Moment of Gratitude

 Pre-dawn moment of gratitude.

Day 4: Give Yourself Away

Our day began early with a 6:00 AM service at the Church of the Rock, a local Haitian church. The spirit of God was ebullient, the music was inspiring, the message was powerful, and it was delivered in both Creole and English. The theme that resonated with me as we served this week was “give yourself away.” An important commitment as we live our lives, and an embodiment our team has been living in Haiti.

After another delicious breakfast cooked by the bél (beautiful in Haitian Creole) women at the guest house, we headed to Titanyen to tour Grace Village, a school, clinic and orphanage operated by Healing Haiti. What an amazing place with the spirit of God serving families in the area. It was a special opportunity for our team because two of our goers, Dennis and Lori were able to meet the child they sponsor. It was special to see them interact, learn about each other and create a forever bond.

Our next blessing from God was the opportunity to serve four of the elders in the area. We were fortunate to be able to visit their homes and give ourselves to them as we took meals and drinks, washed their feet and hands and helped to soften their skin with soothing lotion. Marina painted toenails of those that wanted that special touch. Dennis and Katie played guitar and we sang songs with them before praying for their requested needs. It was heartwarming and we all talked about how blessed we are to have the opportunity to serve these beautiful, resilient elders.

Next, we headed to the Fleri Bakery and Restaurant. Fleri is part of Healing Haiti and focuses on creating job opportunities and sustainability for Haitians. They make delicious artisan bread, sweet treats and pizza. The bakery currently employs 25 people, sources much of the raw goods locally and then sells to many local businesses. It’s a powerful model for sustainability and they continue to refine the model as they listen to input from the local community they serve. 

Touring the bakery was incredible…the sights, the processes and the smells… so of course we had to eat in the restaurant! The restaurant has become an important gathering place in the community that caters to families, weddings, holiday gatherings and more. We enjoyed pizza, pasta, plantains, French fries and delicious beverages. The food is out of sight.

We ended the day driving up the hill to a beautiful overlook where we could see an expanse of the island and the sea. It was the perfect way to end another day serving in Haiti where we were once again blessed by God to give ourselves away.

Scott

Serving Day #2

 

Greetings family and friends…

Our second day of serving began this morning assisting the ladies at Hope School/Church doing the laundry Haitian style for the Elders. The Elders are the older, grandparent type people. We had five tubs of water…the first tub worked the initial dirt, the second worked the soap, finishing up with the last three tubs of rinsing out the soap producing clean clothes and linens. The ladies, (the Haitian experts), coached us in doing this by HAND!  This was a GREAT work out!!!  I was able to make a special connection with one of the Haitians who tried so very hard to teach me the correct way to scrub and as Ellie (one of the team leaders), would say, how to “squish, squish, squish”.  We shared some great laughter while learning from our new friends.

While we were there this morning one of our team members, Scott, met up with one of his sponsored kids who attends Hope School. It was a tender moment as they got to know one another through an interpreter. 

We then spent time with the elders from Citi Soleil in Hope Church. We had about 40 elders in our group today.  We colored pictures together, sang together, and basically spent time together.   The singing was from their hearts and spirit filled.  Even though we could not understand all of the words, it touched us as they praised our God with their song.

After a late lunch we went to the Home for Sick and Dying Children. They have a nursery, a 2 to 4-year old section, and a 4 years and older children’s clinic. The children there are severely sick and need all the loving touch they can get. We had the opportunity to visit the 25 kids in the 2 to 4 year old group.  We spent ninety minutes feeding, changing diapers, holding, walking with those who could walk, and sharing our love and God’s love with them. It was hard for all of us to walk away when our time was up. It was hard for them as well as we heard the sad cries as we left the building.  We were happy that they were well cared for and very loved there. 

Dinner was at a new restaurant in town that is owned by one of our Haitian staff drivers.  We had a wonderful meal of fried chicken, plantains, and fries.  It was nice to be out in the community and supporting Max. 

After dinner we played football (soccer) with the 8 to 10 kids in the street just outside the Healing Haiti compound. The boys were so gracious to let us play “keep away” with them.  (They are really good!!) We were also able to see another leader, Randy, bust out a few of his soccer moves and impressed us all!

We then had our daily singing, word of the day and just generally sharing with each other…we have really come together as a team and they are all a true blessing to both Dennis and me.

It was a beautiful day in which we could share God’s love with the wonderful people of Haiti.  As always, I wish all of you could experience this trip with us. Thank you all for your love, support and prayers.

Blessings,

Dennis &  Lori

 Hey you.

Three words. Three words that come to mind as I think of this day are grateful, exhausting, and joy.

Grateful. Grateful I was able to spend the day with my amazing team on water truck day. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but as I walked out of the Tap Tap children came flooding around. Yelling HEY YOU. Children climbed up my body, held my hand, and made sure my hair was out of my face. The pure excitement and love the children had for us as we walked around was amazing to experience. 

