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)

Another great day in Haiti!

Today we visited Haitian Initiative in Cite Soleil. This is an impressive soccer and feeding program in the heart of one of the poorest neighborhoods this side of the Atlantic. Haitian Initiative (www.haitianinitiative.org) was founded by Tony Sanneh, a pretty successful soccer player? :)  I don't follow soccer, but I do love what he's doing with this idea. Children from the surrounding neighborhoods are brought into the program and have an opportunity to train for big games (like the Schwann's Cup in MN...the boys team traveled to MN last year for this!). They are held accountable for getting good grades and are also fed meals from Feed My Starving Children. Healing Haiti partners with HI by providing assistance with meals and clothing. Saw lots of Edina soccer jerseys - pretty fun!
     We were able to watch the girls wrap up practice, then moved on to delivering water in the neighborhood right outside of the HI practice field. Very hot, dry days led to long and hectic lines. Lots of kids to be loved on and played with, and buckets/barrels/tubs to be filled. We emptied the truck there, then visited another stop after a brief stay and refill at the well. This was our last stop for the day and this trip, and I heard some lamenting that fact (until next time..!!). Another very, very busy stop and probably more kids in one place than I've seen in a long time. At both stops we ran out of water before buckets, and I pray that those who went without today will be able to get what they need. Our truck visits these areas several times a week - even when short-term mission teams are not around - so that is some reassurance especially as the rain seems to be holding off.
     Had a bit of down time back at the guest house, then went to dinner at an authentic Haitian restaurant called Kokoye. Fun, fellowship, and great food!! Now we are all settling in for the evening and preparing for our last full day in-country. Wow, does time fly!

p.s.
Happy to report that our two down-and-out goers are back up and running! Thankfully a short-lived bug that was stomped by fluids, rest, and your prayers!

Thank you all for your continued love, support, and prayers! Please continue to lift us up in prayer as we prepare to wrap the week, say our goodbyes, and travel home. Ke Bondye Beni'ou!

~Jaime

Day 5-Home for Sick and Dying Adults and La Lue Orphanage

Today in Haiti, the team visited the home for sick and dying adults at Carre Four.  We were able to care for some of the sickest people here, some living out the last of their days.  They were so appreciative of us simply rubbing some lotion on their arms, legs and backs-such a simple pleasure many of us would take for granted.  Many of the ladies wanted us to paint their fingernails and toenails.  We learned a smile can break through any language barrier, and their laughter was able to melt away any of our discomfort.  It was an honor to be able to offer some comfort to these people.

After leaving Carre Four, we went to downtown Port-au-Prince to La Lue orphanage.  The children there had just gotten out of school, so after a little lunch, we were able to spend quite a bit of time singing and playing with them.  We also brought a craft with us to do with us called God's Eyes. The kids had a great time wrapping brightly colored yarn around a cross made of popsicle sticks.  They then figured out how many of the young ladies on our team had long hair, and the beauty shop was soon open for business.  There were quite the lovely hairstyles going on, with lots of pulling and braiding.  After a few more songs and lots of hugs, we were on our way back to the guesthouse.

It was a hot one today in Haiti for sure--like it is most of the time.  So several of the team members went and spent some time at the pool to cool down.  Then after a fantastic meal, we did some salsa dancing lessons on the balcony.  I thing we're ready for Dancing with the Stars.....as soon as we become famous.

~Alli

Mesi, Mesi

Today marked our fourth day in Haiti. It felt like the longest day thus far but was amazing every step of the way. We started off the morning bright and early by loading 26 of us, from both teams, in the tap-tap and heading to tent church around 5:45am. Being surrounded by praise and worship, we found our spots and joined in the prayer. Even though no one knew what the Haitians were saying, their love and gratitude for the Lord was evident. It was a very uplifting morning to be apart of and it was a good reminder of what it means to be grateful. After walking back to the guest house and scarfing down another delicious breakfast, we headed out for another day. 

