Well, my last night in Haiti. A new group from Altadena, CA arrived today, 16 of them, so the house is full. I was enjoying the bathroom all to myself, but now I must share. But don’t feel sorry for me, I will be home tomorrow night, safe and sound in my hubby’s arms.
Today I did what I do best, taught Zumba to Louisetta and Linda. They laughed so hard that they could hardly do their cooking. I then helped Debbie with admin work for the church and the classes she will be teaching. I was hoping to be able to teach English, but the classes were on break. Next time.
I also help Sem (our interpreter) with music charts. Sem is on the worship team as the keyboard player and learns all the songs by listening. He does read music so I printed out some charts and he couldn’t believe it. So my training at East Hill is paying off. I would love to bring a worship team here to play with them. Last Sunday they sang Shout to the Lord in English. We all loved it.
This morning I was listening to Healer while going through my photos and became very emotional. Louisetta saw me crying. That song says it all for Haiti. She does need healing. God has not abandoned her or her people. The poverty here is intense. But what Foursquare is going here will help its people rise up. As we teach self sustaining projects like Talapia farming, raising chickens for eggs and meat, and hydroponic gardening they can find dignity in sustaining themselves. There are plans for a bakery right on the church property that they will eventually sell. Debbie and I discussed a “market” where we can bring in hand crafted items to sell. The kids at Children of Promise can make art projects that we can market to help it raise funds. The possibilities are limited. Yes I said limited. They live under bad government leaders that do nothing but take from them. One day a leader will be good to them and they will rise up out of ashes of their poverty and find opportunity.
Thank you all for supporting me. I do want to come back. More work is needed.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Haiti Day Seven
I can't believe it is almost over. It flew by and I have been getting the best sleep ever. I spent the day at the church property helping put up the sign over the water taps. I will upload a video when I get home of Jackie one of our interpreters reading the sign.
the rest of the day was spent helping Pastor Debbie with admin work. we are trying to update the team leader letter that is currently on the web. Debbie wants to be able to email it out with the most up to date information.
in the afternoon i went over the church again and helped stain the siding on the bunk house. maybe that's why i am so tired. I can hardly keep my eyes open and its only 9pm.
A new team from Riverside, CA arrives tomorrow. 16 people! I need to move to the next room to allow for 8 men to take my room. i will move to a smaller room for the one more night I have here. it's so weird to think about going home. my life is so changed.
the rest of the day was spent helping Pastor Debbie with admin work. we are trying to update the team leader letter that is currently on the web. Debbie wants to be able to email it out with the most up to date information.
in the afternoon i went over the church again and helped stain the siding on the bunk house. maybe that's why i am so tired. I can hardly keep my eyes open and its only 9pm.
A new team from Riverside, CA arrives tomorrow. 16 people! I need to move to the next room to allow for 8 men to take my room. i will move to a smaller room for the one more night I have here. it's so weird to think about going home. my life is so changed.
Haiti Day Six
Hey, remember these lyrics, “We’ve got a long way to go and a short time to get there”? Well, that does not apply to Haiti. In Haiti it’s, “We’ve got a short way to go and a long time to get there.” Seriously, today was a frustrating and horrifying day.
It started out nice enough. Debbie and I interacted with Linda (right) and Louisetta (left) (that's me in the middle) today laughing and learning Creole.
We were waiting for Sister Inez to call so we could arrange to pick her up in Petionville and take her to the orphanage that she runs with her husband. Petionville is about 10 miles from base camp. We got half way there and then sat in traffic for about 2 hours. When we got to the cause of the stoppage, a traffic accident right in front of the open air market, we get a call from Pastor Guy (pronounced Gee) saying that he has picked up Sister Inez and was coming in the opposite direction and that we should watch for him so he could pass her to our vehicle. Ha ha. We pulled off to a side road and sat for 30 minutes or so when we get another call saying that the trip was off. It was too late in the day.
Driving in Haiti is a real nail biter. They drive on the right side, most of the time, but rarely stay there for long. Between cars passing you on the right and motorcycles passing you on the left, you get squeezed. There are many narrow escapes. I don’t recall if I have seen any vehicle without a dent or scrape. As least they honk at you to warn you they are passing you. It is very dangerous to drive in Haiti. And oh by the way, pedestrians do not have the right of way. That brings me back to my day.
