The second day did not start as
early as the first, but we ended the day just as tired! After a wonderful
breakfast of pancakes and eggs made by the Healing Haiti staff, we hopped into
the tap tap (vehicle) and headed off to work. Our first stop was the water
distribution center. This is where the trucks were filled with water to be
delivered to different parts of the city. When the Healing Haiti truck was
full, we went to our first stop of the day. Each stop that we distributed water
at was in City Seoul. This is the poorest area of Haiti. The water poured out
of a hose connected to the truck. We had team members handling the hose and
other members passed buckets down the line. Others helped people carry buckets
to their homes and played with the kids. It was a busy, chaotic day, but was
not short of any love. Between stops, we had lunch at Hope Church while the
water truck refilled. This is a new church where children sponsored through
Healing Haiti attend school. While we were eating our lunch, a few kids (who
were most likely supposed to be in class) came over say hello. They were a
little shy at first, but within ten minutes were sitting on our laps and
showing off their school workbooks. We then toured the area around Hope Church.
During our second and third stops we went to Fleri Farms. This is farm ground was
recently purchased by Healing Haiti that will provide jobs, produce, and
opportunity for the Haitians. Crops grown there include mangos, coconuts, sugarcane,
and plantains (just slightly different from in the U.S.!). Then we hopped back
into the tap tap and went to our third and final stop. This location was on a
pier along the ocean.
We were able to distribute water to
people in the neighborhood at each stop. Approximately 3,000 gallons were
delivered at each stop. Even though we were busy filling water buckets, we were
able to spend time with all the kids and splash around in all the water. All with the focus of showing Christ’s love to
these kids and giving them a fun-filled break from their daily routine.
Fun team pic at the pier near stop 26 |
Dave Nelson and Abbie Nelson