Our first stop, Grace Village in Titanyen. This is my second time visiting Grace Village, the first one being on my trip with Healing Haiti in January. It was even more beautiful seeing it for a second time and also fun being able to recognize some of the kiddos from my previous trip. We were given a tour of Grace Village and got to see all the new improvements from a new pavilion next to the playground to the commercial bakery down the hill by the church. We received a tour of the school, family homes, aquaponics, feeding center, and clinic at Grace Village. The whole time at Grace Village we were accompanied by the boys and girls that live there, some holding hands of our teammates and the others in their arms. 

After our visit, we packed in the tap-tap with 5 hot meals ready for the elderly of Titanyen. We visited 5 of Healing Haiti's elderly, delivering them a hot meal, water and a care package. At our visits we took turns washing their hands and feet, applying lotion, painting their nails (if requested) and concluded our visits by singing and praying with them. Visiting the elderly was another eye-opening experience. Most of them were sitting or sleeping on the cement floors in their houses when we arrived, one on a flattened cardboard box and another sleeping under his bed because it was cooler. Marie is 105 years old and had the most "spunk" I have ever seen for anyone remotely close to her age. The elders showed so much joy and appreciation for us serving them, they prayed for us and would not stop saying "mesi, mesi." It was an amazing feeling serving the elders of Titanyen and being able to honor them for hard life. Seeing the joy on their faces is something I will never forget. 

Our day ended with a stop at the mass graves. The mass graves is where they buried over 300,000 people after the earthquake in 2010. At the mass graves we had the privilege of handing out Feed My Starving Children food and water packets to the families in the surrounding areas. Once we brought the boxes of food and water out, adults and children came out from the hillside and surrounded us. Eager for the food and water we had them make a line and we handed out the food and water one by one. It was a less chaotic experience than I was expecting and there were again many people saying, "mesi, mesi." It was a great feeling knowing those families were going home with a good meal and water for the night. We finished at the mass graves by admiring the memorial and praying in honor of all of the lives lost in the earth quake. 

After a long day of serving the people of Haiti, we loaded back into the tap-tap and headed home to rest up for what tomorrow will bring. 

- Ashley Bruber 

Day 3- Water Truck

Hello Friends and Family!

Today was our first water truck delivery into Cite Soleil, one of the most impoverished neighborhoods in Haiti. First stop is filling up the water truck and then we bring it into one of the 20 some sub neighborhoods of Cite Soleil. We made three stops and I think it is safe to say that everybody is exhausted as is 9:30 and everybody is crawling into bed.

Water truck is always a crazy day filled with mixed emotions from heartbreak and confusion, to joy and laughter. It never gets old driving into the neighborhood and being greeted by children running after the Tap Tap smiling, waving and yelling "hey you!". Getting off the truck they instantly reach out repeating "Pote m'" which means "pick me up".  Everybody instantly has one, two, even three children in their arms. The language barrier is instantly shattered by the love that we can't help but pour out onto these people. Our time there is spent dancing, holding, hugging, singing, and trying to find any way to connect with them. A big group of kiddos loved learning "ring around the rosie" and "the hokey pokey" and hearing their laughter and seeing their smiles is something that is just simply contagious.
The other big part of water truck day is obviously delivering the water and its a process that can get hectic at times which just reminds you of the extreme need and desperation for what we are bringing them. I think personally, my favorite part of the day was at our first stop when we got through filling all of the buckets of water, but still had more water in the truck. The panic and desperation was gone and the kids were now dumping water on themselves, our team members, and standing under the water hose. It was amazing to see the joy on their faces and we all look forward to doing this again on Saturday!
We also had the opportunity to witness the progress happening on Hope church which is being built in Cite Soleil. We brought the kids into here and they all joined us in singing and dancing. It will be amazing to one day have a facility for these kids to go to school for free as well as a church for the people to worship in. Some day soon!
We appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers.

