Saturday and Sunday, the team spoke about their experiences at our church services. It was moving to listen to their stories, share their emotion and see Haiti and ourselves with new eyes. I love these people! No way I can tell you what they said, so you will just have to listen. Here is the link.
http://www.acityonahill.com
Click on sermons and then Mission to Haiti
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Day Seven, Going Home
It was so hard this morning to get up and pack and know we were heading towards the final good-byes. We got up at 4:30AM and were across the street to catch the bus by 5:30 AM. Lots of tears. I managed to hold it together until the older children lined up and sang "I Am Not Forgotten, God Knows My Name." 
There is no way anyone could listen to the song and see their faces and not cry. It was even hard watching the young people say goodbye to the kids. Marisa could hardly let go and get on the bus. I think Betty cried all the way to Port Au Prince. So many hugs. Enough to last me until I get home and hug my own grandchildren.
Travel home was without incident except for Davi's devotion in the Ft. Lauderdale airport. Nothing could have been more meaningful to me personally than to know how deeply God touched her on this trip. On all the mission trips I have taken over the years, her's and Roger's personal stories have touched me the most. It confirms for me that God uses mission work to grow us as much as to help others.
So many people, both in our church, and in our personal networks, supported us and the work in Haiti. Each shares in this journey and I pray God blesses them with this knowledge. I am thankful to God for my family and their willingness to let me go and grow. I know they worry for my safety yet they send me off with smiles and hugs.
I feel like this adventure is not really over and now just wait for what God has next for me in Haiti.
Travel home was without incident except for Davi's devotion in the Ft. Lauderdale airport. Nothing could have been more meaningful to me personally than to know how deeply God touched her on this trip. On all the mission trips I have taken over the years, her's and Roger's personal stories have touched me the most. It confirms for me that God uses mission work to grow us as much as to help others.
So many people, both in our church, and in our personal networks, supported us and the work in Haiti. Each shares in this journey and I pray God blesses them with this knowledge. I am thankful to God for my family and their willingness to let me go and grow. I know they worry for my safety yet they send me off with smiles and hugs.
I feel like this adventure is not really over and now just wait for what God has next for me in Haiti.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Day Three, June 13, 2011
God sure was working today! All the walls are up in the house and VBS went off well. Even Davi's running accident is on the mend.
Mike, Davi and I went to see where Mama Sophie is currently living. It is a small 6x 8 room (at best it is that large) made from mud and sticks. The bottom is eroded away and they have put up a couple of lean-tos to provide more space. I had all I could do not to cry when I met Mama Sophie's daughter and granddaughter at their current home. The baby is so small, just months old, and is at risk in this home. We take so much for granted in the U.S.
The two groups have merged well and Marisa did her parents proud when she lead our devotion this morning. She is a brave young woman, just 15. She came to Haiti, lead a devotion to a group of adults and keeps on going despite bug bites, heat and lack of running water.
Bobbie and Lovee shared their personal story with us tonight. It was too wonderful. They could have slid through life carrying on with the family business, but chose to risk it all for God to start an orphange.
I enjoyed teaching in VBS today and the lessons are speaking to my heart probably more than they are to the children. I thank God for Lucia and his interpretation skills. He mimicks my intonation, hand motions and every once in a while gets caught up in the Spirit and starts to preach to the children himself!
I saw a Haitian pig today. It is a cross between the indiginous species and the American pig.
Not sure if I am just in Haitian overload or too tired from lack of sleep or what, but I can barely journal this evening. I am not getting any solid sleep, too much noise in the neighborhood and about the time it stops, a couple of hours later, the roosters start crowing. I get overwhelmed with sadness when I view the conditions most people have to live in this town. So much poverty and unsanitary conditions. I saw some outdoor toilets today that are nothing more than an hole in the ground, no vents, no door or sides to speak of, and no privacy. The public bathing area outside the house I am staying in is nothing more than an irrigation ditch/sewer. They are prevalent in all parts of this country for open bathing, washing of clothes and dumping of dirty water.
