Team 1: Kittleson/ Schauer Team

Allo! (Hello)

We woke up today bright and early for breakfast. Our Haitian staff are amazing cooks- the juice is unlike anything we have in the U.S. Once we ate, we loaded the tap tap (our truck-like “cage” that we ride in to get from place to place) for the day. Then, we had our first experience with what we call “Haitian Time.” We waited for what seemed like an hour for our staff to be ready to take us to our first destination. However, being unplugged allowed us to spend this time together as a group! We played catch with a deflated ball, but had a blast getting to know each other and letting loose.

We made it to our first destination- Croatian Relief. Croatian Relief is an orphanage, and we had the opportunity to spend time with the children there, to show them the love of God in a way they don’t get without a family. We were welcomed with a song sung by the children, then shared in music together! After, we played with them. The younger kids loved playing with the parachute. Some of our team played basketball with the older boys, and the girls loved getting their nails painted. I got a beautiful manicure from a few of the young girls!

After our time at Croatian Relief, we hopped into the tap tap to head to the Metal Market. I had the opportunity to sit in the front with the driver, which was a humbling experience. I’ve been on mission trips before, but I’ve never experienced poverty like this. There is garbage lining the streets, and even underneath the markets that are set up. There are goats, cows, and pigs grazing on the garbage because there is no food to eat. People walk up to cars trying to sell things. Women and men all carry bags and buckets on their heads full of daily supplies that we take for granted. So many kids walk around barefoot on gravel roads and broken glass. You can also smell sewage. The metal market was so neat! We went into so many shops where the people were so proud of their work. We even got to see how the work was made. Men were sitting ride outside of the shops, barefoot, pounding away with hammers and nails.

Once our shopping spree was over, we headed to my favorite part of the day- Gertrude’s. Gertrude’s is an orphanage for children with special needs. When we arrived, the children were incredibly excited for visitors. The kids who could walk immediately came up to us to shake our hands, get hugs, or be picked up. We put the kids who couldn’t walk into wheelchairs (plastic lawn chairs attached to wheels). We blew bubbles and pushed kids around in wheelchairs- such a simple thing, but so much fun to those kids. It was heartbreaking to see so many kids with special needs in one place, not wanted by their family members. Some of the kids were more excited than I expected just to be pushed in wheelchairs.

Eventually, our time at Gertrude’s was up and we loaded the tap tap for our guest house. We arrived to a wonderful dinner, then headed off to the pool. What fun that was! We met a group of Cuban people at the pool. They explained to use that there was a problem with the airplane to Cuba, so they are stuck in Haiti for awhile. It was a blast hanging out with them and listening/dancing to music.

We ended the night with team time and some relaxation. Tomorrow, we head out to Cite Soleil to deliver water from the water trucks. It will be exhausting, but we are ready!

Bon Swa! (Good Night),

Catie (and the team)

Day 3 - June 29, 2018

Celebrations and Joy

SO much joy today in visiting the LaPhare this morning - seeing the excitement in the children's eyes as we played "Minute to Win It" games, got our nails painted (even Ian!), and coloring.  Such SWEET, loving and gracious children that we encountered.   The mothers in our group couldn't be more proud of these amazing children that we are raising and witnessing this incredible growth happening within them. 

We also visited Papillon and the Apparent Project, and incredible company that supports job creation to end child slavery and empower families to stay together.  We enjoyed amazing smoothies and shopped...bringing home lots of jewelry, metal artwork, and pottery created by the incredibly talented staff.  Our tour guide was super fun and made sure that we were excited to see EVERY part of the tour.  One of the most incredible parts is that they offer FREE childcare and preschool for the workers there. 

After Papillon and Apparent Project, our group split, with some going to Mother Teresa's Home for Sick and Dying babies, and the other part going to the "For His Glory" orphanage.  The Mother Teresa group had an incredibly emotional, beautiful experience feeding, changing, holding, and loving on some very sick children.  They were amazed at the fact that there were about 100 children there, and only four women on regular staff to do daily cares for them.  At the orphanage, the rest of the group enjoyed a large playground area - playing basketball, doing more nails, doing sidewalk chalk, and coloring. 

I will let Ian finish the rest of the evening....since Emily decided to make it is "birthday" today...and make sure to let everyone know everywhere that we went that it was his birthday. 

- Loretta

Love

Well it was a pretty impactful day. I woke up this morning before everyone and when they woke up they kept saying happy birthday to me. I was so confused the entire time because I knew it wasn't really my birthday. So I just went with it.

After a delicious breakfast this morning we went to LaPhare which is one of the orphanages. The excitement in their eyes was so amazing to see that I almost about cried. These kids at every orphanage that we go to has moved me to be a better person.

