WORDS OF THE DAY

As we drove from the guest house to TeacHaiti, Papillion, and LaPhare Orphanage we were impressed to see that more and more roads have been paved and there's even a stoplight in a busy intersection now. We were struck by the CALM we felt traveling to our destinations.

It was our first visit to TeacHaiti and we were INSPIRED to hear the director's story and the efforts and strides they are making to educate the young people of Haiti. Although it was a holiday so most students were not there, we could see the progress they are making and their passion for education and TEACHING.

At LaPhare we were greeted with SMILES galore which fit perfectly with our theme of "Smile, Jesus Loves You". The children were so very engaged and intent in listening to our telling of the Easter Story and were then able to make their own story with stickers. The crafts brought many more smiles and our play time with them is always a time of joy and showing them God's love for them through us.

Our team member, JC, finally arrived today and we are so overjoyed to have him with us for what he calls a SURREAL adventure that he never would have dreamed he would be on.

Each day brings new revelations into how God is working through us in sometimes UNEXPECTED ways. We can't wait to see what the rest of the week brings.

We Shall Overcome

The mighty Lagerquist team of 6 overcame the tests and trials of day one. First of all, we have two new rookies on the team (JC a college student flying from Ft. Wayne, IN; and Deanna, Pauline's sister from Phoenix). The rest of us (Pauline our leader, Jess her daughter, and Kira and Logan from Eden Prairie) have been multiple times ranging 3-5 trips. It all started when Kira and Logan tried for 45 min to get Uber, Lyft, Black or any taxi for that matter to pick them up at 4am. Panic kicked in and we called Pauline and Jess to get ideas of what to do. After talking to Jess she set her phone down and left it in the car they were taking to the airport. We decided to just pack up the car and drive and park at the airport or else we might miss the flight. At the same time, the Lagerquists were melting down to try to find Jess's phone (which Callie came to the rescue).  We all were to meet in Atlanta to finish the journey to Haiti together. However, JC's flight had mechanical issues and was delayed so he missed the only option to get to Port-au-Prince today. JC sent us all a note in Atlanta that God is in control and was praying for us all and looking forward to finally connecting tomorrow.

After what may seem like a challenging travel day, we arrived very welcomed and loved by the Healing Haiti staff. As we reflect tonight, we continue to pray for peace and safety for all people in Haiti. 

Awesome and great is Your name. Once again You overcame.

Kira

God Bless Haiti

Last evening, we worshiped with Team 2 on their balcony complete with a breeze, twinkling stars overhead, and simply great company. We went to bed with full hearts. Our minds were beginning to process the experiences during this past week and the upcoming trip back to the USA - a transition back to families, jobs, and our own community.
Sunday church was at Rendevous Church, and the worship music was wonderful! It was an open air church, Haitians and Americans singing together, voices strong, with hope and energy. They provided us with headphones so we could understand the pastor's message which was entitled, "The Power of Word" based upon Genesis 1: 3-5. It gave our team something to reflect upon.
We then traveled north to Wahoo Bay Beach and enjoyed an afternoon seeing a beautiful portion of the country. With Haiti's mountains displayed in the background, we enjoyed the clear ocean waters and sandy beach. Some of us kayaked while others enjoyed a boat ride, seeing the beauty of this area.
We traveled back to the guesthouse with sun-kissed skin.
This evening during Team Time, we discussed our trip home and transitioning back to our normal, everyday lives. We were grateful to hear from 4 of our team members who have been to Haiti before and listened to their experiences with home life after Haiti. We all agreed we will continue to pray for Haiti. We know this country is something really special because of its people. They've had to endure so much and have made progress with clean up and rebuilding their homes and businesses after the 2010 earthquake. But they still need prayers and support. We are forever changed because of this trip and are grateful for this experience.
God bless Haiti!
Jennifer Green

Flourish

Today, we started the day off with a friendly game of bumping a kickball back and forth while getting ready for the day. We also kicked a soccer ball around in the Tap-Tap and tried to score points by hitting the soccer ball against the back walls of the Tap-Tap.


We had the opportunity to visit the Deaf Academy. We first split up into three groups. Pao and Colleen braved the soccer field while the rest of us stayed at the academy and painted nails and played with a parachute. After the parachute, we step up face paints. Barb, my mom (Sherri), and I used two stations to put on stencils and different designs. By the time we were done, there were several tigers, Supermans, dogs, and other fun people. We decided to pull out some glitter and, oh man, was that fun! Within seconds, we had glitter on our arms, their faces, our faces, and all over the floor. It looked like an explosion of happiness.


After the Deaf Academy, we visited the Haiti Olympic Center. Here, there were people playing basketball and soccer. The sun was hot on our backs as we walked through the tour and saw the different fields as well as the training center.


Next, we went to Fleri for pizza and dessert. Jake gave us a tour of Fleri after we ate way too much pizza. We learned about the jobs and purpose of Fleri. We then ate some dessert before setting out for the guest house.


Sitting across from Barb, I noticed the glitter on her face and arms, a tiny speck of grey paint residue under her left eye, a friendly reminder of the fits of laugher we were sent into time after time. How I, a small town American girl with everything and more, was given more than I ever need through an aching stomach from laughing and a full soul from the pure love of Haiti.