When we headed back we decided to go pass the camp to a craft market on the road to the airport. It gets pretty congested around the only stop light in Port au Prince near the taptap transfer station. We got caught in another traffic jam and just sat a waited. As traffic inched along we finally got to see what the hold up was. We don’t know how it happened but the result was a truck on top of a motorcyclist and a sheet on top of two other motorcyclists.
Everyday there are literally thousands of people on the streets going every which way minding their own business in whatever way they want. This experience may make my husband happy because now I won’t be scared when I think he is getting too close to the car next to us.
Awe…back to our oasis called Base Camp. Despite what goes on outside the security of our gated property, there are good things happening at Base Camp 2 (the church property). The slab is set for the church building. The steel prefab building however has been in customs since April waiting on signatures. Keep praying for its release. Our team has been working diligently with the Haitian workers to complete the bunk house that will sleep 24 future team members and gives them a meeting place. The bath house is almost completed which has its own water tower. The water is pumped into it from the well that also provides the community with water. The outside facets will be turned on for 3-4 hours a day allowing the tent camp and local families that live in the area come for “living water.”
Tomorrow the guys will frame for a slab to be poured by the next team arriving Saturday for the generator. I get to help put together bunk beds. Yeah, I get to use a drill. Something the Haitian men have not yet mastered. Erika (17 years old) used the drill today and the guys were amazed because she just powered her way through it perfectly. This is just one of the many differences in our early childhood learning experiences. Tomorrow afternoon we hope to make it to Sister Inez’s orphanage. It should not be as difficult since we don’t have to go through Petionville.
Oh my friends what makes it all worth it is challenging the Haitians that come to the church and teach them self sufficiency. Did you read our mission statement? Haitians must learn to do for themselves if they are to make it. They can’t depend on outside help to make life work for them. We will teach them to farm fish, raise chickens for eggs and meat, and grow hydroponic vegetables here on the property, We want them to take what they learn here into their community and do it for themselves. That is how Haiti will change.
It started out nice enough. Debbie and I interacted with Linda (right) and Louisetta (left) (that's me in the middle) today laughing and learning Creole.
Driving in Haiti is a real nail biter. They drive on the right side, most of the time, but rarely stay there for long. Between cars passing you on the right and motorcycles passing you on the left, you get squeezed. There are many narrow escapes. I don’t recall if I have seen any vehicle without a dent or scrape. As least they honk at you to warn you they are passing you. It is very dangerous to drive in Haiti. And oh by the way, pedestrians do not have the right of way. That brings me back to my day.
When we headed back we decided to go pass the camp to a craft market on the road to the airport. It gets pretty congested around the only stop light in Port au Prince near the taptap transfer station. We got caught in another traffic jam and just sat a waited. As traffic inched along we finally got to see what the hold up was. We don’t know how it happened but the result was a truck on top of a motorcyclist and a sheet on top of two other motorcyclists.
Everyday there are literally thousands of people on the streets going every which way minding their own business in whatever way they want. This experience may make my husband happy because now I won’t be scared when I think he is getting too close to the car next to us.
Awe…back to our oasis called Base Camp. Despite what goes on outside the security of our gated property, there are good things happening at Base Camp 2 (the church property). The slab is set for the church building. The steel prefab building however has been in customs since April waiting on signatures. Keep praying for its release. Our team has been working diligently with the Haitian workers to complete the bunk house that will sleep 24 future team members and gives them a meeting place. The bath house is almost completed which has its own water tower. The water is pumped into it from the well that also provides the community with water. The outside facets will be turned on for 3-4 hours a day allowing the tent camp and local families that live in the area come for “living water.”
Tomorrow the guys will frame for a slab to be poured by the next team arriving Saturday for the generator. I get to help put together bunk beds. Yeah, I get to use a drill. Something the Haitian men have not yet mastered. Erika (17 years old) used the drill today and the guys were amazed because she just powered her way through it perfectly. This is just one of the many differences in our early childhood learning experiences. Tomorrow afternoon we hope to make it to Sister Inez’s orphanage. It should not be as difficult since we don’t have to go through Petionville.
