Day 6: The ApParent Project / Mountain Drive

Saturday - Rejuv and Replenish in the beauty of this country

Today we visited The ApParent Project. This is a business that has trained and employed local Haitians who are parents so that they can make a livable wage and support their families at home. We toured the facility where they make the crafts for sale and had a little fun shopping in the boutique.

From there we drove up the mountain and did some bartering at other art stands. We arrived at the top of the mountain that overlooks Port-au-Prince below and saw some very magnificent views of the city and countryside along the way. 

WORD of the Day!!!! 

Angie (leader) - HARD WORKING - the people at The ApParent Project and also all the wonderful employees at Healing Haiti guest house - they all take such good care of us and work so hard without complaint

Laura - HEARTS - everyone here has a huge heart

Kalli - NEEDED - today was needed for rest and relaxation

Kendra - UNIQUE - one of a kind artwork

Bailey - FUN - a word to describe our driver and guide today, Valerie

Eli - GENEROUS - we picked this word out for him as he bought a walking stick today from a local wood working artisan and even though he didn’t need the stick, he wanted to give the man money for something 

Kathi - MAJESTIC - the views of Haiti from the top of the mountain

Hannah - NATIVITY - a purchase near to my heart

Lindsey - CRAZY - how small they roll the paper into beads at The ApParent Project

Paige - SPECTACULAR - from the scenery today to the local crafts 

Theresa - CRAFTY - imaginative and awesome craftsmanship

Nancy - BREATHE - today I could just breathe

Scout - BREATHTAKING - everything is so beautiful

Lance - THE LARRY - this week I got a new nickname from Jaime and everyone is using it, so when I ordered a raspberry and banana smoothie at The ApParent Project, I told them that they could call it “the Larry” as they had never made that combination before

Jaime (leader) - COLORS - a bright and colorful country

Thank you God for the glory and love that you poured on us today as we realized that Haiti has given us so much this past week. Haiti has touched all of us……touched us so very deeply.

Tomorrow, you ask?

Well, tomorrow there is an election here. Not for president but for senate level government officials. We will stay near or within the walls of the guesthouses here and spend time with the other team. This is for safety as there is always the possibility of demonstrations and riots. 

So, signing for now and will see what tomorrow will bring for our last full day in Haiti.

Goodnight!!

Day 5: Water Truck Day #2

Friday…our Water Truck Day #2:

Whew! It was a tough day…and that might be an understatement. Back to Cite Soleil today for “Water Truck”. This is where we work with a water truck to bring fresh water to the people of Cite Soleil, the poorest 3 square miles in the Western Hemisphere. We jumped out of the truck thinking that “we got this” but were quickly greeted by so many children with pails that once filled couldn’t even be carried back to their homes. So there we were with the task of filling the pails, loving on the kids, carrying the pails as far as we were allowed to go and then realizing that we need to get back and do it again. With the kids having the responsibility to get anywhere between 1-5 pails back to their homes, it was so hard to choose between the 5 kids vying for us to pick them up and hug them and the ones that needed help with carrying their pails. It is important to relate that in Cite Soleil there are children that are slaves within their own homes. And on this day…we met and helped a lot of them. 

A good friend shared this verse with me before leaving on this trip and it fits this day and should be shared: 

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive’”. Acts 20:35

WORD OF THE DAY!!!!

