Day 6 - Mountain Day

Hello, friends and family! First off, I want to thank you so much for being on this journey with us by reading the blogs. Thank you for supporting us, praying for us, and thinking about us.
Well, we woke up to another beautiful day and a delicious breakfast, followed with getting ready for our adventurous day.
We left shortly after breakfast, off to the mountains. Our ride to the mountains was filled again with laughter, joy, love, and bonding with one another, enjoying the scenic drive.
As we were driving up the mountains, the scenery, the culture, the view, the homes, all the stores, food on the side of the street, people walking everywhere, cars all around, all the music, people talking, and cars honking--it was beyond beautiful.
Our first stop was about 30 miles southeast of Port-au-Prince in a village called Kenscoff, at a church where they do after school and weekend activities for the kids. The elevation at this point in the mountains was 5,032 feet high! When we were first getting there, we all had to go to the bathroom. Because they didn’t have one there, a very kind man let us go to his home. We got there, all lined up, when a little boy came in with the man and got chairs for us, putting them in a circle for us to sit. We were so honored and felt right at home. What thoughtful, kind-hearted people they were.
We went back to where we had to back up in a very tight road and walked down to where the kids were all sitting, singing. It was angelic--so sweet and pure. Then it was time for games, and as we were pulling out the games, none of them hesitated to come up and join It was as if we had all known each other. There were kids in the corner playing some instruments, followed with some dancing, singing, and jumping for joy.
As we left there, leaving with prayer, hugs, and goodbyes, we went on a long, windy, bumpy drive even further up the mountain where we got to a farm where a lady makes homemade coffee and grows her own coffee beans.

While some went hiking, some stayed behind to enjoy the freshly brewed coffee. The lady of the house came out and started shelling beans out of pods. Those who stayed behind quickly asked if she needed help. She immediately said yes and turned it over to them. A competition quickly ensued, and they all raced to see who could shell the most beans. In the end, it was just so much fun, and they finished quickly. A little while later, they noticed her with a big bag, shelling different beans, and the ladies quickly jumped in once more to help her finish her work. She was very grateful and told them that she was the only woman at that property, which meant that she had a lot of work to do by herself with no help. We all truly believe God provided that divine appointment for those who stayed back in order to serve someone who deserved help and a well-timed break during her day.
The rest of us got to go hiking on the mountain with some other Haitians who led us. Walking down was beautiful with the mountains surrounding us and people's homes here and there. You could see rows where people garden on the hill, so perfectly lined by one another. We arrived at our destination, which entailed a waterfall down the rocks, going into a pool of water where we got to jump in. It was freezing cold and a shock to our bodies, but it was worth every second.

We left and walked back up the mountain, getting back to the coffee shop and together with the rest of our team.
Soon, we headed back down the mountain where some of us started to sing “Lean On Me” while we just reflected on the day, the scenery, God's creation, and the surroundings. It was a day we will never forget.
Following our meal of delicious Haitian spaghetti, we gathered for the night, sharing our word of the day, looking at the pictures, worshiping, and reading devotions, where we got to hear one another’s hearts, come closer, bond, laugh, and sing.
This week has gone by so fast but we are staying in this moment, cherishing every second, and basking in His love.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and God bless!
Jenna

Day 5 - Elder Visits/Grace Village

We started the morning early, going to Church on the Rock, experiencing praise and worship and a different culture. We shared the same love of Jesus with the Haitians in a different way. After church, we took a scenic walk home to eat a yummy breakfast. Then we headed to Grace Village where we got an amazing tour from our tour guide, Sara.
During the tour, we got love from and gave love to the school children there and saw a beautiful view of the mountains and surrounding area. After spending a little time with the kids, we went to visit four elders to care for them and ask them about their lives. The team worked really well together when we saw them. We could all agree that it was a moving experience that brought us so much closer. We painted pretty colors on the ladies' finger nails, and those women looked so peaceful and beautiful. Every elder we saw was grateful we took care of them, but really, they did more for us.
Leaving the elders, we went to Rosie's cafe and got some ice cream and other treats. We also ate the best queso ever there.
After we left Rosie's, we went to Fleri bakery, where we ate dinner and played bean bags. We were a little disappointed they didn't have creme brulee out, but we still enjoyed the food and time together. We got a tour of the bakery and learned "Fleri" means "flourish" in creole, which was fitting since we were flourishing as a team.
We had a long ride back to the guest house, so we had time to bond on the tap tap. We painted each others' finger nails on the long, bumpy ride. They didn't turn out well, but we had fun nonetheless.
After a long day, we were relieved to rest at the guest house, where we relaxed and read our devotional. We prayed a powerful prayer to get rid of distractions so we can fully experience the last few days of our trip. We are excited to stay in the moment together and enjoy this beautiful country.