Oh my friends what makes it all worth it is challenging the Haitians that come to the church and teach them self sufficiency. Did you read our mission statement? Haitians must learn to do for themselves if they are to make it. They can’t depend on outside help to make life work for them. We will teach them to farm fish, raise chickens for eggs and meat, and grow hydroponic vegetables here on the property, We want them to take what they learn here into their community and do it for themselves. That is how Haiti will change.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Haiti Day Five
Today was a very relaxing day. There was no food distributions to make or sheds to organize. I went with Pastor Debbie to the food mart to pick up fixings for American hamburgers. I asked the Haitian workers if they wanted to taste American food and they got very excited. They all want to come to America. I tried to make it a great experience for them. The problem is that I needed to cook the meat well done. Everyone knows burgers are burgers unless they are medium. The buns here are very dry so they fell apart somewhat. But all in all they group like American hamburgers. I gave them dill pickles too but they did not like the taste of them. "Too sour."
After lunch, I sat down with Pastor Debbie and put the final touches on the menu (in Creole) for the ladies who do the cooking. It helped me learn more Creole. Its easier than French. The ladies tried my hamburgers too. Linda really liked the pickles. Louisa ate half and took the other half home to her husband. Both were very interested in how to prepare American food. Their typical meal is rice and beans. They probably eat that every day.
We also finished the Foursquare Haiti Mission Statement:
"A Beautiful Haiti Living Abundantly in Jesus Christ"
The Mission of Foursquare Haiti
1. Advancing the Kingdom. Make disciples and plant churches. We teach people to do what Jesus commanded. Matt 28:19,20
2. Education. Raise the standard of education with ongoing teacher training, superior curriculum and resources and a lunch program. Enable the Haitians to do for themselves by looking to self sufficiency projects like raising chickens for eggs and meat, operating a fish farm or raising fruit and vegetable crops. “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, and feed him for a lifetime.”
3. Relief. Bring food water and shelter, the basic necessities of life to Children of Promise Homes for orphaned and abandoned children. Facilitate medical care and medicine to assist those who are in need.
4. Compassion. Establish Children of Promise Homes and raise the level of care and nurture to orphaned and abandoned children. Provide loving training and teaching because they are our future leaders. Through these relationships we reach out other such homes in Haiti.
We ended the evening at the Sugar Cane Restaurant for dinner. Despite our 6pm reservation and preordered meal, we did not get served until 7:15. What can I tell you. We are on Haitian time. It happens when it happens. Time is different here making plans hard to keep to.
Earlier in the day when we went to make the reservations, the traffic in front of the US Embassy was halted to a stop. A group of Haitians were demonstrating for the return of Aristide. They were chanting and yelling in the middle of the street. With the news that Celestin has withdrawn from the election, maybe they feel Aristide will come back. But why would they want him back?
Personal reflection: I have been feeling a little low today. No particular reason that I can think of. Lonely maybe. I usually have Harry to share my experiences with. This is one adventure I did by myself. I felt like a stranger going through my work email today. Do all people on a mission trip feel this way?
Tomorrow is promising. We are going to another children’s home with 60 kids. They are not part of Foursquare but we help them often. We are taking some Manna for the kids. I understand the conditions at this home are just as deplorable as Bishops was. It’s easy to show compassion, but hard to say goodbye at the end of the visit. They are desperate. We are doing what we can.
After lunch, I sat down with Pastor Debbie and put the final touches on the menu (in Creole) for the ladies who do the cooking. It helped me learn more Creole. Its easier than French. The ladies tried my hamburgers too. Linda really liked the pickles. Louisa ate half and took the other half home to her husband. Both were very interested in how to prepare American food. Their typical meal is rice and beans. They probably eat that every day.
We also finished the Foursquare Haiti Mission Statement:
"A Beautiful Haiti Living Abundantly in Jesus Christ"
The Mission of Foursquare Haiti
1. Advancing the Kingdom. Make disciples and plant churches. We teach people to do what Jesus commanded. Matt 28:19,20
2. Education. Raise the standard of education with ongoing teacher training, superior curriculum and resources and a lunch program. Enable the Haitians to do for themselves by looking to self sufficiency projects like raising chickens for eggs and meat, operating a fish farm or raising fruit and vegetable crops. “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, and feed him for a lifetime.”
