Arrival Day

I started the day at 2:30, and headed to the airport almost immediately. as soon as I got to the airport, I met up with the majority of the team. They were on the earlier flight, so after getting through some trouble at Special services, they left and i stayed behind with my dad. We waited for another family who were going on the same flight as we were. We got through security rather quickly, and headed for our gate. once we arrived we got some caribou and food to eat a early breakfast. Soon after, we boarded our plane and started to ascend.

 Our flight was uneventful. watching movies and playing game to pass the time. After a few hours the plane started to attempt to land in Atlanta. The whole team got together and talked to each other  and got some early lunch and soon enough the plane was ready to board. As most of os exhausted from the early morning and long hours sat on a hot plane, we got on the plane and we were set on our way to Port-A-prince in Haiti. we stepped onto the hot muggy tarmac and the serene mountain view made all the heat worth it. We checked into immigration and stamped our passports. Then we rounded the team up and got our luggage and headed to the tap-taps to the guest house.

 On the way to the Guest House, our team noticed many differences between USA and Haiti. For one, the street was very bumpy and wasn't fully asphalt. Some roads were only dirt, and some were blacktop, but no matter what the roads were like there always was trash. In some places a lot and in some a little, but wherever you looked, you would see a water bottle or some paper products. As we arrived at the guest house, the dogs came to greet us and sniffed us all around. We went immediately to unload, and after that, we inflated a soccer ball and went next door. the neighborhood boys were not there, but one little boy was. his name was Maurice. he lived in a small hame with his family and his goat. He loves soccer and running around,  We played pass for about 20 min.

 

   

    Then all of the sudden a rain storm rolled in and forced us inside for dinner, the tacos were delicious. We then when't to the stones in the front yard and passed a soccer ball. and headed inside for a shower, then we set up the Spike Ball net and played games with it. we also sat on top of the tap-taps and threw berries on the tree down. So it was getting dark and we headed inside for devotions, and headed to sleep for the night.

Up the mountain - 8/5

Today was our last full day in Haiti.

We began by attending Rendez-Vous Christ Church. This is a very welcoming congregation and worship is a mix of French, Creole, and English. They pass out headsets so you can listen to a live translation of the sermon into English. In addition to our group, there were folks from the UN there and a scattering of other non-Haitians. The service was celebratory in nature. They had a guest speaker who had been healed after being in a coma. His testimony was moving. At the end, he admonished us to think about whether we had one of these things as a stumbling block in our relationship with God: adultery, lies, gossip, fraud, theft, magic. In a country with a lot of corruption, that is an interesting list.

After worship, we headed up the mountain to shop another metal market and have lunch at Observatoire, a beautiful restaurant with a view of the countryside. The drive was beautiful and it was nice to see more and different things.

We got back to the guesthouse and decided to go to the pool before dinner.  We were omit there about 20 minutes when we heard thunder. We got out and were trying to decide what to do when we saw lightning.  So we headed back. We just made it to our gate as the rain began. The storm knocked out the WiFi for the rest of the night.  But we were fortunate to not have been stuck in traffic in the tap tap as the other teams were.

The kids played in the rain.  The adults started packing. After dinner, we had word of the day, then devotions, and communion. Because the WiFi was out, we had to gather around Angela's tiny Macbook to watch the slideshow. And, for many of us, it was the first time using Goldfish crackers as communion wafers!

The Internet finally came back Monday morning so I  am writing this then.  Today, we plan to stop at Peace Cycle and a coffee place on our way to the airport, weather and traffic permitting.

I have been grateful for everyone's input on writing this blog for our team, especially Lindsey who helped with titles every day.

Anastasia

8/4 - Last day of service

Today, we paid a return visit to Cite Soleil. First, we got to  watch the water truck being filled which was really fascinating.

At our first stop,  we made sure that Karil, Celeste,  Lindsay,  and Maggie each got to aim the water hose. Anastasia spelled Dave on holding the hose over the shoulder so he had a chance to carry buckets and play with kids.

After a second fill up of the water truck,  we went to our last serving opportunity.  We were near Hope Church again.

At this stop,  there was much less desperation and everyone got enough water. There was time for playing and bathing in the water.

After a short break back at the guesthouse,  we headed to Fleuri Bakery for dinner at the restaurant. All of the teams and missionaries were there and we had a great meal.

We're sad that our time here is coming to an end. We have enjoyed our experience and many of us plan to come back,  or do other mission trips, in the future.

Changed - 8/3

This morning, we had the opportunity to attend The Church on the Rock. 26 of us here at the guesthouse compound got up before dawn and loaded up the tap tap or walked. From our team, we had our leaders, Regina and Angela, plus Dave, Scott, Ellie, and Anastasia. The long-term guesthouse missionaries, Krista and Alicia, came as well, and the rest were from the other teams. It was very different from worship at Salem. People wandered around singing, dancing, and waving their arms in the air. I loved it!