Chloe

2nd Water Truck Day/Fleri Farms

Coming out of the bedroom this morning, the sweet smell of strong Haitian coffee serenaded me into the kitchen. Instantly, I was greeted by huge, beautiful smiles of the Haitian ladies cooking breakfast. I knew it was going to be another incredible day.
Our second and last water truck day left us all with playful giggles and beautiful memories. Once again, the team came together so fluidly--some on the hose, some carrying water, and others solely focusing on spreading the love of Christ. When someone needed to switch off the hose, there was already a team member there to help. It was surely the order that Pastor prophesied over us before the trip.
God's playful spirit fell upon us today. It is said to have child-like faith, so we practiced this principal by playing like children! A dance off transpired and language barriers were destroyed through the spirit of dance.
After the water truck was empty, necessities were put aside by the children to just PLAY. We headed to an open play area, and the kids came pouring in. Jump ropes were swinging, soccer balls were scoring, and laughs could be heard from miles away. We were spiritually full and ready to go to our second water stop.
Following the water truck stops, we got to visit Fleri farms. While we were there, we got a personal tour of the farms, where they grow all different kinds of fruit and other amazing things. After the tour, we were privileged to taste fresh coconut right off the trees and sample a stalk of sugar cane. It was truly a special experience. It was really nice to be able to have a relaxing time just being in each other's presence while experiencing Haitian hospitality.
After a wonderful day of being the hands and feet of our incredible God, we ended our outings at the water filling station. The water poured down heavily out of a huge spout in the sky, and we all laughed hysterically as we took turns running under it, getting soaked. It was foreshadowing the cleansing and healing that would take place at team time later on in the night.
We had the most delicious Haitian dinner, followed by reliving the moments of the day through a picture slideshow. Then we went into worship and team devotional time. God waved His hand over this glorious night and gave the healing that we needed. He strengthened and connected the team tonight in a way that only He could. We had decided earlier in the week that we (the girls) would switch rooms half way through the week so that we were able to have a chance to get to know each other on a deeper level. Tonight, we made the switch, and because of the depth of our team devotions and sharing time, it could not have been more well-planned. The Lord breathed in us, making it so our team continued to unite under one breath. For this reason and so many others, tonight we go to bed grateful.

Sara

Day 3 - Healing Haiti Partner Day

We started the morning by watching the sunrise with our morning coffee. Then a few of us read our daily devotional, and a couple of the ladies from our team helped the staff prepare our breakfast. Today was Ulta's, one of the staff, birthday as well as our very own Grace's birthday back home. We got everyone together and sang happy birthday to our staff and then made a video for Grace for her birthday.
After our amazing breakfast, we headed up to market vendors to do some shopping. There were so many beautiful items as well as artwork.
Following our mini shopping trip, we changed clothing again for our next adventure. After saying a group prayer, we were off to New Hope Innovations, an orphanage partnered with Healing Haiti. We reverted back to childhood by coloring, playing jump rope, and filling the kids with love--spiritual food. When it was time to leave the orphanage, we headed back to the guest house to change again and head out to our next destination.
We toured Papillon, which started as an adoption that ended with keeping the family together through building jobs, joy, and daycare for employees. After our quick tour, we were able to support the families working there by purchasing handmade gifts from their store on site and ordering an amazing lunch made at their cafe.
Following lunch, we headed to the Home for Sick and Dying Babies. This was heart-breaking and heavy for most of us; however, the hope of knowing how loved they are and that most children are there to heal and return to their homes provided an element of peace to each of us. By the time we made it home, none of us were hungry but were mostly just exhausted and feeling the need to decompress from the day.
Finally, we gathered for dinner and talked about our day. We ended the night in devotions, worship, and just staying in the moment through feeling the love, unity, and comfort safely together.
It is not always what we can do for them but rather what the people can do to us. Remember that innocence is a time to heal, to feel, and to love unconditionally.