God Bless!
Haley

First Full Day in Haiti

Hello family, friends, and fellow blog readers,

This morning our group had the choice between two amazing places to attend and extend our love here in Haiti. Part of our group ended up going to the Home for the Sick and Dying Babies, while the other group members had the opportunity to attend Gertrude's Orphanage. The experiences that our group had at both of these places were extraordinary. Some of us were able to hold and comfort young children who are not in the best of health, while others of us were able to meet and play with individuals with disabilities. Even though our group was given different opportunities and went to separate places today, we all can agree that our experiences were very similar. We all were able to see the wonderful work of God here in Haiti. While things can seem very hopeless, there is always a light in the darkness. Today, that light was seeing the smile on a sick child's face, or the continuous laughter you would hear coming from the children at the orphanage.
Later on in the day, we were fortunate enough to visit the Apparent Project, which is a business that employs Haitian people and has them use their many talents to make a living for themselves and their families, by creating products made primarily through materials found in Haiti. Many of us bought beautiful jewelry or pottery from the Apparent Project. Having this opportunity showed us the skills and raw talents that the people of Haiti have to offer as well as showed us the importance of helping to empower the people of Haiti.
Lastly, we went to the La Pherre Orphanage and met some more amazing children. Here, we were able to visit with the children and make arts and crafts with them as well. This was another experience that we were all extremely humbled by. The children at La Pherre came from very little, but were some of the most cheerful and joyful children ever. Our group looks forward to many more experiences like the ones we had today. It is safe to say that all of us here in Haiti had a very successful first day.

~ Lindsay

Home!

Greetings from Guest House 1! So excited to be back to a place that feels so much like home to me. I love it!!

We arrived safely this afternoon around 4pm local time and proceeded with the settling-in process. For those of you who haven't gone (yet...), the process involves picking beds, sorting donated supplies (THANK YOU for those!!), unpacking for the week, filling water bottles... and so on... We toured the guest house and had an orientation session with Gates, then dinner. Now just more of settling in, getting to know each other and those who live and work here, and playing with the neighborhood kids. 

I have a feeling it will be early to bed for most of us. It was a long but (thankfully) uneventful travel day! Looking forward to our first full day in Haiti!! We're not sure what's on the agenda yet, as we may switch things up a bit with the other team that is here. Stay tuned!! 

Thank you for continued prayers! Please continue to lift us and those whom we serve alongside as we get further into this mission. 

Love from Haiti!
Jaime

8 Days Until Haiti!

Moving in to the final week of preparation before we set off on another journey with new friends. For this particular week, God has assembled a mixture of first-timers and seasoned goers from different parts of the Twin Cities, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts! 

     Some will gather on Wednesday to pack donated supplies that have been gathered along the way, others will do so remotely. All will come together in Miami on Monday, June 1. 

     Pray for us as we continue to prepare our hearts, minds, and bodies for this trip. Pray against and fear, anxiety, worry, travel jitters. Pray for peace, covering, safety, health, and whatever else may be on your heart for this team and for all of the beautiful people we will be blessed to see and love on. 

     Thank you for your continued love, support, and prayers! Stay tuned! 

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15 

Day 5, Beautiful Things

Beautiful Things

I love the line from the Gungor song, “Beautiful Things”…

“You make beautiful things, you make beautiful things out of the dust.

You make beautiful things, you make beautiful things out of us.”

No where is this more true than in Haiti.

Throughout this week I have seen God bringing beautiful things out of the dust and the dirt of sin and brokenness and death.

On Wednesday, we visited the Apparent project.  I am not sure I understand the full scope of this non-profit…you can read more about them on their own website, but here is the description of what they are about.  “The Apparent Project artisans guild uses discarded materials such as cereal and cracker boxes, oil drums, and trash paper to create beautiful “upcycled” pieces of jewelry, journals, and stylish home decor.  While redeeming the Haitian landscape, these artisans are also bringing new hope to their families, employing themselves for a brighter future and earning the means to pay for their children's food, shelter, and education. That means less orphans, less crime, less garbage, less stress, and a whole lot more beauty.”

Beautiful Things.  Out of the Dust.

