Day 1 - Travel to serve Haiti with LOVE

Discovery...Release...Challenged...Love...Serve...Trust...just some of the words on our hearts tonight.  And my word for the day was SMOOTH. God's plan for our travel day was perfect!  We got to MSP 3 hours before our flight, as recommended due to Super Bowl traffic. Everyone was on time, and there were no lines at check-in or security.  We were shocked how quickly we got to our gate.  The airport didn't seem to get busy until we got settled:)

There are 12 members on our team, 9 leaving from MSP, and we connected with the Smith's in Atlanta, again, smooth. All our bags made it, easy security, all truly gifts to ease any anxiety and settle us for a big serving day tomorrow.

We were greeted at the guest house by LOTS of dogs and puppies, and delicious sloppy joes.  We are very excited and maybe a bit nervous for our day of serving tomorrow.  Stay tuned for our God sightings and stories of how God is using and stretching us as we step on in TRUST with a flexible spirit!

Barb Brandt

Friday- Woodridge

Friday

Jake- 

Raegan- friend

Lola- community

Tracy- reunion

Jen- gifts

Buck- gate, garbage

Ashlynn- healing

Trinity- bold

Ben- courage

Annette- frog

Corrina- blessed

Kim- refueled

Shannon- emotion

Today we went to Carrefort, a home for sick and dying adults. The drive there was long and dusty.  I sat in the front and talked to Lisa and Daryval, our driver and a friend, about Haiti and what is is like to live here permanently.  I learned a lot from both of them. Everyone else was riding in the back of the tap tap and they were “tap tap surfing “. It’s were you have to stand up and balance while going over the bumpy Haitian roads. Once we arrived at Carrefort, the boys and the girls split up. Ben and Buck brought their instruments for the elderly men. We coulda hear it from the second floor and sounded amazing. Trinity prayed for the men. When the girls were upstairs, we rubbed lotion on the ladies and painted their nails. Kim was the most bold and relaxed while hanging out with the ladies. It made us feel more comfortable. At first they all were very quite and didn’t want to interact with us. Annette started a game of charades called “ guess that animal noise” and she acted out every animal we could think of. Soon all the ladies were screaming the animal names in Creole and they all were laughing and had smiles on their faces. Once we left Carrefort, we made our way to an orphanage called “ La Phare”.  It is a very sweet orphanage located in or right next to Cite Soleil, where we did the water truck.   Once we were there we jumped rope. Jake, Buck, and Daryval all played Chinese jump rope. The game got intense very quickly. Jen made bracelets with the girls while Lola, Ashlynn and corrina painted the girls nails. Tracy and Shannon were reunited dream they met in June. To make it short, it was very emotional.  Tomorrow we go to Titanyen. 

Thursday Woodridge

Thursday

Jake- engaged

Raegan- contrast

Lola- team

Tracy- happiness

Jen- grooving

Buck- water

Ashlynn- quiet

Trinity- communicate

Ben- opportunity

Annette- partnership

Corrina- wow

Kim- chill

Shannon- noise

Today was very different and similar from the past days.  We went back to an orphanage named For His Glory we visited on Tuesday and played with the children again. Annette told the story of Jesus telling the sick man to walk again and the teacher translated it.  Those teachers are amazing at what they do and the children love learning from them. Laughter and song filled the classroom and smiles spread across each child’s face. During recess Lolita, Jen, and some others painted little girls (and boys) nails pink and purple. Ben somehow played guitar while a boy sat in his lap and another strummed the strings and played a song. I think For his glory is a special place because the teachers and “parents” are so proud of their children. After we left we made our way to the metal market and had to use some serious bartering skills. Every seller wanted Ashlynn’s attention for her to buy a canvas painting.  Then we went to a place called Montfort. Montfort is a school for the deaf. They have a really impressive farm/livestock there and we even got 23 mangoes and 2 papayas. Jake, Trinity, and Lolita tried to beat the kids in basketball but that didn’t come close to working. Tracy painted nails and Corrina played Chinese jump rope. Shannon, Kim and buck all had really meaningful conversations with the kids.  And for me, I am slowly but surely leading Haitian Creole. 

Love,

Raegan and the Woodridge Team

Woodridge- Wednesday

Wednesday

Jake- spent

Raegan- intent

Lola- together

Tracy- kisses

Jen- joy

Buck- happy

Ashlynn- abundance

Trinity- soak

Ben- content

Annette- prayer

Corrina- familiar

Kim- bittersweet

Shannon- different


Today we went to a place called Citè Soleil. This place is the poorest city in the Western Hemisphere. With having so little, these people are so happy and content with what they do have.  The children run with fire in there souls. Some tried racing Lolita but she beat them every time. Ben, Kim, and Trinity maned the water hose and kept order in the process of filling water buckets.  Jake was a human playground, with kids climbing all over him.  Ashlynn and Tracy prayed for a women in the streets and it was beautiful.  Buck danced with the little girls and boys in the street and he was truly happy in Cite Soleil.  Jen was a beast with carrying water buckets with the Haitian women. Shannon held babies and talked to a man named Junior. He told his whole life story and he was really proud of his church and God. Corrina made best friends with all the teenage girls and even saw Alex. Annette also got a kiss from an elderly man walking down the street. I washed a 7 year old and his underwear. It was really humbling. Tomorrow is going to be good.

Love,
Raegan and the Woodridge team.

Tuesday

Jake- expression

Raegan- communication 

Lola- family

Tracy- hands and feet

Jen- clean

Buck- humble

Ashlynn- helpless 

Trinity- broken

Ben- broken

Annette- parent

Corrina- cherish

Kim- hope

Shannon- complete

Woodridge Day One: Travel Day

Word of the Day

Raegan- grateful 

Corrina- joyful

Ashylnn- new beginnings

Tracy- opportunity

Annette- enough

Trinity- awakening

Jake- heavy

Ben- excited

Lolita- connection

Shannon- familiar

Kim- anticipation

Buck- mini miracles

Jen- time

Serenity Village Community Church - Sunday 01/21/18

Today was an absolutely beautiful day here in Haiti! The worship, the sunshine, the bonding, the salty ocean water, the laughter - they were all gifts from God that made today so special!

Our day began with praise and worship at Grace Village Church! Even though we couldn’t understand every word that we sang or heard, the Holy Spirit moved us and spoke to us. It was truly amazing, just like our God. Our next stop was to Wahoo Bay Beach! This was a time of joy for all of us. It provided us a chance to wrap up this amazing and emotional week with a little R and R. We had the opportunity to ride jet skis, go snorkeling, jump on a water trampoline, swim, tan, and just simply take in all of the amazing scenery that God painted by hand. This was a time of reflection, alongside joy and relaxation. Our last stop of the night was at the Elite Hotel, where we cheered on the Vikings! Sadly, that didn’t end how we wanted it to, but we know that God’s plans are greater than our own wants and expectations.  

As we think back to everything that we’ve done this week, we can’t help but smile. This week has truly been amazing in all aspects. God has blessed and stretched each one of us in so many ways, and for that, we are eternally grateful.

Blessings & Hugs,

Emma and Jordan