We came back in time for breakfast. We changed out of our church clothes and then the whole team went to Dios orphanage for special needs kids. Many of them are non-verbal and several are in wheelchairs. That didn't stop them from playing soccer though! We also did mani-pedis on some of the girls, played cards and colored. Plus they really loved the bubbles.

We were surprised by how easy it was to make a connection with someone who cannot speak.

On our way back to the guesthouse, we stopped at the Metal Market. We shopped and shopped but couldn't buy something from every artisan. Many of our friends and family will be getting gifts of metal art, I am sure. We even bought something for Salem!

Then we came back to the guesthouse to change before heading to our last visit of the day: Mother Teresa Missionaries of Charity Hospital for Sick and Dying Babies. Only 10 of us were allowed to go so Amie, Regina, James, Ian, and Maggie stayed behind. We were also joined by Alicia, one of the long-term guesthouse missionaries.

We aren't allowed to take photos there so we will not have any to show you. We wear blue Healing Haiti aprons to protect our church clothes which we wear to show respect for the nuns and workers. Everyone held and fed babies, even our translator Jonas!

Dave connected with a little girl who had a bad arm and an oozing infection but the most beautiful eyes. Thomas fed a baby and then held another for a long time. Lindsey fed and also held while workers changed bedding. Some of us were able to put a baby down and then pick up another, but many just held the one. A few fell asleep in our arms. Ellie and Anastasia were gently singing and speaking softly in French to them. Scott carried two tiny almost-twos out to the playground to watch the older kids playing.

We went there to show them love but we all felt the love from them.

We had earlier dinner than previous nights. During word of the day and during devotions, we talked a lot about how changed we were by both visits.

Everyone was emotional at some point during the day.

Tomorrow, we go back to Cite Soleil for another water delivery.  We talked about that also. Our time here is nearly done.

How will we continue to be missionaries at home?

Water is strife....and life

Today was water truck day. Our first visit to Cite Soleil. This means "Sun City" and it is the poorest slum in the Western Hemisphere. It is the dump. But people have been living there for 50 years or more. They live on piles of garbage up to 50 feet thick or more. They have no soil and no water source.  Since the earthquake,  not even the police will go there. We were not quite prepared for the experience, emotionally or physically.

Our first stop was fairly uneventful. The line moved rapidly. Most of us had a chance to play with kids, carry buckets, help move buckets through the line,  and help with the hose.

It was somewhat organized chaos. Many of the kids were much better bucket carriers than we were.  When the water ran out, they wanted us to stay, but they let us go.

While the water truck refilled, we visited Fleuri farm.  We met Kenny, the farm missionary. We learned that plantains are NOT green bananas. We also got to see the dogs in action. They are the puppies of the guesthouse dogs. Their job is to keep the neighbors animals from eating the produce. They are very good at it!  We also got to eat freshly picked mangoes and drink coconut water straight from the coconut.

Our second water stop was a bit more chaotic. There were many more children and it was hard to see so many of them knowing how they live.

The littlest ones want to be held, and the older ones need help with the buckets.

After the water finished,  we visited Hope Church and School. Built by Healing Haiti right there. They had to drill down 70 feet through garbage to hit bedrock.  They are the only school available for many children in Cite Soleil. They  have a large church and they are building a clinic.

Then we headed to our last water stop of the day.  This was the hardest one.  The people lined up but they were very unruly.  The desperation was evident.  There was much shoving and trying to jump the line. We were offered bribes to let people go first.  Finally,  they shut the water off and we got back in the tap tap. The water truck drove a few hundred yards away and stopped again. Some of us elected to stay in the tap tap at this point.

There were definitely some aggressive young men,  but more people were able to fill their buckets before we ran out of water.

We came back to the guesthouse and everyone decided to go to the pool today.

After dinner,  during word of the day,  our words reflected how emotional the day had been for each of us. Ellie was so overcome that she couldn't really choose a word to describe her feelings.  She settled on "speechless".

Some of our team shared their feelings during devotion.

Thomas was reminded of the story of the widow's mite. Someone who has little but gives much of what they have.

Dave said standing at the church and seeing all the people living on top of a huge garbage pile will be something that he will never forget and he knows he was there today for a reason.

Ian was surprised that they would pave over garbage.  He thought it would look more like Titanyen.

Maggie was surprised by the huge crowd of kids running down the street with their buckets towards the truck.

Angela noted that even the rain last night did not ease their desperation for water.

Karil said it was hard to decide what to do, hold babies, help with the line, or carry buckets.

Regina said that it was overwhelming to see God working in and through each of us.

This is the post where I am really sad that we are having trouble loading photos. Words cannot accurately describe how we are feeling after today.  The need is so great that we feel like we barely scratched the surface.

Please pray for Cite Soleil.

I will remember you with Grace

Today, we went to Titanyen. In Creole, this means "less than nothing". This is a place where there is little water and not much grows.

