Grateful

Today was our last full day in Haiti. We began our Sunday basking in joyous worship at Grace Village Church in Titanye. Church here is nothing like I have seen before and I want more of it! Jeff and Lucina sang during church and everyone was mesmerized. It was hard to say goodbye to many of our new friends at Grace. There is so much love here.  We were hugging people we've only known for a few days like we hug our family before a long goodbye. They are now our family too.  I find myself desperate to know more about my new family and follow their lives after we leave. I can't fathom not knowing, and so I try not to think about it except to ask God to keep us connected.

After Grace we drove to the top of the mountain to take in God's beautiful creation and support the local economy by shopping. We were blessed to be able to bring Lucina, James, Dickinson, and Davidson with us for the day. Haiti is very beautiful, and it is very apparent from atop a mountain looking out. Seeing them experience this part of Haiti was special. Through this entire trip it was watching our Haitian friends live these experiences with us that was my favorite thing. I've learned so much from them.

Upon arriving back at the guest house both Healing Haiti teams and some of the neighborhood kids gathered to witness the very gifted Lucina and Jeff sing. Oh those voices!  They use their gift to bring joy to others and share their faith. For this many (including myself) are grateful.
One last trip to the pool at the Visa Lodge for a refreshing swim. Thank you Ashley for bringing an underwater camera so we could take ridiculous pictures.

We ended our day reflecting on our experiences in Haiti and our anticipation of what is to come when we arrive back home. What do we do now? What is God trying to tell us? I know one thing, we were called to be the change we wish to see in the world and it starts one person at a time.

Stacy (Nacho) Roe

God Was Smiling

Saturday - Beach Day with 22 kids from Grace Village, a beautiful young lady and an amazing Christian young man from Cite Soleil! We rented a 'tap tap' from town and ventured out to Mission Beach.  Two 'tap taps' filled with Minesotans and Hatians ... God was smiling!

The day was filled with sun, sand, the Caribbean blue, english/creole prayers, and much laughter.  We ended the afternoon with the angelic voice of the young lady singing the song our trip leader, Jeff wrote.  Again ... God was smiling!

After dropping off the kids we made a stop at The Mass Graves ... from a day of laughter - to a time of silence and honor as we listened to our driver, Emmanuel, tell his story.  He started with the exact date and time ... right down to the second - the day the earthquake devastated Haiti.  He said no one knew what was happening ... some thought it was Christ returning.  He thought it may be an earthquake so he knew he had to go out into the road and run - others ran into their homes - and the homes collapsed.  The graves hold 300,000 people according to the government ... more than 500,000 if you ask the people of Haiti.   Our hearts were still ... God's too.

A quick stop at 'home' and off to Pizza Amore - a restaurant run by Americans that came to Haiti to help.  Then back 'home' ... in the darkness ,,, even trickier to navigate these crazy roads.

Lord - thank you for your promise in 2 Corinthians 6:16 ... "I will live in them and walk among them.  I will be their God, and they will be my people.  Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.  And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."  Bless the people of Haiti who love you and share their love with others.  Amen.

- Nancy

Full

Today was so full! We began our day at tent church at 6am. Tent church is held everyday for 4 hours in a huge metal pole barn. The place is filled with benches and chairs but the only people that stayed in their seats was us. Everyone walked around, singing and praising Jesus and praying for each other. The pastor is from Grace Village and was kind enough to conduct some of the service in English. He prayed over our trip and the change it would bring to our lives. The worship and gratitude that we saw was inspiring. The people here are poor in possessions but rich in the Spirit. The trust and gratitude they show Jesus is humbling and inspiring.

Next we headed up, up, up the mountain to Grace Village. It was market day and the streets were filled with people. We got our first glimpse of the ocean and it was so beautiful! Once we arrived we were given a tour of Grace Village. We saw the bread ovens, the children's classrooms, the Aquaponics farm, the new housing going up and the new medical and dental clinic. And of course the children! The lovely, funny, goofy, adorable children that call Grace home accompanied us on our tour in groups. Some stayed with us the whole visit while others would pop over to pull a pony tail then scamper off to join their friends. They stole all our hearts.

After leaving Grace we visited the homes of 4 elders in Healing Haiti's elder program. Our 2nd stop was to Marie's house who is 104 years old! She relaxed while we washed her feet, massaged her legs and hands and painted her nails. She relished the music-we had a full 3 piece band today!-and at the end of her visit said "tre kontan", very happy. We prayed over her before we left and I was struck by her strong faith. She's undoubtably led a hard life but is still praising God with a joy that is radiant.

After the elders we went to Juno's orphanage where we sang, played games and danced with the kids. We toured their humble building and saw where they have class, sleep, eat and play. While it was hard to see the children in such conditions they are obviously loved and there is a strong sense of community. We ended the day the way we began it-with songs of praise for our awesome God. As we prepared to leave Juno's the children put on a performance for us loudly proclaiming their love for Jesus.

We headed back to the guest house this day tired but full-full of the praise, hope, faith and joy that we have witnessed in Haiti today. God is good!

Bondye beni,
Allison

Unexplainable Love

Writing this post a little late, I guess you could say I'm on "Haitian time." 