So the word Love came to me by the love that my team members showed to the kids and the love that they showed back. I met this really cool kid today and his name was Wesley. He showed so much love to me. Eventually in my eyes we seemed to get very close in a short amount of time (We got some pretty cool pictures to!)

-"The Birthday Boy" Ian

Water Truck Day!

     To be honest, I wasn't sure I even wanted to come to Haiti. Leaving the comfort of my own room, the air conditioning, the long showers... How could I leave all of the things in my life that I take for granted in exchange for helping the people in need in our world?
     This morning our team headed out to Cite Soleil, which is one of the poorest areas in Haiti. We met our water truck there and started to walk out of the gates; out into the open. Before I had even looked up, there was a little boy clinging onto my shirt and begging me to pick him up. I couldn't understand him very well because he spoke a different language, but he told me his name was Onelson. The whole time we were at the first station he refused to let me go. If another kid tried to come close to me, Onelson would try to push them away.
     I helped carry the water buckets, and I was amazed how some of them could carry the big buckets on their heads all by themselves. They allowed us into the privacy of their own  homes for us to help them. I was struck by their living quarters, and became aware of how much I have to be grateful for in my own life.
     We went to three stations in total to deliver water; each very different than the one before. I noticed two things at each one. The first being that some would become very violent for the water. One of the leaders pointed out later on the fact that if they didn't get water then, they wouldn't have any water for the whole day. For them, it's a matter of survival; life or death. The second thing I saw was the joy on the younger children's faces. They would laugh, and bathe, and splash around. I was touched by how happy they are with so little. I think in our lives it is hard to remember that less is more.
      Today was filled with many memories that I will surely never forget. I loved the hands on work and even though I, as an individual, cannot save Haiti, I can put a smile on these children's faces. And even though I cannot understand their language, and really even the struggles and desperation of their world, I get to be a part of it for a week. And I am truly excited for what the rest of this week has in store for me and my team! I have had a change in heart already, and there is no place I'd rather be.

-Riley Butler

Ever since my friend and now team leader (Emily) told me about this parent-child mission trip, I have heard about, wondered about, and even worried about water truck day. While pictures and descriptions can try to convey what it is, being on the tap-tap truck that transported us into the heart of Cite Soleil forces each of us to face what we cannot expect.

This morning, I was feeling excited and ready for the people and the work. I rode up front with one of the team leaders and got a glimpse into the absolute poverty that we would encounter. Admittedly, I got teary eyed when we stepped off the truck at the first of our three stops. Suddenly, that sadness quickly transitioned into joy as we were all so warmly greeted and welcomed by swarms of smiling children, each eager to be held, hugged, and loved.

The sights, the smells, the sounds, and the touches of water truck day will be used to transform one's perspective but nothing prepares you as much as the personal aspect of it all. To supply a precious commodity to a portion of the 300,000 people who reside in this region of Port-au-Prince is humbling and an honor. It will break your heart.

Maneuvering a hefty hose to direct water into an overwhelming quantity of varied containers at a fast pace, helping transport those heavy containers - each hand-in-hand or alongside an owner - toward its household, glimpsing into the scarce living conditions, seeing thirst quenched and bodies cleansed, and communicating in simple ways (smiles, hand shakes, fist bumps, some creole or English, songs, dance, and hand claps), makes it all deeply personal. Man-made boundaries dissolve.

I'm not sure who was more blessed today.

- Kelly Butler

NC/MN Parent & Child Team Day #1

Good evening all!  Our team made it to Haiti....we are so grateful for all the love and support.  So grateful for this opportunity to serve in such a way that we GET to be the hands and feet of Christ.  We GET to step out in our faith and be obedient to the call that God wrote on each of our hearts.  Here's a quick snapshot of our day.....

Early morning airport at 4am, met up in Atlanta with the crew and landed safely in Haiti to the beautiful HOT weather, greeted by some lively airport musicians and snaked our way through the crowds to our taptap.  A quick short drive to our "home away from home" for the week and we were greeted by a few other members of our team who arrived early.  Unpacking and claiming our bunks for the week, we started the journey of getting acquainted with our new surroundings.  Ate a DELICIOUS meal of tacos, caught some gekkos and talked about our activities for the next day.  

Graciously here to serve, and love...hoping to LEARN and GROW in our relationship with the Lord.  Hearts and minds completely open to what God is ready to show us and palms up in His name....may this week be one filled with His blessings with lots of opportunities to just be in His presence.

Tomorrow is a new day...we thank our families for allowing us this opportunity. 