Our first stop was at the mass grace and memorial for the victims of the earthquake in January 2010. They are not sure how many people are buried there, somewhere around 250,000 or more. There was not time to identify all of the victims and give everyone an individual burial. The cemetery couldn't handle the number of graves needed. So the government set aside this canyon no one wanted and they took the bodies out there to be buried in one enormous grave. Every single person in Haiti or from Haiti lost a friend or family member. It is a very solemn place.

We were blessed to have the story of the days after the quake shared with us by our driver. After we walked around a bit, Angela led us in a word of prayer for him and for all Haitians.

Growing up in earthquake country, we practice preparedness, but it had been a long time since there had been a quake here and the people did not know what to do to be safe.

After we left the memorial, we were pleased to be able to tour Fleuri Bakery.  They employ bakers, chefs, and servers. They sell baked goods wholesale and also have a restaurant. We had placed an order ahead of time that we picked up. The most fun thing on their menu is Digi Bread. They look like little cell phones. I can personally attest to the deliciousness of the croissants.

Our next stop was Grace Village. We met Caleb who, along with his wife and daughters, are new long-term missionaries there. We toured the dormitories, family homes,  school, and gardens.

We learned about the school system and that the children at Grace Academy learn four languages (French, English, Spanish, and Creole), plus STEM classes, and traditional curriculum. Thomas spent the entire visit carrying at least one little boy,  and sometimes two at once.  He is tall and they love being on his shoulders.

We also got to meet Samantha who is the public health missionary. They are starting a program to vaccinate and treat women for HPV. HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer which, in turn, is the leading cause of death for women in Haiti.

When we left Grace, it was our time to visit the Elders. We took them the meals, lotion and baby powder that we had brought for them. Everyone of us had the opportunity to wash their feet, hold their hands, rub in lotion, apply powder, sing, and pray for them.

The elder visits really allowed each of us to step outside our comfort zone and literally touch someone with God's love. The adults were so proud of James, Ian, and Maggie for washing feet and rubbing lotion. That is not something young people at home would normally do.  Lindsey helped lead us in song at each of the stops.

After we left the elders, we stopped at the grocery to buy snacks and souvenirs. All of the employees there wear dress shirts and slacks and bow ties!

Then we headed back to the guesthouse for pool time and naps. Then dinner, word of the day, and devotions. Everyone was emotional when remembering what we did.

We came to Haiti to be a blessing but today we were blessed to serve.

For His Glory in Sweet Home and Papillon

This morning, we had a delicious  breakfast of scrambled eggs, French toast, oatmeal, fruit, juice, and coffee. Then we loaded up the tap tap and headed to our first stop: No Place Like Home - Sweet Home Orphanage.

This orphanage is sponsored primarily by a Baptist church in Texas. They began after the earthquake in 2010, trying to adopt kids, but now they also house and educate kids whose parents cannot support them
 They can care for about 30 kids from infants on up. They have a preschool and nursery on site with 24 hour nursing and doctor on call. They are building a new building to be able to house 50 more kids, and they need additional funding to complete that.

At this stop, we brought out the parachute, the bubbles, and a few balls. This stop was one of the highlights of the day for many on our team. James, Ian, Dave, and Scott kicked the balls around. The rest of us held the littlest ones and helped them blow bubbles.

We were able to introduce ourselves and ask their names. One little boy in very clear English said "My name is Mose". 

These kids loved being held, playing with us, and having their photos taken. One little girl, Addasaba, took a photo of Scott.

Anastasia learned her name is difficult for the kids to say.

After we left,  James, Ian, and Thomas said it was the best thing they did today.

Our next stop was at Papillon. Papillon was founded in 2007 by a woman who came to Haiti to adopt a child and learned that the child's parents were alive and just couldn't take care of it. So she started a company that makes jewellery, metal art, dolls, pottery  bath products, tee shirts, bags, and other items. Today the company employs over 400 people in their facilities, and the employees have on-site daycare and preschool, with parents able to nurse and play with their children during the workday. The sewing team alone supports 21 children!

After our tour, we went to their cafe for smoothies and pizza. Then we shopped.
Amie, Julie, Ellie, Scott, and Anastasia thought this stop was a highlight of the day.

Our last stop was a visit to another orphanage, For His Glory.At this one, we also brought out the jump ropes and sidewalk chalk. Most of the littlest ones just wanted to be held. We had such fun with them. Dave and Lindsey thought this was their favorite thing of the day because the kids were more engaging even though they didn't speak as much.

When we got back to the guesthouse, some went to the pool and some stayed back and napped. After dinner and word of the day,  and a break for cribbage and relaxing, we had a slideshow of photos so far, and our devotions.

Maggie's favorite thing today was seeing all of the goats, Celeste's was riding in the tap tap and seeing all the townspeople, and Karil's was speaking French to everyone and learning the Creole words.

Tomorrow, we go to Titanyen!

Peace.