Yesterday was one of my favorite days, water day. There's absolutely no way I can explain the feeling you get when pulling into the village hearing the children yell, "Hey You!" and stepping off the tap-tap into a flood of children waiting for you to hold them, love them, and cherish the time you have with them. The feeling of communicating through smiles, hand games, and dancing...or the feeling of wanting to do everything you possibly can to help whether it be holding the water hose, dancing with the children, helping someone lift that heavy bucket of water onto their head so they can bring it to their home, or stepping in and carrying that bucket of water, even when it's almost too heavy to manage. It's amazing the strength that God can give us whether it be physically, mentally, or even emotionally. 

We also visited ApParent Project; a place where Haitian parents who are at risk of giving their children to an orphanage, due to a low economic status, are employed. Apparent project offers both employment as well as daycare for the children to keep families together. Each employee has different talents from mixing clay for pottery to making beads from cereal boxes. They put these talents together to create beautiful art pieces available for purchase. 

Haiti is more than I could have ever imagined. It is so incredibly beautiful. As are the people. The love I have felt the past few days is one I've never felt before. When that child presses his or her cheek against yours and wraps their arms around you, it melts your heart. Even with the team, we have all been blessed with an unbelievable team who shows their love for one another. The week is moving by too quickly, I'm not ready for it to end.

Bònn nui,

Ashley Levang

Gertrude's and General Hospital

Today was a day of conflicting emotions. This morning our team went to Gertrude's Orphanage for special needs children.  What a gift to sing and play with the children and hold the babies!  The pure joy clearly shining in their eyes and beaming from their smiles is such a blessing to us!  

This afternoon we went to General Hospital to visit the patients in the children's ward.  General Hospital is the only free hospital in the area where parents can bring their sick child to the doctor.  To be faced with the unbearable reality that your child will suffer or die because you do not have the means or resources to helps him or her is heartbreaking.  

Our team came with donation packs filled will a clothing item for the baby, formula, baby bottles, wipes, soap, toothbrushes and a protein source, like tuna, for mom.  More importantly, we came with the love of Christ to share with those there.

Matthew14:14...he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Kisses From Haiti

Last night I was reading Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis (which I highly recommend, by the way). She said that God never gives you more than you can handle.

"Because in these times, He shows Himself victorious. He reminds me that all of this life requires more of Him and less of me. God does give us more than we can handle. No maliciously, but intentionally, in love, that His glory may be displayed, that we may have no doubt of who is in control, that people may see His grace and faithfulness shining through our lives."

I thought about what I read before heading out on the water truck. Having experienced this twice already, I know that God always shows up and gives us strength to love and serve in ways that seem impossible. Well, He did just that today-in so many ways.

Between water truck stops we always take a break while the truck refills. I got off the tap tap to find a place in the shade and noticed a mama goat was giving birth. I quickly realized this mama was in great distress. Two babies were on the way out, but were stuck. One was head first and one was butt first. There were a lot of people standing around, but no one really knew what to do. I grabbed some gloves from the first aid kit and got to work. I was able to pull the first goat out by the head, but it was lifeless. The second one came easier, but was struggling. Then mama surprised us with yet another baby. The third delivered fine and within minutes was trying to take its first steps.

 

What I thought was a hopeless situation turned out to be another way that God showed up and did the impossible.

And that was just the animals. Our entire team shared other ways that God allowed us to do more than we could handle. Picking up sick babies laying alone on dirt floors, carrying heavy water buckets until our arms burned, and learning of bodies discarded in a garbage dump that these beautiful people call home are just a few examples. But somehow as we surrendered those horrifying situations to Him, He showed up and did the impossible. And we were filled with joy-more than we can handle.

Glwa pou bondye!

Mackenzie Bjorklund

Beautiful Haiti

We made it to Haiti! We had some delays in Miami because of storms but we made it and are so excited to serve God this week. What a great team this is! I can't wait to get to know each one and see how God works in their life. We had a long day and are off to bed. Tomorrow is water truck day! 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Bondye beni ou,

Jennifer Klein

Sun July 20th - We leave tomorrow!

The time is very near!
After much prep time, talk time, prayer, and packing this amazing team is ready to go!  So excited to see what God teaches each of us this week as we embark on a journey He has created for us.

I am so proud of the team we have. These servant hearts who have taken great interest in preparing, securing donations, and already going above and beyond what it takes to serve our Haitian brothers and sisters.

Thank you to each person who supported this team with your resources, donations, love, and prayer up to this moment.
We humbly ask for your prayer for our teams' health throughout this week so we can serve to our greatest capacity, this includes keeping us free of the nasty mosquitoes carrying Chikengunya as well.

Also please pray for our timely travel to and from Haiti and that Gods great protection will surround us our entire journey. 
-Jeff


"Do not be afraid to be different from other people. The path I have called you to travel is exquisitely right for you. The more closely you follow My leading, the more fully I can develop your gifts. To follow Me wholeheartedly, you must relinquish your desire to please other people. However, your closeness to Me will bless others by enabling you to shine brightly in this dark world."
-Jesus Calling (July 20)