Angie (leader) - FOTO - such a simple thing as in taking a picture brings so much joy to the children

Laura - ANGER - It’s 2015 and people are living in such extreme poverty that they are fighting and struggling to get this water

Kalli - SAD - just sad

Kendra - MUSCLES - kids were so strong

Bailey - HARD but GOOD - struggling between holding the kids and giving them love and then having to set them down to carry the buckets

Eli - UNDERSTANDING - total chaos, but we understood each other

Kathi - THANKFUL - a selfish thought that came into my mind as we boarded the bus and were able to leave this sadness and also struggling with the guilt of the thought, but in the end being very thankful that we were able to help and provide them the water and love that they so desperately needed

Hannah - ROUGH - emotionally and physically 

Lindsey - OVERWHELMING - so many kids that were there for love and the overwhelming heat on top of the demands of the work that was needed to be done for this community

Paige - SHOCKING - such a different day compared to the first day doing water truck

Theresa - AGGRESSIVE - people pushing and kids everywhere

Nancy - STRENGTH - the kids had inner and outer strength

Scout - FOLLOW - there was a little girl that followed me everywhere

Lance - AWESOME - the team took on different roles and we did everything we could, with smiles on our faces

Jaime (leader) - SISTERS - Nemi and her sister, met previously. Looking strong and healthy, they tagged along while carrying buckets. 

This is a day that took longer for us all to process and work through…it comes a day later due to this reason.

Day 4: Mass Graves, Grace Village, Elder Visits

A Happy Day…we really felt a belonging to this beautiful country!

Today we travelled to Titanyen, pronounced “tee-tah-yeh”. It was about an hour drive from Port-au-Prince and is the location for Healing Haiti’s Grace Village. It is up more into the mountains and closer to the ocean. The setting is beautiful and we really found a new love for this amazing country. 

Our first stop was at the Mass Graves. This is the location where approximately 3,000 or more Haitians were brought for their final resting place after the earthquake in 2010. It was an indescribable experience that was very humbling and sad. Both of our Haitian guides shared with us their accounts of the day of the earthquake. This really made it personal and real for us and we are so appreciative of their honesty in a memory that is still so strong in their minds.

From there we were onto GRACE VILLAGE. This is a new community in Titanyen that is home to an orphanage, school, feeding center, clinic, bakery, greenhouse and the aquaponics program. They are excited to be graduating their first class this next year. The goal is for this community to be self-sufficient. It was quite impressive and really beautiful.

Lastly, was a favorite activity for many of us and that was of home visits to three elders that are sponsored through the Healing Haiti program. We went into their homes in the side hills of Titanyen and greeted them, cleansed their feet and hands, massaged and lotioned their feet, back and hands. Met their families and gave them a warm and fresh meal with water and juice.

So now onto our wrap-up through WORD OF THE DAY…

Laura - INNOVATION - the self-sufficiency of GRACE VILLAGE and all the ideas making the place so innovative

Scout - REMEMBER - the people of Haiti will never forget the earthquake

Jaime (leader) - JOY - Grace Village and the elder visits are full of such joy

Kendra - HAPPY - Grace Village

Paige - EMOTION - hearing the stories of the earthquake

Bailey - HOPEFUL - Grace Village - a good life for the people it serves

Nancy - SAME - we are all God’s children, we are the same in his lives and connected to one another

Lance - PERSONAL - we have all made some sort of personal connection to the people of Haiti

Hannah - GOATS - on the lighter side they made it enjoyable seeing them

Lindsey - SWEET - we met Ismael, the grandson of one of the elderly women today, and he was so sweet and giving in his nature, after he had his picture taken with his sister he showed the picture to his sister and remarked to her “see how beautiful you are!”

Kathi - INTIMATE - loved the intimacy of the elder visits and this made such a personal connection for all of us to the people in this country

Kalli - FAITH & HOPE - the elders we met today had such strong faith and hope in GOD

Eli - CHANGE - what was somber and sad yesterday changed into joyful and innovative today

Angie (leader) - SPARED - so thankful for the sparing of the lives of our guides during the earthquake as they are such a blessing to have along our sides while here in Haiti

Theresa - STRONG - elders are so strong in raising their grandkids

Praise God for all your bountiful blessings and for another beautiful and healthy day in Haiti!

By the way, you don’t have to make it so HOT!!!!!!

Day 3!

Wednesday the 5th…

Well, it seemed to be pretty special to use our “Word of the Day” for the blog last night and so why stop a GOOD thing!! To preface the word of the day, it’s time to update on our day’s activities.

