Mahtomedi Team 1, Haley and Julia, Day 6

After a late night full of bonding and pranks on Jessica (jess-E-qua), we woke up surprisingly ready to take on today's activities. We ate breakfast before we left and loaded onto the tap tap. The tap tap ride to Laloo orphanage in downtown Port-au-Prince was short compared to the normal traffic. We arrived at Laloo and were greeted by the joyful smiles of the kids running alongside our tap tap. You could see their eyes light up with excitement as we unloaded the suitcases full of crafts and activities. We sat down at stations inside and revealed our activities to the children, which included friendship bracelets, beads, pipe cleaners, jump rope, and chalk. The kids were excited but stayed organized, which surprised and pleased us all. This allowed us to actually interact one-on-one with the kids and teach them new skills. As we were teaching them, they were in turn teaching us. Next, we went outside and played with chalk, jump ropes, and played soccer. The kids loved doing the jump rope with us and learning how to play tic-tac-toe. You could tell that the kids did not need to be doing an activity with us to enjoy themselves. All they needed was to have a buddy to sit next to and feel our presence and comfort to know they are loved. Similar themes have been present throughout this entire trip. The kids have taught us that you do not need physical items to be happy, happiness comes from the joy in your heart and others around you. We both hope that we can bring the positive attitudes of the children home with us. 

After we got back from Laloo, we met up with other team members at the pool nearby. At the pool, we shared laughs with the new friends we have made here. One of our favorite things about this trip has been bonding with new people, who were basically strangers to us as of last week. Next, we went to Apparent Project, which is a business that Haitian-made items. We enjoyed shopping for amazing hand-made jewelry and other items while sipping delicious smoothies from the cafe upstairs. Then, we went up to eat what felt like never-ending pizzas with our team members. A few of the other kids on our team played foosball, chess, and pool. Meanwhile, Jake decided it was smart to sit in a child's size chair. It was great to see everyone laughing together at such a silly thing. On the way home, our team raced the there tap tap home (our team one thanks to our amazing driver). It was awesome to see everyone enjoy themselves and let loose. 

This trip has been such a blessing for us in so many ways. We have grown in our faith, relationships, and our outlook on many things in our lives have changed. The bonds that we have created in such a short time through our experiences together are amazing and we truly feel like we have all become one big Healing Haiti family :)

- Julia Gacek and Haley Oswald

Haley's new friend and his snazzy glasses

Julia with her buddy Franzi

Franzi loves hugs!!!

Mahtomedi Team 1 - June 24 Day 5

Mahtomedi Team - Day 5: Purpose

Our words during daily word of the day continue to help us reflect on the day and our purpose: eduction, history, chaotic, indescribable, aware, friend, legacy, tension, moment...

After breakfast, we did water truck in Cite Soleil. We were hoping to get in two stops before mid-day, which we did. It was a very hot day - 97 degrees and the dew point had to be in the mid 70s. That said, the first stop was the most orderly of the ones we've seen. We were able to fill up most of the buckets people had. It's still challenging for us to process the lack of such a vital piece of life and basic necessity - water. We think of the water we have literally at our fingertips, and how we take it for granted. It's not difficult to understand the desperation in the eyes of those who have no regular access to water.

Marin Ryan and Jean Oswald help with the bucket line.

Mike Ryan, Abby Voyen, and Louise Sicard help filling the buckets.

Julia Gacek and Alaina Gacek are greeted by children right off the tap-tap.

Our fearless team leader, Craig Carroll, has a way with children and keeping order for the water truck line.

Anna McCormick, Lisa Sicard, and Haley Oswald play with the children.

Haley Oswald, Courtney McCormick, and Anna McCormick are almost always holding children!

After the water stops, we came back to clean up and go to The National Museum of Haiti. This was an incredible learning experience. It is located in downtown Port-au-Prince and is located below ground so it is cool. It did have air-conditioning too. It is an artistic building with seven alcove-like areas that describe Haiti's myriad and complex history. Our Haitian tour guide took all this information and through the exhibits, artifacts, and art gave us an overview. It was a somber experience. I wound up going online to read more after we got back and found wikipedia did have a good overview. It is fascinating and integral to understanding Haiti. 

