Team 1 = Texasabetes - Day 2

💓 Team 1 = Texasabetes - Day 2 👵

Team Texas has a saying when we are in Haiti... the rule is to be like "Gumby". For those who have no idea who Gumby is... look up the green claymation figure that bends every way. When you are in Haiti, you have to learn to be flexible.  The schedule can change at a drop of the hat. So far this trip has proved to be no different. What was supposed to be our schedule lasted for 15 minutes and then we were diverted to another task. No matter - whatever we are supposed to be doing - it is in God's timing and not ours.

 Today turned into Elder Visits. To define "elder" in Haiti would require the explanation that the average life expectancy is 64 years, compared to 79 in the United States. We were privileged to visit 4 of the local elders in Titanyen. In some cultures, elders are revered for their knowledge and understanding of the world. In Haiti, most elders are no longer able to contribute to the household therefore are often forgotten about. We visited these 4 residents, bringing them food, juice, water and washing their feet. It is a very humbling experience to wash a stranger's feet, just as Jesus washed the disciple's feet. To be allowed in their homes is a honor. Some local children gathered with us at one of the houses while we were there. Their smiles bring joy. They were quick to braid a couple of our team mates hair too. Our last elder left a few of us with a troubled mind. He was blind, deaf and layed on a mattress on the floor. He was happy and ready to eat the food we brought for him. It raised questions in one of our team mates mind- did he have more expectations in life? When asking all these Elders, what their prayer requests were.. they didn't ask for "things". They asked for health, they asked for their children to be cared for, they asked for them to make decisions pleasing to the Lord, they asked to walk again and one even asked for death.  Visiting these elders is a special time and it is a reminder that we are all God's people and we are called to serve each other. 

“ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

John 13:14-17

Titanyen seemed busier to us this time. It was actually a market day and people came from surrounding areas to buy fruit, bread, rice, etc... There was an area of "parked" donkeys awaiting their owners to carry their goods home. I think one donkey has a Mercedes emblem on it's butt but don't hold me to that. Curious Hatians stared as we walked through a small sea of people. We have never been to their market before so we welcomed this experience.

You don't have to travel to a foreign country to do God's work. Can you imagine washing strangers feet in your hometown? The Bible tells us how to live. It seems so simple. Why does it seem so simple here but so much harder back home? We know these things, we, more often than not, we know what God wants us to do and we will always be blessed when we do them. 

Words of the Day: happiness, "goo-bye", comfortable being uncomfortable, humanity, compass, innocence, spirtual warface, "getting out of self, self understanding, accepting self", feet, hidden

Team 1 = Texasabetes - Day 1

👍 Team Texasabetes - Monday, June 14th ❤

Today was a travel day!

One team member described it as an adventure.... I would have described it as a scene from the classic movie Vacation.  This trip to Haiti has been an adventure in the making from the very beginning.  June 2020 was our original travel plans and like the rest of the world, our 2020 plans were cancelled by the CoVid. 

2021, our trip was back on but we had many hiccups along the way.  Has anyone flown lately?  We bought our tickets EARLY... wanted to get a good price! Turns out, early doesn't mean easy.  After our flights changing what seemed like a million times... spending several hours of our lives we will never get  back trying to fix those flights.... the day finally came to travel!

Some of our team left from Wichita Falls... others left from DFW. We had a very quick exchange when we landed in DFW. Spent only 20 minutes on ground and then were off again.  Turns out our next layover would be worse.  Diverted due to "weather"... our plan was delayed landing. The run was on!  I didn't realize Jennifer could run so fast. Three of us made it to stop the plane from leaving while the others caught up. That was a scene!

Yay God - we made it!

It is good to be back in Haiti. Smells and sounds bring back memories for the ones returning.  New ones are learning all about the lay of the land.  The Haitian ladies had an awesome meal waiting on us. We have excitement on the team and can't wait to start serving tomorrow.

This evenings word of the day was a good one.  Alot of insight and anticipation discussed... and as always ALOT of laughter with Team Texas! 

Words of the Day:

Rocky - rushed - rest

Adventure

Proud

Happy

Relief

Control

Sausage - don't ask!

Water

Excitement

Anticipation

     

“Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours.

Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world.

Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good.

Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”

~ Teresa of Ávila

Day 7/Team 1

The Best Laid Plans...

Things don't always turn out the way you planned, especially in Haiti!  Today we were excited to spend some more time with our favorite Deaf kids at the Deaf Church and then head to the beach!!  I (Julie) have been to Haiti six times and had never been to the beach.  Well, God had other plans...

The route to church was blocked today, so our talented drivers diverted to a different route.  Apparently, everyone who owns a vehicle decided to follow that same route!  We sat still for over an hour, but enjoyed the sights and sounds of local vendors selling a wide variety of food.  These chicken feet were some of the more "interesting" items.  After our Haitian staff did some research by asking oncoming moto drivers, we discovered that this route was also impassable.  So, we headed back to the guest house and got ready for a day of rest and fun at the local hotel pool!  We were able to spend time with the other team here (from Ohio, South Carolina, and Washington) and our Healing Haiti interpreters/all-around-awesome trip coordinators.  Our disappointment turned out to be a great way to spend our last full day together.  We ended the evening by singing some worship songs with the other team and enjoyed Ouida worshipping with her ASL interpretation of the songs.  

Tomorrow will be spent doing some visits to local organizations and then heading to the airport.  We hope you have enjoyed a little of our journey this week.  Thanks for following along!  

We will start planning our next trip once we get home!!  We are hoping for a much bigger "Deaf-focused" trip next summer and would love it if you joined us!  Let me know if you would like more information.  (You have a whole year to save/raise the funds!!)  

 

Day 6/ Team 1

Our team woke up to some good breakfast and natural lemon juice then we went through heavy traffic towards Grace Village to visit the children to play soccer and learn some Creole language.  We also met Deaf guy that works at the bakery next to the school where they make the best bread and cinnamon rolls even Pizza in Haiti.

We had our lunch on top of the mountain and ate delicious Haiti Mangos with gorgeous views of the sea and relax. Talk to each others about our experience in life and how visiting Haiti has impacted each one of us.  Our day was full of joy!

Day 5/Team 1

 

Another meaningful day in Haiti. Our Deaf focused team and the other Healing Haiti team traveled together this morning to our favorite Deaf academy. Our tap-tap ride involved lots of bumps, traffic, and sign lessons. Upon arrival, we were greeted with warm smiles and happy hands. We spent the day conversing and learning from staff and students...I didn't want to leave. 

We journeyed back to Healing Haiti--navigating Port-au-Prince traffic requires great skill while riding requires great trust. 

The cooks had prepared a Haitian meal for dinner... it was most wonderful, just like I remember. 

To end the day, a thunderstorm and always pleasant company. I am grateful!

Day4/Team1

 

Today was full!

We started at an artisan market in the neighborhood where we shopped for items made by Haitian artists. There was amazing metal art, paintings, jewelry, wood items, stone bowls...and other beautiful items I'm forgetting.

Then we were off to Titanyen. We started at Grace Village. What a beautiful view - in the mountains with the ocean in the distance! We got a tour of the school, garden and dorms. The seniors have final exams coming up - pray for their success.

After visiting the village we were off to serve some of the elders in the town. We brought them dinner, water, and juice. Then we were blessed with the opportunity to wash their feet, sing, and pray for them. What an amazing way to be the hands of God! 

Then...Fleri bakery and restaurant! We saw where they bake the street bread and other items, AND we had PIZZA! It was so good!

Our hearts (and our tummies!) are FULL!

DAY 3/TEAM 1

 

Michelle here! Today was a good day! We did a couple of different things. We went to a factory where they take used tires and innertubes and make shoes and sandals. They also make lots of homemade things like jewelry and leather pieces like book marks, wallets and purses. We also made peanut butter sandwiches and took them to a place kind of like a boys and girls club. We played games, colored, danced and just loved on the children. If that wasn't enough enough experience we went to a home where we played and loved on 17 babies. They were all infants and it broke my heart. I just wanted to sit down and swaddled each and everyone of them up in my arms and sing and pray over their lives. I may have shed a couple of tears as I walked away. We ended the day walking in the rain to a hotel where we cooled off with a swim!