New Friends

Today was a day full of growth for me. Being my fourth time in Haiti, I have been a little desensitized to all the hurt and hardship. And while of course I’m not wishing for heartache, I do want God to continue to move my heart for these people and think and pray for them when I go home. So I am continually praying for growth and the Lord to open my eyes throughout the rest of this trip.

Another area of growth for me today was not going to the hospital for sick and dying babies. The past three years, you couldn’t have stopped me from going for anything. But this year, God really put in on my heart to sacrifice my spot to someone else and opt to go to Le Faire, an orphanage we frequently visit. We went last year, and I got to hold the cutest little meatball (what I call the Haitian babies) in my lab the whole time. This year, I got to see her again, and she was walking and talking and just had the cutest, sassiest personality. It is so amazing to see all these children grow up and be loved, and to see God move and grow in me. In the end, I am so incredibly grateful to be able to sit on a chalk--filled floor, playing tic-tac-toe with kids and sit in love with them.

I will always love Haiti and I feel so incredibly blessed to continue to grow my relationships with the many people here. Au’revior, cheri.   Dani

Just Breathe….

After 2 days of travel and minimal sleep, today was my day to soak it in and just breathe. Such a beautifully well-rounded day.

My day began with a play date with the children in the city. We played with bubbles, learned Haitian games, and made friends with some amazing teens. As Sarah came to get me to go on elder visits, a teen girl pleaded with her to leave me there…I was tempted to stay.

I am so thankful I resisted the temptation. I was able to meet 3 elders of the community that were a part of a new pilot program Healing Haiti just started. We brought them a hot meal and prayed for them. Pastor Jocelin has such a heart for the elders. He told then that he promised them that he would come with visitors and he keeps his promises.

Our next stop was to Le Faire Orphanage. Mama and Papa have 17 children that they love and care for. The children were so polite and loved well. I made eye contact with a young man, about 8 years old, that reminded me of my son Jonathan. He was bashful and stayed away from me the entire time---I might have scared him with my coaxing. As we were saying our goodbyes, I was hugging 3 little girls at the same time, he ran to me and busted through the girls and squeezed me. My heart melted.

My Haitian experiences today brought about such a peace that God never leaves or forsakes us. We are His hands and feet. HE loves the Haitians and I was blessed to see it today. --Michelle

Day 1.5

Hello Friends and Family.  I called this one day 1.5 because we were supposed to arrive in Haiti on Monday afternoon and have a leisurely dinner before serving Tuesday.  However, after 29 hours of flights, unplanned hotels, full airport gates and general testing of the patience our team arrived this morning at 9:35 am.  But they rallied and had a great day of serving.  Here are some highlights.  Craig

At the close of each day in Haiti, we are challenged to come up with a word that sums up our experiences in the last twelve hours or so. Yesterday, my word was “timing,” as we spent most of the day fighting seemingly in-numerous battles against weather systems and flight delays, yet miraculously arrived in Haiti at 9 am this morning. Today, as we sweated out our first water truck day, I was thinking about what my word of the day would be.  “Endurance” kept popping up. We work with the poorest of the poor in Cite Soleil, what the Bible would call “the least of these,” and yet these beautiful people conquer mind-boggling poverty and hardship every single day. They don’t complain. They don’t wish aloud that it was different. They endure. My endurance today was challenged on probably the fiftieth trip carrying water to a house. I had been helping an 8 or 9-year-old girl (also named Katie) carry around fifteen various containers of water to her house several hundred yards from the truck, and I was tired. The sun was brutal, and I couldn’t wipe the sweat off my brow fast enough. My little friend looked up at me, scooped some water out of the bucket that we had just carried to her house, and splashed my face. Over and over, we laughed and splashed our faces with the cool, clean water that Healing Haiti brings daily to Cite Soleil. She didn’t see my discouragement and exhaustion as a “teaching opportunity,” but she did teach me a lesson on how to not only endure but thrive.  Katie

Precious moments with precious people. That describes my day. It’s my fourth trip to Haiti and I fall more and more in love with this country every time. Yes, there is hardship and despair but there is always joy. The joy of a child dumping a small pale of water over themselves, the joy of a mother when you hold her child, the joy of seeing God’s people connect in unexplainable ways.

