Praise His Name with Dancing

"Let them praise His name with dancing;" Psalm 149:3a
Today, we were split into two groups. One group consisted of all nurses that went to the wound clinic bright and early. They were able to help all the wounded that showed up with medical needs to the free clinic. They handed out some medications, redressed wounds, and helped the nuns with whatever was asked as best as they could.
The rest of us went to two orphanages, Dios and La Loo. Dios had a team visit them yesterday for the first time, so it was pretty new and we did not know what to expect before arriving.
It was a special needs orphanage with about 20 kids. We got off the tap tap and as usual were greeted by little ones with smiling faces who just wanted some loving. We brought a tote of goodies with us that had bubbles, chalk, and musical instruments.
After awhile of endless bubbles and pictures of multiple animals on the driveway, the fun began, and all that was needed was a beat! It started with some singing and handclapping, but soon turned into full out dancing, all while praising God! A few kids even took off their shoes to get fully into it! I've never seen so much joy than what I saw on these kids' faces just dancing and using musical instruments. A beach ball had even turned into an instrument and a boy was hitting it with a stick and it instantly became a drum! They definitely had rhythm and it was an absolute fantastic and super fun experience to witness these kids enjoy themselves and our company!
At La Loo, they had about 40 or so kids. We started with a mini bible study on Zacchaeus. We then had arts and crafts which was a little more of a challenge due to our smaller group. But we still had fun watching the kids spell their name with stickers and markers. A few pipe cleaners had even turned into glasses and bracelets.
On the way back to the guesthouse we stopped by the metal market and grocery store and bought a few goodies!
This is our first ever mission trip to Haiti!! We are being molded by God everyday here. We continue to pray and trust that God will show us what he is trying to teach us from this experience to Haiti
both about others and even ourselves. We hope to continue to make a difference wherever God leads us whether back here in Haiti someday or just back home. Please continue to pray for us while we finish up our time down here and for the amazing people of Haiti!

Ashley and Delanie

A Day of Hope

 This is the day that the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

This week as we have served in Haiti we have seen so many sad and disturbing things but today we got to see a glimpse of hope for the wonderful people of Haiti. Most have seen more hardship in the last six years than many of us have or will see in a lifetime. But I say we got to see hope because of the work that we witnessed in the places we visited today. We started the day early, going to worship and prayer at a local church that started at 6:00 am. What a great way to start the day in prayer and worship to our great God! We couldn't understand most of what was being said but you could see the genuine faith and dependence on God as the people prayed and poured out their hearts to Him. It's easy for us to take it for granted and to lose sight of God's grace because our faith is often not tested in the ways we see here. Most of the people we have encountered have an utter dependence on God for everything. I can't ever remember a time when I had to worry about where my next meal was going to come from or if I would be able to afford medicine for my children. What a great reminder to have a greater faith in God.
     Next we went to General Hospital which is a state run hospital and where most of the Haitian people living in Port-au-Prince go for their medical care. We had the opportunity to go to the children's ward and hand out care packages to the families of these sick little ones. I visited there 18 months ago and to say the conditions have improved would be an understatement. There were many nurses and doctors caring for the children, where previously there were maybe three nurses for the entire ward. It was also great to see many moms and dads there loving on their children and trying their best to take care of them.
    
  After the hospital we went to a place called the Apparent Project/Papillion Enterprises. This is a company that was started six years ago with about 15 employees and now employs around 190 people. They make beads out of clay, paper and cereal boxes; t-shirts; mugs; dolls; ornaments; and many other products that they then sell in their store and online. They also run a daycare and pre-school so that mamas with small children can work and provide for their families.
     After that we went to an orphanage called Dare's which is a home for children with special needs. We were excited that we were able to go visit them because they just moved into a bigger home. We were able to spend time playing and singing with the kids. It was amazing to see one of the older boys start leading the singing and all the other kids joined in with him. The kids were so happy to welcome the team into their home and just spend time with us.
    This is now my second visit to Haiti and I see such positive changes that are happening and can see God at work in the lives of the Haitian people. We look forward to what God has in store for Haiti in the coming years but also what He has in store for us as we finish our week here in Haiti. We pray that we will be used of Him and that we will listen to what it is He's trying to teach each of us through this trip. Please continue to pray with us and for us that we will be His hands and feet.

Josh and Heather

For I know the plans I have for you

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

We really got to see God’s plans at work today.  We went to visit Grace Village in Titanyen, up in the hills north of Port-au-Prince.  Grace Village is a ministry of Healing Haiti, which includes an orphanage, a school, a medical clinic, a church, and a new bakery which will soon open a restaurant area as well.  It was so great to hear about the amazing work Grace Village is doing in the lives of these orphaned children as well as in this community, as they create many new jobs for Haitians.  There are many staff including teachers, nurses, bakers and others, all hired from within the community.  God has a plan for this community, and it was unfolding right before our eyes!

After touring Grace Village, we went on three elder visits.  In each case, we visited an elder in or in front of their dwelling, bringing a meal, washing their feet, singing with them and praying over them, as well as determining any needs that Grace Village could help address, including any health issues they might be having.  Neighbors and family tended to come by as well, and many of us held and played with the children.

Our final stop for the day was at La Phere, an orphanage with 21 kids.  We taught them a short bible lesson about Zacchaeus, emphasizing that Jesus knows each one of their names and loves each one of them.  Then we got out some jump ropes, bubbles and chalk, and just played with these precious kids and gave them as much love and affection and attention as we could.

