Today we were able to see all the amazing things God is doing in Haiti. Being able to serve and love on these people is such an indescribable feeling. We visited some of the elders today and were able to bring them food, water and clean them up a little by washing their feet and singing songs to them. Just to see how joyful and loving they were really touched me and to see how they focus on God and praise Him through all the pain and suffering was simply amazing. I absolutely love the people of Haiti.

Chris

Today I was pondering the meaning of the word “grace” and marveling at how grace-filled the people of Haiti are. There are many iterations of the word “grace,” and the Haitian people embody all of them.

They are graceful: the women carrying massive buckets of water on their heads while holding their precious children on their hips, the vibrant colors that cover their homes and businesses, the gorgeous way they intone the word “Bonjoo.”

They are gracious: the selfless willingness of our two translators to share their stories about the day the devastating earthquake destroyed their homes, the two lovely women that cook us breakfast every morning and how patient they are with me when I do something wrong, the way the children we encounter shyly hold our hands as we walk down the streets together.

Most of all, they believe in the infinite grace of God. We visited three precious women that participate in Healing Haiti’s elder program. They receive a hot meal, clean water, and medical support. But the thing they are all most grateful for is the grace of God. The sweet 91-year-old woman we visited first, asked for prayer for her constant pain, but when we sang “Glory to God” with her in Creole, she sang along with her soft, quavering voice. While we washed her feet, our second elder told us that her family was suffering from a terrible fever. When we prayed with her, her beautiful, calm face reflected how much she believed in God’s grace and power to heal her family. Our final elder truly blew us all away with her faith in God’s grace. Instead of sitting, she bustled around to almost everyone in our group and told us that “GOD IS GOOD!” (She has the makings of an outstanding preacher!) Her faith and joy, in the midst of poverty, loss, and tragedy, is inspiring beyond the scope of words.

This country truly has captured my heart.

Katie

Greetings friends and family,

The Lord has been doing a mighty work in me and my team in Haiti. I have been on mission trips to Ecuador for the last two years, in which I did a huge amount of physical for a Christ Centered organization called Elohim. Going into this trip, I thought that this trip to Haiti would be incredibly easy compared to my Ecuador trips. Boy, was I wrong. This trip has been emotionally, physically, and spiritually taxing on me, but in a very positive way. It has been a huge lesson for me in how little I actually know in comparison to what the Lord knows. Which brings me to the main lesson I believe the Lord has shown me through this trip. The Lord is such a patient teacher with me. Just when I think I have something down 100%, He “pulls the rug” out from underneath me, so to speak, to teach me a lesson. Often times when I think I have something down, I begin to get prideful. Haiti has taught me to be dependent on the Lord for this reason, to avoid pride. There is always something else to learn. I thought I had mission trips down, but man, has the Lord shown me how wrong I was. But that’s what is beautiful about grace. Even in my wrongness, the Lord’s righteousness is made perfect. I will always have something to learn, no matter what, and Haiti has truly shown me this. I am so thankful for what He has done, and what He will do on this trip. ¡Gloria a Dios! Or has the Haitians would say: Glwa pou Bonedye.

Thanks for reading my chaos of thoughts

 Ryan Taylor

Greetings! Now I’m no English teacher (like Katie) so we’ll see how this goes!

              On Tuesday when we went with the water truck it was completely different from today.  Today was emotionally taxing verses the physical taxing which we saw on water truck day. Now physical stuff is easy-peasy for me, I can easily push past the physical pain and just focus on the fact that I won’t feel it forever. But I’ve always struggled with the emotional aspect of life where I get very over emotional. Today we visited the elders and each one had so little that I was just thinking “wow how do they do this”.  They only had little huts, and I mean sticks holding blankets up under which they would lay down on blankets on top of cardboard where the cardboard was the cousin from the hard dirt covered ground. And those blankets and cardboard were most of what they had. When we walked up to each I just saw their face light up and they were so happy that we were there. Clelie even told us that we (Healing Haiti) were her family, and treated her like family and she was just so grateful to us for coming after she lost all her other family members. It was all so emotional I just held back tears.

              When we showed up I’m not completely sure one of the women knew what was going on because she couldn’t see that well, but our translator explained who we were and it was obvious that she had arthritis by how she moved, he then asked if we could sing for her. She said yes and a couple lyrics into “Glwa Pou Bonedye” she was doing a small jig in her bed. I got to wash the hands and feet of the second elder and she told us everyone she lived with (five people) had fallen ill and when we asked her how we could pray for her she just said that they would all get better.