Jess

First Water Truck Day

Our day began with coffee and sunrise on the upstairs balcony and was followed by a few of us reading devotions, getting to know each other on a deeper level. We are so thankful God has created a judgment-free zone within us at SV. We came here not knowing each other that well; yet, we can share our worries, concerns, and insecurities, just knowing that each of us have felt the same way.
Following a delicious breakfast, it was off to water truck day. The kids came running, knowing exactly who their target was for a hug, with incredible love in their eyes and hearts. Our team worked as a well-oiled machine. Just like at home, we allowed the Spirit to lead us by showing us which child to love first while still maintaining our group responsibilities. We were moving around, some directing the hose to fill buckets while others worked carrying water and helping women lift their buckets to their heads for them to balance and bring back to their homes.
In between water spots, we were greeted by children at Hope school and again overwhelmed by the joy on their faces and their excitement to see us. The only thing they desired was the love we could spread to each of them.
We went to another area in Cite Soleil, where God filled us with more love for even more children. Later, we experienced rush hour traffic, driving to the supermarket, where we bought a lot of caffeine and sugary treats. Then we arrived back at the guesthouse for another Haitian meal of deep fried pasta, filled with meat and rice; vegetable soup; and hush puppies sticks. Our evening began with worship and continued on to be even more refreshing as the Holy Spirit flowed among us as we looked at 328 pictures from the day.
We ended the evening by tuning into the Facebook live stream, watching our beloved Pastor Jeff leading the Tuesday night recovery group at church. Our stomachs are full from amazing food, and our hearts are even fuller from the food that can only be provided by the Holy Spirit.

Diana

Travel Day

Our trip started off with a prophecy from our own Pastor Jeff, talking about our team encountering miracles and things we couldn't even imagine. We met at the church yesterday, the 12th of January, and we were full of excitement. We took our group photo and loaded the vans to head to the airport. Everything was going smoothly, and although there were some nerves throughout the group, the feeling of what God had in store outweighed everything else.
The enemy tried to sneak in here and there through ticketing and luggage hiccups; however, we quickly reminded ourselves of Who was really control, and we made it through everything and were there just in time to board the plane before they closed the gate. God continued to show up, as we rushed into Fort Lauderdale with minutes to spare before boarding our next flight, and we were reminded He is always in control of every little detail.
Our flight went smoothly, and we made it to Haiti, through customs, and baggage pick up without any issues. We had a little bit of downtime, waiting for our ride, to get to talk and just be present with each other and enjoy the warm sunshine we so greatly missed in Minnesota.
When our ride came, we loaded our bags and headed to the guest house, where we will be staying for the duration of our trip. Everyone felt so relaxed and at home right away. We were able to rest and then head to the pool for a little more downtime before dinner. We enjoyed each other's company, as our team continued to get to know each other better.
Following the pool, we headed back to the house, where we eagerly awaited our first amazing dinner in Haiti. We were not disappointed when it was time to share in our meal all together of Haitian style tacos! It was a welcome meal after a day of airport travel and limited nutrition.
Following dinner, a few did the dishes quickly before we were able to gather together for a refreshing time of worship and then group devotion. That is where we really felt the Holy Spirit come into our trip. He was with us every step along the way, and now we were finally able to express how we felt so far. It was amazing to hear the perspective of those who have never been here before, and for those who had been here previously, the feelings were also a unique perspective. We went over our Jesus Calling devotional for the day, which we all agreed spoke exactly to everything we encountered over the past day since leaving home.
We are looking forward to the rest of our week, knowing God has more than proven He has everything in control, even in the moments when we feel out of control. We are trusting in Him, every step along the way, because He knows best what is to come and how to walk us through each thing that comes toward us. A great word for our first day of travel would be "trust," as we learn to continue to rely on God.