Today I spent some time with a very sick little girl. I didn’t speak her language and I couldn’t even hear her when she said her name. After sitting with her for five minutes I began to pray over her; for healing, restoration and opportunity for this sweet girl. As I prayed I thought about how God knows her name, he knows her future and he is in control. Haiti has taught me so much and today I learned to cherish the small moments.   Moranda

Day 4: For His Glory

Hello, everyone! Today was a crazy fun day. We first started at Stop #17 in Cite Soleil to play with all the kids. The face paint was a huge success - they couldn't get enough of it. We probably drew about 500 hearts on their arms, foreheads, and cheeks; but we loved every moment of it. After a couple hours of goofing around, we headed to Felri Farms. With 56 acres of land, we toured just a tiny sliver and got to see mangoes, coconuts, dragon fruits, pomegranates, and so much more. We even got to taste raw sugarcane. We held the puppy, ate lunch, and witnessed the miracles of the Healing Haiti farm. On the last stop of Day 4, we went to "For His Glory" orphanage. This was easily the highlight of my day. It was a very nice compound with several classrooms, a big playground, and loving nannies to feed and care for them. The children were so full of smiles and overjoyed to see us. As they played with the soccer ball, or slid down the slides, all I felt was an overwhelming amount of love that filled the air. The children varied in age and there were a couple special needs children that were full of laughter. Overall, it was an amazing day full of unforgettable experiences.

 - Addie Sabados

Journey of Faith Day 4 - Water Day #2 - Bondye beni ou - by Ryan McDowell

Today was water day #2 and in so many ways it felt climactic.  It's as though all of the messages, themes, and lessons from the previous three days culminated in today's experience.  It was certainly the pinnacle of our physical service!

After a day of acclimating Monday and an emotional day serving in various orphanages on Tuesday, we got our first taste of delivering water yesterday.  With the exception of the few who had served in Haiti previously, none of us knew quite what to expect, but needless to say we were all overtaken with various emotions - joy, love, humility, frustration, wonder.  Personally, I was moved by the hope and optimism of the children, epitomized by one word: Jeff. 

In my quest to practice Haitian Creole, I have been speaking with the children, asking their names, how old they are, and how they are doing. Without fail yesterday, the kids replied "pa pi mal", which means "not too bad".  All except one kid.  An eleven year old boy finally replied "mwen byen" - I am good.  But it wasn't just the fact that he was so upbeat that touched me (despite a serious skin condition which he casually indicated), it was the way he smiled and pointed to Hope Church, saying, "Jeff".

Jeff Gacek is the founder of Healing Haiti and, while I won't go into the story behind the organization, Healing Haiti has provided a church, a school, and soon a clinic to a neighborhood in desperate need.  And with all of this, it has brought hope to this little boy and so many others nearby.

In our group conversations and prayer last night and this morning we discussed the role of religion in providing hope and greater purpose and noted the transformation of the neighborhoods in which there were churches and schools.  The leaders who have been here before attested firsthand to the progress and development they've witnessed in these neighborhoods over the last several years.  Hope Church embodies this purpose and the need for God's presence.

These discussions and observations seemed to segue perfectly into this morning's devotional.  Before embarking on our mission today we studied the role of righteousness in our relationship with Jesus, which served as a timely reminder of not only what we are called here to do, but more specifically HOW we are called to do it.

Righteousness ultimately has 3 pillars: legal, moral, and social.  Legal righteousness is simply abiding by the commandments and the law.  Moral righteousness deals with the heart, mind, and motives from within.  But the third pillar, social righteousness, is more complex and deals with spreading God's love and Jesus' message in a way that is not boastful, self-righteous, or self-defeating.  For example, rather than lecturing people on practicing Christianity and bemoaning their sins, build them a church, feed them, heal them, and educate them.