A joy experienced early this morning before VBS was catching the boys working on the puzzles. On Sunday, Roger and Davi were showing the kids how to work puzzles. They kept stealing pieces and hiding them. It was frustrating. And yet this morning, they were sharing their pieces and working at putting the puzzles together. What a God thing!
The two groups have merged well and Marisa did her parents proud when she lead our devotion this morning. She is a brave young woman, just 15. She came to Haiti, lead a devotion to a group of adults and keeps on going despite bug bites, heat and lack of running water.
I enjoyed teaching in VBS today and the lessons are speaking to my heart probably more than they are to the children. I thank God for Lucia and his interpretation skills. He mimicks my intonation, hand motions and every once in a while gets caught up in the Spirit and starts to preach to the children himself!
I saw a Haitian pig today. It is a cross between the indiginous species and the American pig.
Day Six, June 16, 2011
Today was a very different day. Jim B and I took off for Port Au Prince with Bobby to pick up supplies for the build and spend time getting to know each other. It is easy to forget with all of the week's activity that part of our mission here is to figure out the where and how of The Jospeh School and get clarity on what God has planned. We did a lot of talking and sharing and I continue to be impressed with Bobby's honesty and vision for his orphange.
Our visit to the Haitian version of a Home Depot was an eye opener. Supplies have the same price tag here in Haiti as back home. Some things were even higher. Demand runs the market and right now there is plenty of demand. It was strangely familar to be walking around a superstore, though. We also visited a supermarket that primarily caters to foreigners. While it did not have the same extraordinary number of choices as in a U.S. supermarket, it was enough like one, to be fun! We bought lots of coffee to take home.
Port Au Prince, itself is a very busy city. Evidence of the earthquake is still present everywhere and the large crowds, honking horns and jammmed vehicles on the street reminded me of Nairobi, Mumbai or San Salvador.
The VBS team reported the kids were totally out of control today and no interpreters were there to help. The children know we are leaving in the morning and that added to the chaotic energy floating through the compound today. Many of the supplies disappeared never to be seen again and the children just ran from activity to activity at will instead of waiting and going as a group to the next activity. God blessed our team who worked in the chaos. They survived! The house is moving along and they have put on stucco in two rooms. Everyone is so grateful to know Mama Sophie and Papa Tikepe and their family will have such a fine house. This is house number 5 Bobby has helped to build in the community. One of our team members has already identified a second house for us to build. 
There is land for sale outside of Thomazeau and the team went after lunch to dream about The Joseph School and possible partnerships. The land sits in a beautiful valley between mountains and the lake is clearly visible.
For some reason, the weather today is slightly cooler.....what is going on! And, we had cheesebugers for lunch. Bobby picked them up when we were in town and I helped cooked them since he wanted to get to the house build. The Haitian cooks did not know how to judge when a burger was done so I stepped in and helped. Another amazing moment was when I walked into the compound from the trip to Port Au Prince and found Lynne surrounded by children who were tatooing her with washable marker.
I am personally thanking God today that Jon is feeling better. He is such a silent sufferer and it is hard to know how to help him. Davi managed to take a good slide/fall during the sports portion of VBS today and has multiple scraps down her leg and a gash at the ankle. She is such a trooper as well. Bug bites are not quite so red and the exhaustion that plagued most of us on Wednesday seems to have disappeared.
As the mission is coming to a close, I am beginning to think about my involvement in more of these trips and The Joseph School. I feel woefully inadequate and ponder what has God got me into and how will He enable me. I watch Marisa, Nick and Drake interact with the children and pray I can enter into the work with the same ease and confidence they have entered into the play and enjoyment of this moment.
James and Roger commented tonight on the wordless communciation that is going on between the local workers and our building team. In the absence of common language, people find a way whether in work or play. I know God will show the way for The Joseph School and find a way to communicate to us.