Thursday we visited Grace Village.  Grace Village has established itself in a place that means “less than nothing.” (Titanyen)  And they are doing incredible innovative things that I cannot fully describe in a blog.  They have a school for 380 children, an orphanage to 44 children, a medical and dental clinic, an aquaponics initiative, etc.  After touring the Village it is clear that they are not just “giving a man a fish, but teaching him to fish.”  And they are doing it in incredibly innovative ways.  They are constantly looking at how they can tweak and refine their process, so as to make the most long term impact in Titanyen.  

Beautiful Things.  Out of the Dust.

And throughout this week, as I have gotten to know a team of 15 other people, and heard their stories, and watched them shed tears, it is clear that God is making beautiful things out of this group’s dust as well.

The stories go on and on.  I don’t yet know the full history of religion in Haiti…I don’t know how long ago Christian missionaries came to this place.  I just know that it has a reputation for things such as voodoo.  But it is clear after spending a week here that this has changed and is changing.  It is not just other missionaries and short term mission teams here that are doing the work of bringing beautiful things out of the dust.  In fact one of the most powerful things I was able to see this week was to get up at 6am and trudge down to worship at the Haitian church down the street, and to bear witness to the Spirit of the LORD at work within this beautiful people.

And today…another “water truck” day.  Holding babies and children.  Loving on them, and helping them to see that there is some beauty in this dusty world.  Pouring out water, and pointing them to the “living water” of Jesus.  

And visiting General Hospital where we had the opportunity to drop off care bags for children and families, and to pray with them.  And for the veterans in the group there were signs of beauty out of ashes again…in seeing dramatic improvements in the state of the hospital itself.

And then again back in my mind to Thursday (yesterday), when we visited the mass grave where roughly 300,000 people are buried from a devastating earthquake 5 years ago.  And remembering that some day God literally bring beauty out of the dust at what we call the resurrection.  

Until then, may Jesus continue to restore and renew what is broken…and bring beauty out of the dust.

—Russ Peterson

Day 4!

Today, I will start by saying that we have the most amazing Haitian men by our side. They are truly gifts from God and bless us each and every day. They greet us at the guest house with large toothy smiles that are contagious! You can't help but have your heart warmed by their genuine happiness and love for The Lord. These men are our translators, drivers, security guards, story tellers, joke makers, guitar players and friends. Most importantly, they are our brothers in Christ. Today we were blessed by the presence of Brunet, Emmanuel, Valerie, and Jonas. As we all piled into the tap-tap, laughing and smiling, eager for the day ahead, I took a moment to appreciate the safety and comfort these men provide to our group. 

Day 3 of loading up and heading out onto the bumpy roads of Port-Au-Prince. Our ride was slightly longer than most days as we headed out to Titanyen, the village where Healing Haiti built the Grace Village orphanage. The ride is long, yes, but oh-so-beautiful. God truly was using his best, if not favorite, paint brush when working on Haiti. Looking out on one side of the tap-tap, you see the mountain and ocean backdrop colliding to make the most amazing picture...like one you would see hanging in an art museum. Out the other side, you see tiny little matchbox shacks scattered along the hillside. After 30 or so minutes of staring out into God's beauty, we pulled up beside a large gated area known as the Mass Graves. The Mass Graves is a large plot of land along side a hill that is fenced in all the way around. This is where over 300,000 bodies were buried after the devastating earthquake in 2010. As our group entered the site and gathered in front of the large monument built inside, one of our guides, Jonas, began to share his story of the day of the earthquake. As he spoke, we felt his heart, we felt his pain, but  we also felt the love he has for his land and the people of Haiti. We were honored to be trusted enough to hear this personal story shared by our brother in Christ. 

After praying over the land and taking our last few memory-snapshots (no cameras allowed!), we moved back out to where our tap-tap was parked. We were met by the rest of our translators and they had 3 Manna Pack boxes that we brought with us on this trip. For those of you who are unfamiliar a Manna Pack, it is the meal that is packed at Feed My Starving Children. As we started opening boxes, we noticed children and adults alike running down the hill to receive a packaged meal. The line outside the tap-tap started in a single file and ended in a mosh pit. Can you imagine being this excited over a packed meal? Many of us were touched by the impact these meals made and knew that packing with FMSC was more than just worthwhile, it was life sustaining. (Thanks Deb!)

