Our Trip is Upon Us

All of us come from different backgrounds and all of us have different reasons for wanting to travel to Haiti.  We all have taken time off of our busy schedules and spent considerable effort and thought in preparing for our upcoming mission trip.  Some of us will have doubts.  Some are excited and some are probably not quite sure what this will be like.  For some, this will be their first time volunteering and they're probably wondering what they could possibly have to offer to the people of Haiti.  Bill Hybels answers this best in " The Volunteer Revolution".

"What do I have to offer?  More than you probably think.  You have the gifts and talents you were born with.  The passions that inspire you.  The blessings of education.  The skills you've honed as you worked at home and in the marketplace.  The life experiences that have matured you.  The pain that has deepened you.  The love that spills from God's heart into your's.

Once you decide to invest even a small portion of the blessings God has given to you into the lives of others, you'll find the seed of something powerful sown in your soul.  And someday, in the midst of giving yourself in the spirit and act of volunteering, that seed will blossom into the amazing realization that this is what you were made for".

So as we move forward, with Haiti being much calmer than it has been in previous weeks, we are hopeful we will all have a chance to make a difference in the lives of the Haitians that we'll encounter.  As of tonight,  our itinerary will include all areas of Healing Haiti's ministry.


Dave McCarthy

Wayne & Smith Saturday: Water Truck #2

Another amazing day in Haiti. We were fortunate to have a second water truck day in Cite Soleil, and the need was great. Although our team was tired from a full week of serving, everyone gave everything they could to serve the Haitians. As we reflect on everything God has taught us this week, I feel very fortunate to be part of this team. We arrived as strangers last Monday, and will be leaving as family. 

"When I Say Water, You Say Truck! Water...Truck!"

Wayne & Smith Friday: Cite Soleil Play Day/Elders

November 22, 2019

6:00 a.m. We leave to go to a neighborhood sunrise church service at “Church on the Rock.” A gate entrance opens to a huge open-air church that seats approximately 300 people with many attendees walking through the rows of chairs and aisle issuing in the presence of God. When we seek God early, he will be with us throughout the whole day.  There were lots of people and others still coming in.  The musicians and singer moved us all with their praises.  The singer sung in both the native Kreyol and English occasionally.  After several selections by the singer, there was a call for the offering and ended with the pastor preaching from the book of John.  His message to us included a word that this week would provide each of us an experience to see those with differences in a better light and challenge us to positively encourage them.  We were able to briefly meet with the pastor to express our gratitude for the service.  It was an awesome way to start the day.

After church, we returned to the guest house for breakfast.  We have had great breakfasts that include fresh avocado, banana, mango, oatmeal, French toast or pancakes, and eggs.

Each morning before going out to serve we have a brief devotional meeting.  Our co-leader’s morning message was to inform us of the fruit of the spirits (love, joy, patience, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance) that we must have as we serve. We load the tap-tap bus to head back to Cite Soleil and Hope Church. When we arrive, we are greeted by Alicia, the administrator of the health clinic.  She shared with us the number of doctors, dentists and nurses that work at the clinic and the main services being treated at the facility.  On a normal day, they serve approximately 70-100 patients a day without appointments and based on the critical nature of their ailment.  The cost of the services to the citizens of Cite Soleil are reasonably priced based on the economy of the residents.  Many residents would not have medical care without the support of the Hope Medical Clinic.

Afterwards, it was now time for fun with the kids outside the clinic.  They were waiting for us with chants of “Hey You” and the desire for us to pick them up. Some of the team can pick up two kids at one time.  With jump ropes and soccer balls in hand, we head out to a playground. All the kids wanting to be picked up can be overwhelming. Seeing the joy of smiles of playing children is so warming.  It was so hard to stop playing, but we had another group to serve.

The pastor of Hope Church has gathered approximately 15 elderly men and women to be served by us.  We were there to perform a foot washing and massaging of hands, feet and back.  We were grateful for the opportunity to show God’s love to each of them. Some of the women got their toenails polished. Our team circled around the elderly group and connected our hands as one to offer a prayer to God for their health ailments, there family and the future.  The elders left with a small meal and appreciation for being served.

Our last stop at Hope for the day was to receive an overview of the computer center by Ash, who works in the Tech Pod. The top of the line computer technology that is being used to train the children is the only one in the country.  When training is started at an early age, cycles and strongholds of educational deficiencies can be broken. One of the challenges mentioned was that students speak Kreyol at home, trained in French and then the computer technology is in English. Students have very little opportunity to become fluent in French since they return home every night to Kreyol speaking parents.  Education is power.

The day ends with a dinner meal treat, Pizza.

Wayne & Smith: Thursday Kenscoff & Furcy

Thursday, November 21st

Today the team got a chance to visit with the elders in a farming community outside of Kenscoff.  We delivered food to them, we put lotion on their dry skin, gave them massages and prayed over them. Many times, this population is overlooked. Our first visit left an impression on our entire team that we will never forget.  The elder we visited is the father-in-law of the pastor from the local church. He was in a lot of pain and very frail. His skin soaked up the lotion as fast as we were putting it on him. Even though he was in pain, he still managed to smile showing his beautiful dimples. When he was told he had a great smile his smile grew even bigger. The most amazing surprise to the team was when he reached for is harmonica on the bench near him and started to play for us. His music was just as beautiful as his smile. 