Our visit to the Haitian version of a Home Depot was an eye opener. Supplies have the same price tag here in Haiti as back home. Some things were even higher. Demand runs the market and right now there is plenty of demand. It was strangely familar to be walking around a superstore, though. We also visited a supermarket that primarily caters to foreigners. While it did not have the same extraordinary number of choices as in a U.S. supermarket, it was enough like one, to be fun! We bought lots of coffee to take home.
Port Au Prince, itself is a very busy city. Evidence of the earthquake is still present everywhere and the large crowds, honking horns and jammmed vehicles on the street reminded me of Nairobi, Mumbai or San Salvador.
For some reason, the weather today is slightly cooler.....what is going on! And, we had cheesebugers for lunch. Bobby picked them up when we were in town and I helped cooked them since he wanted to get to the house build. The Haitian cooks did not know how to judge when a burger was done so I stepped in and helped. Another amazing moment was when I walked into the compound from the trip to Port Au Prince and found Lynne surrounded by children who were tatooing her with washable marker.
I am personally thanking God today that Jon is feeling better. He is such a silent sufferer and it is hard to know how to help him. Davi managed to take a good slide/fall during the sports portion of VBS today and has multiple scraps down her leg and a gash at the ankle. She is such a trooper as well. Bug bites are not quite so red and the exhaustion that plagued most of us on Wednesday seems to have disappeared.
As the mission is coming to a close, I am beginning to think about my involvement in more of these trips and The Joseph School. I feel woefully inadequate and ponder what has God got me into and how will He enable me. I watch Marisa, Nick and Drake interact with the children and pray I can enter into the work with the same ease and confidence they have entered into the play and enjoyment of this moment.
James and Roger commented tonight on the wordless communciation that is going on between the local workers and our building team. In the absence of common language, people find a way whether in work or play. I know God will show the way for The Joseph School and find a way to communicate to us.
Day Five, June 15, 2011
The routines of the day are firmly established. Our morning devotions as a team have been very meaningful. Each person who has led has shared not just scripture, but personal stories that embody the Bible verses with new meaning and emotion. I am so impressed with this team. Awesome is hardly adequate to describe them. Our Bible themes are knowing, sharing, loving and forgiving. This group is living them.
Our gathering at day's end is also moving. We re-visit the days highs and lows, award beads to individual members for service, courage, compassion and enthusiasm. Usually, just as the gathering ends, the children's night time ritual begins. Such a lovely way to end a day!
VBS has had the best craft programs this week. Lynne has been providing the leadership and creativity. Her ability to enter into play with the children is amazing. Betty and Marisa have taken turns helping her with the children and the crafts. We have seen beautiful butterflies and oragami.
What this team can do with some crepe paper and paper plates is amazing. I am glad I got the easy job of teaching. Mike, with help from Marisa and Davi, has not had an interpretor for most of the week and it is a zoo out there in the courtyard. I think Mike has surrendered to the momemtum of the children and relaxed in the knowledge, the sports program is not controllable in any way, shape, or form!
The construction is moving along very well. We will not finish the house, but Bobby assures us it will be done by Wednesday next week. Roger, Nick and the local crew continue to receive praise from the rest of the team for their consistent efforts and can do attitude.
Our group has not been without problems, mostly medical. Marisa and Betty are allegeric to mosquito bites and are covered in red spots, Davi has sprained her ankle, but, thank God, it is weight bearing at this point without pain and Jon has had bouts of vertigo and nausea, mostly likely from dehydration. All in all, small hiccups in comparison to what could go wrong. Thank you, God.
Tomorrow is our last day. I am sad and glad all at the same time. It is our church's first group experience, at least since I have been attending, and I pray everyone can rejoice in their accomplishments, take the passion for missions back with them and be able to share it in our congregation. My personal thanks for today is that God finds ways to use me. I like being useful.
Other highlights include a ride out to the lake between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. It has been overflowing for a while (since before the earthquake) and it has literally spread a flood plain that has swallowed up houses, hotels, water irrigation systems and who knows what else. No one seems to know when the flow of water will ebb or where. Part of the journey back to our afternoon jobs included some of our group sampling their first taste of sugar cane.