3. Relief. Bring food water and shelter, the basic necessities of life to Children of Promise Homes for orphaned and abandoned children. Facilitate medical care and medicine to assist those who are in need.
4. Compassion. Establish Children of Promise Homes and raise the level of care and nurture to orphaned and abandoned children. Provide loving training and teaching because they are our future leaders. Through these relationships we reach out other such homes in Haiti.
We ended the evening at the Sugar Cane Restaurant for dinner. Despite our 6pm reservation and preordered meal, we did not get served until 7:15. What can I tell you. We are on Haitian time. It happens when it happens. Time is different here making plans hard to keep to.
Earlier in the day when we went to make the reservations, the traffic in front of the US Embassy was halted to a stop. A group of Haitians were demonstrating for the return of Aristide. They were chanting and yelling in the middle of the street. With the news that Celestin has withdrawn from the election, maybe they feel Aristide will come back. But why would they want him back?
Personal reflection: I have been feeling a little low today. No particular reason that I can think of. Lonely maybe. I usually have Harry to share my experiences with. This is one adventure I did by myself. I felt like a stranger going through my work email today. Do all people on a mission trip feel this way?
Tomorrow is promising. We are going to another children’s home with 60 kids. They are not part of Foursquare but we help them often. We are taking some Manna for the kids. I understand the conditions at this home are just as deplorable as Bishops was. It’s easy to show compassion, but hard to say goodbye at the end of the visit. They are desperate. We are doing what we can.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Haiti Day Four
I spent the morning doing admin work for Pastor Debbie. We made a menu plan in French for the ladies who cook for us. It helped me learn a little of the formal language of Haiti. Children are taught Creole and French in school. Creole is only spoken in Haiti. It is a cross between a west African slave language and French colonist. It's very interesting. Linda is our housekeeper and speaks only Creole. Like many women, she didn’t finish school but went to work wherever she could to provide for her family. She is very funny and always smiling.
And now for the reality of Haiti. After lunch we distributed Manna packs to a girls home closer to town. Sam drove us and it’s a good thing because there is no address. We had to ask the vendors on the street where the home was. When we finally found the big iron gate, vendors had to move off the sidewalk so we could drive in. You would think that entering a gated home would be because there was something valuable inside. Well, there is value behind the gates, but not what you would think. This property still shows the scares of the earthquake. There was a pile of rubble in the middle and about 7 tents set up. About 60 girls between the ages of 6 and 19 call this home. They all lost family and homes in the quake and took refuge with Bishop Molier and a housemother. The girls were very malnourished and dehydrated. One especially was in bad shape.
I explained to the house mom about the food we brought in and that it will be very good for them to eat. I also told them about adding any vegetables or spices they wanted so its to there liking. The video crew interviewed one of the 19 year olds and did an amazing job talking to her about her life and hopes for Haiti. Many are appreciate of the help, but have lost faith in their government to pass the help on to the least of them.
When we got back, Pastor Debbie and I worked on mission of Foursquare Haiti. See my separate post.
Haiti matters. It is a country full of people who do not have a choice. There is 80% unemployment. The median age is 17.5 years old. They sit on the street selling whatever they can, what little vegetables they were able to harvest, clothes they found in a salvation pile. Garbage litters the streets. Goats walk the garbage piles. PETA members would have a heart attack. Nevertheless, Haitians have something indescribable in their character. There is a joy unspeakable.
Well its off to the shower and bed. Who knows what the next day will bring.
And now for the reality of Haiti. After lunch we distributed Manna packs to a girls home closer to town. Sam drove us and it’s a good thing because there is no address. We had to ask the vendors on the street where the home was. When we finally found the big iron gate, vendors had to move off the sidewalk so we could drive in. You would think that entering a gated home would be because there was something valuable inside. Well, there is value behind the gates, but not what you would think. This property still shows the scares of the earthquake. There was a pile of rubble in the middle and about 7 tents set up. About 60 girls between the ages of 6 and 19 call this home. They all lost family and homes in the quake and took refuge with Bishop Molier and a housemother. The girls were very malnourished and dehydrated. One especially was in bad shape.
When we got back, Pastor Debbie and I worked on mission of Foursquare Haiti. See my separate post.
