Day 2 Blog by Paul Kawashiri

Healing Haiti Mission Trip | Day 2 | May 29, 2018
-Paul Kawashiri

Jesus. Peace. Touch. Joy. Affection.

"He only who is reduced to nothing himself, and relies on the mercy of God, is poor in spirit"

After a long day catching the red eye and traveling to Port Au-Prince the day before, most of us rose this morning feeling refreshed after a good nights rest, some breakfast and fresh Haitian brew we call "jet fuel". We began the day with our first team devotional and discussed putting all of our trust in God. I thought it was fitting, being in another country, not speaking the language and not knowing what really lies on the other side of the walls of the our residence at the Healing Haiti Guest House. All I knew was that we were going to be visiting two orphanages and a children's hospital leaving everything else up to God.

The first orphanage we visited was called "Home Sweet Home", an orphanage not far from the guest house in Port Au-Prince. We traveled on the graveled roads and some paved roads in what we call a "Tap Tap", more like "Trap Trap" to me since its like riding in a cage in back of a truck. At Home Sweet Home we were greeted by four tiny orphans around the ages of 2-3 years old. One girl and three boys. As we unloaded a box full of rubber and plastic balls, bottles of bubbles, crayons and coloring books, and chalk, the children just stared at us probably wondering who were were, maybe a little scared, and stood almost frigid against the railing of the gazebo. We tried to break the ice with blowing up the plastic balls and bouncing the rubber balls and passing them around. They eventually warmed up to us and began hitting and throwing the balls back to us not long before seeing a flood of children dressed up in bright yellow uniform tops, running and screaming, with big bright smiles. One little boy just came right up to me, a perfect stranger from Southern California, and gave me a big hug on my leg, looked up at me with his bright eyes and smiled. Wow. Just imagining this place, poverty stricken, a far cry from all the comforts we enjoy in Southern California, he had joy in his eyes just to see me. We left after enjoying some play time with about 20 kids there until recess time was over. "Joy" is the word that came to mind as I left. The joy on all the children's faces I saw as we engaged with them. No words were exchanged. Just something simple as giving them attention and acknowledgement gave them joy as it did me.

The next orphanage we visited was called, "For His Glory". This time I did double duty and picked up the camera and took photos between playing with the kids. This place had a slightly different feel. Some kids had on uniforms and but most did not. Again, we played ball games, colored, held hands, carried and held some of the children craving attention and affection. The pay yard was halfway filled with colorful clothes hanging on the clothes line drying in the warm wind. One little girl took off Bruce's glasses and weren't sure he was going to get them back. They looked better on her face than his anyways. haha...The happiness in that moment really spoke to me.

The last place we went to was the children's hospital called "Mother Theresa".  We had to put on Healing Haiti aprons since these were infants we were visiting. We entered a room filled with babies in little cribs. There were about 48 infants laying in cribs and we had just arrived for feeding time. I jumped right in and grabbed a bowl of what looked like porridge and began spoon feeding a little girl who was about one years old if not younger. After I fed her, there were other infants around that  I also wanted to attend to. I held and comforted a few infants, even though I wanted to hold all of them. One boy just would not let go of me and cried as I put him down. They just wanted attention, affection, love, comfort, and some laughter. It just reminded me that sometimes all we need is a little care and attention. I felt that God sent me there just for that moment for them. To answer that moment they needed for attention and a little love.

Today was our second day, but our first day in the field. What a blessing it is to be here, to serve in whatever capacity I can. I had no expectations coming here to Haiti, but today was all about seeing joy on the faces of the children, a sense of peace, touch, and showing lots of affection. Thank you for sending us your support and keeping us in your thoughts and prayers! ~Paul K

Journey of Faith Day 2 by Camie Neece

We spent the day loving on kids and it was incredible! We first visited a creche (an orphanage where kids can be adopted in Haiti) called Home Sweet Home. We played ball, blew bubbles, colored, and held the kids. I was really impressed with the care this creche provided. All the kids go to school and are fed. They are building a new building on the property so that they can move from caring for 34 kids to 100 kids and they are also doing job training to help prevent women from needed to give their child up for adoption! It was really inspiring to see these kids and we had a lot of fun.