Our gathering at day's end is also moving. We re-visit the days highs and lows, award beads to individual members for service, courage, compassion and enthusiasm. Usually, just as the gathering ends, the children's night time ritual begins. Such a lovely way to end a day!
VBS has had the best craft programs this week. Lynne has been providing the leadership and creativity. Her ability to enter into play with the children is amazing. Betty and Marisa have taken turns helping her with the children and the crafts. We have seen beautiful butterflies and oragami.
Our group has not been without problems, mostly medical. Marisa and Betty are allegeric to mosquito bites and are covered in red spots, Davi has sprained her ankle, but, thank God, it is weight bearing at this point without pain and Jon has had bouts of vertigo and nausea, mostly likely from dehydration. All in all, small hiccups in comparison to what could go wrong. Thank you, God.
Tomorrow is our last day. I am sad and glad all at the same time. It is our church's first group experience, at least since I have been attending, and I pray everyone can rejoice in their accomplishments, take the passion for missions back with them and be able to share it in our congregation. My personal thanks for today is that God finds ways to use me. I like being useful.
Other highlights include a ride out to the lake between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. It has been overflowing for a while (since before the earthquake) and it has literally spread a flood plain that has swallowed up houses, hotels, water irrigation systems and who knows what else. No one seems to know when the flow of water will ebb or where. Part of the journey back to our afternoon jobs included some of our group sampling their first taste of sugar cane.
Day Four, June 14, 2011
The day started as all days in Thomazeau do, with the roosters crowing at 4:00 A.M. My pattern has also fallen into place. I lay awake listening to the roosters, doing a little stretching, and saying my prayers. By 5:00 AM, more sounds are emerging on the streets and in the house where we are staying. Women are beginning the cleaning and cooking for the day, vendors are on the street starting to set up and those folks travelling to other areas are already on the streets moving by foot, motorbike or truck. Davi is up brushing her teeth before my feet hit the floor.
I get up and brush my teeth, wash up a little with a tiny container of water, get dressed and take the wash water out to water the vinca plant in the back of the house. Slowly everyone else stirs and begins the same process of getting ready for the day. I am so tired at night from the day's adventure, that I cannot finish my daily Bible reading, so I have taken to doing the second half in the morning while the others are getting ready. I am sure God does not mind I break it up in two parts. Besides, it is almost a comfortable temperature between 5 and 7:00 AM. It really starts getting hot around 8:00 AM and steadily just gets hotter all day.
June is not the best month to take a mission trip to Haiti. Heat and humidity combine to sap all energy quickly and there is no amount of water that can be consumed that will keep a person from some level of dehydration. An added bonus today was a delicious rain that lasted about 10 or 15 minutes. Unfortunately, it was just hotter and stickier afterwards.
After our morning VBS (which went great - yeah for interpreters!), housebuilding, and a lunch of tuna salad, we took a walk to the local swimming hole. There are several natural springs in the Thomazeau area and this one has been dammed up to create a swimming pool. The water can escape to the stream through an overflow area. It was so refreshing just to wade in the stream, at least until I blew out my flip flop. Those stones were killers! Several of group went in the pool. Drake and Nick jumped in right away. Marisa got in after Lynne did. It was awesome to see our youth in a water splashing contest with the local youth. Laughter was the common language.
The ingenuity of the Haitians is enviable. I just figured I would have to walk back to the orphange barefoot, but Lucia and Marcuson, two of our interpreters, decided to try and fix them. Bless them. Marcuson took a stick and jammmed the parts back together so at least it held for the walk back.
Our English classes in the afternoon went well. Today we used story books as a way to encourage conversational English. The children were very responsive.
In my travels to Central America and Kenya, I have seen poverty and suffering up close many times. And yet, God blesses me by helping me to see it fresh again today and still know that even in poverty there is joy and laughter. I am reminded to use eyes of compassion that lead to action as I spend my time here. Service is blessed both to those I serve and to me. Strange how God continues to grow me in ways I never imagined possible.
