Alo!

Alo! (ah-lo) That is Haitian for hello. 


Today was amazing. We went to a vibrant and very uplifting worship service this am. This was great planning to help us prepare our hearts for the next stop...

We went to General Hospital (a government run public hospital) next, and we were able to pray for many families there with sick children. It was amazing to here everyone in our group pray for these families.  The Spirit was flowing in that place and was felt by both the ones praying and those being prayed for. 

After that we had quite a change of pace. We brought the Word to some children in La Loo Orphanage. Pastor  Russ gave the message, about how we see ourselves vs. how God sees us. Then we made picture frames and took pictures of the children, so they could frame them to remind them of how Christ sees them. It was moving to see how excited they were to see themselves in photos. Several tried to go through line twice! After, we had a time of just playing with them singing and blowing bubbles. GOD IS SO GOOD. 

Thank you for all the prayers.

Bondye Beni'ou (Boh-jE-A-Ben-U) -- God bless you. Orevwa! (oarev-wah) -- Goodbye!

- Katina Currier

A day of Grace

Today we went to Grace Village. We traveled out of the city and out into the country to the mountains. Quickly the scenery changed to green and the view of the ocean was a vibrant blue. We pulled into a gated village and the sound of children was everywhere. Some of the kids live there (70+) and some are from town and only go to school there (roughly 350). They get an education and are fed one meal each day. There is time to play, socialize, receive an education and learn life skills. It is all about learning a life skill to sustain a life after the young adults return to their life in Titanyen. Interesting concept that the United States could learn from. Even though the mission gives to these kids, the students are learning a life skill. Grace Village recently took in 27 children to provide them with a safe, nurturing life. 

Healing Haiti recently built a bakery where work skills will be taught. They are looking for partnerships to supply baked bread (e.g. hotels, grocery stores). Also part of the bakery is a pizza parlor to provide a restaurant type atmosphere. (There is restaurant within thirty miles.) Their vision is that this will not only serve as a bakery but a pizzeria to provide a community experience. Dave said it best “ I am in awe of all the order and God’s grace at work."

We then went to visit elders throughout the village. It was a maze of huts of varying materials. Their yards were outlined with cactus bushes that served as a fence and also a clothes line. We visited four elders, played music and sang, rubbed lotion on their arms and legs and massaged oil into their hair. Each was gracious and loving and thankful for our visit. We gave each food, water and a prayer. It was a very emotional time with the elders, little children would surround us and also sing and pray. It was a time to let the elders know they are not forgotten. As the words of Dave’s wisdom, "caring for the elderly displayed compassion, and their warmth felt appreciation and the blessing we felt.”

Our last stop for the day was the Memorial at the Mass Graves. On January 12, 2010 an earthquake rocked Port Au Prince that changed lives forever. Over three hundred thousand people lost their lives that day. Our tour guide Brunet told us his story that dreadful day. He lost family, friends and his fiancé. He said he was sure why he was saved but God must have needed him to serve. Hence his mission work with Healing Haiti. He said when the earthquake hit, he was on a tap tap (transportation like a taxi). He said it stopped because the buildings were crumbling. He got out and stood and said it was complete chaos.  The first tremble was 45 seconds, then it hit again. He fell to the ground and looked up and saw the roads in a wave like formation. He said he knew he had to get up and move or would surely die. He said the shaking of the earth lasted for three months off and on. Brunet told us of all the bodies everywhere, people put sheets over them and due to the massive amount, the bodies were laid on the streets and the government picked them up. The bodies were driving out of the city to this area, which is now the site of the Mass Burial. Thinking back I don’t remember much about hearing of this tragedy, but today we learned all communication ceased. It would be weeks before Haiti became reconnected with the rest of the world. Six years later you can still see some of the devastation. 

Dave’s wisdom of the Mass Burial, “The grieving for the lost Haitians, the sadness, and the compassion ruminated through the entire team."

I feel very blessed to have been apart of this Mission trip. I pray I am a better person when I go home.

                                                                                             Kristine Kirsch and Dave Hochstetler

Haiti is...