Next, we visited a second creche, For His Glory. This creche was a bit larger than the first (caring for 60 kids) and here the kids there seemed extra excited to see us! They raised their arms asking to be held and we all spent a lot of time with a kid in our arms (or in many cases several kids in our arms). In some ways holding children seems simple but it was what these kids needed. I broke down in tears leaving this creche as the kids did not want to be put down, but I was comforted seeing their great nannies pick them up, soothe them, and wave good-bye.

Visiting this second creche was especially meaningful for me personally. A while back my husband, Ryan McDowell, and I started the process of adopting a child through Haiti. This missions trip was unrelated to our adoption, and as we prepared for this trip people continuously asked us, "Are you going to go the any of the orphanages you could adopt from?" We always said, "no" as there are over 700 orphanages in Haiti. However, For His Glory is the primary orphanage affiliated with our adoption agency and we had no idea that is where we were going until we arrived! We got to meet the director (Frankie), see the creche we have been sending Christmas gifts to, and see the place where our future child will possibly come from. Moreover, I spent some time this evening with Krista, the Healing Haiti missionary on site here in Haiti, and she said a lot of encouraging things about the creche. This adoption process as been (and will continue to be) messy, unpredictable, and confusing at times, but today, in a very supernatural way, God showed us he hears our prayers, that he will guide us through this process, and he also provided a few answers to our many questions, which we greatly appreciate.

Our last stop today was to a home for the sick and dying children. Here there were about 32 beds with children, some of whom appeared malnourished, some were on IVs, and some of them were getting better. We spent a few hours feeding these children, changing their diapers, giving them water, and holding them. I think for many people on our team this was a very emotional visit, as seeing sick children in a poor country is difficult. While the visit was hard (I welled up in tears as I started feeding my first child) it was also humbling. Many of us felt a great sense of humanity recognizing that we are all love and created by the same God. It was also great to see the care the nuns provided for these children and encouraging to know that many of these children do improve during their stay and they are able to return to their families.

In sum it was a great day! A lot of what I saw today was heartbreaking, but I am confident God is breaking my heart and rebuilding it to be more like his. Tomorrow we are delivering water to Citi Solie which should also be incredible. Stay tuned and keep praying for us!

Journey of Faith Team - Day 1 by Annie Cornforth

Dream. Present. Calm. Anticipation. Timely. 

Just a few of our team's words of the day at the end of Day 1!

We spent the day acclimating to our home for the next week. We learned new things each other.  We spent time at the National Museum to learn about this beautiful country's history. We enjoyed fellowship. We reunited with our Haitian friends. We prepared for a busy day tomorrow of visiting children at three different orphanages. We rested.

"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." ~Isaiah 41:13

I would like to take a moment to share a story about how God took hold of our hands and helped us to arrive in Haiti safe, sound and on time. We all arrived to LAX early and enjoyed smooth sailing through check-in and security. Close to our boarding time, we learned that our plane had an issue and would not be flying that night. I was blown away by the level of calmness and flexibility that shined through our team members. We ended up departing over two hours late threatening us to miss our connecting flight in Miami. God silenced our fears AND miraculously helped us to make our connecting flight... BY TWO MINUTES. Not only that, but our one checked back containing supplies and crafts for the children, made it onto the correct plane within minutes.

Starting out the trip like this only gives me an even bigger sense of anticipation for this upcoming week. How will He work through us? How will He work with within us? What will He reveal?

Stay tuned to find out...

Your Haiti Journey of Faith Team 2018

FBC Huntingdon, TN - Day Six - May 27, 2018

Sorrowful yet rejoicing. Empty yet full. Devastated yet hopeful. Having little yet having much. These are phrases that immediately come to mind when I think of our week in Haiti. Haiti is a place of overwhelming beauty, beautiful places and beautiful people. It is also a place of tremendous need and tremendous potential. This week our team has experienced all of these things at open road Tap-Tap speeds. We have fed sick children, and we have delivered life-giving water in a sea of poverty. We have seen the love and joy of children with special needs, and we have been an audience to an orphan choir worthy of a Grammy. We have stood at the mass graves where 150,000 to 200,000 of those who died in the 2010 earthquake are buried, and we have seen the progress of new schools, new jobs, and reunited families. Each day of this week we have been filled up, and we have been poured out.