We then moved onto Grace Village! The amazing sanctuary that not only houses 40+ children but also educated 400+ children. The things GV is doing in the community amazed us. We received a tour and learned so much about what goes on and how things work. We also got to see a few kiddos in their adorable purple uniforms running around at recess, all over the beautiful  playground. Once our tour was over, it was time to move on to our elder visits. 

Five elders were on the list for today, but we only saw three. As someone put it, the ones we missed were on a "spa day". What I CAN say is that the three we visited were all so touching. All in different ways, but equally impactful on our hearts. These are people who struggle to get out of bed, or for some them who do not have beds, it is hard to wake up off the floor. The men and women in the elderly program amazed us. All of us. The faith within them POURED OUT and overflowed into others, including us. What a blessing it was not only to minister to them, but also to be ministered to by such wise and Godly men and women. 

The first woman we encountered lived with her sister and brother- in-law. She was a sweet, small woman who wasn't afraid to share her toothless smile with us. She was quiet and peaceful, and allowed us to massage her feet and arms, and love on her with song and prayer. Before leaving her home, we were blessed with Godly words of encouragement and love from her brother-in-law. He reminded us that we are all just concrete blocks, cemented together by the blood of Jesus. Meme was our next elder visit. He is a man who struggles greatly with his vision and with other bodily pains, but believes that with God, healing is possible. You wouldn't know he was in any pain by the way he praised The Lord with us today. Clapping, singing, worshipping and praising with childlike faith. He was an example to us all. Lastly, we met with Izna. A woman who is small in size but big in love. When I visited Haiti with a team in August, we saw her. I noticed her shoes were all torn and tattered...withering away with every step. I decided I had no need to keep my Crocs with the Minnesota fall/winter approaching, so I left them with her. After being told she struggles with having things being stolen from her, I figured I would never see those Crocs again. Boy was I wrong! This woman walked out of her house with the same pair on her beautiful feet. I was overcome with immediate joy and gratitude to God. I had one of our translators tell her I was so happy to see she still had the Crocs I gave her and she lit up. I had never seen her so happy. Not even when I gave her the shoes back in August. Brunet said that in the 4 years of visiting her, he had never seen her so full of joy and love. I was blessed to be loved by a woman such as her today. I will forever hold her kiss in the palm of my right hand. 

Today, our team truly showed what it was to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I am so blessed to serve alongside such incredible men and women. We are blessed to have been in the presence of such wisdom and grace of all the people we encountered today. I'm not sure how else to say it but, God is good. God is so good. 

I will leave you by sharing a verse given to US by the elderly brother-in-law...he ministered to us by sharing this: 1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Again...God is so good.  Thanks for reading and please continue praying for us and the people of Haiti!

LOVE, Nikki <3

Day 3: We are the Body

“If we are the body, why aren’t his arms reaching, why aren’t his hands healing, why aren’t his words teaching?” (If We Are the Body, Casting Crowns)

We are the Body.  

I love the Body of Christ, and I am experiencing the Body of Christ in full action right now.  Haiti January 2015.  

In so many ways.  Only in the Body of Christ, can 16 people come together from 4 different states/provinces and start unifying and gelling together within 2 days.  Of course, we all have our quirks and idiosyncrasies.  (As tempted as I am to share some of them from this team, I will resist that temptation.)

Only in the Body of Christ, can 16 completely unique people use their specific God-given personalities/gifts/abilities for a common purpose.  Only in the Body of Christ can 16 people people come together and share tears and stories of how they are seeing the Spirit of God move.

That common purpose is to “be” the Body of Christ to the world that Jesus is “dwelling” in.  Specifically, for us on this trip, it means being the Body to every man, woman, and child, that God sets across our path for this week in January 2015.  It means looking in the eyes of each of these individuals and seeing that every one of them was “fearfully and wonderfully made” by their creator, has been rescued and redeemed by Jesus, and is hungering to know Him.  But they are also hungering for other things along the way…for human touch, and their “daily bread” too.