Haiti is a place opposites. Oxymorons. Juxtaposition. And contradiction. 

A place of bleeding heart beauty. 

A place of pure happiness, yet utter sadness. 

A place of spiritual fullness, yet bodily hunger.

A place of hope in what seems like hopelessness.

A place of wide, happy eyes in place of large, sad tears.

A place of peace in the midst of chaos, and joy in the midst of despair.

A place of spiritual riches amongst a tower of earthly trash…

While my heart is broken, I have never been more complete. 

Which leads me to a beautiful segue…the eight Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3–12 during the Sermon on the Mount:

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. (5:3)

Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted. (5:4)

Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth. (5:5)

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled. (5:6)

Blessed are the merciful: for they will be shown mercy. (5:7)

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God. (5:8)

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called children of God. (5:9)

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (5:10)

Giving is truly receiving. 

How blessed and humbled am I to receive the gift of Haiti. 

- Kelly Puspoki

*************

Wednesday was a water truck day, meaning we delivered water to the people of Cite Soleil. Cite Soleil is the poorest impoverished place in the Western Hemisphere. We had three stops and three full trucks. We delivered over 9500 gallons of water today to people who won't likely see water again until next week.  Pulling up to the first stop I couldn't help but start to cry. Children, hundreds of them, most without bottoms, some with no clothes at all, running up to our bus. Screaming "hey you!" I dried my eyes and 2 minutes later was holding a little boy almost immediately after deboarding the bus.  It took me a minute to notice a boo boo, and another 10 to notice that he didn't have any bottoms on.  Honestly I was so immune to that after wiping the tears I didn't care. I think in total I held maybe 30 kids and only two were fully clothed. We fixed up his boo boo and at some point I put him down to help with the water hose. That was fun and so organized. Buckets from every direction there were times that it felt like we were really good about not wasting a drop. 

On the first stop we went to visit Hope Church which is a legit building where last year there was just rubble and garbage (for the four people who came last year this is an amazing transformation). There will be a school there for the children that were crawling all over me today. At one point I think there were 6 little boys climbing on me. Brunet (one of our translators) had to help me at one point. It was hard not being able to talk to them as much as I would have liked. I don't know much Creole and they know no English besides "Hey you."  Each stop was different, the children, the people, the chaos or lack of chaos. The last stop there were much older more aggressive boys that had clearly been influenced by the gangs a bit. I hope that they find the place we went next before its too late. 

After three stops we went and played soccer with the boys 9-11 years old.  They play with a group called the Haitian Initiative. These children that would normally be on the street now have the opportunity to go to school, learn real life skills, get a hot meal every day, and have a future.

In July, if their grades are good enough, they travel to Minnesota to play in a tournament.  All they have to do is come to this safe environment (everyday), play soccer, be respectful and get good grades! Sounds a plan! The program has been running for 4 years with great success. They have three groups; one for girls of any age over 9...they learn about being responsible with their bodies as well.  Everything today was so amazing. Best day so far. Enough to make me want to come back every year! 

- Lynsey Hochstetler

Day 1 of Serving

Day 2 - Tuesday.  They always say that our itinerary is tentative when we come to Haiti.   So…we had to roll with the punches.   Our leader and one teammate were delayed yesterday in Minnesota so they didn’t make it to Haiti until today.  But Pastor Russ stepped up and was a fine leader. 

So..today was a day where the team split.  Some of us went to Darry’s - an orphanage for handicapped children and the remainder went to the Home for the Sick and Dying Babies.    First, let me say that not ALL of the children here are sick and dying.  Many are, but there are others whose parents just couldn’t take care of them and have voluntarily placed their children in this home.  We arrived at breakfast time.  We were given a bowl of baby cereal and just started feeding these children in their beds.   It was amazing to me that these kids were most likely 6 months or less and not one of them put their hands in their mouth while feeding them.  They just looked at you with love and adoration in their eyes and opened their mouths wide.  There were a few time that the little boy I fed closed a little too early and we dripped some food on his bib.   (Mind you - he was 3 months old - he just looked at me and then looked down at his bib like “You missed.”)   After feeding the kids we were then able to pick them up and love on them.  And when you did…your heart melted.   They would wrap around your neck and lay their heads on your shoulder and not let go.   So many kids and not enough arms.   I had one child in my arms and a little girl in a walker on the floor.  She was very small, but so animated.  I took the baby in my arms and sat down on the floor next to the walker and made sounds with my mouth that she tried to imitate.  But every time I did a “zerbert” the little guy in my arms came in for a kiss on the lips and I was more than happy to oblige.  

