Day 3: Cite-Soleil Play Day, Pappilon, and Mother Theresa's

Our team of men woke up feeling the effects of a long day working the water truck. We knew we had a full day ahead of us though so we shook it off and loaded the tap tap for Cite-Soleil for our "play day". Play days are something a little newer to the teams, and something our men's team has never done. We loaded up a bin full of balls, bubbles, and other things and rolled into the city.

Stop 17 was on the docket, our first stop from the previous day. We grabbed the soccer balls, basketball, and football ready to take on the men of Cite-Soleil. Our team decided that it was time for us to engage the men of the city, a group that typically just leans up against the wall watching us with disdain. We were led down to the basketball hoop and played a game of 3-on-3 basketball, USA vs Haiti. Playing basketball in the blazing 95 degree heat (with insane humidity) was a crazy challenge. The men, women and children gathered rows deep to watch and cheer. It was exciting and so much fun. I loved seeing the excitement in the eyes of the guys on our team and the missionaries who joined us. This kind of interaction just doesn't happen down there. The men that played had a lot of fun and we formed some new bonds today.

After a solid 90-minutes of playing it was time to move on to a visit to Pappilon. After having some delicious food and smoothies in their cafe, we were ready for our tour. What an amazing place with an amazing story. An animated tour guide named Tricky led us through the the production site where we watched some extremely talented ladies work their craft. Beads. Clay pots. Jewelry. Textiles. Dolls. Everything crafted from materials sourced in Haiti. They provided free childcare for their employees, most of whom were the sole or main provider for their family. Inspiring. Following the tour, Tricky led us to the store where a few of us contributed by buying stuff for our families to help keep the ladies going!

It was a nice break from the reality that was our next stop, Mother Theresa's Home for Sick and Dying Children. The name alone leaves lets you know what kind of a visit this would be. We were allowed to head into both the infant and toddler rooms. It was a very challenging couple hours as we held young children who had a variety of sicknesses and were left there to be cared for by the amazing ladies that run that place. Personally my goal to was to see a smile on the face of every child I held. I didn't always succeed, but I know we brought a lot of joy and comfort to these kids. There are some faces that I will have seared in my brain from that stop. You don't get to learn much about the kids, but their name and age in most cases. One young girl that I walked up to looked no older than 18-24 months old (she was in the infant room) but she was four. Malnourished. Desperate. But in the right place. These ladies are amazing with the care they give to these kids day in and day out. I don't know how they do it!

The bus ride home was a little quieter than usual. The men, usually loud and boisterous, with the energy of the city were realizing the tough reality for so many here. Life is tough. Food and water aren't a given. Illnesses that basically don't exist in the US are still very much alive here. I'm glad I don't have to go back there, its an amazing place but it really tugs your heart.

I love that our nights end with an amazing dinner, games like mafia, and bags with the security team, it helps you to unwind from everything you see throughout the day. Tomorrow we head back into Cite-Soleil for another water truck day ... I hope our muscles are ready!

-Trevor and the 2nd Annual Men's Team

Day 2: Water Truck and Hope Church

Greetings friends, family, and supporters
Day 2 is coming to a close for the three teams here in Haiti. Its exciting to be here with two other teams and hear about all the great experiences...the energy is really high at the Healing Haiti Guesthouses.

For our men's team, we started the day with a very filling breakfast prepared by the wonderful ladies that run the kitchen here (with some help from a few of the guys), these ladies take amazing care of us. Around 9 am, we loaded into the tap tap to begin our adventure. Our men's team was fortunate enough to get the water truck for our first full day in Haiti.  Most of our team has been here before, but three of us were about to enter a new experience that you really can't fully put into words (I'll do my best).

After a brief stop at Fleri Farms to learn how this organization is teaching the Haitians to be responsible stewards of their land, we entered the heart of Cite-Soleil. You quickly realize you are in a place unlike anything you've ever experienced and its a full sensory experience. As our tap tap pulls into the neighborhood, the city comes alive. Children running down the streets with buckets yelling "hey you, hey you, hey you" a call that the entire city knows when Healing Haiti comes rolling through. The tap tap is swarmed by women and children desperate for both our water and our attention.

