We started this morning off by going to the six AM Church Service. Pastor Gary was leading the worship and he was kind enough to sing in English, then Creole, back and forth. It was truly beautiful to see the Haitians praising. One elderly woman came back and gave a lot of us hugs, a truly loving moment for each of us. Later in the day, Amy said this woman gives hugs out every time to the Healing Haiti people visiting. That made her hug even more special for me. :-)
Later we did the Water Truck in Cite Soleil again. Three times, WHOO HOO! At the first stop I met two men in their twenties. The first one was Pierre Dave Snyder. We had a hard time communicating so after a bit, we got Cadet (our translator today) to translate. Pierre took a lot of classes and cannot find a job so he is going to take even more classes. He was carrying a French dictionary with him. I asked if I could pray for him and he accepted. Cadet translated my prayer to him. This whole time a baby was tightly holding onto me. Please pray Pierre gets a good job. We refilled and went on our second run. This time I helped with the buckets and helped a boy then a girl carry their buckets with no handles. The last run I held a toddler girl almost the whole time while trying to communicate with 10 year old Emanuel. Almost all the children I held touched my face and hair and were fascinated with my moles.
I am deeply touched by the need for love all these children have. I thank God he has given me Jesus whom showed me how to love. I praise you father.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Roselinda and Adrianne
On the first day delivering water in Cite Soleil, I met an adorable fourteen year old girl named Roselinda. Yesterday while working at general hospital, I started talking to a seventeen year old girl who was looking after her three year old niece who was sick. Today I immediately clicked with a fifteen year old girl at a school that we visited named Adrianne. The more time we spend out, the more I realize this is becoming a pattern. The teenagers find me and cling to me. Whether it be purely because of our age or a safety they feel with me, wherever we are, whatever we are doing, those sweet teenage girls want to be by my side, holding my hand.
My heart breaks for these precious children probably more than anyone else here in Haiti. Being a teenager seems rough. Being a teenager in a poverty stricken country (taking care of family members, living in slums, covered in dirt, objectified by the men around them, caring for their parents, working already) would be a little more than rough. This is more then I can think of handling. These are the girls that reach out to me. And this is the age group we need to be reaching out to.
Speaking from the view of an eighteen year old, the last five years of my life have led to becoming who I am as a person. This is such a pivotal point in human lives. There is an openness and a willingness to learn and discover what life is about. I've come to discover that Jesus IS what life is all about. We have the ability and the attention from these beautiful Haitian teens to teach them what life is all about. And they're ready for it. They need hope. They need a place to put their faith. And once these wonderful young adults have that faith, they can be the ones to make the change that Haiti needs. A Top Top full of white missionaries ARE going to make a dent. But we're not going to change the fate of this country. The Millennials in Haiti can though. If we raise up this generations as people seeking after Jesus and people doing what Jesus would be doing and serving as Jesus would be serving, that's when we can start seeing a real, tangible, physical change in the Haiti.
Speaking from the view of an eighteen year old, the last five years of my life have led to becoming who I am as a person. This is such a pivotal point in human lives. There is an openness and a willingness to learn and discover what life is about. I've come to discover that Jesus IS what life is all about. We have the ability and the attention from these beautiful Haitian teens to teach them what life is all about. And they're ready for it. They need hope. They need a place to put their faith. And once these wonderful young adults have that faith, they can be the ones to make the change that Haiti needs. A Top Top full of white missionaries ARE going to make a dent. But we're not going to change the fate of this country. The Millennials in Haiti can though. If we raise up this generations as people seeking after Jesus and people doing what Jesus would be doing and serving as Jesus would be serving, that's when we can start seeing a real, tangible, physical change in the Haiti.
That being said, I have no idea how we go about changing the youth to change the country. I'll let ya'll know when I come up with something.
-Maddie
A little about giving and a lot about receiving...
We've all heard that is better to give than to receive and it truly is a good thing to give. I would never down play the blessing that comes when we when we give, I mean that's the reason I came on this trip, to give of myself. But, today I learned a lesson in receiving from a beautiful woman named Marie. It is said that Marie is 104 years old, but she is the youngest 104 year old I've ever met. Ok...she is the only 104 year old I've ever met, but a very beautiful woman just the same.
As a part of the elder care ministry of Grace Village, we visited many of the elderly of the community. We helped in a variety of ways: helping put a tarp up, moving a women into her new home, washing hands and feet, putting lotion on and feeding them. Immediately when we walked into Marie's home, she told us she was so happy! That she had hoped we would come today. She laughed and hugged each one of us. I immediately loved her. She plopped right down on the floor and let is wash her with such joy. We sang and worshipped with her it was an amazing time.