Today, in particular, it was our mission to spread the word through service - although we only had three trucks full of water and not enough time to build a church, let alone a school and a clinic :)

Coming off the heels of our experience yesterday, the group was cohesive and well-coordinated.  With the additional (and invaluable) help of locals Max & Jonas, it seemingly couldn't have gone smoother.  The lines were orderly, the process was refined, and there was not much fanfare; however, that calm was tested during our next two stops.

At the next stop it seemed as though the crowd was a bit more spirited, with some angst growing among the people.  A small fight broke out between two young boys, which was quickly broken up, but you could see the forces working against us.  By the third stop, those forces were fully palpable.

The third and final stop was far and away the most challenging.  As our leader, Ray, put it, there was certainly spiritual warfare taking place.  Through it all though, the team remained calm and delivered more than just water.  We continued to deliver the message of Jesus and that we were here in his name with love in our hearts.  Incredibly, each time we spoke these words anger turned to joy and scowls turned to smiles.  Personally, I told every kid I met today "Bondye beni ou" (God Bless You), and I will forever remember the glow on each of their faces.

Today was a day I will never forget for so many reasons.  It was physically grueling and uniquely intense, but it was the fulfillment of the mission that will stay with me forever.  While our literal purpose was to deliver water, the greater cause was to deliver the message of Jesus' love.  And while one can self-righteously and dogmatically profess this message, it is better delivered by service and demonstration.   I truly believe that the glow on the children's faces (among so many other signs) was the receipt and understanding of that message.  Though today felt somewhat climactic, I think we are just now realizing our purpose and I am excited to build on it these next few days.

Bondye beni ou,
Ryan

Day 2: Papillion, Le Phare, and Mother Teresa's

Hi everyone! My name is Ariana and today we visited Papillion, LePhare, and Mother Teresa's. Papillion was founded by an American woman who came to Haiti to adopt a child and during the process realized how many people don't want to give up their babies, but they have to because they can't provide. We received a tour at Papillion and were told about the free childcare the mothers receive and how Papillion employs approximately 250 Haitians. It was neat seeing how the beads are made and we were able to buy a lot of things in the gift shop! After Papillion we went to an orphanage called LePhare where we were greeted with a welcome song from the kids. Knowing they took the time to learn a song and sing it to us was very special. During our time there we painted the kids nails, played with chalk and bubbles, jumped rope, and had a lot of fun with face paint. It was uplifting to see these kids having fun and see the smiles on their faces. We then left the orphanage and went to the Home for the Sick and Dying Babies. Home for the Sick and Dying Babies has two rooms, both of them full of cribs holding sick children that were dropped off by their parents because they didn't have the means to take care of them. A lot of the parents visit and take their child back when they are better, but there are some orphans that are left behind. We were able to hold the children without IV's and could even bring them outside to play with them. It was heartbreaking to see these kids so helpless but also uplifting when we saw kids comforting other kids and helping each other. All of these children were so content to just be held and loved on and it was a very eye opening experience. Leaving the Home for the Sick and Dying Babies was difficult because they all cried when we put them back in their cribs and left, but I know Home for the Sick and Dying Babies will be an experience we won't forget. Day 2 was a success and I hope this week continues to be as great as it has started out!

-Ariana

Journey of Faith Haiti Trip Day 3 - Shannon Maier

Today was our first Water Day of trip!!  And what an incredible experience it was!!

To be honest, I woke up with such mixed emotions.  I felt excitement and was eager to share in the day that God had in store for us, but also I felt nervous and a bit of fearful.  The nerves totally caught me off guard, as the clean water initiative that Healing Haiti has built is one of the main reasons why I decided to come on this trip.  God has blessed me with a hospitable heart, so meeting the basic needs of others is something that pulls at my heart strings in intense and emotional ways.  This was the moment that I have been waiting for, to live out my God given gifts and to share His love with others, but I just couldn't stop thinking, 'I don't know if I can do this?  What if I fail?'

