Severson Team - Days 1 and 2

Day 1 and Day 2 - Team Severson

Our first two mornings in Haiti began with our 5 team members gathered together around
our table in a lovely patio-style breakfast. The warmth of the sun, the comfort of holding the
hands of new friends as we bowed in prayer with grateful hearts, and the pleasure of feasting
on fresh mango, banana, and avocado with our breakfast were all simple gifts of encourage-
ment to our expectant hearts as we began both of these first 2 days together in Haiti.

Yesterday our team first had the privilege of serving at an orphanage and school, Sweet Home.
Once inside the gated entry, it had a fortress-like feel, a refuge indeed for the people inside.

We played with and colored beside the children and we welcomed to our laps and into our
arms many who wanted to be held.

At this place there was a special building where ladies from the community were learning to
read and also sew. We were blessed to watch as these precious women were eagerly working
on a variety of projects. We were delighted to celebrate in the beauty of their work as we looked
through a stack of their finished quilted pieces. On the wall behind their work space was a
portion of Psalm 46. With the help of an interpreter and by the prompting of God we circled in
prayer, interwoven with our new Haitian friends. We prayed Psalm 46 over these ladies. Oh,
dear women of Haiti, God IS your refuge and strength! And He is an ever present help in trouble.

Our other place to serve yesterday was The Home For the Sick and Dying. No pictures are
allowed to be taken in this place but none of us will probably ever forget what we saw or who
we touched, held and fed there. As tears dropped from a team member onto the fragile arm of
a little babe who was crying himself, she whispered to him the true story of his Father, his
heavenly Father who happens to be the King of Glory, who promises to be a father to him in his
fatherless state. And the kind news that this exceedingly compassionate Father is aware and
present in his suffering and catching each heart wrenching tear into a heavenly bottle for tears
just like his.

“You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?”
Psalm 56:8

Today was water truck / water delivery day to two different locations, Cite Soleil 17 and 26.

Along with delivering water we toured Hope Church and the school in Cite Soleil.

We were told that because this area is so close to the ocean, it is not possible to drill a well.
So a water truck has to go out every day to deliver fresh water to these thirsty people.

It’s such a picture of when Jesus contrasted himself, the Living Water with the water the people
were drinking. He said, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever
drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give will
become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

It’s significant that cool, refreshing water is delivered just outside the gate of Hope Church to
the people of Cite Soleil 17.

The physical water that is being delivered to the people of Cite Soleil is so necessary and will
sustain them for years or decades to come. But the Living Water, Who is taught about in Hope
Church and ever present and ever accessible, will supply their every need for all of eternity.

In addition to pouring and delivering the water, there were lots (and lots!) of opportunities to
cuddle children. A spontaneous game of toss and catch with a deflated basketball provided great
fun and bonding.

Before coming back to the guest house at Healing Haiti, we had the opportunity to tour Fleri
Farm, a 28 acre farm in progress with mango, sugar cane, and papaya growing currently.

They have active plans to expand their agricultural endeavors with tomatoes, potatoes,
watermelon and many other produce options.