When I think of getting old the thing that scares me is not being able to take care of myself. I remember my Grandmother saying she didn't want to be an imposition to anybody or even my Mom struggling with having us see her as she was dying of cancer. My attitude: I want to be able to take care of myself! NO, no I can do it! Don't go to any trouble on my account. But today, Marie gave to me by joyfully and gracefully taking the help we were offering.
My words seem inadequate to describe today, but I pray that God makes it a reality in my life that I am able to receive like Marie.
Jill
As a part of the elder care ministry of Grace Village, we visited many of the elderly of the community. We helped in a variety of ways: helping put a tarp up, moving a women into her new home, washing hands and feet, putting lotion on and feeding them. Immediately when we walked into Marie's home, she told us she was so happy! That she had hoped we would come today. She laughed and hugged each one of us. I immediately loved her. She plopped right down on the floor and let is wash her with such joy. We sang and worshipped with her it was an amazing time.
My words seem inadequate to describe today, but I pray that God makes it a reality in my life that I am able to receive like Marie.
Jill
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Hope
REAL HOPE
Today we drove into the mountains; a long, dusty and very bumpy (but beautifully rural) ride to a place called Real Hope for Haiti. We learned "real hope" is the kind of hope beyond just "fixing" people but that REAL hope comes only when ones life is changed in the power of Jesus.
Real Hope for Haiti is a medical clinic that was started 20 years ago by a husband and wife team, joined two years later by their two daughters, one of whom is a nurse. They've developed a nutrition program that rescues malnourished children in the community, quickly bringing many of them back to life. We were so impressed by this family's dedication, testimony, humility and their love for Haiti and what God has called them to do.
It was explained when new Haitian mom's first started coming to the maternal clinic, they didn't even name their babies until they were 3 months old because many babies didn't live that long, now all the babies are names right when they are born and the infant mortality has improved greatly. This was amazing to me as I have a grandbaby expected early June and that baby already has a name!
We were then ushered into another room with babies who moms' died giving them birth. They still have father's that love them but they are kept there until they can walk and eat on their own. They have nannies who care and love on them 24/7. We were able to play and hold these precious kids. They now have kids who are old enough to return and thank them for helping them live.
GENERAL HOSPITAL
General Hospital, a free government run hospital in Port au Prince was our next stop where we planned to clean and change the diapers of sick and abandon babies. The hospital was a busy place but more with family members and doctors today than sick kids. We had expectations of doing more but God must of had different plans. Washed a few babies, painted a few mama's nails, tried our best through the language barrier to connect with these mamas waiting patiently for their babies to heal. It was hard. Really hard.
One of the girls on our team connected with a 17 year old girl that was the auntie of the 3 year old baby (maybe 15 lbs), there to watch while the mama was working. She was eager to talk to someone younger, using the translator to communicate with Maddie. She was so open and wanted to talk and it led Maddie to think that she would be receptive to talking about Jesus. Use this beautiful Haitian teen for your kingdom, Lord.
Kim and Coleen
Today we drove into the mountains; a long, dusty and very bumpy (but beautifully rural) ride to a place called Real Hope for Haiti. We learned "real hope" is the kind of hope beyond just "fixing" people but that REAL hope comes only when ones life is changed in the power of Jesus.
Real Hope for Haiti is a medical clinic that was started 20 years ago by a husband and wife team, joined two years later by their two daughters, one of whom is a nurse. They've developed a nutrition program that rescues malnourished children in the community, quickly bringing many of them back to life. We were so impressed by this family's dedication, testimony, humility and their love for Haiti and what God has called them to do.
It was explained when new Haitian mom's first started coming to the maternal clinic, they didn't even name their babies until they were 3 months old because many babies didn't live that long, now all the babies are names right when they are born and the infant mortality has improved greatly. This was amazing to me as I have a grandbaby expected early June and that baby already has a name!
We were then ushered into another room with babies who moms' died giving them birth. They still have father's that love them but they are kept there until they can walk and eat on their own. They have nannies who care and love on them 24/7. We were able to play and hold these precious kids. They now have kids who are old enough to return and thank them for helping them live.
General Hospital, a free government run hospital in Port au Prince was our next stop where we planned to clean and change the diapers of sick and abandon babies. The hospital was a busy place but more with family members and doctors today than sick kids. We had expectations of doing more but God must of had different plans. Washed a few babies, painted a few mama's nails, tried our best through the language barrier to connect with these mamas waiting patiently for their babies to heal. It was hard. Really hard.