As I got out I grabbed the outstretched hand of a young Haitian girl in all red who was about 8. I picked her up and she clung desperately to me as I took in the site. Orderly chaos all around. It took me some time of just holding the girl to realize how important this work was to the people. They live inside homes cobbled together by scrap metal, old port-o-potties, wood, and anything else they can find. Their floors are dirt. They have no water. Let that sink in. Some kids have no clothing. The streets are covered in trash. After an hour of carrying buckets down streets and small alley ways between the metal shacks and then walking back with 1, 2, sometimes three kids in our arms, we run out of water. The horn sounds and its time for us to move on.

Next, we had the opportunity to visit Hope Church (which was right next to our first stop, 17), a place my home church, Eagle Brook Church, played a huge role in making a reality. Seeing it in person brought feelings of pride into my heart, what a beautiful place. The views from there take your breath away, but not in a good way. This town extends as far as you can see. The water is filled with trash, the impact of the hurricanes and earthquake is still very much a reality for this community. Hope Church (its a church, a school, and now a clinic) is going (and already is) to change the very foundation of this neighborhood. I left feeling this tremendous urge to help ... there has to be more I can do to help. As I got to the tap tap, I found the little girl in red and gave her a huge hug.

We had similar experiences at the next two stops, though each neighborhood had a different feel, a different energy. I'll never forget the faces of some of the children I held. Their smiles and their laughter kept me energized as my muscles ached from carrying water and children all day. We left Cite-Soleil and I felt this feeling of frustration. Why can't I do more? Why is this city the way it is? I wish I could understand them and communicate with them? But more so, I left feeling hope. Cite-Soleil is going to look different one day. The work Healing Haiti is doing is making an impact. Tomorrow we go back ... I can't wait!

- Trevor and the second annual Men's Team

Day 7 : Rendezvous Church (Teen Challenge) : Mountain Top ( Serenity Village Community Church )

Day 7

Another day PACKED with expectations, emotions, thoughts, going through our heads. We have had the privilege to spend a week in one of the many beautiful countries God created. Our hearts, minds, and bodies have been stretch, pulled, pushed, broken, mended. Everything in one week. 

Today we got the opportunity to attend Rendez-Vous Christ (Haiti Teen Challenge) Church. I cannot stress enough how important this organization is for the Haitians! Believe it or not, there are parts of the world where is hard to find someone that can model what unconditional, Christ-like love is towards others. Even if you know you experience this at your local church. Man... Is a whole new level to get to be part of God's love in a foreign land, with brothers and sisters that before today I wasn't aware of their existence. We all got convicted, challenge, and loved. All at once, in those 2 hours we spent at RVC (Rendez Vous Christ).

As if this wasn't enough, the team at the guest house took us to an amazing restaurant located at the very top of one of the mountains. The food was great, but that was not the main focus. Up on that mountain, we got to admire a different side of Haiti we thought had seen the day before (at Wahoo Bay). Turns out we were completely wrong!

Picture yourself on the top of a really high mountain. To your far left, you will find the ocean. As your eyes make their way towards your right, you encounter shore. An extremely detailed union between the ocean and land, a mixture of sand and vibrant green trees.

While you continue to make your way towards your far right side, you noticed a beautiful and unique pattern the mountains in the background follow, and how the tip of some of them disappear between the clouds. Towards the center of the image, picture every place/city/small town you have visited for a week, along with some other beautiful and noticeable buildings.

Now that you have this image in your mind, multiply the beauty of it by 100,000. Your result will now be 1/8 of what we got to see!!!

If you are interested in having your mind blown off with God's creation in a completely different level, I highly encourage you to sign up for a mission trip to Haiti. God will show himself to you in many different way and levels, He will not disappoint.

Love you all!

Sarahi and the September Team

Day 6 : Rosie's : Wahoo Bay Resort : Fleri Pizza ( Serenity Village Community Church )

Today we went to Wahoo Bay Resort it was such a beautiful place the water was blue as the sky and there were vibrant colors of green! Today we saw a different kind of beauty of Haiti the land that God has made. We had dinner at Fleri Pizza and it was awesome! I think that it was the best Pizza I have ever had.  We stopped at a shop called Rosie's Boutique it was so wonderful and the products are created by the Haitian people. Then on the way back to the guest house I was speaking to a gentleman that has been with us as a part of our amazing journey here. I told him his country was beautiful and he just beamed and said thank you I think so as well. It is so true! God has made a beautiful place and we have been honored to be a part of it.

