Slumberland Team - Final Thoughts

We have now had the privilege of leading five Slumberland teams to Haiti.  Each team is uniquely and divinely selected by God to serve the Haitian people.  We have loved the opportunity to see each persons unique gifting come out at the right time in the right place serving that unique need.  Slumberland is a company that gives generously and we are blessed to have associates that model that giving with their own time and energy.  We are so proud of what our team accomplished this year.  If you have had that urge to go…its time.  When you see the dates announced for the next trip, we can’t encourage you enough to just Go For It!  Ask anyone from the past five teams, I guarantee that everyone one of them will encourage you to push through any fear, worry or doubt and just GO.  

Lisa and Michael

Slumberland Team - Reflections

Reflections on a week in Haiti…

A person can see photos, watch a video or maybe even a documentary about poverty in third world countries.  But, until you actually step out of the comfortable American culture you have no clue of the reality that is out there.  Walking out of the Port-au-Prince airport the temperature tells you immediately you are in the tropics, but unlike most Caribbean get-aways this week in Haiti wasn’t about relaxing and recharging, but instead finding out if I would be able to finally “walk the walk” I talk to myself about as truly being the hands and feet of Jesus to those so desperate for His love.

The arrival at the Healing Haiti guest house proved to be a bit of an oasis from the lack of amenities seen on the drive from the airport.  Subtle home-like comforts were welcomed, but the oppressive heat that lingered all week was a constant reminder of my softness in comparison to so many I encountered throughout the week.  As the week continued and the AC was turned on in the bunkroom I shared with a couple others as we went to bed for the evening; I thought about the different homes (corrugated tin shacks) we visited and how warm each of those folks must be every day and night.  The heat never rests in Haiti.

Serving on the water truck in Cite Soleil drives home the importance of basic survival and human needs.  Not only for water, but also the need for love and touch and bringing the light of Christ to what otherwise seems to be a very dark place when observing the lack once again of so much we take for granted here at home.  Entering a neighborhood with our first tanker it was like the ice cream truck that drives through my neighborhood in the summer as all the kids come running when the horn blasts its entry call.  They are running and smiling and shouting “Hey you, Hey you” as the sights and smells of the poorest slum in the Western Hemisphere smack me square in the eyes and nose… all I could think is “how does this happen?”  The next hour was an absolute pedal to the metal adrenaline rush of chaos.  The Haitian locals know the drill and expectation; however, for my first time it was a head first dive into the deep end.  It was scary, emotional, physically demanding; it was raw.  The water comes fast out of the tanker while the 5 gallon buckets and large shallow tubs just keep coming straight for the water hose.  Kids are pulling on you to be held while older siblings and mothers jostle for position in a makeshift line.  The hope is that everyone gets their fill before it runs out; if not, another day will have to pass before the tanker comes again.  Water and Jesus, the essence of life.

As a diversion between water stops, we walked through a different neighborhood to see the ocean.  This certainly was no million dollar water front property in the tropics like your mind could drift off to dreaming about; no, this view revealed to me what “survival” really means.  It showed me a people doing what they had to do to survive.  A little bare bottomed boy grabbed my hand and led me along a well-worn single-file foot path where I had to turn sidewise to fit between the housing structures.  As we winded through the buildings, people were going about their day.  I saw a woman making what appeared to be “dirt burgers” as she meticulously laid them out after frying them over an open fire.  The boy was pointing down different paths and then turned to be lifted up; he had flip-flops on this feet, but he knew enough where we were that I was a better option to carry him than for him to walk by himself.  It was then we entered this open area covered in sharp edged sea shells 4 to 6 inches deep.  The ocean waters were within 50 yards and the ground was a bit unstable; the smell of salt water and sewage burned my eyes and nose as I saw a number of pigs rutting in muck and decomposing garbage… again, “how does this happen?”   Survival skills are learned at a very young age in Haiti. 

Driving into the countryside provides a perspective a bit more relaxed.  Less people, less noise, less commotion… but still signs and opportunities to help those in need.  We visited a couple community “elders” by essentially performing Haiti’s version of “Meals on Wheels”; delivering food, washing their feet, singing and praying with them.  Sharing their smiles and love of Christ is powerful and a testimony to His grace and mercy.  Seeing and learning about the wonderful empowerment Grace Village is providing to the community of Titanyen is truly a work not only of the Haitian people, but by God’s loving grace as well.  The school, the clinic, the church, the bakery, the restaurant – all examples of the local people making it happen for themselves.  Empowerment.