Haiti matters. It is a country full of people who do not have a choice. There is 80% unemployment. The median age is 17.5 years old. They sit on the street selling whatever they can, what little vegetables they were able to harvest, clothes they found in a salvation pile. Garbage litters the streets. Goats walk the garbage piles. PETA members would have a heart attack. Nevertheless, Haitians have something indescribable in their character. There is a joy unspeakable.
Well its off to the shower and bed. Who knows what the next day will bring.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Haiti Day Three
Today Erica (a high school student from Grace Foursquare, and I sorted 6 piles of cases of Manna to be delivered to Foursquare Children of Promise Homes for orphans and abandoned children in the area. Each case contained 36 packages. But before we started we had a chance to meet the kids at the school on the church property. They were learning math today and were studying very hard. The camera crew was allowed to film them and we got to ask them questions. One girl, Natisha was a real diva. She's about 8 years old. When they got the still shot camera out, she started posing and said "Relax, Pose". It was hysterical. They really like to see their picture on the camera.
We were able to make just one delivery to day. The Bellande orphanage was up in the hills over Petitionville just 20 kilo from base camp. But it took us about 2 hours to get there because of all the traffic. There are so many people lining the streets selling food, chickens, wares, or anything else they can get their hands on. It's Haitians selling to Haitians. To our eyes and noses it is not pleasant, but it draws out the best in you. I have a growing respect and admiration for the Haitians. Most of them are friendly and happy to sell you something.
Sam, our interpreter, was with us. He helped us buy some bananas from the market on the way which takes a little negotiation. We are use to buying perfect bananas without spot or blemish. That does not happen in Haiti. So it was great to have Sam to help us get the best we could for the kids.
We finally got there and the 12 kids at the orphanage came running up to the security gates… oh yeah, did I tell you about security gates. Every piece of property with anything valuable is surrounded by a 10-12 foot high concrete block wall with barbed wire on top completed with an iron security gate. You rarely see a house that is not situated like this. So, the kids are standing at the gate squealing because Aaron, our driver and one of the staff here at base camp, is coming to greet them. After the earthquake, Pastor Bellande went to the streets of Port au Prince asking about the children whose parents were killed. He asked if any family members were around and when he found children who had no one, he took them into this house to care for them. They receive food, shelter, love and education. Because of how far away his lives, it is difficult to get supplies and medical attention to them. So Grace Foursquare took up a collection and raised $20,000 to purchase an acre of land just 4 miles from base camp. That the property we went to yesterday. Our nurse came with us and bandaged up a little boys knees. It’s really hard in Haiti to keep clean. There is dust everywhere. They all have a skin irritation of some kind that Peter needs to research. The youngest has a herniated bellybutton that will need to be repaired at some point. God only knows. Hopefully by June or July, the structure will be built on the new property and we can move the kids down from the hill. They are very excited to be closer to Pastor Bellande’s church of 250 and growing.
I think I am going to study French. It's funny that Haitians are bilingual (French and Creole), yet Americans who have access to top quality free education speak only one language. Hummm. This is all very exciting. What makes it so exciting is that Pastors John and Debbie Booker are extremely competent and anointed to do this mission. Wow!
We were able to make just one delivery to day. The Bellande orphanage was up in the hills over Petitionville just 20 kilo from base camp. But it took us about 2 hours to get there because of all the traffic. There are so many people lining the streets selling food, chickens, wares, or anything else they can get their hands on. It's Haitians selling to Haitians. To our eyes and noses it is not pleasant, but it draws out the best in you. I have a growing respect and admiration for the Haitians. Most of them are friendly and happy to sell you something.
Sam, our interpreter, was with us. He helped us buy some bananas from the market on the way which takes a little negotiation. We are use to buying perfect bananas without spot or blemish. That does not happen in Haiti. So it was great to have Sam to help us get the best we could for the kids.
