.  We saw fishermen with large nets.  Women cleaning fish on the pier.  And young children holding seagulls by the wings!

As we boarded our tap-taps, we all agreed that we came to Haiti to "fill" the Haitians with love when in fact it was our hearts that received the filling.  We are all truly blessed to have answered the call to serve in this way.

One quick stop before returning to the guest house was at Fleri Farms.  This farm was purchased by Healing Haiti 2 years ago.  They grow many types of produce including: mango, coconuts, breadfruit, limes, lemons, avocado and even a cherry tree!  This farm is used as job creation in Cite Soleil.  They hire a handful of workers on the farm but also allow locals to purchase the produce for resale in the area.  They are hoping to expand operations to include chickens and bees and hope to also allow for teams to serve more on the farm in the future as well as fencing in the entire 28 acres.

In conclusion, we saw much more of Haiti today then we were able to see earlier in the week.  We see continued growth in Healing Haiti as an organization and continued growth in the Haitian communities.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.




Written By Team Members,

Jessica Duflo and Terri Grubaugh

Michigan Team Day Four

Day Four
     Today was the day we planned to serve our Haitian hosts with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  Thank goodness TSA allowed us to bring frozen turkey through. We prepared the traditional mashed potatoes, dressing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole and apple pie and crisp. Most all of the Healing Haiti staff, even from Grace Village, were able to gather together. We all enjoyed cooking and waiting patiently for the numerous ovens to kick back to life, although we learned the night prior most of us on our team do not even know how to peel potatoes (God works in mysterious ways). It was heartwarming to be able to serve all of our favorite foods to those who spend each day helping and protecting us. The only people who love a good Thanksgiving meal more than Americans are Haitians. The boys showed no shame in asking all day if dinner was ready yet. To pass the time they harassed Smith in countless matches of bags, despite how many times Dylan and him beat the others. Being able to all gather together and talk and sing and celebrate was a small reminder as to what Healing Haiti has been and is doing throughout the country. The families, the children, and the hearts they have reached is incredible. God calls us to meet others where they are at and that is exactly what Healing Haiti is doing.






Written By Team Members,


Madisyn Kench and Terri Grubaugh

Michigan Team Day Three

Day Three

    Today we had another change of plans. Due to political protests and potential roadblocks we were not able to go out with the water truck and deliver water to civilians. We took that as an opportunity to go outside of the Healing Haiti property, for what seemed to be a quick trip to the barber shop, which quickly turned into a neighborhood block party. We played with sidewalk chalk, a jump rope, and bubbles. Total we had about 30 kids show up! After a few hours we got the good news that we were able to go out and serve nearby at the Home for the Sick and Dying. Due to the protesting in local areas, the Home for the Sick and Dying was short staffed and needed extra help with the children for the day. It was an experience we all agree that we will never forget and I don't believe anyone will ever be able to understand unless they have actually been there. Walking in and seeing all the babies lined up in simple steel cribs was one of the most heartbreaking images to see, but their bright smiles lit up the room as soon as we entered. The other Healing Haiti team also got the opportunity to go with us at the same time, as this is something that teams are not usually able to do because of their policy to limit visits to only 10 people at a time. Everyone was able to help feed the children their dinner, cuddle them, and play with them on the playset.
    For those who don't know, the Home for the Sick and Dying is similar to a children's hospital. Many of the children/babies there get better by being at this facility, while others are not able to be nursed back to health. The Home for the Sick and Dying has became a known place in Haiti where parents can trust those who are taking care of their babies. It was a great challenge for the teams as we exited we witnessed first hand how hard it is to raise a child in Haiti and unfortunately a small child was left outside of the facility all alone. As sad as this may seem, we know the plans that God has in store for this child and the abundant blessings and healing that are coming to this child. As we headed home full of many emotions we were able to come together as a group to discuss more about Haiti and what God has instore for this country.
    We are thankful for your continued prayers for our team and the country itself. Haiti is undergoing some difficult changes and it is a blessing to be able to see all of its beauty through it all. God has a plan for us and how he wants to use us the rest of the week and we can't wait to continue on this amazing journey.

Written By Team Member,


Alyssa Jackson