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