Now all these ladies have are the places they sleep, some friends, and the food/water Healing Haiti brings them. But yet each one mentioned how god is good and when we asked for prayer requests no one asked for more things, more food/water, a better home/life, not even that the lord would bring them a family. All they asked was that their pain be taken away, that their house members be healed, or that what has been stolen would be restored. They were just so grateful for what they had they never let it get them down. They accepted what they had and made it work. Not once were they ungrateful or anything of the sort. They really showed me what its like to actually have nothing and how I should be more grateful for what I have because they probably think I was the richest girl alive if they saw my room, and I don’t even deserve how the lord has blessed me. The people how actually deserve everything that I have: these three women.

              The reason these women are living like this is not just that they have no money, but because of the earthquake that occurred on January 12, 2010. My team and I got to visit the mass grave memorial (which is not quite finished) where they had to bring many of the bodies found after the earthquake. As many as 300,000 Haitians were buried there during this time and when we visited our interpreters graciously shared their stories with us. Their stories touched my heart on such a huge level. I will not share their stories out of respect for them but lemme tell ya, it’s a dusey. Haiti has grown together and stood hand and hand to help each other though this, which is such a foreign concept for our country (not in a bad way) in that they would share their income with their house members. This country has touched my heart with their amazing spirit and I will forever be changed.

              Much love,

              Caitlin Shell

What is up everybody, how is everyone doing?  Me, I’m doing great this has been such an awesome week I am so happy I have come back.  Today we split up and 9 went to a hospital for the sick and dying babies and 4 of us went to Dare’s.  I went to Dare’s which is a home for disabled children, it was a lot like Gertrude’s in the fact that the kids were disabled but you could tell that it was a newer area by the fact that it was not as big and not as good of equipment, but the kids were a lot happier and compliant and they were so eager to learn English that I led a little session on the alphabet and taught them some words like, Hope Football.  Next we went to apparent project and bought little goodies and smoothies, the smoothies were so good.

Afterwards 4 of us were supposed to go to the wounded clinic, but there was no way for us to go so we four ended up helping babies instead.  That wasn’t my favorite thing but I did get to play with little kids which I love to do so in the end I had fun.  This has been such a fun trip and I have loved every minute I am so happy I came and yes I am safe and doing fine.  See you all soon later.

Tyler

Hello! What a wonderful day. I had the opportunity to go to an orphanage for special needs children. Seeing kids smile, laugh and cuddle is never a bad time. It was a newer orphanage so they did not have a lot of amenities for the children but the workers were good with the kids and all of the children were happy and content. After Dare’s we went to the Apparent Project and got a tour of the grounds where everything is made. Then headed on down to another orphanage to finish off the day. Tomorrow is another exciting day!

Madi 

Today I am humbled by the gratefulness of strangers. I am overwhelmed by the gratitude expressed for such a simple act. As I sat at the Hospital for Sick and Dying Babies holding a 16-month old boy, a Haitian man quietly walked up next to me and set his daughter down on the concrete floor by my feet. He said no words, but was sure to make eye contact with me as he stepped back to stand across the courtyard. He stood and watched us for about 10 minutes, until I motioned asking if this was his daughter. He shook his head to signify, “Yes.” A minute later I returned the baby I had been holding to another team member and motioned to the man asking through rudimentary movements if it would be ok for me to hold his daughter. He put his hands together in front of his heart and shook his head again, “Yes!” I held his daughter for the remainder of the parent visitor hours. In that time, the gentleman disappeared. However, I noticed a female standing in the same location he had retired to. She waved and smiled when I noticed her. I waved back and asked the same question of her through the same gestures, “Is this your daughter?” She nodded and placed one hand on her heart as if to say, “Yes. Thank You!” She stayed for a few moments, then gather her other children and left. The small child I was holding clung to my arms and eventually fell asleep there.

I set out to bless babies and their families today, but it was quite the opposite. It was their gentle appreciation, that which transcended oral expression, that pierced me…that pierced much deeper!

Jamie

Day 1:

As an experienced Haiti mission trip goer, the hectic sights of the water truck stops was no new feat to me. I was not overwhelmed, or shocked or uncomfortable, like I was last year and how I’m sure many of our first time goers felt. This time, I was able to enjoy the beauty of the country and the people around me without getting overwhelmed. I was able to appreciate the complete strength and grace of the women around me who are carrying babies in their arms and 5-gallon water buckets on their head. I was able to see the love and care of the people of this community. How each child knows each other and watches out for each other. I was able to fully engage with the children when they reached up their arms in search of love. I believe that it is important that I came to Haiti again. Because last year, God taught me to go out of my comfort zone in order to experience new things. This year, I think God will be teaching me to appreciate Haiti and all it has to offer; appreciate the culture of the country, the language of the people, and often times, the hidden beauty of this amazing country.

