Alleluia Youth Team - Day 1 - Arrived!

We made it! After a long, exhausting day of travel, we were greeted by our Haitian brothers and sisters and enjoyed a delicious meal of Haitian tacos.  It is very hot, but we are loving every minute and looking forward to what God has in store for our team this week.  This team is awesome!

Service Impact Team 8.5 - Day 6 - Water Truck Day #2 & Dios

Service Impact Team 8.5 - Day 6 - Water Truck Day #2 & Dios

Today was our last day in the field in Haiti serving! This week has flown by and we can't believe our time in Haiti is already wrapping up. Today we had our second water truck day in the morning, and this afternoon we served at "Dios", an orphanage for disabled children.

Our second water truck day went much more smoothly than the first earlier this week. Our team knew exactly what we needed to do, and everyone was more comfortable. The first water truck day is always overwhelming, and you often ask yourself "do I hate this or love this?" but by the second one it's become your favorite part of the trip. We only made one stop because of visiting the orphanage in the afternoon, but we were all blessed by that one stop we made. District 26 is right by the pier, so our team took a walk out there after we were done delivering the water. It was inredible to see the contrast between the looking out at the Caribbean and then Cite Soleil being directly behind you.  If you were to take a photo looking out at the ocean, you would never know that the poorest slum in our hemisphere was on the other side of the camera.

In the afternoon our team visited Dios, an orphanage for disabled children. What a special time! The kids had the brightest smiles and their joy was contagious. We all enjoyed playing with them and loving on them. One little boy stole all our hearts, Moses. He was wheelchair bound, but that didn't stop him from playing with our team and playing Austin's guitar. As soon as the guitar was pulled out, his face lit up and he wanted to play. It was a very sweet moment that I'm sure we all will remember.

We ended the day with rooftop worship with other Healing Haiti team, reflecting on all He has done in and through us in Haiti this week. We all can't believe that our week of serving is done! This week has truly flown by! God has moved in amazing ways this trip, both in our own lives and in those we have touched and served.

Our "word of the day" from our team:

• Comfortable - Kristen
• Home - Marlee
• Wanted - Kayla
• No - Suz
• Inspired - Marcus
• Redeem - Manny
• Healing - Mark
• Unexpected - Abbey
• Child-like - Alexa
• Adapt - Donnie
• Contrast - Danika
• Smile - Austin

-Danika

Service Impact Team 8.5 - Day 5 - Elders & Grace Village

Service Impact Team 8.5 - Day 5 - Elders & Grace Village

"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them" ~Matthew 18:20

"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you" ~John 13:14-15

These are the two verses that I think of while reflecting on yesterday. Yesterday, our team went to Titanyen to serve the Elders in Healing Haiti's Elder Program, as well as spending time with the kids at Grace Village. Healing Haiti sponsors Elders in the Titanyen community, and they are provided with meals, water, and medical care - with short-term missions teams visiting them weekly and serving them. Our team served 3 elders yesterday, and it was a powerful experience for all. We could definitely feel the Spirit of the Lord there with us! We laid hands and prayed over each elder, and one thing that struck us was the last Elder we prayed over. She told us her prayer requests and as we prayed, tears rolled down her face from her encounter with Jesus - She was touched by the Spirit of God. A humbling experience to truly be the hands & feet of Jesus to these sweet people of Haiti. As one of our team members said yesterday, "as I washed their feet, I reminded myself that I was washing the feet of Jesus".

After serving the Elders, we went to Grace Village, which is also in Titanyen. Grace Village was started by Healing Haiti, and serves as a school for over 150 local children, a medical clinic, and a family-style orphanage. We enjoyed our time there loving on the kids and playing with them. It may seem really simple, us going and loving on the kids, but one of the most basic needs for the kids here in Haiti is TOUCH - and they don't get it often, if much at all in most cases. They crave to be loved, embraced, and played with. We're all thankful we can meet so many basic needs here in Haiti, all while sharing and living out the Gospel to the people of Haiti.

Today we're going to be doing water truck in the morning, and serving in an orphanage for disabled children this afternoon. Please pray for our team today!

Our teams "word of the day":

• Joyful - Kristen
• Overwhelmed - Austin
• Amazement - Mark
• Restoration - Alexa
• Move - Suz
• Pray - Danika
• Insecurity - Marcus
• Proud - Manny
• Proof - Kayla
• Breakthrough - Marlee
• Teamwork - Donnie
• Passion - Abbey

-Danika

Service Impact Team 8.5 - Day 4 - Water Truck Day #1

Service Impact Team 8.5 - Day 4 - Water Truck Day #1

Yesterday was our first water truck day in Cite Soleil! It was an overwhelming, emotional and powerful day for our whole team. All of us besides two have done a water truck day before, so many of us knew what we were in for - But, you never can really be prepared for Cite Soleil. It will wreck you every time, make you reflect on the everyday things we take advantage of, and break your heart but give you joy all at the same time.