Both Team 1 and Team 2 by the National Museum of Haiti

Our purpose this week is to serve but also learn. Jessica, from Team 2, spoke to our daughters last night in an impromptu conversation and spoke of how everything in her life has had a purpose to bring her into the career she has (helping long team missionaries re-enter the US) and how she didn't realize God's work until it happened. The girls were really impacted by her story, and she's very funny!

1 Peter 4: 8-11

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift s/he has received to serve others faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, s/he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, s/he should do it with the strength God provides so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 

-Jean and Haley Oswald and the Mahtomedi Team

Mahtomedi Team - Water Truck, Grace Village, Elders, Haitian Memorial

Mahtomedi Mission Team - June 23, 2016

Teamwork, frustration, adaptable, disciplined, stuck, guitar, fear, joyful... have all been part of our words of the day today and yesterday.

Yesterday was a water truck day. It was more grueling than I had thought. We had three water stops in Cite Soleil districts, which are numbered. Our first was by HH's new Hope Church, which we were able to see and attend to some injuries of children. The church is amazing and is serving many in Cite Soleil. On it's opening day, 5000 Haitians came! Cite Soleil does not have well-water, so people depend on the water trucks. HH water is free. When the truck comes, people line up their buckets and we help the line, the hose, and the people fill and carry their buckets. We also play with the children, "potem!" "potem" they say, which means "up!" as they want to be held. Sometimes we had three to four we were holding. We made three water stops, which took most of the day.

Lisa Gacek playing with children

Louise Sicard learning games

Abby Voyen would hold as many children as she could!

Marin Ryan agreed to requests to "potem."

Haley Oswald and Julia Gacek also play with the children.

Today, Thursday, we went to Grace Village, visited the elders in Titanyen and then went to the new Haitian Memorial for the January 2010 devastating earthquake. Grace Village is about 45 minutes north of Port-au-Prince. We took the tap-tap there. GV supports Haitians with a school, health clinic, family housing, meals, bakery, and Grace church. The goal is to have Haitians be educated and independent to support themselves and families. Once thought an impossible vision, it is truly amazing!

Part of GV's support is eldercare. We visited four elders to bring food, care packages/bags, wash and lotion their feet and hands and arms, talk with them, sing and pray. When asked what they need, interestingly most said nothing and to give to others. They had everything they needed in God. Our last stop was visiting a couple. Although they did not have much materially in our eyes, they were so joyful - with each other, with their grown sons, and with their grandchildren. Pierre, the gentleman, wanted to dance, so Anna became his partner! You could see Fye (proud) in the sons' eyes towards their parents and in the parents' to their family.

Anna McCormick dances with elder Pierre

Perhaps one of the most powerful experiences we will take away from this trip was Brunee's (sp?) retelling of the Haitian earthquake at the Memorial built in January 2016. It down the mountain a bit from GV and is the site of a mass burial. Although English is not is first language, through his words and emotion and gestures gave us such a personal recollection of the 37 second earthquake, the aftershocks, and the immediate aftermath. He had just gotten out of trade school and was on the bus when it happened. No one knew what was going on b/c the last earthquake was in 1942 in Haiti, but it was in a different part of Haiti. He got off the bus and saw pieces of buildings collapsing on people, even his school he was just at crumbled. To make matters worse it was a little after 5pm and it was getting dark. Once he got to his uncle's house, he saw all other house around this house collapsed, but his had not.

I recently saw a quote that said fear can stand for "forget everything and run" or "face everything and rise." As a group, we are seeing a lot of the latter in Haiti, not only from people within our group but also the Haitian people. It reminds me of Paul's words in Romans 5: 1-5


"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (NIV)

-Jean and Haley Oswald and the Mahtomedi Team

Healing Haiti Team One - Mahtomedi

Mahtomedi Team - June 21, 2016

Family, joy, wonder, relationship, surprising, better, brave, maestro...these were some of our words during our evening word of the day. We explain why we picked each word and then after the English words we went back around and did a Creole word of the day. These exercises help us bond and understand Haiti and Haitians better.