Gratitude is only a soft word of what God has made here and I look forward to seeing how it turns out. The Healing Haiti team deserves the applause of respect and love for all that they do. I do feel  sad that this is coming to a close being here with these amazing people but I now know that we have a wonderful shared history that no one else has together. Kiley and Nate have been totally amazing and I never once felt like I wasn't taken care of, the laughter and friendships are forever. For me this is how I will end this.

Heavenly Father you are amazing and I am so very grateful for each and everyone of these amazing people. Take care of them and let them know that they are loved and honored by me! Thank you Jesus!   Amen

Beth and the Haiti team

Day 5 : Water Truck : Fleri Farm : Grocery Store Adventure

This morning some of our team got up before the roosters were crowing and started our morning with worship at the Church On The Rock...WOW what a POWERFUL service in so many ways!  It is amazing to see what God has done with what started  as a tent church where people gathered to pray for the loss of loved ones after the earthquake 8 years ago!  This now has become a large, beautiful tin building with hundreds of chairs and even a balcony. .. Every day people come to pray but Friday is special.  Friday is for worship and praise only, a day set aside for no requests, glory only to our amazing Father!  Some of the worship music was in Creole and some even in English!  We had a nice walk back to have breakfast as a team made by wonderful women who have been feeding us so well all week and we are so thankful.

 It was another day to reflect on how blessed we are as we delivered water at two stops.  We saw some familiar faces of our friends at stop 17 and really enjoyed helping our friends with supplying that is so easily accessed back home, despite the tire issue with our transportation.  It is so fun to see the excitement of the children as we arrive!  In between the water truck stops we returned to the farm and had a tour by Kenneth.  It was amazing to see how his passion for this vision is playing out with support of friends of Healing Haiti!  It is wonderful to hear how the vision is helping the community be sustainable for job creation and what the farm is producing!  The respect Healing Haiti has for the community has been building respect in return and it is wonderful to see!  God is opening doors here beyond what we can imagine!

  We returned back to the house to yet another amazing meal and have been so blessed by the care the men and women here have for us.  We had quick trip to a Haitian grocery store and then joined on the rooftop with the other team here to be taught some salsa dancing. Thank you Jean Pierre  for you patience and time out of your day to teach us!

Thank you for your continued support of our team with your prayers and encouragement, we appreciate all of you!  May God continue to bless you as He has blessed each of us!

Day 4 : Grace Village, Elder Visits & Fleri Bakery ( Serenity Village Community Church )

This morning as we awoke from such an amazing fulfilled day the night before, we were ready and refreshed to await for what this day had to bring. We all gathered around in the living room for a devotional and then gathered around the table for an amazing delicious breakfast, with some great shared laughs and prayer to start our days off just right. Our first stop was Mass Graves Memorial where thousands of people have been buried after the hurricane in 2010. As we were walking through there, you could feel the heaviness but also see all the beauty that they made of it. We then went to Grace Village which is a school, K-13 that was the most beautiful place where there was so much color in the place, so much smiles and laughs as you saw the kids learning and having all these opportunities to learn and grow. You could feel the appreciation and joy in that place as we got a tour of it. Watching the kids play on the playground was heartwarming. And the view was nothing short of spectacular.

The village right near Grace Village, is where we first stopped to care and love on 2 elderly married couple who were such a light. They were so beyond grateful that we were there to care for them, love on them and pray on them. As each of us helped wash their feet, their hands, massage their hands and pray over them you could feel the holy spirit so thick in that place. That will forever hold a spot in our hearts as every moment here forever will. And as we walked out our hearts felt full filled. We then drove to a family where we met these 2 sisters who were all smiles and joy. Their family welcomed us in there as if they have known us before. They both sat down next to each other as we then washed their feet, washed their hands, care and love on them. Looking up at their faces, with such joy and appreciation. You could see God in all of it. We all enjoyed caring on them, loving on them and praying over them and hearing the man translate our prayer to them was really amazing and powerful. For them to let us come into their homes, not knowing us, feeling so welcomed and like you are just at home is such a blessing and nothing short of a miracle.