We headed out on the tap-tap to go and fill up the water truck, which was eye-opening once we were at the water station. So many water trucks, so much water, yet it takes so much to get it to the Haitians in need. So many people don't have access to one of the most basic human needs: WATER. Yesterday, we delivered approximately 16,000 gallons of clean water! We made two stops in Cite Soleil, the first being in district 17 and the second being in the district "nap boule". The first stop was more calm, low key, and less chaotic. The second stop was the exact opposite, and it was hard to see the people being so aggressive over clean water. When we do a water truck day, we typically have 3-4 people manning the hose and moving buckets as quickly as possible out of the way for the next ones to be filled. The remainder of our team spends time loving on the sweet kids and helping people carry water buckets to their homes.

We arrived back at the guest house, all physically, emotionally and spiritually exhausted. Water truck day is by far one of the best days, but also one of the most emotional and heartbreaking days too. Every night our team gathers to spend time together worshiping, praying, enjoying fellowship, and sharing our testimonies with one another. Last night time got away from us, as we all were enjoying one another's company so much and the time with the Lord. We spent over 3 hours worhshiping together - It was incredibly powerful and was the perfect end to our first water truck day.

We have water truck day #2 this Saturday, so please be in prayer for our team as we prepare to do it all over again! We are all thankful for God calling us on this trip, and love the family our team has become. Glwa pou Bondye!

Our "word of the day" for water truck day:

• Wow - Kristen
• In sync - Kayla
• Awesome - Marlee
• Generous - Suz
• Defy - Austin
• Growth - Abbey
• Light - Danika
• Progression - Marcus
• Disappointment - Donnie
• Overwhelmed - Alexa
• Persistence - Mark
• Unlikely - Manny

-Danika

Service Impact Team 8.5 - Day 3 - VBS

Service Impact Team 8.5 - Day 3 - VBS

Today our team had the privilege of hosting 2 VBS's for 60 kids! We had the incredible opportunity to interact, share the Gospel, and love on these special little ones. The first VBS we did this morning was of 40 kids from a local summer camp, and the second one this afternoon was of 20 kids from an orphanage - An absolutely special and priceless day. As I write this blog post, I'm listening to one of my favorite songs, that honestly couldn't be more fitting for today:

"Tell me I am loved
Tell me I am known
That You died for me
I am not alone
Tell me I'm Your child
The one Your heart beats for
I can find my strength
Knowing I am Yours
You've always known what my heart needs
And You tell me"

~Tell Me by Carrollton

That's exactly what we did today - Loving on the kids in Haiti and telling them that they are LOVED, KNOWN, and that Jesus DIED FOR THEM. That they can find STRENGTH with the "Goliaths" in their lives because they are HIS.

We are all so thankful for this opportunity that Jesus gave us all to share with these sweet children! We started off our time by worshiping with them and singing songs, and Abbey and a few others from our team had prepared a message on "David and Goliath" and Abbey taught the lesson to the kids. They were all so receptive and interacted with us, and they especially liked the acting on Austin and Donnie's part! We asked the kids after if they had anything that they needed prayer for, and so many of them raised their hands! (Alexa & Abbey praying with the kids, pictured below)

We had coloring pages and word-search activities prepared to do with them which was a lot of fun - Something that one of our team members pointed out tonight was how the kids were so neat and careful when coloring. They stayed in between the lines and really took their time with the coloring pages. Why? Because kids in Haiti don't have the typical things that you would see a child in America have, like coloring pages or crayons. It was special to share the Gospel with them and spend time just loving on them and having fun. We also provided all 60 kids with snacks, water, and sandwiches for lunch. Today, not only did we meet physical needs - But we met SPIRITUAL needs as well. We all know that if just ONE child comes to know Christ, then this whole trip is worth it for all of us!

Today's "word of the day"  from our team:

• Saturate - Suz
• Joyful - Marlee
• Displayed - Kayla
• Smiles - Marcus
• Adoration - Mark
• Laughter - Kristen
• Hungry - Austin
• Grateful - Abbey
• Love - Danika
• Pure - Alexa
• Adore - Donovan
• Awaken - Manny

Tomorrow is our first Water Truck day - So please be praying for our team as we deliver thousands of gallons of clean water the poorest slum in our hemisphere - Cite Soleil. Glwa pou Bondye!