We finally got there and the 12 kids at the orphanage came running up to the security gates… oh yeah, did I tell you about security gates. Every piece of property with anything valuable is surrounded by a 10-12 foot high concrete block wall with barbed wire on top completed with an iron security gate. You rarely see a house that is not situated like this. So, the kids are standing at the gate squealing because Aaron, our driver and one of the staff here at base camp, is coming to greet them. After the earthquake, Pastor Bellande went to the streets of Port au Prince asking about the children whose parents were killed. He asked if any family members were around and when he found children who had no one, he took them into this house to care for them. They receive food, shelter, love and education. Because of how far away his lives, it is difficult to get supplies and medical attention to them. So Grace Foursquare took up a collection and raised $20,000 to purchase an acre of land just 4 miles from base camp. That the property we went to yesterday. Our nurse came with us and bandaged up a little boys knees. It’s really hard in Haiti to keep clean. There is dust everywhere. They all have a skin irritation of some kind that Peter needs to research. The youngest has a herniated bellybutton that will need to be repaired at some point. God only knows. Hopefully by June or July, the structure will be built on the new property and we can move the kids down from the hill. They are very excited to be closer to Pastor Bellande’s church of 250 and growing.
I think I am going to study French. It's funny that Haitians are bilingual (French and Creole), yet Americans who have access to top quality free education speak only one language. Hummm. This is all very exciting. What makes it so exciting is that Pastors John and Debbie Booker are extremely competent and anointed to do this mission. Wow!
Haiti Day Two and a Half
I was so tired last night that I forgot to tell you something else we did that was very important. We visited the property where the orphanage will be built. It was a beautiful piece of property full of banana and mango trees. It even has a small stream running through it.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Haiti Day Two
We started the day at church service. Pastor Guy’s congregation meets under a canopy next to the slab of cement that will one day be the new church building (once the final signature is gotten from the port master who was recently kidnapped). The service was 3 hours. I am not kidding. One hour of worship and the rest sharing and preaching. All in Creole I might add. The Haitians really know how to sing. All of them in full voice, hands raised and smiling. It was wonderful. One of the guys on our team told me this morning that God is very economical. This trip will not only benefit the Haitian, but us as well. Two for the price of one.
Here are some of the things I learned today:
I know why Kathy K puts a little water in her glass of ice.
You can wear high heeled sandals on gravel
Painted toes look okay with dusty feet.
Loose clothing works great for catching a breeze
After service we had a quick lunch at base camp then hopped in the taptap and headed off to a high place to view the whole city. We drove through the streets of Port au Prince and I am not kidding you. It is worse than the pictures show. People carve out a little spot on the sidewalk and sell whatever they have. The only people buying from them are other Haitians. Conditions are deplorable. At the top of the mountain, there were some vendors selling artwork (I bought one). I asked the Desulme Fritz (he spoke pretty good English) if he painted the picture. He says,”No, I buy from the artist.” Then he said, “I don’t lie, when you start lying you lose your power.” I got a picture of him.
We drove back the way we came. There is so much traffic and so many people on the streets. I was too sorry to take pictures. I didn’t want to embarrass them. The people are doing the best with what they got. Photographing them at their worst is disrespectful.
Blessings, more tomorrow
Here are some of the things I learned today:
I know why Kathy K puts a little water in her glass of ice.
You can wear high heeled sandals on gravel
Painted toes look okay with dusty feet.
Loose clothing works great for catching a breeze
After service we had a quick lunch at base camp then hopped in the taptap and headed off to a high place to view the whole city. We drove through the streets of Port au Prince and I am not kidding you. It is worse than the pictures show. People carve out a little spot on the sidewalk and sell whatever they have. The only people buying from them are other Haitians. Conditions are deplorable. At the top of the mountain, there were some vendors selling artwork (I bought one). I asked the Desulme Fritz (he spoke pretty good English) if he painted the picture. He says,”No, I buy from the artist.” Then he said, “I don’t lie, when you start lying you lose your power.” I got a picture of him.
We drove back the way we came. There is so much traffic and so many people on the streets. I was too sorry to take pictures. I didn’t want to embarrass them. The people are doing the best with what they got. Photographing them at their worst is disrespectful.
Blessings, more tomorrow
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Haiti Day One
We arrived at the Port-au-Prince airport at 9:20am right on schedule. The initial heat was overwhelming probably due to the fact that none of us got any sleep. We all cleared customs relatively quickly. As we lined up to exit customs we were faced with what we had been warned about. It was a gauntlet of Haitian men asking to help us with our bags. I was the first in line, so I took a deep breathe and headed out with my back pack on my back wheeling two suitcase. The rest followed and we made out way to the parking lot. Well sort of a parking lot. Just a bunch of cars honking and going every which way.