Our group split up this morning and 8 of us went to the Home for Sick and Dying Babies and 7 went to the Home for Handicap Children.

At the Home for Sick and Dying Babies we held sick and malnourished babies that aged from baby to toddler and helped feed them, change their diapers, bathed some and with those that were not too sick we were able to play with them in the courtyard. The home is so very clean and well organized. We arrived during visiting hours and many were out with their families. The few that weren’t were instantly taken in and held by us. It was very special.

This week was the first time that a Healing Haiti group went to the Home for Handicapped and Disabled Children. This visit for our group at this time is indescribable and so I think that we will move to the WORDS from the group so that you can appreciate our experiences and our day…

In the afternoon, we visited LaPherre Orphanage. We were tasked with bringing an activity to do with them and the kids decided to do face painting. We purchased the face paints prior to leaving for Haiti and were excited to bring them to the kids today. While there we enjoyed singing and playing with them too.

Scout - GRANTED - we take a lot for granted and the handicaps of the children helped me realize this and appreciate the gifts I’ve been granted

Hannah - SOMBER

Lindsey - ARTISTIC - the children were so creative with the face paint

Kathi - HOSANNA - the children sang to us at the orphanage and this is the one word of one of the songs that I recognized

Kalli - CUDDLES - I received so many throughout the day, at the hospital and at the orphanage 

Theresa - GIVING - this word is for the giving nature of the owner of orphanage 

Jaime (leader) - STRETCHED - the resources, our faith in so many of the sites that we visit

Angie (leader) - CREATIVE - artistic and musical skills of the children in the orphanage 

  FRAIL - (a second word) to describe the one child that I got to hold at the hospital

Lance - EXTREMES - seeing the sadness at the handicap home and then to the joys of spending the time with the children at the orphanage 

Nancy - JONAS - he was the guide that really showed us his heart today, singing and face painting with the kids at the orphanage

WARMTH - (a second word) we are all GOD’s children and I really felt the warmth in holding the children at the hospital and laughing with the ones at the orphanage

Eli - TAXING - emotions in all directions

Paige - LOVE - we gave all the children love and joy

Kendra - COLORFUL - face painting

Laura - ROCK STAR - the best word to describe our guide, Jonas, today. He was absolutely amazing at the orphanage 

LaPherre orphanage

Bless the Lord Oh My Soul!!!!

Haiti, you are touching our souls!!!

Day 2: Water Truck!

Today was our first full day in Haiti. We travelled to Cite Soleil to deliver fresh water, tour the Haiti initiative soccer and feeding program. We experienced firsthand the helping hand of God by seeing, feeling, holding and supplying for the children and families in the poorest area of Haiti. Tonight at dinner we went around the table and needed to say a word that we felt described our day. The words are shared below.

Hannah - COLORFUL CHAOS - the traffic, the water lines, the housing

Lance - GO (Alé in Creole) - the water truck process and “water truck man” , and also the urgency for us to load into the truck once the water ran out

Nancy - BEAUTIFUL and JOY - the inner beauty of the country, joy for the building of HOPE church on the mound of garbage in the center of CITE SOLEIL

Paige - LAUGHTER - happy to see the children’s smiles, these same children with injuries and despair showed us resilience, smiles and laughter

Theresa - AMAZING - watching the people endure their “normalcy”

Lindsey - LOVE - children who were full of LOVE to GIVE and to RECEIVE

Kendra - INSPIRING - inspired by the kids optimism, looking at a new world through the eyes of the children

Eli - EYE OPENING - this doesn’t need more explanation

Laura - BEAUTIFUL -  the children’s faces

Scout - STRONG - everyone was dealing with so much stuff (the children of Haiti and those of us seeing Haiti) 

Kathi - SMILE - on every child’s face and followed so quickly on ours 

Bailey - AWESOME - because I had an awesome day

Kalli - FRIENDLY - everyone was so friendly to us even though we were practically strangers to them

Angie (our leader)- EXHAUSTING and REJUVENATING - an oxymoron that describes the day to a “T”

Jaime (our other leader)- COMFORTABLE - feeling at home in this wonderful country

Ending this day was made even more special with a slide show of 450 pictures all taken today by our leaders. Tears were shed and laughter was heard. We are here to share God’s amazing word and LOVE but had it shared right back with us ten-fold.