Ellen

EBC Day # 7 - Final Day!

Day #7 – 1/12

Hi friends! Ellie here. 

I’m sad to write that our time in Haiti is slowly coming to an end. Most of us were strangers when this week started, but we ended our time together as a big family. We spent our last evening reflecting on our week – there was lots of laughter, plenty of tears, and we shared our life experiences with each other. We think Mike summed up the week well with the acronym, “heartfelt”. Although It’s hard to portray how Haiti has impacted us, these are some that we all agreed on.

H.E.A.R.T.F.E.L.T.– I think this entire week we have all had many heartfelt moments and many different feelings in our hearts. There were lots of extreme highs and lows. We had many happy, joyful moments and many sad, teary moments. Our hearts felt so many things for the people of Haiti and also for our entire team.

H is for Hope– We saw hope everywhere we went this week in Haiti. We saw hope as we visited Rebuild, Team Challenge, Papillon, and while we were on top of the mountain looking over Port-Au-Prince. We know that anything is possible with God and for that reason we must never give up our hope for those we have met and worked with here in Haiti. Sunday, we heard a sermon titled “Better is Possible” and we believe this with and for the people here. 

E is for Eye-Opening– I (Mike) have been to Haiti before; however, this was still a very eye-opening, awesome, and life changing experience for me. What a difference this is from our world back home! We are all children of the one true God, but we live in a completely different world. 

A is for Amazing– What an Amazing trip! What an Amazing experience! What an Amazing team! I (Mike) am so glad and proud to have joined this team to share this experience with each and every one of them. The people of Haiti are Amazing in their love for life, and love for our Lord and Savior. They are also so appreciative and resourceful. 

R is for Remember– We must remember this trip, our team, and each experience. We must remember how we served our Lord Jesus Christ, the people of Haiti, and the love and gratitude they showed all of us. We also need to remember who we are as servants and disciples, and that we are all God’s children with a place in our Father’s house.

T is for Thankful– I (Mike) am so thankful for everything I have, and that I signed up for this trip.  I am thankful for this team and how well we have supported each other throughout the week. I am thankful God made this trip possible for all of us, and that He brought this “dream-team” together to serve and carry out His work here in Haiti. But most of all, I am thankful that God sent His one and only Son, Jesus. I am thankful that He came as a man and lived a perfect life, so that when he gave his life up for us, He became the perfect sacrifice for us. Because of this, we can all be saved and live with Him eternally where there is no pain or suffering anymore. We are all made in the image of God and we all need Jesus. This makes all of us equal.

F is for Faith– Our faith has grown and continues to grow. Faith alone will not get us into heaven. But our Faith, holiness, and obedience sure help’s. The Faith the Haitians have is so incredible it is hard to explain and put into words. They set the bar when it comes to Faith. So, keep the Faith. Keep your Faith. Grow your Faith.

E is for Encourage– This letter changed twice during the week. I (Mike) finally settled on Encourage after the sermon we heard today. We all did a lot of encouraging, holding hands, and comforting this week. We need to encourage each other to continue growing our faith, living a good Christian life, and answering when God calls upon us. We need to encourage each other to stay on our faith journey and to be an obedient servant.  

L is for Love– Love, Love, Love. All you need is Love. God said three things remain, ‘faith, hope, and Love and the greatest of these is Love’. I saw so much love this week. To the Haitians. From the Haitians. Within our team. Remembered God so Loved the world that He gave His one and only son who He used as the ultimate sacrifice for us, so that we would be forgiven for all of our sins and stories. Remember Love makes the world go around.

T is for Tomorrow– Now that we spent the last week serving in Haiti, the question is Tomorrow. What are we going to do Tomorrow? What is next for our lives and our journey? How are we going to build on this? How are we going to take this experience back home and do something special with it? As we heard in the sermon this morning, “stop eating ham and cheese sandwiches”, and do something different from what you have been doing. Do something better. Do something great Tomorrow!

And heartfelt it was. We’re off to the airport – see you all soon! 

Glwa Pou Bondye (Glory to God)!