So often we wake up and grab a cup of coffee either from our coffee pots in our kitchens or from Starbucks. Today the team got a chance to see firsthand the process of making coffee.  We visited a home where they grow and pick their own coffee beans, they grill them over a fire, muddle and pound the beans, sift it, and brew it. We each had a chance to muddle/pound the beans, which was so much fun. We all enjoyed the most delicious cup of coffee we have ever had.  The coffee gave us the energy we needed to hike to a waterfall.  The beauty we saw today can not be put into words and the pictures can’t capture the feeling we had of being surrounded by the most amazing scenery in Haiti.  

Wayne & Smith Wednesday Water Truck

November 20, 2019

Matthew 6:19-21

Last night, we were told that today’s experience was indescribable.  We would have to experience it for ourselves.  After a short morning visit to the “artisan market” to do some shopping of local crafts and art, we boarded the tap-tap to go to Cite Soleil and Healing Haiti’s Hope ministries. In order to build Hope Church, the construction company dug 80 feet to clear the grounds for this magnificent facility of hope.  A church, medical center, and school for some of the residents of District 17.  Filled with pride, the parents of the school children dressed their girls in church dresses and ribbons in their hair. Due to the unrest in the city, the kids go to school between 7:30 – noon. So much wonderful work going on.  If you are feeling called to help support these children, you can sponsor the education of hope and two meals a day for only $300.

John 4:13-14. Everyone who drinks some of this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again, but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.

Are you Ready? It was now time for our water truck experience. Due to the lack of availability of running water in Cite Soleil, Healing Haiti intentionally delivers water to allow residents to get buckets, pool size, or any small or large container to fill up.  We take for granted our supply of water.  The song that comes to my memory is “Be Grateful” by Walter Hawkins. God has not promised us sunshine. We rotated from filling containers, picking up the heavy containers to take close to their shanty house, lifting up the little children to carry wherever and show love, and responding to “Hey You.” Our co-leader, Smith, who lives in another neighborhoo told us of the despair of Cite Soleil.  Nothing could prepare some of us for this type of despair.  We did not want to drop or waste an ounce of water as we carried the buckets to their respective current homes. Yes, I know there will always be the poor. Lord I pray, “Help Cite Soleil.”

During the first year after the earthquake of 2010, the records state that over 10,000 people died of cholera and 300,000 died from the earthquake alone.

We all left wet and exhausted from our first water truck stop.  So many kids and so many water containers to help pick up and take as far as we are allowed to go within the area.  Some of use with a curious spirit, inquire about voodoo.  The reports state that most of the area is Catholic religion, but among them voodoo is still practiced by some. You cannot always pick your neighbors. 

We return to the tap-tap, rejuvenate with snacks (crackers, protein bars, and beef jerky) and head to another village for our second water truck stop.  This truck was farther way and the need was greater. It was times-two a repeat of tired souls. Again, be grateful.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon Earth;  where moth and rust corrupt and where thieves do not steal.   But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

Wayne & Smith Tuesday: What a Day

 What A DAY!  We all gathered at a great breakfast anxious for our day to begin. Smith, one of our leaders, told us of his neighborhood and a children’s community center “New Hope Activities.” We were going to visit with kids of all ages. We were ready with a tub full of coloring books, jump rope, soap bubbles, and a polaroid camera, etc. Well, I can’t describe the joy of those kids. JOY is putting it mildly…. the laughing, the singing, the jumping, and all the nails that were painted. Lastly, before we left, a young boy about 12-13 years old asked the translator to ask me if I’d take him with me, I was speechless.

Our afternoon stop was Home for Sick & Dying Babies. In their care they have so many beautiful babies. We helped to feed them and just be there and play with them. It filled my heart…truly moving. One of the Sisters asked me to feed the tiniest baby I’ve ever held. Jean Paul was no more than four pounds, and his sister Mary Paul even less. It was truly a moving experience. God bless these Sisters for all they do.

And God Bless this Mission for doing all they do. I am humbled to be a part of this team!

Wayne & Smith: Tuesday God is Good!

November 19, 2019

We started the day off with Smith, our co-leader, reading II Corinthian 4:7-10. Smith told us to not worry about persecution, but to be as Paul during captivity to encourage others through our pain.  We had an awesome breakfast of fruit, oatmeal, eggs and pancakes.  We packed up the tap-tap with all our toys to visit the orphanage and our water bottles.  The pictures will reflect the great time had by the kids.  Fierce jump roping and painting of fingernails to name a few of the activities.  Of course, the time could not be stopped without a few girls braiding hair and blowing bubbles. To God be the glory in sharing love to this group.

Our second stop today was Home for Sick & Dying Babies. There were so many precious babies, all beautiful in God’s sight. We each selected a newborn baby from the nursery to feed porridge. After the feeding, we stayed for another hour holding each baby providing the love of God, praying for new mercies, healing and favor. God is good all the time. It was so hard to leave them. Jesus loves them, yes I know for the bible tells us so.