March 12: Day Two (Haiti Design Co., Teach Haiti, & La Phere orphanage)

Today we had an amazing breakfast prepared by our lovely staff. We had pancakes, oatmeal, eggs, fresh squeezed juice! We then headed out to 3 places today. First, we were able to visit Haiti Design Co, which was established 5 years ago. Haiti Design Co houses and partners with production teams working in many types of artisan crafting, including leather work, sewing, jewelry making, aluminum casting, metal work, weaving, bead work, horn & bone, tailoring, and shoe making. They work to provide consistent employment in-house in order to give job training and stability to individuals in vulnerable situations, as well as raise up artisan leaders to succeed as independent entrepreneurs in the community. It was interesting to learn how they have grown and how many lives they have changed.  They were very welcoming and appreciative of our visit. We were able to tour the facility, enjoy lunch, shop at their boutique and had the chance to create or own bracelet with the assistance of the employees.

Next, we traveled to Teach Haiti, a school started by a Haitian women who, while carrying water buckets as a child, dreamed of one day becoming a nurse.  After coming to the states and receiving her education (and becoming a nurse), she decided to give back to her people by starting Teach Haiti, which now has over 400 students, some of whom we were able to visit with. We shared about ourselves and learned about them and sang and played with them. They showed us some of the metal and woven artwork they have made.

Finally, we went to La Phere orphanage where we met many loving and happy children. This orphanage is run by Pastor La Phere who loves these children deeply! He recently had a stroke and welcomes prayers for healing. We were able to teach the kids about brushing their teeth and got to sing them a song with a little skit. They brushed their teeth and then we were to put some fluoride on their teeth. Afterwards we got some time to play games with them and talk to them one on one. What an amazing first day of serving alongside the beautiful people of Haiti!
~Emma & Janet Stauffer

March 11, 2019! Day One: Travel Day

After a very long and eventful day, we have finally arrived at our home for the next 8 days. I have never been on a mission trip and as you can assume.. I was feeling very anxious about the unknown, but the second I stepped out of the airport, I felt at home. Watching my returning team members reunite with the translators we will be with all week and being greeted with open arms was very reassuring. 

The most exciting part of my day was when the other first time Haiti goers and I took our first Tap-Tap ride from the airport to our home! We all agreed it felt like a roller coaster.

When we arrived at our home, I was so excited to see where I would get to stay for the next 8 days. The house is a very welcoming and happy place to be. Its filled with bright colors and pictures of all of Healing Haiti's accomplishments. We all settled in quickly and had walking tacos for dinner! All in all, I am beyond excited to see where Haiti will take us this week!
~Alyssa (and Rachel)

15/19 of us heading out of MSP 

The tap-tap ride

Hot Mexican meal for our first team dinner

Dana, Julie, Michelle on the shuttle ride in Haiti 

Dana, Ashley, Ally

Emma & Janet

Erin, Avery (AZ) & Janet, Emma (MO)

Rylie & Elissa airport dance :)

Abby, Avery, Alyssa

Beautiful Rendezvous!

As we closed tonight, these words were used to describe this amazing time in Haiti - beautiful, powerful, full, grateful, joyful, overwhelming, family, and Rendezvous. 

These words are just a few that speak to what we saw, heard, touched, smelled, and loved during our short time. We came open to serve and love on the people of Haiti, and in turn received so much more back.

Rendezvous......a meeting at an agreed time and place, an appointment, engagement and a gathering. This describes the church that we had the privilege to attend this morning. Powerful! A guest pastor (from Minnesota!) taught us that we all need a heart transplant - a heart like Jesus, our donor - a heart that is selfless, fearless, and boundless! Praying everyday that Jesus teaches us more and more about His heart, and the value and gift of prayer. A small part of our team got to share a skit and music with the children of the church - so fun!

Our final adventure was to go to Papillon Market Place. Papillon is full of original hand made items by all local artists. A place creating jobs that help parents earn income to support their families, and share their gifts. Our team did a tremendous job investing in this beautiful place :).

As we embark to reenter into the States, our minds and hearts are full, and we are all processing on how to continue to share about Healing Haiti and how Jesus is so at work here. Praying that we continue to have open hearts and palms up.

You need to come to Haiti and see it for yourself!

Jeremiah 29:11

Playday at Titanyen

We were blessed to travel 45 minutes north to Grace Village in Titanyen.  Since it is Saturday with  the children not in school, we were available to play with them.  One of the older students showed us some of the robotic activities in the tech innovation classroom.  Basketball, jump rope and parachute were active games on the playground.  A highlight during our singing time was to include some of the house mothers. They were very interested to see the words printed in English and practice singing along.  The joy on their faces expressed God's Spirit in their hearts as they made an effort to sing in English.  What beautiful voices they had!  The gift of music is universal, breaking down language barriers. 

Children also enjoyed making Valentine hearts with the message "Jezi renmen ou" decorated with a picture of Jesus and a personal Polaroid photo.  Every color of finger nail polish was painted on children's nails.  A real treat was to have a child paint our nails. 

We appreciated having Healing Haiti staff join us in leading worship, share information about Fleri Farm and the background of Haiti and safely transport us in the tap tap!  We continue to marvel at God's love and provision for the beautiful Haitian people.