Northgate In Haiti (Day 6)

I am sitting here in the guest house as everyone cycles through the showers after another wonderful day! This is the ‘same old same old’ by now. Our team has fallen into the routine of working with Healing Haiti. A couple of people volunteer every morning to help prepare breakfast, pack our snacks for the day, and load up the water bottles. We eat around 8:00 am and are out the door 1 hour later to start our day. We get back around 5 pm, shower up, and sit down for dinner together. We end the day with ‘circle time’, enjoying a special treat, and praying with our prayer partners. Cassy told me today, “I’m finally used to it! The heat that is.” It seems that everyone has settled down, gotten used to the busyness, the serving, and the sounds and smells of Haiti. Now, it is time to come home.

My prayer is that we all take the servant hearts we had here, home with us. Even though there are many differences here in Haiti, the people we encounter back home are equally in need of God’s love and forgiveness. It’s easy to love here, because we know what our purpose is. Serving on a mission trip is often easier than serving at home, but our purpose is the same no matter where we are; to help people become who God purposed them to be. Looking forward to continuing that purpose together back at Northgate.

-Dan Thorson

Well. . . it’s our last day in Haiti. What a blast! Thank you, everyone, for your prayers and support. We’ve had a wonderful time meeting and serving alongside the people here. The adults and the kids especially have stolen our hearts.

Also, I can’t say enough about our mission team. Great kids! Great leaders and adults! Beautiful attitudes.

Today was our last day, so we played a little. We went to church! The same Jesus here as we worship at home! Jesus is so, so good! He transcends culture, race, socio-economic status, gender, language, everything!

After church, we spent the day at the beach. The feels-like temperature was a 107, so most of us are nursing sunburns tonight.

A guy on the beach offered to take us snorkeling for $4 each, so not being able to pass up a bargain, six of us hopped in his boat. He rowed (yes, rowed) us to a distant reef and we explored Haiti underwater. Brain coral, sea fans, one octopus, a crab, and lots of colorful fish. Unfortunately, like I said, the guys who went snorkeling (including me) ended up matching the crabs in color, thanks to the sun.

I’m enjoying having my fifteen-year-old son, Isaac, along with me. It’s fun seeing this place through his eyes and I’m not without a kid on Father’s Day.

Haiti is a different world, but similar is so many ways. We’re all looking forward to getting back to the States tomorrow, but many of us will be back. We already have another Northgate trip planned for next June. Pastor Linnea and Pastor Dan will be leading that one. I think I’ll stay home next year and enjoy the air conditioning in Minnesota!

Seriously, I hope you’ll consider coming! It’s a powerful experience.

Grateful for Northgate and it’s many partnerships throughout the world! Thank you for the opportunity!

I’m more convinced than ever that Jesus IS everything! And his church is the hope of the world! Haiti, and our world, would be a mess without the church! We need him and we always will!

--Steve Perkins

Wow. What a trip! From the first orientation last June to the finish of this trip this year—it’s been an awesome experience. Last night we spoke about any fears we had about the trip before we got here and how all those fears have just melted away (lol…literally).

So many highlights for me…visiting and praying with the elders, signing with the children at the deaf academy, holding and praying for some very sick babies, and, most of all, seeing our team share their hearts with Haiti and with one another. Love this team!

And, today…going to the Haitian Teen Challenge Church where the MN Adult & Teen Challenge staff often visit was awesome. Spirit-filled. Inspiring worship. Challenging message…and our tech team would be envious of all the AV equipment.

Can’t wait to get home to share more and to start planning with the trip already on the calendar for 2019!

- Linnea Grey

Northgate In Haiti (Day 5)

I started the day at the Fleri bakery and restaurant in Grace Village, located in Ti Tan Ye. After traveling to Grace village in the tap-tap, the whole group toured the bakery section of Fleri first. The smell of flour and fresh baked bread reminded me of cooking with my nana at home. This was one of the first experiences that helped me easily connect the Haitian culture to American culture. 

There are so many different things here in Haiti, and it makes it hard to find ways to relate to the people. Other than the common love for Jesus, I was feeling so different from the Haitian community. Throughout the day I was feeling more and more connected to the children we were serving and Haitian staff from Healing Haiti. At dinner all of us were joking around with our interpreter and driver, so I yet again felt a connection with the people from Haiti. But I met the most impactful person before dinner at the Fleri restaurant. 

Around noon, we toured the rest of Grace Village which included a school, clinic, farm, and several large houses for the children. Grace Village is run like a family organization, so each house has a Mama, Papa, or both, with around 5 to 8 kids per family. During the tour I met a five-year-old girl named Manika. She instantly latched onto me and stayed with me through most of the tour. Manika was sweet, sassy, and curious to learn about me and the braces on my teeth. Manika and I continued to walk around, pretending to teach in the classrooms, tickle our other friends, and count in French and English. She also taught me how to say some colors in Haitian Creole by pointing at the colors and then pronouncing them for me. After the tour we continued to play and color with the kids. Manika impacted me in a way I never thought a five-year-old could. 