Usually at every hectic water truck stop, children pick us, and this trip has been no exception. The second water truck stop of the day, as I was getting out of the tap-tap, a little boy made eye contact with me and I could tell that I had been chosen. I walked over and immediately, he reached up in that glorious search of love that is so universal. I held him the whole time and he nuzzled into me. I just kept thinking about how much this child needs to be held and loved. Not only how much the child needs it, but how much I needed it. It’s such an amazing feeling to be able to share Christ’s love through nothing but touch. The whole time, the boy had a piece of plastic tied around his wrist that I had noticed as I held him. As it was time to go, he took of his plastic bracelet and tried to tie around my wrist. There was so much beauty in that simple gesture. This little child, who probably has nothing, was willing to sacrifice his one possession, which was just a piece of dirty plastic, in order to make me smile.

Throughout this week I hope I, and the rest of my team, is able to remember to find the beauty in this country and these people and be changed for the better.

Dani Mae

The question in my mind after water truck day is “when”? When does the light in our soul start to dim? The children are the shining light of the happiness and joy that is in our hearts when we are young. Playful, affectionate, eyes that grab you even before their arms do. It’s hard to look past the mayhem at the of the hose, really hard. But if you do you will see the hardened eyes of the cite soleil men lined up against the wall. When does this happen? And how? I am struck by the contrast of these two human conditions on my first night in Haiti. As a married adult with no children I was warmed by the love of the children. My evening will be filled with the question “when”?

David 

Healing Haiti Team Albuquerque is safe and sound on the ground in Haiti.  Our team had a long day (4:30 am start), but is enjoying the Haiti heat in Guest House #2.  I am sure all of us will have a renewed appreciation for air conditioning tonight when we get to go to sleep (A/C in sleeping rooms only).  As a leader I am praying that is one of many lessons we learn.  Tomorrow morning we start my favorite ministry - delivering free water to those that have no access to water - safe or not.

Sarah and I are so very blessed to lead this team of faithful servants together.

Craig (Leader in training)

Day 6- Watermark Team-Changing Plans

Sometimes we just never know what the Lord is up to;) Today we had our one and only rainy day, and it was supposed to be our Watertruck day, which many of us were really looking forward to. It's a day of serving that demands the most of us, everything we have both physically and emotionally and having it be our last day serving...we craved being able to "leave it all out on the field". The Lord, however had something else in mind. We all woke to rain falling like crazy and what is a burden to us in the states, is a blessing to the people here. When it rains, their water is naturally provided, and they have no need for the watertruck. I say that to say this...God had a different agenda than we did today!

The team leaders let us know that we would not be doing Watertruck day today, due to the rain and that there were some other options. We landed at a deaf children's orphanage and for the entire team...it was more than we imagined today could be. As we all found our place with these children, we got to linger a little longer at this place. So much of our trip has been time oriented because we had somewhere new to go, but today...today we got to just become friends with these children. And in a place where there isn't just one language barrier, but two, God made a way through just Love. It spoke more clear than any common language ever could and we were all in awe of how God moved on behalf of those children today...and on behalf of our team!

We got to simply just be with these kids... 

He truly did give us, and them the desires of our hearts...

We loved every second of His plan today.

As our last serving day here in Haiti, the reality of that settled in, in the sense of reflecting on what it's been. We all went out to eat at Pizza Amore' and I am not just speaking for myself when I say this...tears of laughter didn't stop, for the people on our team until we layed our heads to rest later in the evening. We all sat around the table, and as I sat back and just watched as our team bonded unreserved, and fully ourselves, I couldn't help but find an overwhelming gratitude that He literally handpicked every heart at that table for this trip, for this time, for this crazy sweet adventure of Love.

Hashtags were flowing, stories were shared, laughter rang so loud from our group and He blessed us in complete abundance today!

;) Tomorrow ...church at Grace Village and some team winding down time is on the horizon...

Till tomorrow! Thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement!