But the mystery is that while we are the body of Christ, we also are touching Jesus.  

Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”  As we fill buckets, and hold orphans, and talk with elders, we are coming into contact with Jesus as well. Not only are we the conduit at these times for others to come into contact with Christ, but amazingly, they are the conduit for us to know Jesus more fully and to share in His sufferings.

But I think the greatest comfort for me in the midst of this week is that the body of Christ is bigger than the 16 of us on this trip.  I say this because there is the part of me that is crushed knowing that the half hour I spent holding and hugging this or that child just wasn’t enough.  But what I take hope and comfort in is that as we are flying out next Monday, another team will be flying in to take the baton and continue the work of the Body.  They are the Body of Christ as well.  And together, with them we are the Body of Christ.  Along with our churches, and sponsors, and family and friends at home who are supporting this work in their own way…with their prayer, and financial support…and their specific God-given personalities/gifts/abilities as well.  

We are the Body!

--Russ Peterson

Welcome to Haiti Day 1-2

Praise God! All 16 team members made it here safely! We arrived at Healing Haiti and jumped right into dinner and preparing the care packages for General Hospital, our team worked together and instantly started forming a tight bond! We went to bed very early after a long day of traveling. I got to wake up to the most beautiful Haitian sunrise. In that moment, at 5:30am, I really started to see first hand the power of the Holy Spirit in Haiti which I have heard so much about from seasoned goers. That feeling was amplified all day long as I experienced my first water truck excursion. You really cannot prepare for what you see and feel as you drive up to the first stop....there are precious children flooding the streets to greet us! Immediately after stepping off of the Tap Tap all I could see were hands reaching up from every angle wanting to be held. The strong embrace of these children is indescribable, the love that seeps out of their hearts was breath taking. All 3 stops that we made today we just as powerful as the first and I am sure I speak for the whole team in saying that we will never forget those eyes, hands, feet, smiles and hearts that we experienced today. One of the most moving moments for me was at our first stop, after we had emptied the water truck we walked with all of the children into a large fenced plot of land which will soon be the brand new church in Cite Soleil !! We gathered and said a prayer over the land, the future church and all of the beautiful people that will fill it each day. To top it off we sang Bless The Lord Oh My Soul to the kids and then they sang us a Haitian song!! The whole day was beyond powerful, the presence of The Lord was incredible and I cannot wait to see what else He has in store.

Tonight we ended our evening with an authentic Haitian dinner followed by a night of team bonding. We spent time working through our travel journals and just opening up, crying, laughing.....laughing some more and sharing our lives with one another. I feel so blessed to have been chosen to come on this trip with this team. Its truly amazing how God worked to hand pick every person here as He already knew each of our hearts and has a plan for all of us in this journey together!

Prayers for a day full of blessings tomorrow!
With Love, Denise

Ready to roll?!

Just over two weeks until we leave for Haiti! Please follow along and lift us up in prayer as we continue to prepare. 

This team is a mixture of friends and family, first-timers and return goers ... some of whom will meet face to face for the first time in Miami! While some of us may know where our gifts and strengths lie, others might discover on this trip ... and we may all find ourselves serving in ways we never thought we could.  

Pray as we set out to be the hands and feet of Christ, and use our God-given gifts wherever needed. Pray that we love whomever God puts in front of us, and serve in whatever moment we are placed.  

Thank you! 

From The Purpose Driven Life: 

While knowing your gifts is important for serving God, having the heart of a servant is even more important. Remember, God shaped you for service, not for self-centeredness. Without a servant's heart, you will be tempted to misuse your gifts for personal gain. You will also be tempted to use it as an excuse to exempt yourself from meeting some needs. 

God often tests our hearts by asking us to serve in ways we're not shaped. If you see a man fall into a ditch, God expects you to help him out, not say, "I don't have the gift of mercy or service." While you may not be gifted for a particular task, you may be called to do it if no one gifted at it is around. 

Your primary ministry should be in the area of your gift, but your secondary service is wherever you're needed at the moment.