-Danika

Service Impact Team 8.5 - Day 2 - Teen Challenge, Papillon, Haiti Design

Service Impact Team 8.5 - Day 2 - Teen Challenge, Papillon, Haiti Design

Today was day 2 of our mission trip in Haiti, but our first day out in the field as yesterday was mainly just travel. One of my favorite things that we do as a team is devotions and worship every morning. It's a great way to start our day out on the field by gathering together, reading God's Word, praying, and worshiping together! Austin has brought his guitar with him to Haiti, so we're all enjoying the worship music. After a delicious breakfast cooked by the Lovely Haitian women that Healing Haiti employs, we headed out on the tap-tap. Emotions were running high as we all had great excitement and expectation for the day that laid ahead of us.

We visited Haiti Design Company & Papillon Enterprise and were able to tour their work space and shop. Both companies were started by Americans who saw the job situation in Haiti and wanted to make a positive change in difference. They hand make different artisan goods, anything from hand-rolled beaded jewelry to mugs made by their talented potters. Papillon specifically was started by a woman named Shelly, who years ago came down to Haiti to adopt a child. Once here, she realized that the child she was to adopt actually had living, loving parents who really didn't want to give up the child - They just simply couldn't care for them. So, instead of adopting from Haiti, Shelly set out to make a difference in the lives of Haitians by creating Papillon - Which now employs over 100 Haitians. Moms, dads, single parents are all given jobs where they can care for and financially support their children and family. They can come to work each day with dignity, purpose, and be proud of the work that they do. It's incredible what a dream and empowering others can do - It changes lives! 

 

The highlight of our day was Haiti Teen Challenge.  We have Teen Challenge back in the States, which many people are familiar with - Helping those overcoming addiction. The Teen Challenge we visited today was made up of all girls who were all young, teens to young adults. The minute you walked into the building, you could feel the hope that was there present with these sweet girls. We gathered together, worshiped, shared testimonies, and were able to encourage each other and build one another up in Christ. To hear what some of these girls had been through in their lives was heartbreaking: Prostitution, drugs, alcohol, abortion, broken families. What really struck our team though was being able to see the change in them as soon as they began talking about Jesus and their future. It went from us being able to feel the pain in the words, to seeing joy, hope and smiles as they talked about all God has done in their lives and what their plans are! It was encouraging for both our team and them to be able to fellowship together. We ended out our time by standing in a huge circle, all holding hands and praying together. One thing that really stuck out to me personally was one thing one of the girls said. After sharing her story and the recent difficulties she has been experiencing, she said: "And I sat Satan right down in a chair and told him NO MORE!" Amen Sister! There is power in the name of Jesus!

We ended out our first day on the field with more time of devotions and worship. Per Healing Haiti tradition, we all share one word from the day that stuck out to us. It could be something that God has been teaching us, something that someone said, or just one word that really summed up our day! Our words for the day were:

• Family - Manny
• Adventure - Marlee
• Empower - Kayla
• Power - Mark
• Home - Marcus
• Amazed - Kristen
• Compassion - Alexa
• Transformation - Abbey
• Hope - Danika
• Comfortable - Donovan
• Golden - Suz
• Redeem - Austin

Thank you for following along with our trip! Please continue praying for us and the work that is still to be done for God's Kingdom. Glwa pou Bondye!

-Danika

Service Impact Team 8.5 - Day 1 - Travel Day

Service Impact Team 8.5 - Day 1 - Travel Day

Today was day 1 of our week in Haiti! Mostly consumed by boarding passes, checked bags, making it through customs and catching flights - It was still a powerful day! Our team of 12 people, from all across the United States, all met together in Haiti this evening and we were able to share a powerful time of worship, devotions, and just getting to know each other a little more. We've all connected over social media over the last few months, so in a way we all feel like we know each other, but it was exciting getting to meet our fellow team members in person. We know this will be a life-changing week for many, and we're all excited to see what the Lord has in store for us and those we come in contact with!

Our missions team of 12 is made up of people from all across the country - Which adds a cool dynamic to the trip! We have 4 from Maine (Austin, Danika, and our trip leaders - Manny & Suz), 1 from North Carolina (Alexa), 3 from Ohio (Abbey, Kayla, and Kristen), 1 from West Virginia (Marlee), and 3 from Minnesota (Mark, Marcus, and Donovan). Besides two of our team members, the rest of us have all been to Haiti before with Healing Haiti. It's cool to see that our hearts are for Haiti, missions and serving... And we all just keep coming back again!

Please be praying for us all this week as are the hands & feet of Jesus to the people of Haiti. Pray for safety for our team, that we will have servants hearts, and for God to go before us in everything we do. We will be doing two water truck days (delivering clean water to Cite Soleil, the poorest slum in our hemisphere), serving in orphanages, visiting and serving local elders, hosting a VBS for over 30 kids, and much more! We greatly appreciate your prayers as we love and serve others this week, and we look forward to sharing each day with you!

-Danika