-Abby

You Can't Stop Children from Learning

When the alarm awoke us at 5:30 a.m., it was because we had an opportunity to visit Church on the Rock, which began at 6:00 a.m. We arrived at the open air church where there were hundreds of chairs available for worshippers. The pastor spoke mostly in Creole but also spoke in English. The worshippers were praying and also pacing the floor, praising Jesus and thanking God for their blessings. It was truly enjoyable.




Our first visit this morning was to the Elder school, which is a school in City Soleil. They were having a "carnival day" which was explained to us as a Mardi Gras celebration. The school was decorated for the occasion.  The children were dressed up, had masks on, music was playing and the children danced.  It was a wonderful experience to see the children celebrate.




Water truck today had two stops. We played with the children in a circle game which they enjoyed very much. We helped fill water buckets, carry them and held many children.




We toured Hope School and Hope Church. We were able to visit their Innovation Lab, which is new at the school. The lab uses iPads that are connected to larger screen TVs. They have the newest educational learning apps for the children. It provides a great opportunity for the children and their future, teaching them problem solving skills and creativity.




We toured Fleri Farm in City Soleil. The farm is 28 acres and all farmed without machinery. They grow plantains, coconuts, mangos, beans, and citronella, along with other plants. The hope is to one day turn the farm over to the Haitians to create jobs and self-sufficiency.


Sherri and Nancy

Mountains of Love

Today's tap tap ride took us to Titiyan (TiTian), the location of Grace Village. Grace Village has an elder care program, providing visits and medical care to over 30 elders in this mountainous area. In the heat of the day, we rode up the mountainside and attempted to check on four elders. These visits are important because they provide human contact, a meal and drink, and an opportunity for a well-check visit. During the visits, we washed and dried their feet and hands as well as applied lotion. We sang songs accompanied by Pao on guitar. The visits were spiritual and we saw the appreciation in their eyes. We brought them to a worship service located at Fleri Bakery.




We toured Grace Village and it was wonderful to see how many different services are offered in one location. The village includes an orphanage, K-13 school, living quarters for youth transition from the orphanage back into their family home, a clinic, a library, and technology center, just to name a few. They are taught family life skills before graduating and attending university. This incredible place provides hope for uniting families.




Before returning home, we stopped at Rosie's for a shakes, ice cream, and snacks, a welcome relief to the heat of the day (95 and sunny!). After dinner this evening, we packed 25 birthing kits for new moms in Haiti. These kits provide basic needs for successful home births. Our evening ended with Team Time, where we share about our experiences from the day and tonight included a fun game with lots of laughter and jokes. Just what our hearts needed during this week. We are truly blessed to have each member on this team.


Abby, Jennifer and Melissa

Beautiful Chaos

We awoke and had a wonderful breakfast - mangos were the highlight! Today was called "Water Truck Day", where our team assisted a truck which traveled into Cite Soleil, the poorest area of Haiti. The city is laid out in districts; each district has its own personality and characteristics. We weren't sure what to expect - assisting kids and families with water distribution. We arrived at the truck filling station, where the trucks were filled with well water into the tops of massive trucks holding 3000 gallons each. We learned that most Haitians pay for their water, but we were on a special mission to deliver free water to residents of certain districts in Cite Soleil. The first stop was in District 17, and the moment we arrived in the tap tap, we heard the children yelling, "Hey you!" As we opened the door of the tap tap and stepped out, the children were scrambling into our arms. Women and children lined up behind the water truck with buckets of all shapes and sizes, which they would carry back to their homes. Since we arrived in Haiti, we realized how strong Haitian women are and how hard working they are. Some of our team members held onto the hose and directed the flow of water into the buckets, but we had to work fast! The water came out quickly and water is precious. Other members of our team carried the heavy buckets of water down the road to their homes. The Haitian women would carry the buckets on their heads! Some of them even asked us to help lift the buckets up. We watched in amazement, the sun beating down on them, and their strength showed us how proud they are.


After the first water truck stop, we toured Hope Clinic, located in Cite Soleil. Hope provides affordable health care for the people of Cite Soleil. They can range from infants to mothers to grandmothers and grandfathers. We heard about an expecting mother who with the assistance of an ultra-sound was able to see images of her child, which allowed for her to bond with her child sooner.


We then split the team into two and visited four elders. We were invited into their homes where we prayed and sang with them and delivered a hot meal and drink. It was a moving and humbling experience for us, as the elders' prayers were for basic human wants and needs such as their families, their health, and their security.


Next water truck stop was District 26. The buildings were concrete and two-story. We gathered children into a circle and played games with them, their laughter and smiles lifting our spirits. This stop seemed more organized and the road was a bit wider than the last, allowing for more space. We also understood what was happening and what was expected of our team as the people gathered for water. We felt much more comfortable at this stop.


The last water truck stop was near the pier and the view to the ocean was beautiful. Children were jumping off the pier into the ocean, having fun and cooling off in the heat of the sun. The roadway was narrow and this stop was crowded and loud, the need for water was very obvious.


Amongst this chaos, we saw beautiful people and beautiful children who wanted basic things: being held, talked to, and laughed with. We are in awe of the strength this country has, and felt its beautiful chaos.


Abby, Jennifer, and Melissa