Finally, I want to introduce a new friend of mine.  As our Healing Haiti “Tap Tap” pulled up to the La Phare Orphanage, it was apparent one 8 or 9 year old boy was looking for a friend.  He immediately grabbed my hand and led me into the open court yard that looked to be their play area.  He sat close to me and I couldn’t help but put my arm around his shoulder.  He couldn’t tell me his age, but when asked his name it sounded like he said “Vincent”.  I repeated it back and he nodded in agreement, so Vincent it was.  We played with the colorful parachute as a larger group and then broke off to do bubbles and jump rope; all the time Vincent making sure he knew where I was.  We colored, sang songs and played with Play Doh too.  It was an hour of carefree timelessness… I wasn’t thinking about anyone or anything else except me and Vincent.  Towards the end of our visit, I thought about my own kids.  Two girls, 12 & 10 and two boys, 7 & 5 and I thought… “When was the last time I have spent one hour with each of them individually in that same carefree timelessness mindset and why am I not doing something about it now?”  Spending time with those who mean the most to you… family, friends, God.

It has been an emotional week for sure; something I knew was going to happen even before arriving in Haiti.  It took me a couple years to finally say yes to going on this trip and now that I have I can’t imagine not going back again.  It was my prayer to be open to hear God’s call, to learn His will for my life as a takeaway from this Haiti experience.  Now is when the real mission begins; right here, right now.  How I live and what I do to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ my Savior.

-Patrick

Slumberland Team - Day 5

Vendredi!  Friday in Haiti!  What a crazy incredible day here!  We began our day with a beautiful sunrise worship service at Church on the Rock.  It was moving to see all of the Haitians out before work or school to attend a service.  Their services are much different than ours back home so it was special for us to be able to attend. 

We continued our day with two water truck stops.  Every stop, every day is so different than the last. Each district is its own distinct community with its own personality.  The need is different and so are the people.  We know when emotions are running high, as at our first stop, the need for water is great.  At our second stop the children were able to play with the water as we poured it into their random buckets and containers.  What a joy for these children to have enough water to use some to play with!  Water is a luxury we take so for granted at home.  It was lovely to see the Haitian children doing something as simple as playing in a bucket of water, as my own girls do so often do at home, laughing and splashing.  Such a simple pleasure that we were fortunate enough to witness today.

We did a walk around another district in Cite Soleil today as well.   It was quite a different view walking through a neighborhood rather than watching it from our Tap-Tap.  We could see the random way homes were constructed with no streets or sidewalks or yards.  We saw “stores” being run out of these homes made from scrap sheet metal.  We saw families in their homes doing laundry or preparing a meal while pigs and goats run wild.  As always we had an abundance of children vying for our attention, wanting to be carried or have their hands held, or receive any affection we were willing to offer. 

Our last stop was LaPharre orphanage where we got the opportunity to play with about fifteen to twenty orphans.  We played games, colored, jumped rope and did a number of other fun activities.  The children there were the sweetest children I believe we have come across yet.  We sang songs as we usually do and they gave us a surprise by singing for us!  One girl started off the singing with an angelic singing voice that shocked us all with the power behind it.  Then all of the children joined in and gave us an impromptu concert.  It was a beautiful moment for all of us.  Sometimes the greatest gift we can give is listening and we were able to do that for these talented and deserving kids today.

It is hard to believe that we only have one more day in Haiti before we head home.  I know that we will come home changed in some way.   It is then our responsibility to share what we learned with all of you!

Jessica

Slumberland Team - Day 4 (part 2)

Today and took a different angle on serving. We started the day visiting a business Rebuild Globally. This company was started after the earthquake that destroyed a large part of Haiti. This company recycles trash, such as old car tires, and turns them into incredible products like sandals. You can leave brands in the sand when walking with these cool sandals. Here we were introduced to the manager, an energetic and beautiful spirited Haitian women. She told us her story about how she owned a cosmetic retail store before the earthquake, after it occurred she lost everything. She thought her life was over. She saw lots of organizations donating items and money to the people, but she did not want charity, she wanted to have a job and earn a living to provide for her family. She was hired by Rebuild Globally and is know their sales manager and even is a shareholder in the company. The pride she exhumed when telling her story was so uplifting and opened my eyes even more on this trip. We need to help the people of Haiti by empowering them to succeed, teaching skills and trades, and allowing them to learn to help themselves and their neighbors. The hearts of the Haitians are huge and they just need a helping hand to get them started.

Scott Eggleston

Slumberland Team - Day 4 (Part 1)

Today was a different kind of day, but a day with purpose. Part of Healing Haiti’s strategy is to expose people to the positive things that are happening in Haiti. So many people ask, “Do you see any change?’ I would answer a resounding yes! To come down year after year and do things the Haitians could be doing would be a shame, our desire is to empower and encourage the Haitians by coming along side of them. Today we visited several different enterprises that are creating jobs for Haitians to care for their families, send their children to school and to provide a home for them. It goes along with our culture at  Slumberland, to provide for our families just as the Haitians and people all over the world want to provide. It was a privilege to see these hard working people creating jobs for so many. This is the new Haiti!  

Barb Larson