Easter Lutheran - Day 1

Hey there! I am Lara and I go to Easter Lutheran Church. You always hear about how life-changing Haiti is, but you never really get it until you look into the eyes of the children you are helping. Even though I have only been here for one day, I have had my outlook on life changed completely. I hope you enjoy reading about my first day adventures, and see how God works miracles through us all.

            Waking up this morning it really hit me that we were in Haiti, but what hit me harder was the heat that met me outside of the bedroom door. I grabbed my water and went up to the balcony for my morning devo and watched the goats next door and the awakening city for a good half hour. After breakfast we got ready for our first trip. We were splitting up for the morning, half to Home For Sick and Dying and half to Dare’s. I decided to go to Dare’s, which is a home for children with disabilities. The ride there was pretty crazy due to the sometimes-bumpy roads and my carsickness, but once we got there I felt better immediately. Right when I walked in there were kid’s reaching for my hands and stroking my arms. The smiles on their faces instantly erased any doubts I had about choosing to go there. My time there was spent blowing bubbles, giving rollercoaster-like wheelchair rides, feeding the kid’s, and lots of hugs and holding hands. The love that filled my heart being with those kids is something I will never forget. The language barrier didn’t stop them from telling me where to take them or from talking to each other on our phones made of LEGO’s. I hope to go back someday and do it all again. After we left and came back to the house we had lunch and then got ready to Apparent Project. Apparent project creates jobs for parents, so they don’t have to give their children to orphanages.  They create bracelets, t-shirts, metal work, and much more.  We were able to have a tour of where everything was made and of a daycare where the parents can leave their children while they work, which was my favorite part. Everything is made from recycled materials, which I found insanely cool. We then went to the shops and restaurant and I had probably one of the best smoothies I have ever had. We came back to the house, made a quick change and then went out to play soccer next door with the neighborhood boy’s. After a lot of laughs and a lot of sweating we came in for an incredible dinner. My first day in Haiti has already opened my heart and brought me so much closer to my faith. I am extremely excited to see what the rest of the week will bring, especially with water truck day tomorrow. 

            This is my first mission trip and I know already, that there will be many more to come. I never thought that I would want to do missionary work when I got older, but now I can’t think of anything else I would want to do. God’s love and power has changed my heart forever, and I can’t wait to see what he is planning for my life and the rest of the trip.

God bless,

Lara