Day 4 and 5 ...Watermark Team in Haiti;)

Day 4 was spent at Grace Village, really seeing with the eyes of hope and promise of all that the Lord is doing for the people of Haiti through those who love Him. There is a clinic, a lab, a school, a library, a computer lab, an orphanage, 4 family unit homes, a church, a bakery, a cafeteria, and fish harvesting...all having been built for the glory of God for the children of Haiti;) Their team on staff are absolutely amazing people and all but 2 are Haitian which partnered with the Bakery is providing opportunity to the Haitians for job creation and provision for the families! The other part of our day on Thursday was visiting the 3 elderly homes. This was different than anything that we have experienced so far because they allowed us into their homes...Aimie led us in worship while the team washed the feet and arms of these beautiful people, others held the children and ministered to the family members there, and some prayed over each one that we could. It was an incredibly beautiful picture of the Lords heart for His people...in a way that completely wrecked every heart on our team. Sighs...He has been sooo good to us in this trip and through one another, we see His hands and feet of Love in ways that many of us have never known. It's powerful, beautiful, heartbreaking and humbling for this team, and we are drawing closer to eachother for it! On  our way back from the elderly visits, we visited the Mass Graves Memorial sight where over 300,000 bodies are laid to rest as a result from the earthquake here in Haiti in 2010. We were honored to hear the stories of that day from 2 of our interpreters... and man... the word resilient has a whole new meaning.

Can't Believe that Day 5 is coming to a close already! It was a busy, yet amazing day for the Watermark team! We started off our day with a 5 am wake up and were gifted with the opportunity to go to a Haitian Tent Service at 6 this morning and worship in a powerful way with another nation. It was incredibly close to heaven! Next we moved onto Home for Sick  Adults. The men ministered to the men and the women to the women. It's a pretty self explanatory explanation...however...none of us expected it to be what we walked into. There were men and women hooked up to IV's, some unable to speak, some unable to move, most all were malnurished and there were many...so many. We rubbed lotion on these beautiful men and women, and the women painted the nails of these daughters of our King.  Every heart was humbled, every heart was moved, every heart was willing... and every person there living at the facility were honored with the Love of the Lord through our team. Many of us, if not , all of us will never forget being allowed to serve His people in the capacity that He allowed us today;) 

We then moved on to an Orphanage and got to love on, spend time with, do crafts with and give supplies to some kiddos!!! They were such precious children !

Welp...we just finished our word of the day which is our team time that ends our days in prayer with eachother;)

Thank you for your prayers and your support!! 

Tomorrow is our last serving day and we are going in full force;)

Day 3- Watermark Team-Water truck day

Day 3-Watermark Team-Watertruck Day in Haiti

What a day today has been for our team;) Many of us experienced “Watertruck Day” here, and it is no longer a mystery…but quickly became a settled place of servanthood that rose up out of every heart on our team. We visited Hope Church in Cite’ Soleil, and prayed over each classroom, each seat, every peace of space that hasn’t been touched by the little fingers and toes of the children yet, or by the parents. It was ABSOLUTELY beautiful to see what God can do, when given the chance. Hope Church was built upon 15 feet of garbage in Cite Soleil. It is where the locals would throw their garbage, as they don’t have a garbage service here. It is where they would urinate and go to the bathroom, as they do not have a toilet in their shanties. God marked that exact place for His glory…and we got to see what was once a thought, come to pass as a place where He is glorified amidst the worst place in the world.

It was beautiful.

From there, we followed a big water truck in our tap tap, which is a caged truck that we all ride in when going anywhere as a team;) We followed the water truck to the center of the people and as anticipation rose in the hearts of our team, knowing it was going to be intense when we stepped foot off of the truck, the Lord was with each one of us, and we just did. The children so thirsty…less for water…and drastically more for love clinged to our team. We all took turns loving on, touching and holding the children of Haiti, while others held the water hose, and filled buckets with water for the people. We stopped at three places, all very different from the last and by the end of the last stop, every one of us was drained. Again, much of the ride was in silence as we processed what just happened. Every one of our arms were aching from holding multiple children at a time, or carrying buckets down alleyways to their homes. When I say homes, let me paint a picture. Metal tin homes, without floors or carpet…only dirt. Many without windows, none with electricity, bathrooms or garbage cans. So many dirt floors with simply a piece of cloth laid on the floor where they slept. This was their home, and they let us in, just enough to put down a full bucket a water that is all they have to live on until the next water truck comes. It was an honor for us all to be welcomed to love on the children, to be welcomed to serve them by carrying buckets. As each child led us where to go, none of us knew how far we would have to walk…yet we went anyways.

Drenched in sweat at the end of the last stop, there was a sense of gratitude that nothing else could have brought our team, but exactly that.

We had another time of sweet worship with the other guest house team. We started the morning with breakfast around our table, holding hands and praying over our day. We ended it with 40 people full out worshipping the Lord for creating such a beautiful people and sustaining us through yet another day in Haiti.

Tomorrow…we visit Grace Village, minister to the Elderly, and love…Tomorrow is another chance for our team to LOVE WELLJ