As I think about these experiences, the words of Paul keep ringing in my ears, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:7-9). God has been demonstrating these truths to our team this week. God is able to accomplish his purposes through weak and lowly vessels like us, and through our Haitian brothers and sisters as a demonstration of his power and glory. Jesus is still restoring and transforming lives and communities in Haiti. He is doing it through the day-to-day acts of disciples who faithfully share the good news and serve others selfless.

In this short week, we have seen a generation’s worth of work yet to be done. We know that there is an overwhelming task ahead. We also know that God’s resources are limitless, and so is his love for the people of Haiti.

Jacob

 

FBC Huntingdon, TN - Day Five - May 26, 2018

This was our last water truck day in Cite Soleil. When the truck comes into the neighborhood, the kiddos always run to the water truck when they see it coming, excited to receive love and attention. We actually didn’t have to carry as much water today because there were more people there who were helping. I (Diane) only had to carry a couple buckets today, so I ended up having a conversation with a young man named Eddy. He was interested in finding out what nationality I was.  When he figured out I was an American, I told him about Tennessee.  It is very interesting to see the reactions of the Haitians when they realize we are Americans because they expect us to be Haitian. I told them that our history is similar, as our ancestors also came over to this part the world on slave ships. He seemed pleased and surprised to see Americans who look like them. Even though we weren’t at the water truck stop very long, we learned a lot about how Haitians live.

We spent part of the afternoon at an orphanage for disabled children.  It was especially enjoyable for Diane because it reminded her of her classroom back in Tennessee.  They have big hearts; they are people just like us.  We did a “photo shoot” for each child, a sticker craft, played soccer (even on crutches), blew bubbles, drew with chalk, and sang songs for each other.  One little girl with a beautiful voice sang “Lord I Need You” to us in creole. The best part of the afternoon was the smiles on the children’s faces.  While the children’s bodies were crippled, their spirits were not.

All the people we saw today showed us examples of how the Haitians persevere in the face of adversity. Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.”  Philippian’s 3:14 –“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” While we were only in the lives of these people for a bit today, it was a blessing to share the love of Christ with them and we pray that all people and all nations will worship Him one day.

Diane and Jimmy

 

FBC Huntingdon, TN - Day Four - May 25, 2018

This morning we went to Church on the Rock. We asked if it was on a famous rock and we were told THE ROCK, JESUS. What an awesome experience! These Haitian people know how to worship. They meet Monday through Friday from 6-7 am before they begin their day. For one hour they walked around the large room, holding up their hands, praying to Jezi (Jesus) who they love. Walking sometimes turned into dancing, all in the name of worship. They showed me what true freedom to worship looks like. No one was the least bit concerned about what the other person was saying. They were so focused on their own personal worship.

Then we went and visited four elders. They are older people that Healing Haiti sponsors. I experienced my first foot-washing. I was not real sure about this at first, but I wanted to be a part of this act of kindness. I felt such a blessing when I looked up into the sweet woman’s face as Diane and I washed her feet and hands! She was so grateful, but not anymore than I was.  I came to Haiti to be a blessing, but I received one today.

Keep us in your prayers as we have another busy day tomorrow.

Allison

 

FBC Huntingdon, TN - Day Three - May 24, 2018

Today we started off our day at Papillion.  Papillion is an organization in Haiti that employs many Haitians to make jewelry and pottery.  Their purpose is to help mothers and fathers have a way to provide for their families, so they don’t have to give the children away to orphanages.  It was really neat to look around and shop. We also got to go to their café to get a smoothie.

Then we went to For His Glory Orphanage.  There were lots and lots of kids with lots and lots of energy!  We got to play with them, blow bubbles and take their photos to put in a frame that said “Jesus loves me”. We also got to sing with them and love on them a whole bunch.  

The last place we went to was Lapherre’s Orphanage. On the way to this orphanage, the traffic was awful.  So anyone who thinks they’ve been stuck in traffic, they really haven’t until you’ve been to Haiti. At this orphanage, all the children were so well-behaved.  They sat and talked to us.  We did the same craft with the photos and picture frames here too.   We painted fingernails, made paper airplane and played soccer. The kids sang so beautifully to us and we sang to them too.  Overall, this place has been my favorite place to spend time at.

Thanks everyone for following our blog.  We are excited for another day tomorrow!

Abby