The thought came to me, why did I come here? Why is Haiti important to my world? My bent is really toward the political world. Justice through the law accomplished by a well organized government. Well you see none of that in Haiti. The streets are lined with chaos. We found our ride, packed up the truck and hopped in a taptap. This is Sam our interpreter.
And headed to base camp where we unloaded our stuff, rested and took an orientation tour. I am so excited to be working on the new base camp. Initially were were going to start building the Children of Promise orphanage, but the property they purchased is “still in escrow” so we are turning our attention to the church property. They have installed a new well that is 180 feet deep and has provided really fresh drinking water for the community here. There are external facets (see picture) where people come and fill up the buckets for their daily drinking, cooking and cleaning.
They have also built a chicken coop that will be filled with layers and roasting hens. The steel rods behind the chicken coop will eventually be a Talapia farm. The people of this church will be self sustaining for sure. Also, they are going to install a baking kitchen so the ladies can bake bread and treats for Sunday morning since their services last 3 hours. More on that in Day 2.
We ended the day going over house rules and laying out a “plan” for our mission. We will finish Base Camp 2 which will shelter 24 short term volunteers complete with a bath house. I have been asked to organize the Manna Kits that were finally released from customs so we can distribute food to an orphanage and a nearby tent city. We all then went to bed about 8pm. I am so tired.
The thought came to me, why did I come here? Why is Haiti important to my world? My bent is really toward the political world. Justice through the law accomplished by a well organized government. Well you see none of that in Haiti. The streets are lined with chaos. We found our ride, packed up the truck and hopped in a taptap. This is Sam our interpreter.
And headed to base camp where we unloaded our stuff, rested and took an orientation tour. I am so excited to be working on the new base camp. Initially were were going to start building the Children of Promise orphanage, but the property they purchased is “still in escrow” so we are turning our attention to the church property. They have installed a new well that is 180 feet deep and has provided really fresh drinking water for the community here. There are external facets (see picture) where people come and fill up the buckets for their daily drinking, cooking and cleaning.
They have also built a chicken coop that will be filled with layers and roasting hens. The steel rods behind the chicken coop will eventually be a Talapia farm. The people of this church will be self sustaining for sure. Also, they are going to install a baking kitchen so the ladies can bake bread and treats for Sunday morning since their services last 3 hours. More on that in Day 2.
We ended the day going over house rules and laying out a “plan” for our mission. We will finish Base Camp 2 which will shelter 24 short term volunteers complete with a bath house. I have been asked to organize the Manna Kits that were finally released from customs so we can distribute food to an orphanage and a nearby tent city. We all then went to bed about 8pm. I am so tired.
Friday, January 21, 2011
On My Way
My journey has begun. It's hard for me to sit down and write what I am thinking. I want to write elegant and meaningful compositions, but feel inadequate to do so. This i my first mission trip, so why am I going to Haiti of all places. why not some cushy place with my restrictions or danger? I have asked myself that several times. Why Haiti? It's funny that no one has asked me that. do others know something I don't? On January 12, 2010, the 7.0 earthquake made an already terrible life in Haiti even worse. i wanted to go then to help on a disaster relief team. well it took a year to get going. over the last year i have been working toward resolving why i want to go. i have been studying the culture, emailing the team at base camp, and "casting out" a stronghold i have had to materialism. while confession to my accountability partner that I fashion magazines trigger my overspending, she said "Yea, its like living in a fantasy." for a reason only God knows, I snapped. a stronghold came tumbling down. I don't want to live in a fantasy. I have since put away my "addiction" to fashion. maybe this trip to Haiti is a gift from God for my willingness to lay down that stronghold. Our team i going to move an orphanage from the hill country down to land recently purchased near base camp. this move will provide much needed support both physically and emotionally. I can't wait to get started.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
"Children of Promise" Orphanage
I am so excited. We got our assignment for our Haiti mission. We will start the rebuilding the Children of Promise Orphanage. Grace Foursquare raised over $20,000. We will build a temporary shelter for the kids, then start of a permanent structure. I can't tell you how excited I am. My heart is full of hope.
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