I look at the bright children at the orphanage and know that The Joseph School is needed to provide a solid secondary education process in a Christian environment. If Haiti was populated with more folks like Lovee and Bobby Trouissant, who take an active leadership role in solving problems when they see them, Haiti could emerge out of its extreme poverty.
The meals the women are preparing for us, with Bobby's help, are a combination of American and Haitian. We had some delicious pumpkin soup one morning and the tomato gravy for rice and potatoes is sooooo good.
I get up and brush my teeth, wash up a little with a tiny container of water, get dressed and take the wash water out to water the vinca plant in the back of the house. Slowly everyone else stirs and begins the same process of getting ready for the day. I am so tired at night from the day's adventure, that I cannot finish my daily Bible reading, so I have taken to doing the second half in the morning while the others are getting ready. I am sure God does not mind I break it up in two parts. Besides, it is almost a comfortable temperature between 5 and 7:00 AM. It really starts getting hot around 8:00 AM and steadily just gets hotter all day.
June is not the best month to take a mission trip to Haiti. Heat and humidity combine to sap all energy quickly and there is no amount of water that can be consumed that will keep a person from some level of dehydration. An added bonus today was a delicious rain that lasted about 10 or 15 minutes. Unfortunately, it was just hotter and stickier afterwards.
The ingenuity of the Haitians is enviable. I just figured I would have to walk back to the orphange barefoot, but Lucia and Marcuson, two of our interpreters, decided to try and fix them. Bless them. Marcuson took a stick and jammmed the parts back together so at least it held for the walk back.
Our English classes in the afternoon went well. Today we used story books as a way to encourage conversational English. The children were very responsive.
In my travels to Central America and Kenya, I have seen poverty and suffering up close many times. And yet, God blesses me by helping me to see it fresh again today and still know that even in poverty there is joy and laughter. I am reminded to use eyes of compassion that lead to action as I spend my time here. Service is blessed both to those I serve and to me. Strange how God continues to grow me in ways I never imagined possible.
I look at the bright children at the orphanage and know that The Joseph School is needed to provide a solid secondary education process in a Christian environment. If Haiti was populated with more folks like Lovee and Bobby Trouissant, who take an active leadership role in solving problems when they see them, Haiti could emerge out of its extreme poverty.
The meals the women are preparing for us, with Bobby's help, are a combination of American and Haitian. We had some delicious pumpkin soup one morning and the tomato gravy for rice and potatoes is sooooo good.
Day Two, June 12, 2011
Sunday morning started with a double dose of worship Haitian style. We all joined the children at the Children of Hope Orphanage for part of their service. Bobby and Louvee have a local Pastor who not only provides Sunday morning worship for the children, he comes each night for the singing of psalms and night time prayers with the children. That ritual ends with the children kissing and hugging any available adult prior to going to their beds. Many in our group participated in the evening ritual last night. I particpated this evening. It is sacred time for all involved.
That same sweet spirit overflows into their Sunday worship together. Those that have Bibles, follow along with the scripture reading and all participate in the singing and recitation of memory verses. The singing is particularly joyful with clapping and smiles. Some of the children left their seats and joined us to be held and cuddled as we watched their church service unfold. It was all in Creole and French, so we did not understand the words, but we understood the Spirit.
We went by small truck transport, a tut tut, I think Bobby called it, to a local Thomazeau Free Methodist Church.
The ride itself was a new adventure for most of us and the roads are so bumpy. But the welcome we received at the church was so warm. The service had already started, but Lucia came out and shook hands with each of us and escorted us to the seats that had been saved for us. The Pastor let us introduce ourselves and made a plea for our help with the capital campaign for fans for the church. Of course, each of us donated and we used some of our emergency cash for the trip to help as well. I was blessed to participate in the music worship and thrilled that our group entered the worship service so actively. Roger was even able to parrot the words to their choruses! After the service everyone shook hands with us and welcomed us to Haiti.
Everyone we have met so far has been open, friendly and glad to see us in the town. I feel no sense of safety risk, although, I know I still need to be careful and help others on the team to do the same.