One of the girls on our team connected with a 17 year old girl that was the auntie of the 3 year old baby (maybe 15 lbs), there to watch while the mama was working. She was eager to talk to someone younger, using the translator to communicate with Maddie. She was so open and wanted to talk and it led Maddie to think that she would be receptive to talking about Jesus. Use this beautiful Haitian teen for your kingdom, Lord.
Kim and Coleen
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
For I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me water to drink.
We started the day delivering two truck loads of water to Cite Soleil. Last night our leader Amy, informed us that Cite Soleil is the poorest slum in the world, not just the Western Hemisphere. There are 300,000 people living in an area of 3 square miles, built on a garbage dump with no running water, electricity or sewer. It is also a dangerous place, so we would need to keep close to the truck. Decision time... do we trust God, or do we let the fear take over?
As soon as the tap tap (truck) stopped, we were swarmed by children reaching up to be picked up, held and loved. They clung to us, they touched our hair, felt our blanc (white) skin, and there were many more waiting for the same chance to also be held, but we just didn't have enough arms. It broke our hearts at the depth of their need, but we were blessed to hold and love them. We were privileged to have this opportunity with "the least of these."
A few team members were able to pull themselves away from the kids in order to deliver the water. Women and children and a few men came with buckets and tubs to receive the clean water and carry it back to their homes. Even some of the little ones carried up to 5 gallon buckets of water on their heads.
At the first stop, we took the kids for a little walk towards the ocean to sing and dance with them. As it turns out, it was a place strewn with human waste, where they even bury their dead. In the midst of this, the kids all sang, danced and clapped with a joy indescribable.
In the afternoon we were excited to see the fruits of our labor with Feed My Starving Children food distribution. We helped fill the bowls and personally hand them to each child. Haitian Initiative is an organization that runs a soccer after school camp. After practice the kids are fed daily with the food from FMSC.
~Kim, Coleen, Jeanne & Wendy
A few team members were able to pull themselves away from the kids in order to deliver the water. Women and children and a few men came with buckets and tubs to receive the clean water and carry it back to their homes. Even some of the little ones carried up to 5 gallon buckets of water on their heads.
At the first stop, we took the kids for a little walk towards the ocean to sing and dance with them. As it turns out, it was a place strewn with human waste, where they even bury their dead. In the midst of this, the kids all sang, danced and clapped with a joy indescribable.
In the afternoon we were excited to see the fruits of our labor with Feed My Starving Children food distribution. We helped fill the bowls and personally hand them to each child. Haitian Initiative is an organization that runs a soccer after school camp. After practice the kids are fed daily with the food from FMSC.
~Kim, Coleen, Jeanne & Wendy
Monday, January 27, 2014
Jesus Sees His Faith
During our layover in Miami, 4 of us grabbed a quick lunch together. We were sitting at our table eating, when a man at the next table over began asking about our trip. We shared about the work we would be doing and he spoke encouragement and blessing to us.
As we continued on with lunch, he came over and put $40 on our table. He told us he wanted to use the money to bless someone on our trip. We were talking about his generosity when he returned to share his favorite parable. He recounted the story of the paralytic being lowered through the roof by his friends. This man talked about how the man was healed by his friend's faith. He told us that he wanted to be a friend that helped the people of Haiti.
Just when we thought he could not have gotten any more bold in his faith, he returned again and asked to pray over us. He prayed for God's protection and blessing on our trip. He prayed that God would go before us and that he would lead us while we were in Haiti.
It was such an encouragement to us before we ever boarded the plane. A blessing that God uses his people to encourage one another, that God speaks to his people and that the work we are able to do in Haiti is possible due to the prayers and finical support of others.
-JJ, Maddie, Lisa, and Jill
As we continued on with lunch, he came over and put $40 on our table. He told us he wanted to use the money to bless someone on our trip. We were talking about his generosity when he returned to share his favorite parable. He recounted the story of the paralytic being lowered through the roof by his friends. This man talked about how the man was healed by his friend's faith. He told us that he wanted to be a friend that helped the people of Haiti.
Just when we thought he could not have gotten any more bold in his faith, he returned again and asked to pray over us. He prayed for God's protection and blessing on our trip. He prayed that God would go before us and that he would lead us while we were in Haiti.
It was such an encouragement to us before we ever boarded the plane. A blessing that God uses his people to encourage one another, that God speaks to his people and that the work we are able to do in Haiti is possible due to the prayers and finical support of others.
-JJ, Maddie, Lisa, and Jill
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