Thank you all for your prayers as we continue to serve this week!

- Katy

He satisfies the thirsty

Psalm 107:6-9  "Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.  He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.  Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things."

Wow, today was a rough one for us here in Haiti.  God stretched us in ways we never imagined we could be stretched.  We started the day delivering water to Cite Soleil, which is one of Healing Haiti's primary ministries.  We witnessed unimaginable poverty.  However despite the horrific living conditions, we saw children who were joyful and just wanted to be held and loved.  We assisted with carrying water, and basically just loved on these precious children of God.  As our tap tap approached our stops children come running to us shouting "hey you!"  They held their arms up to us, saying "hold him" and jumping into our arms with smiles and ready hugs and kisses.  This was awesome!
It was a very emotional day for us.  These kids gave us love and hope and showed us what trust looks like. 

After visiting three wards in Cite Soleil we went to the Haitian Initiative.  This program allows many children to receive an education, and to play soccer.  They are also given a meal, which is the only meal of the day for most of these kids.  We were able to help serve the meal, which was manna packs from Feed My Starving Children.  It was cool to see the end result of all those meals any of us have spent time packing. 

Good night from Haiti, please continue to pray for us.

Ronda and Cary

Finally Here

Hello everyone!

God is good!  After many traveling bumps in the road, we have finally reached Haiti!  Due to being unable to land in Port au Prince on Monday evening, we ended up spending last night at a hotel in San Juan.  We also spent some time in Santo Domingo, waiting on the plane for repairs to the lights in Haiti.  We arrived here in beautiful, hot and humid Haiti this afternoon. 

After getting settled in quickly, we were able to spend a couple hours at The Home for Sick and Dying Babies.  It put all the frustrations we had experienced traveling immediately to rest.  We were able to feed children, love these adorable little creatures of God, and reflect on just how beautiful these kids are...this is why we are here!  We all found it to be heart breaking, humbling, and the best way we have ever spent an afternoon! 

Will keep this brief, as we all got two hours of sleep last night.  Due to the grace of God, however, we are all still getting along and being patient with one another!  Just wanted to let you know we are finally here, and so thrilled to be blessed with this incredible experience.  Please continue to pray for us, for open hearts and open minds, safety, and for the strength and peace we will need while striving to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Blessings, Cary

On a beautiful sunny morning, we started the day having a delightful breakfast - French Toast along with avocados, bananas and fresh mangoes that we didn't have til today. We packed up our backpacks with swimsuit and towel to go swimming at the Wahoo Beach. We brought the donations into the Tap Tap to take them all to Haiti Deaf Academy in Cabaret. We went to Leveque to go to Deaf Church for services. We were in awe that we were able to see four beautiful Haitian children signed a short song and danced, too. The Deaf Pastor gave sermon about Matthew 25:35-36 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,  I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

After the Church services, we went on a short trip to the Wahoo Beach. It was just a very gorgeous scenery. The beach is such a beautiful turquoise beach with palm trees, almond trees, mountain view and which had a couple old wooden colorful fishing boats. There were two trampolines on the beach that had loud music beats that we could feel while laying on them.

It was so relaxing day after a long hard emotion during the serving week. But it was a great experience to be able to serve hands and feet thru God.  Just a great feeling and at the same time feeling sad to go home tomorrow thinking about Haitian wishing we would be able to serve bit longer.

Fun With HDA Kids

Today we started off our day with delicious pancakes and scrambled eggs, with yummy bananas and avocados. The freshly squeezed mango juice that the staff prepared for us was so good; many people had refills until there was so little that they finally asked people if they wanted juice! (lol). Anyways, we did our morning devotions while shedding some emotional tears from how touching the message was. We then took our Tap Tap to Haiti Deaf Academy (HDA) in Cabaret. It took a while to get to HDA, but we had fun chatting away.

When we arrived we were greeted and welcomed with wonderful smiles of joy. A few children braided the girls on the team's hair, which made us look much more fashionable. Many of us enjoyed watching the children play with Log Cabin and Jenga. Some of us played soccer with several boys.  Most of us and children spent time writing on the chalkboard. While the leaders were busy taking photos of us in action, and some of us played with large puzzles with the children. A few of us used a picture book to ask the children what is their sign for each image, and we were amazed at our similar most of our signs were.  Some of their signs were different from ours. All of the children had BIG white smiles on their faces, and gave us so much unconditional love and hugs. We all shared our names, and our name signs. We were amazed at how many name signs for boys were near the forehead, and girls were near the chin. Some of us gave piggy back rides to the smaller children. They were so surprised and couldn't believe that the two teenagers on the team missed school to visit them!

After we left HDA, some of us were completely worn out and ready to sleep at 2:00 pm!! We went to Haitian National Memorial and Peace Park where there is a mass unmarked grave for all the earthquake victims. We listened to one of the Healing Haiti staff tell us his story about his experience with the earthquake in January 2010. Even though it was fairly short, it was very destructive and deadly.  He told us that he was in his classroom when it occurred to him that the ground was shaking. If they were in the old classroom, that was still standing at the time, they would have died. Many buildings and homes collapsed during and after the earthquake. There were 52 aftershocks all the way till late February! All of us knew that it had to be God that protected him and his siblings, along with his parents. Many relatives of people in the earthquake gave up looking for their family in fear that they would have to face the fact that most would never see them again.

All in all it was a wonderful day ending with pizza at Pizza Amour and word of the day. Many words were positive and surrounding one main word, love.