So much joy in the morning and the afternoon turned into all out chaos! We did a dry run of vacation Bible school by setting up learning stations. We were suppose to have interpreters, but they did not arrive. We had a puzzle station, a story circle, activity area with balloons and a coloring area. The children were blown away by the "stuff" and immediately starting hoarding it away, down their shirts, in their pants, anywhere they could. It wasn't until we met afterward that Roger and Davi shed some light on their hoarding.
While the kids are surrounded by caregivers that love them, see to their needs and they have food and shelter and an education, yet they do not own anything. The hoarding was instinctual and the things they took ended up in the only thing that is theirs; their school backpack. Of course, the absconding of supplies limited the ability of group leaders to continue their process because each new group had less and less to work with! In the end all the children joined the reading group in my area for the distribution of candy. I am ashamed to admit, in order to get some semblence of order I gave a very loud shout and then started putting my finger to my mouth and saying "shush......" quietly. You know, it almost worked. I think they were quiet for all of 20 seconds! The rush for candy was unbelievable. Bobby told me they never get candy, so this was a big deal for them.
It was a very emotionally draining afternoon. After their arrival,Jim's group from TJS were thrown into our evening gathering listening to our sense of failure, learning more about the atypical orphans served by Bobby and Louvee (abandoned, medically needy, physically and emotionally abused children), and still managed to ease themselves into the rhythm of our group. Everyone shared and it was sweet and wonderful and therapuetic.
My personal thanks to God for today, is for this group of people who have joined me in Haiti. They have so lovingly allowed me to be me and have abandoned themselves to the work at hand.
That same sweet spirit overflows into their Sunday worship together. Those that have Bibles, follow along with the scripture reading and all participate in the singing and recitation of memory verses. The singing is particularly joyful with clapping and smiles. Some of the children left their seats and joined us to be held and cuddled as we watched their church service unfold. It was all in Creole and French, so we did not understand the words, but we understood the Spirit.
We went by small truck transport, a tut tut, I think Bobby called it, to a local Thomazeau Free Methodist Church.
Everyone we have met so far has been open, friendly and glad to see us in the town. I feel no sense of safety risk, although, I know I still need to be careful and help others on the team to do the same.
So much joy in the morning and the afternoon turned into all out chaos! We did a dry run of vacation Bible school by setting up learning stations. We were suppose to have interpreters, but they did not arrive. We had a puzzle station, a story circle, activity area with balloons and a coloring area. The children were blown away by the "stuff" and immediately starting hoarding it away, down their shirts, in their pants, anywhere they could. It wasn't until we met afterward that Roger and Davi shed some light on their hoarding.
While the kids are surrounded by caregivers that love them, see to their needs and they have food and shelter and an education, yet they do not own anything. The hoarding was instinctual and the things they took ended up in the only thing that is theirs; their school backpack. Of course, the absconding of supplies limited the ability of group leaders to continue their process because each new group had less and less to work with! In the end all the children joined the reading group in my area for the distribution of candy. I am ashamed to admit, in order to get some semblence of order I gave a very loud shout and then started putting my finger to my mouth and saying "shush......" quietly. You know, it almost worked. I think they were quiet for all of 20 seconds! The rush for candy was unbelievable. Bobby told me they never get candy, so this was a big deal for them.
It was a very emotionally draining afternoon. After their arrival,Jim's group from TJS were thrown into our evening gathering listening to our sense of failure, learning more about the atypical orphans served by Bobby and Louvee (abandoned, medically needy, physically and emotionally abused children), and still managed to ease themselves into the rhythm of our group. Everyone shared and it was sweet and wonderful and therapuetic.
My personal thanks to God for today, is for this group of people who have joined me in Haiti. They have so lovingly allowed me to be me and have abandoned themselves to the work at hand.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Arrival in Haiti, June 11, 2011
Getting to Haiti from the Quad Cities is a little adventure all by itself. Regardless of what airline we took, it required a very long lay over somewhere, like an overnight lay over. So, we arrived in Port Au Prince, tired, excited and generally overwhelmed by the baggage claim to customs to getting to our van process. The baggage handlers were relentless in grabbing our stuff. I think I tipped 3 different teams of people before all the bags were fully loaded into the van.