Yesterday was our first full day in Haiti and we went to The Home for the Sick and Dying Children in the morning, and two orphanages mid-day and afternoon.

I was apprehensive not quite understanding what to expect at the Home for the Sick and Dying and wondered how my daughter and her friends would handle the situation. Would they stand by too taken aback or would they step in and assist? They did the latter. As the morning went on, God's presence and grace was abundant. They children and us enjoyed our time together, bonding as the time went on. We even had the honor of feeding the children lunch before we left.

Next, we went to the orphanages. The first one, La Phare (sp?) was for children of all ages. We played games with them, jumped rope, painted nails, created pipe cleaner creations and played dots. Some of the kids off the street came in to join the fun. It was joyful and difficult to leave. The last orphanage was for special needs children. They loved the bubbles and legos. Again, although they don't have much materially by our standards, their love of life and Christ are evident, even breaking out into song while we were there.

This day reminds us of Philippians 4.19: My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

-Jean and Haley Oswald

Ose/Gerst Alpha Team Day 7

Titanyen means "less than nothing". A dusty, arid patch of desert, this area was allegedly a grave yard where the Duvalier dictatorships brought dissenters to be killed (I envision a cross between the Wild West and goodfellas).

High cliffs of red sand and tan dust form an empty amphitheater as Mack trucks haul concrete supplies from the hills near Titanyen. One of these open pits is now filled with at least 100,000 Haitian earthquake victims from 2010. Others estimate near 300,000. After the earthquake some Haitians, worried about Typhoons, desperate for a change, seeking a new life, set up shanties up in the hills of Titanyen. These tiny shacks are easily seen from the mass grave site memorial.  This land certainly carries the weight of death, despair, and desolation.

Down the road a short poke, inside the humble town of Titanyen, Grace church begins to fill. Purple and white balloons on white mesh ribbons line the pews.  A lean, even by Haitian standards, young man balances on a bar stool as he tapes the sign above the pulpit;

"Apogee Graduation Day 2016" was written on white poster board.

In the back 14 students, having completed the 13th grade (philo year), were about to graduate. Purple graduation caps with purple gowns covered much of the freshly pressed and sparkling white sport coats, pants, and dresses.

I couldn't seem to keep my patterned shirt clean and yet these proud grads look like Naval cadets!

The ceremony was filled with pride, God-honoring worship, countless thank-yous, and even tears.  I expect

Some mothers to cry, mine would. I figured some teachers might.  I was surprised when the proud teen boy who received a scholarship for college wept as his reality changed. I was more surprised when I cried too.

In my head was the Gungor song, beautiful things. "You make beautiful things out the dust."

As the praises went up I saw these beautiful children gleaming white and purple, flowering in the desert. God made beautiful things out of dust. Moreover, out of the grave and death, Jesus gave life to us all.

Today, 6/19/2016, a battlefield victory at Titanyen.  We all brought less than nothing and God made it more than amazing.

John Berge

Ose - Gerst (Alpha Team) - Day 6

Wow, another impactful day in Haiti.  Today we had the option of going to Dare's, an orphanage for kids/young adults with disabilities or going to Mont Fort, an orphanage for kids that are deaf.

Jack and I went to Dare's and were truly privileged to meet some great kids with that have great challenges.  Firstly, you should understand the importance of an orphanage like this because in Haiti you are considered an outcast if you are disabled.  Lena, is a 6 year old that has a very big voice that likes to play with balls and roamed about meeting all of us.  She has a bright smile but is very limited in her mental functioning.

Kenny is a 14 year old with a beaming smile.  He has use of only one arm and his legs do not function.  He and another boy about his age, who also did not have the use of his legs, listened intently while Jeff did his best to read from their native bible.  Sometimes they would correct him and other times they would cheer.