As we embarked out for our first water stop, in our always exciting ride on Tap Tap vehicle, I took a moment to focus my attention on the presence of God and He gifted me with Psalm 73:26 'My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever'.  A dear friend shared this wonderful promise with me right before I left on this trip.  It is one that I have been meditating on throughout the journey, thus far.  When I said the words over and over, I was reminded that I am eternally accepted just as God made me, nerves and all, and it was a reminder that I would fall back on over and over again as the day continued.

The first stop, in City Soleil, was right outside Hope Church and we visited the pier area for our second.  At both stops, I was startled with how fast the water started flowing, how many buckets were being filled, and the life felt all around us.  Darling kids came running up to us all, asking to be held and have their picture taken, or to help carry filled water buckets to their houses.  It was a beautiful whirlwind!

Instantly you could see the joy, hope, and life we were able to bring to so many lives.  I think I picked up my first three children and buckets purely on adrenaline!  The heaviness of the bucket was definitely felt by bucket number 4 both times.  WOW was it heavy!!!  I came to find out, at the end of the day, that each bucket probably weighed close to 37 pounds, which is well above my max lifting weight.  At those moments, the previous nerves started to flood in that 'I just can't do this'...'I am, obviously, not strong enough, at least physically!'  But God, just as He promised, reminded me of Psalm 73:26.  It didn't matter how fast or slow I was carrying that bucket, whether water was splashing everywhere or not, the only thing that matter was I was trying to carry that bucket to bring God glory and to share His love with others.  He would get me to where I needed to be in His strength.  What unconditional acceptance!  From there, I was able to carry a few more buckets, with the help of one of my teammates (way easier to work in pairs!...should have thought of that earlier), and pick up a hand full of sweet Haitian children along that way.

Water Day 1 surpassed my expectations on so many levels.  The hearts I got to touch, which also touched mine, the act of service I was able to be apart of for the City Soleil community, and just experiencing the beautiful island down by the water with one of the cutest Haitian children was just too much!  Water Day number 2 is tomorrow, so I will take the lessons learned from the first day, along with Psalm 73:26 to hold that close to my heart.

One more share...in between both water stops, we had the opportunity to visit the Hope Church facility.  One of our leaders, this evening, called Hope Church an anchor for Christ in City Soleil, and it totally struck me cause that description does not fall short of the impact that this place is making on the community around it.  When we walked onto the property, I instantly felt an overwhelming feeling of hope that only Christ can bring to life.  This place is not only creating and growing hope in the local community, but also for all the missionaries that step onto their grounds.  I am looking forward to hear and witness what God continues to do through that property for the Haitian people and His kingdom.

Day 1: Elder School, Hope Church and Water Truck Day!

We were blessed with an amazing first day in Cite Soleil! First, we stopped at Elder school, where we were greeted by what seemed like a million bright smiling faces. The children ranged from about age 3 to 18. They took us on a tour of their school and concluded with a dance party on the top floor. We joined in song and dance as we got to get a first glimpse of what life is like for a child living in Haiti. After we said our goodbyes, we headed to our first water truck stop. As soon as we got off the tap-tap, a bunch of kids came running towards us. We helped little boys, little girls, mothers, and grandmas carry water buckets to their homes. By the end of the day, all our arms were sore and we couldn't believe how people carry that much everyday! Next, we headed to Hope church, which is a church that also operates as a school. The children literally tackled our group members to the ground when they first saw us. We danced and even did some pushups with them. On our next water truck stop, we ventured to the pier. Again, we were surrounded by tons of little workers. The children were so excited to see us, and some made sure to put us to work! It was amazing seeing how the children's faces lit up when you picked them up. The children impressed us with their working skills, but we were blown away by the amount of joy they displayed, despite the living circumstances. We all went to bed exhausted, but smiles were everywhere to be seen.

-Kristina Collins