It was very hard to leave, but it was great to love on these kids and pray over them if only for a few hours.   And I know that while these circumstances wouldn’t be the best of circumstances in the United States - these kids are well taken care of and God loves them the same as he loves all of us and He is in control.  He placed these children in my path for a reason and I am soaking it all in. I just wish it could last a little longer.    

The afternoon was spent at Apparent Project.   This is the place where the cereal box beads and the Christmas ornaments were made.  They also do screen printing, pottery, metal art and so much more.  This amazing operation has grown tremendously, They now have 2 buildings.   And they make the most AMAZING smoothies!

A great day.  Lois and Kelly met up with us at Apparent project so we are now “whole” and looking forward to Water Truck Day in Cite Soliel tomorrow. Stay tuned.     — Shelly Render

Day 2 - So today I was sent with five others to Darry’s - an orphanage for special needs children, while the others from our group went to the Home for the Sick and Dying Babies. Today was truly the start to a life changing experience. We were greeted by the pastor at the gate and another very happy joyful man. You could see the children inside getting really excited to see us. When I entered the room there was a little boy that came over and latched on to me. He took me to the corner and got a chair out for me. By the time I sat down there was a little girl right by me too. Both the little girl and boy climbed up on my lap and loved on me. The little boy kept whispering into my ear “God is good for me.” So we started singing songs with children next. Grace from the guest house, who is on an eight month mission trip, brought her guitar with her and helped lead us in a few songs and there was also a Haitian blind man that lead us in a few songs too. After a few songs, we got the bubbles out that we brought. The children were full of laughter blowing the bubbles. There was an older boy that had quite the talent with blowing bubbles. He would slowly blow the bubbles and make them very large. After the bubbles we got the face paint out. The children weren’t to excited at first about the face paint until we started to take their picture and show them on the camera. There was one boy that I painted a sun on his face and then we took his picture. He had the biggest smile on his face and then he want the other side of his face paint. There was a few children there that couldn’t walk. They seemed to be the most loving children giving kisses on cheeks. All of these children are lucky to have a place to be loved and not forgotten. We ended with a prayer before the children had to get ready for there lesson. This day set the tone for what is to come in this life changing experience. —Casey Hochstetler  

Haiti tomorrow!

How good and pleasant it is
    when God’s people live together in unity! —   Psalm 133:1 NIV

Two are better than one,

    because they have a good return for their labor:If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up!

Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.   —   Ephesians 4:9-10,12 NIV

We are all getting ready... excited, anxious, nervous, eager,... all of it. 

Please pray for this hand picked team. For our unity in Christ, purpose and service. Amen!

Less than TWO weeks... and we're getting excited!

Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, or he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Love. It's that simple. Christ's love is what you have to impart on those God puts before you in Haiti. Love those He places in your path. Love them like He does.

We are fortunate to live in a time where we can capture those lovely faces God puts before us in multiple ways... by describing them in our journals or by my capturing them on camera. People in Bible times weren't able to capture moments quite the same way. They had only their memories and hearts. And you know what? We have those too! Some of my most impactful moments in Haiti are those that I replay in my mind and are of those I still love in my heart. They are those who fill my prayers. Those memories are deeper and stronger than words on a paper or pictures on a screen.

Father, I thank You for the honor of going to new frontiers and for all of the new people and experiences and sights that You will bring my may. Help me to record as much as I can... But Lord, I choose this day to treasure in my heart the memories of what You will do, the places You will take me, and what You will bring my may. Help me to walk in Your love at all times. Amen!

- Lois