Being around the people here in Haiti, seeing the country here has been so amazing. You see God every where, in everything, in everyone. Its like you feel right at home, you forget you're on a mission trip because its just what you do. It's what Jesus did, helping others, loving on others, caring on others, praying on others and that's what I see our team doing every single day. And not just the people here in Haiti but with each other. We lean on one another for support, for strength, for encouragement; its comfortable, it feels like a family. And now as we are winding down reflecting on our day we are ever so grateful for this opportunity, one another, and most importantly spreading the love into the Haitians. Thank you so much for your continued prayers, continued support, continued love and for reading this and being on this journey with us. God bless you and have an amazing night.
Love,
Jenna and The Team

Day 3 Site Site 17 Play Date, Papillion, Home for Sick & Dying Babies (Serenity Village Community Church)

Today marks day 3 on our short term mission trip to Haiti and like the previous 2 days it was nothing short of amazing.  We started the day off pretty routine with waking up with the sunrise and many, many cups of coffee around 6:30am. We gathered around the table for breakfast shortly after a group prayer around 8am and after our minds, bodies and souls were nourished for the day - we gathered our things and got on the tap-tap (like a a personal Haitian limousine of sorts). 
Our first stop was Site 17 where we spent about 2-3 hours playing with the same community of people that 2 days prior we were serving water to.  This time it was 100% pleasure, with no agenda or task at hand to distract our mind from spreading the love. We each played a special role in raising the spirit and energy of the people, but reflecting back it was truly US that the risen.  The entire spread of generations were our playing and loving on life, loving on God.  We danced, sang, hugged and laughed until we cried.  We headed back on the tap-tap for a short pit stop home - shower, change, eat small snacks and then it was off to our next adventure! 
This time we were dressed up because we were on our way to Papillion and Home for Sick and Dying Babies.  Papillion was stop one and we went up to the rooftop restaurant, drank fresh fruit smoothies and snacked on some chicken nuggets, hot dogs and french fries which were all amazing!  We played some games and waited for our guided tour.  Tour started around 1pm and Turkey walked us thru the behind the scenes of how the beautiful arts and crafts are made and introduced us to some of the key people that turn everyday items into pieces of hope.
We spent a few hours at Papillion and then we gathered into the tap-tap to go to our last stop of the day: Home for the Sick and Dying Babies.  This stop was one that our entire team was slightly anxious about entering, but as soon as we put our blue aprons on we took charge and went to work.  The work here was night and day different than any "work" we had done up until this point.  Our only task at hand was to touch, hold and love up on babies.  We started off by feeding the kids oatmeal, then after meal time, we picked them up out of their cribs, spun them around in our arms and on the playground.  The mission was to transfer the the light and love of God and I think our team did an amazing job doing just that!
We got back in the tap-tap for the last time for the day and headed home.  A quick shower before dinner and then gathered around the table to pray, eat and discuss our "word of the day".  Dinner was amazing per usual - and then off to the pool!  Some of us stayed behind for a small group discussion and got deep into each other's faith journeys.  It is such a blessing to feel the security of being REAL with those around you.  To be able to let your guard down, eliminate any sense of judgement and talk things out is an opportunity I didn't know I was going to be able to accomplish on this trip - but I was wrong. 
When the other half of the team arrived back from the pool we sat around in the living room for a slideshow of pictures from the day and our nightly devotional.  Each night I have personally been BLOWN AWAY on how every devotional SPOKE to me on a level I was not expecting.  It was like God was hanging out with us all day, then snuck a message/recap about our day into a book placed perfectly on the table for someone in the group to randomly grab and read. We all talked about what the devotional meant to us, and then most of the group headed off to bed.  It's 9pm and there are a handful of us still awake, snacking, journaling and passing additional stories and words of wisdom and empowerment to each other.  Some nights we are all in bed by 10, other nights we have stayed awake until 12-1am....I don't know what tonight has in store, but I am beyond excited for whatever God has in place!  Good night, sweet dreams and happy prayers y'all! :) -Keri Anderson