Glwa pou Bondye (Glory to God) 

Day 1: Travel Day / First Impressions

The attitudes of the youth in Haiti were amazing! All the neighborhood boys were so gracious and respectful to us upon seeing us. Their faith in God is very strong. One of the boys started to sing and got our group of youth involved in their activities. The guest house we are staying in is very cozy and colorful! There is a patio where we can view the whole city. So far our experience has been great! Tomorrow will bring more opportunities for us to be the hands and feet of God! <3

                                                 Kendra Rinke, Bailey Kracht, and Lindsey Groneberg

I was stunned by the children’s ability to fluently speak English and sing songs of praise in it as well! I asked a young gentleman about my age what his plans for college were and he answered he would be going wherever God led him. It was heartwarming to hear this and made me think that if more of us approached our future with this mindset we would be happier and more secure in our choices.

 Hannah Hasbargen, Elijah Kracht

Today was an amazing and eye opening day, even if it was our first day. When we got to Port-Au-Prince I was shocked by how real life had just got for all of us. After getting over the shock and making it to our new home for the week we went out and started to make some new friends. We watched them play soccer and learned some new words. One thing that really stuck out for  me was how good they understood us! They speak amazing English! So many things went on today and it was great. I am really looking forward to the rest of the week!

 Paige Schmidt

Renewal

"Sabbath is a gift because it is a day for enjoyment" - Michael E. Wittmer

Exodus 20:8-11 says we must rest every seventh day to follow God's example when He made the world.

The Sabath isn't a "requirement" to go to church, it's Gods way of reminding us we need to check in with Him, as any parent would ask their children.  He offers us rest and renewal.  God knows the week we have had serving the people of Haiti.  For some of us it may have been their first experience in any kind of mission work or even their first time out of the country.  For others they are returning to serve the people they love and want to walk side by side with on their journey.  For me personally I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ in a real tangible way for one week.  Today we receive rest and renewal so that we can take what we have seen and experienced back into our homes and lives at home.  God needed rest after creating the Earth just as He asks us to rest in HIM so that we can return home renewed.

Today we attended church at Grace Village.  It was a wonderful way as we begin to prepare to say goodbye to Haiti.  Church began with beautiful Haitian praise music and the pastor spoke in english, "This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad".  So we rejoiced and we were renewed.  To be in a church filled with a community, dressed in their Sunday best, praising God when they have so little but they have God and they Praise Him.  We were joined by many of the children from the orphanage...snuggling for the last time.  It was so hard to say goodbye.

After service we journeyed north west to Wahoo Bay.  The long journey on the tap tap was filled with the laughter of true friendships made.  An opportunity to have Jonas and Valery, two of our guides, enjoy renewal as well.  They are truly amazing.  They are by our sides translating for us and working side by side with us all week.  They are the heart and soul of our team.  THANK YOU!  As I pause and look back at how much I thought I would be able to serve others this week, I realize I received far more in return. Our time at Wahoo Bay was breathtaking, we saw so much beauty on this island.  We are refreshed.  Now as we begin to pack our bags and prepare to return to our families at home...we will say goodbye to our family here.  We have become a family and for that I will be forever grateful.

Christianity is not a spectator sport.  God asks us to go out and feed His lambs... We have lived His request this week as best we could.  Thank you Healing Haiti, Jaime and Allison for guiding us along the way.


Good Night from Haiti and Good Bless,

Katey ( aka Mama)