It is amazing, that we were a fully formed team prior to leaving on the 10th and the trip here just strengthened that bond. We are easy going companions but eight distinct people with common goals.
Leaving the airport, the blue tent cities are still providing housing for literally thousands. They surround the airport and extend on the plain right up to the mountains.
There are still so many displaced people and the orphange we are going to be serving in took in many children from the Port Au Prince area after the earthquake. Our devotional this morning was James 1:22-27. So appropriate for the week of work we are about to start.
Even with all my travels and missions work, there was nothing that could have prepared me for the swarming children that greeted us when we stepped off the bus. Children jumped into our arms, hung on our legs and generally touched us all over! No one on the team anticipated the emotional needs of the children to be hugged and loved on. I pray I never become hardened and miss the rush of emotion that comes when you realize your presence alone is sufficient for the children.
We ate sandwiches for lunch and headed to the building site. Bobby, who is our project manager for the house build had already had the foundation poured and everything was ready to start laying the concrete block. We have not
met the recipients of the house yet. I am looking forward to getting to know them. Bobby does double duty as a construction supervisor and trainer of masonary workers and, with his wife, operate the orphanage. His compassion directed to action seems limitless.
This is a hard working group of missionaries and the locals are pushing themselves as well. There was a lot of concrete block to be carried, cement to mixed and hauled over the masons. We worked for about three hours before totally running out of energy in the 110 plus degree weather with 70 to 80% humidity. Combine the blazing sun, tiredness from lack of sleep, the physical toll of hard labor and the emotional stress of our new surroundings, to make us so ready for showers and a rest. The ladies accommodations are in a concrete block/stucco two story house with no plumbing but nice beds! The men have plumbing but no beds. They are staying on the second floor of the orphange. The outhouse on our side is well maintained and the gravity shower is plenty good enough.
Bobby has installed solar panel, has a generator and batteries for storage of energy to maintain electric at the house we are in as well as the orphange. Air conditioning would be nice but sweating seems to be the standard for the week.
It is amazing, that we were a fully formed team prior to leaving on the 10th and the trip here just strengthened that bond. We are easy going companions but eight distinct people with common goals.
Leaving the airport, the blue tent cities are still providing housing for literally thousands. They surround the airport and extend on the plain right up to the mountains.
There are still so many displaced people and the orphange we are going to be serving in took in many children from the Port Au Prince area after the earthquake. Our devotional this morning was James 1:22-27. So appropriate for the week of work we are about to start.
Even with all my travels and missions work, there was nothing that could have prepared me for the swarming children that greeted us when we stepped off the bus. Children jumped into our arms, hung on our legs and generally touched us all over! No one on the team anticipated the emotional needs of the children to be hugged and loved on. I pray I never become hardened and miss the rush of emotion that comes when you realize your presence alone is sufficient for the children.
We ate sandwiches for lunch and headed to the building site. Bobby, who is our project manager for the house build had already had the foundation poured and everything was ready to start laying the concrete block. We have not
This is a hard working group of missionaries and the locals are pushing themselves as well. There was a lot of concrete block to be carried, cement to mixed and hauled over the masons. We worked for about three hours before totally running out of energy in the 110 plus degree weather with 70 to 80% humidity. Combine the blazing sun, tiredness from lack of sleep, the physical toll of hard labor and the emotional stress of our new surroundings, to make us so ready for showers and a rest. The ladies accommodations are in a concrete block/stucco two story house with no plumbing but nice beds! The men have plumbing but no beds. They are staying on the second floor of the orphange. The outhouse on our side is well maintained and the gravity shower is plenty good enough.
Bobby has installed solar panel, has a generator and batteries for storage of energy to maintain electric at the house we are in as well as the orphange. Air conditioning would be nice but sweating seems to be the standard for the week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)