However, the highlight was meeting Fronzy. We were warned about Fronzy's clap before we went which was funny as Katie and I immediately recognized it when we reached within about 100 yards.  We entered to the sound of the clapping and singing that sounded like it was coming from a southern worship tent.  Fronzy is 25, blind, and has a rhythmic clap that I would call deafening if it weren't so beautiful.  Beautiful in the sense that it is his instrument as he sings and heartily taps his feet.  His smile radiates as sweat pours down his neck and belts out spiritual songs that I think speak directly to the good lord.  His singing brought all that could, to song.  The entire time we were their the room was full of joy but none more so that when Fronzy was singing.

The afternoon brought another really neat experience as we planned an afternoon of soccer with the neighborhood boys.  (we need to work on getting girls as well but culturally they do not play sports)  We packed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, apple squeezes, and water for the boys.  We loaded the lunches, along with 21 neighborhood boys, and drove two tap taps to the Bobby Duvall soccer fields.  They were not Shakopee Soccer quality (some grass, a lot of gravel, and kind of level) but for Haiti, they were amazing.

The relationship with the neighborhood boys has developed over the past 6 years and is a great story in itself which I'll let Marijo elaborate on as she knows all of the history.  With that said, it was a very rewarding day of soccer, smiles, and true friends.

It was fun to watch the banter among the Haitians, because they take their soccer seriously, but not today; it was about comradery.

Palms up,
John and Jack Canny

Ose - Gerst (Alpha team) Day 5

Bonuit Everyone!

This is Max Nelson and Ryan Stich blogging for Alpha Team tonight. We are both going to be Sophmores at EPHS and this is our first time on this trip.

We had an early wake up call ths morning and began our day at 5:30 to go to the morning church service at Church on the Rock. Church on the Rock is a large church inside of an industrial warehouse that inititially started as a tent church after the 2010 earthquake. As John B just called it as we are writing this; "Home Depot Jesus Edition", the church is not your everyday church that your would see in Minnesota. Side Note: We are eating knock off, Chinese, pop rocks as we write this and may or may not be severely distracted by the possibly non-toxic "Crack-Ups". Anyways, it was not your average church service and had many people up and moving throughout the entire sermon with a live band and people praying aloud.

A specific experience that Ryan remembered from today's service was very impactful for all of us. An older man with a walker tirelessly walked up and down the aisles of seats and makeshift pews even though it caused him pain. His determination and love for God remained unbroken as he inspired our entire group. When we think of praying, we usually think of praying for something to happen or to gain something from it but the pastor challenged us to think differently and we will do the same for you. Thank God for all that he has given you today and be grateful for what you have before you consider asking for something more.

After a brief walk home from the church service (and for John B, a brief motorcycle ride with two other Haitians after he decided to hitch hike down the hill), that we regrouped to split up for the morning. Half of our group went to the home for sick and dying adults and the other half of our group went on another water truck day. Jeff Gacek, one of the founders of Healing Haiti, had arrived the night before and prayed with us before we set off for today's events. Ryan and I (Max) both went on the water truck day for our choice and we were able to do two stops. We met a lot of great people again and hopefully made as large of an impact on their lives as they made on ours.

Both groups returned back to base for a brief lunch before heading over to Rebuild Globally to see their flip-flop manufacturing location. They make flip-flops from old tires and all of their materials are locally sourced. We had a tour of their complex and some of the team members bought some shoes and other little trinkets at the boutique. We then headed over to the Apparent Project where they also make products from recycled materials such as beads from cardboard boxes and statues from scrap metal. They also have a pizza place at the Apparent Project so we ordered a total of 9 pizzas and were able to finish all but one. (Yes you may applaud out loud right now, we know it is impressive, don't be shy. No I don't care if you are in public, start clapping.)

One bumpy Tap-Tap ride later and we were home for the night. We had our daily circle meeting and talked about our word of the day as we sat outside in the cool night air of Haiti. Overall we had an amazing day and we look forward to the rest of the trip with some amazing people.

See you all again soon!

Max Nelson and Ryan Stich