Hosanna Youth Team - Day 5

Hello everyone!

Today we started our day off at 5:30 am. We walked to church at 6am, and found ourselves slipping in disgusting mud. When we were at church we were very surprised when the Haitians started to say a blessing over us. After church we came back for breakfast, and most of us took a little nap before it was time to leave again. It was a beautiful but long drive along the coast of Haiti, to the city of Titanyen (which means less than nothing). First we stopped at the mass grave cite from the 2010 earthquake. It was a beautiful memorial, although it was sad thinking that we were standing over (around) 200,000 bodies. After that we visited our four elderly homes of the day. There we brought them a warm meal and worshipped with them. They were very excited for us to be there to wash their feet and rub lotion on their arms and legs. It was truly humbling to be able to serve them, especially being out of our comfort zones. Some of the elders had no toes, only one leg, and many of them were in pain. Because the homes were only the size of a bathroom, many of us took turns playing with the neighborhood kids as well. After the elder visits, we toured Grace Village. We were amazed at the program they had going on with the orphanage transition homes, school, and medical clinic. The view of the ocean and mountains surrounding us was incredible. We traveled down the hill to a restaurant and bakery called Fleuri for dinner. There we had amazing pizza, and learned more about the job creation program at Grace Village. At that time it was time to go back home, around 7 o'clock. While sitting in the front seat the driver taught Tyanna and Angie how to drive a stick shift, but then he warned us it was going to get a little "bumpy". All we saw were cinder blocks mixed with mud, and we soon were seemingly entering Jurassic Park. Everyone in the tap tap was soon flying around and screaming, until the left side slowly started to sink.. the tap tap went tip tip. Our driver calmly said, "One second.." We all got out safely and luckily we were right outside the guesthouse gates. Thirty minutes later we heard the beeping of the tap tap getting pulled out. It was a very long day but also very humbling. It was definitely worth it. ~ Angie and Tyanna

Hosanna Youth Team - Day 4

Bumpy, Sticky Thursday 

To start things off... yes, it was a bumpy, sticky Thursday but we are all safe :) The day started off as it always does eating breakfast. Things got delayed when our tap-tap was half an hour late as it was being used to pick up "American Rice" (Gravel). We made our way to our first orphanage at around ten o'clock. The ride was too bumpy and long. When we arrived the pastors wife, who is in charge told us that she didn't know we were coming so all of the older kids left for an adventure in the mountains. The only kids that were there were about nine of the little tikes. The owner spoke really good english as she was telling us about the grounds and their expansion. She is hoping to expand from having thirty kids to about fifty or sixty. She look us into a shady gazebo where all of the kids were playing. As soon as we walked in, most of them started to cry and clung to the Haitian staff. This surprised us because most of the kids we had met previously jumped all over us. It took until we started to sing that the kids calmed down. Most of the kids sat with one of us and listened quietly to the music (except one). By the time we were getting ready to leave almost all of them were sleeping in our arms. Next, we made our way to the Apparent Project. This is a company founded by an American lady who went to Haiti around 2009 to adopt a child. When she got here she found out that the family didn't actually want to give up their child but they needed the money. She decided to start a business providing stable jobs for Haitians so that they could keep their families together. It opened in 2011 and they now have 201 employees along with a separate production and distribution center. We shopped and got to tour the production center. Our last stop was to 'La Loo' another orphanage with younger kids. Once we were there we gave a faith lesson in the form of a skit. Georgia was Jesus. After the skit, the kids made friendship necklaces and enjoyed a snack!¡!¡ Once we were finished visiting the children, we made our way back to the compound. It was rocky, bumpy, sticky, hot, sweaty and a long ride. At dinner Haley broke out the dance moves to 'JuJu on that Beat'... surprisingly amazing. Later tonight we attempted group worship on the deck but quickly were rained out. Instead, we broke out in song in the kitchen in front of two men just trying to eat. Currently we're watching people sing and dance to Michael Jackson, Hannah Montana and the electric slide.

Have a blessed evening 

Juju and Bebe