John & Marilyn

Days 4 & 5

Day 4: Refresh…

It comes in different forms and we got to experience it in a few separate ways yesterday.  Rather than spending our day ministering on the missions’ field, as most teams do; we served in the Healing Haiti guest house. Through connection, community, and restoration our team was able to develop relationships with each other in the form of worship, bible study, games and an afternoon at the pool.

Day 5: Water springs out of Joy

Isaiah 12:3 “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

Not every day do we get up at the crack of dawn, beginning our day in worship of Christ at a church service. Today we had the opportunity to worship with the local Haitian people at Church on the Rock. Even though there was a language barrier the Spirit was ever-so present and moving within our hearts.

After an amazing start to our day, we literally piled into the tap-tap and traveled over to Cite Soleit. With many bumps in the road and knots in our stomach; we began to enter into the city to the sound of children shouting “Hey you!” Throughout the week, everyone would say, “Just wait till water truck day.” Not sure of what to expect we went in with eyes wide open and palms up.

As the tap-tap pulled into our first stop, we were directed to the sight of Haitian people lined up with multiple buckets in hand anxious for us to fill their buckets. The tap-tap door opens and what greets us is a flood of tiny hands reaching to be held; little ones wanting to be loved. Just as we are when stretching our hands out to our Heavenly Father. The sheer joy on their faces when you connect through eye contact, a smile, or touch is so raw and pure. Your heart melts as you physically cannot hold every child in sight.

To the Haitian people, water is their life. Even the less fortunate in America have more access to clean water, as a means of survival, than the Haitians do. Streets are flooded with tainted water and trash; the only water available to them is through water trucks or well cisterns (which are far and few between). Within 20-30 mins one water truck holding 3,000 gallons of drinking water is entirely emptied, serving only a very small section of Cite Soleit.

We cannot comprehend the dire need of water. Walking into today our team was shocked to witness this reality. With half the team helping the locals fill and carry buckets, the other half loved on the children, which allowed us to experience first-hand how important it is to not take for granted the blessing we have at home.

The joy we experienced today may not be pretty in our eyes, but God sees it as beauty in the ashes.

-Dorothy & Alexis (From Oregon)

Blood Pressure Clinic, Elder Visits, and Being Blessed

Our day started with a 45 minute ride in the taptap through the countryside to Grace village in Titanyen. We greeted many that were there to have their blood pressures checked. We shared and were blessed to teach about good heart health. The four of us had some free time and great fellowship as sisters-in-Christ. We feel so grateful that God opened doors to allow us to help the Haitian people. And yes, we were having a blast!!

In Jesus precious name,
Kara, Kathy, Nancy, and Kim.

The rest of us spent this time doing elder visits in Titanyen, which means "less than nothing."  We didn't know what to expect! We found these visits to be very humbling and tugged at our hearts. We visited 4 women in separate locations who lived in incredibly poor conditions.Our walk to Marie's "house" was on top of a very steep, rocky hill and quite remote. Each of these elderly women we visited were warm and welcoming and so appreciated our visit. As they sat on a water bucket or stool we washed their feet, lotioned their skin, cut nails, hugged them, massaged their muscles, worshiped, and prayed with them after asking (through an interpreter) for their prayer requests. We brought them food, juice, and lots and lots of love. Who was blessed more?! Ourselves or them? I think it was equal. What a wonderful day showing and receiving the gift of God's love.

With gratitude,
Dave (Spletts) & Cindy

What Brings Us Joy

Day 2 (Doug) - Healing Haiti. We traveled into the poorest area in one of the poorest countries in our hemisphere.  I did not know what to expect, anxious for what I would see. It did not disappoint. The extreme poverty, horrible living condition, garbage everywhere.....how can God's Glory be revealed here???  What did I find?  Joy, laughter, smiles, hugs, fun, freedom. I was a child/young man again. Playing soccer with young men, lifting toddlers, hugging children.  Laughing, crying, and experience great joy. I may be quite sore tomorrow morning, but for this day, God showed me His Glory through the beautiful people of Cite Soleil.  I came with an open mind to serve, but the children of this place ministered to me. Taught me to let go and have fun. Celebrate the day.  It was a good one.

Afternoon Day 2 (Abby): After a wonderful morning in Cite Soleil and being able to experience the slums in a way filled with joy, our team split up to go to either LaPhare Orphanage or to the Home of Sick and Dying babies. I was part of the team that went to Laphare Orphanage and I cannot say enough of how incredible it was. I had visited LaPhare three years ago and connected deeply with a boy named Phadel. His energy, spirit, and hope has stayed with me throughout the years and upon hearing we were returning, I began to wonder if I would see him again. Walking through the gates into the orphanage, I kept my eyes open and my heart ready for what I was going to see. Immediately, I spotted him. This child, who has no idea of the impact he's made in my life, was standing in front of me all grown up. We did Polaroid pictures, Valentine crafts, and played with jump ropes and soccer balls. God's hand was completely on this day. I saw him in the eyes of the children, heard him in worship, and felt him even through the layers of sweat (this definitely is not the polar vortex). I am reminding myself to serve palms up and feel prepared for whatever lies ahead.