Thank you Manika! 

Mia Cich

This week has been such an experience for me with water truck day, Deaf academy day, and finally getting to know all the different drivers and translators. This whole week there were two things that really hit my heart. 

First water truck day changed my whole view on poverty I previously thought that the impoverish were sad and knew all that they did not have. But that was not the case in Cite Soleil, where everyone wore a great big smile even thought they did not have much. All the kids were so excited just to be held. This changed me so much because it made me realize that God will always provide whether you live in America or Haiti. Whether you are rich or poor, He will always be there. Also playing at the Olympic stadium with the Deaf children and being able to use my ASL (American Sign Language), taught me that Gods love is a universal language. 

The second thing that had a great affect on me was Jonas. He was one of our translators who loved Jesus. Jonas was such a joy to be around and he was so interested about learning cultural things we have in America, like prom. Today we went to the mass graves from the 2010 earthquake and Jonas was giving the tour; we learned that Jonas was in Port Au Prince the day it hit, which was one of the places most effected. He lost a lot of people that day. He also took the time to talk to me so I could teach him Jesus loves me in ASL. He just inspired me to think that even in the worst the best can come out. 

Thank you Jonas for teaching me to be resilient.

Cassy McMahon

Northgate In Haiti (Day 4)

So today we did three things. First we went to church. It was so cool. The people here just love Jesus with all their hearts and you can really tell Jesus is here in Hati. The second thing was going to see and play with the children in City Soleil. The kids there are so fun and just want to be loved. When we went the first time this week I really didn’t like it. I thought it was just crazy. Then this time I felt so comfortable and had such a fun time. I just really enjoyed it. The third thing we did today was go to an orphanage for children with disabilities. They may look, talk, or walk different but they are just the same as you and me. They are some of the nicest sweetest smartest children we have met all week. I think that was probably the best thing I have done this week. Those kids were so amazing. This whole entire trip is also so amazing. We are experiencing so many awesome things that I thought I would never see. So just thank you Jesus for this amazing trip and all the amazing times and friends I have met here.

Isaac Perkins

We started the day by attending Church on the Rock. It was really humbling to see these people who do not have much, dress up in there best and attend church every day. Walking around, pacing, and praying with each other, the Haitians were not shy about there faith. It gave me a feeling of inadequacy as I observed their extreme faith. During the afternoon, Healing Haiti visited a special needs orphanage to interact with the children. Although the children may be mentally or physically disabled, they were very happy and content with their plight.  Amazingly, they can still play stunning soccer and beat me at throwing/catching balls, which, unfortunately, does not take much. I played with a girl, Somali, who just wanted to be hugged and touched. Touch is such a valuable thing in Haiti, and the children here love hugs! Yes, the children are different from us, but we still all need the same things to survive. This experience has been life changing, and I thank Jesus for giving me this opportunity.

Eliana Kuehn

The Church on the Rock, is a worship service that I wish every person could experience.  The Haitians start every day by walking, singing and praising the Lord.  Unhinged worship and praising the Glory of God.  Can you imagine worshiping without hesitation, just giving your all to God in every moment of the day?  As I watched and admired members of the congregation, I couldn’t help to think about my own faith.  Why do I hold back?  Why don’t I publicly show God my faith?  I heard a message once, if a stranger walked into your home would they know you are a Christian?  We attend weekly mass and may hang crosses on our walls but if a stranger walked up to you on the street, would they know you are a Christian?  In Haiti, you do know.  Throughout the week, we have been greeted with Bone-Jay Benny oo (God Bless You).  It doesn’t matter which city, orphanage, or person we have had the honor to meet, each one pronounces their Faith with passion.

Before coming, people told me this trip would change my life.  It is hard to even put into words, how this trip opens your heart, your eyes and pushes you to get uncomfortable with discovering your own true passion for God.  Washing the feet of the elders yesterday, humbled me.   

Pastor Steve, Sarah, and Mary accompanied an interpreter and two Pastors from Hope Church to visit the elders in Cite’ Soleil while the rest of the group and I played with the children.  They danced and wanted to be loved.  We also were able to serve the children of Hope Church School lunch.  The school lunch is not like the American school lunches.  Students are served Haitian food, containing rice, beans, chicken and Haitian sauce. These beautiful children in their purple checkered uniforms would greet us by chanting “Hey You, Mama, Hey You, Papa”. 

This afternoon we had the privilege of visiting an orphanage for those with special needs.  The children had a variety of disabilities.  All were amazing beautiful souls.  Sierra had created a craft that all the children loved.  We chalked, played tic-toe, soccer etc. 

We spent a relaxing evening cooling off the pool.  Beware parents, your children just bought a bottle of hot sauce… 

Bone-jay benny oo (God Bless You) all!

Regan Skaare