Exhausting. Exhausting in the most amazing way possible. Exhausted from carrying buckets of water to families’ houses, but at the same time it was pure happiness to know they now have fresh water. As the women lined up behind the water bucket waiting for their buckets to be filled, the atmosphere buzzed with happiness and chaos. Happiness of the children laughing and clinging on for attention. 

Joy. Joy of seeing children and families being able to get the source of fresh water. Joy of children climbing and seeking attention. Joy of seeing the beautiful faces of the children in school learning. The joy of all the children patiently waiting for every child to receive their food before eating. Joy of observing my teammates do this amazing work. Joy of learning more about the Healing Haiti organization. 

Morgan

Stoebner Team - Day 7 (Recover)

 Evolution of Humanitarian Aid

As we embark on our way back to The States, I reflect on how the model of Humanitarian Efforts have changed.  It was exactly eight years ago this week that I made my first trip to Haiti.  We brought with us 600 lbs of donated clothes, as was common back then after the devastating earthquake. We thought we were helping; but we may have been hurting.  Two years later, the local textile factory closed, hundreds of Haitians lost their jobs. Were we taking jobs away from the locals?

Today, the Humanitarian model is much different; it is to CREATE jobs.  You know the saying "...teach a man to fish..."  Healing Haiti has only 3.5 American FTEs and employs 250+ Haitians who are teachers, drivers, chefs, housekeepers, nurses, restaurant servers, grounds keepers, maintenance men, street ambassadors, farmers, Mommas and Pappas in the orphanages, etc.  We help build Haitian owned for-profit self-sustaining businesses.

The model of orphanages has changed as well.  It used to look like separate dorms for girls and boys, a dining hall, and a building for showers.  Now, orphans live in a house with a staff Mother and Father.  They learn how to be a family, how to connect, care for one another, share in chores, eat together as family; they will someday be Mothers and Fathers themselves. 

A study performed asked the same question to two groups of people: "what is POVERTY?  To most of us, poverty is people without water, cloths, and food.  To those impoverished, their answer is to be SEEN.  WOW!  How many times do we pass a beggar on the street corner and look away?  Sometimes they just want a smile; to be seen. Consider giving a smile of acknowledgement the next time you see someone struggling. 

Within a few hours, I will be sucked into my regular life; it is a privileged life, I cannot complain.  But a piece of my heart is with the young restaveks (google it!) whom we help deliver water in 5 gallon buckets, the elderly in the mountains that we deliver meals, and deaf children whom are outcasts. 

Also, I'll be asked: "How was Haiti?"  Some just want the short answer "Heartbreaking and beautiful all in the same moment."  Some want the elevator pitch, which you just read.  And others want to lean in and hear the stories.  Reach out to anyone on this team for those.  Blessings.

Stoebner Team - Day 6 (Grace Church and Haiti Deaf Acsademy)

 Today started off just like every other day. We ate eggs, pancakes, oatmeal, and fruit. Once we were ready we went to start our day

We tried something new, we went to Grace Church and made crafts and colored pictures with the kids there. They ran around from person to person showing off their picture or wall art. That was followed by an amazing message, "if people are beautiful, the world is beautiful". To see how proud they were of their work they were, and how much they loved to praise Jesus was amazing.

Next we went to Haiti Deaf Academy (HDA) where joy and excitement was bursting! The children were eager to ask us questions about faith,  family, work, school, etc. We took out all of the art supplies and toys from yesterday and had a playdate while others got their hair braided. Towards the end they started re-enacting their favorite bible stories, and it was AMAZING!

While wrapping up the amazing time we had, a thunderstorm hit, and we got to dance and shower in the rain. Today might have started just like every other day, but in the end it was amazing!

Stoebner Team - Day 5

The rooster is crowing.  We wake every morning to his enthusiasm for the day.  The smells of food cooking, coffee brewing, and (campfire, it always smells of something burning everywhere here...) fill the guest house and the friendly chatter of the lovely guest house staff.  It's really a lovely way to start the day. LIGHT!

This morning, after a delicious breakfast, we piled into the the Tap-tap to head to Cite Soleil.  With full bellies and full hearts we made the trip to Cite Soleil as a group of 15 friends.  Studies show that it only takes a few days in Haiti on a mission trip to become friends ;) COMMUNITY!

We arrived right on time to Hope Village as the kids were having recess!  Everyone instantly became a kid again and joined the fun.  Some of us played jump rope, some did sidewalk chalk with our eager, smiling playmates.  There were balls flying through the air and shouts and LAUGHTER, so much laughter.  Many of us gathered to play the parachute game with a huge, round, nylon parachute.  As we lifted,  the littles came zipping in giggling and chattering...the parachute would waft down on them and that was equally thrilling for them if the giggles and shrieks of joy were any indication!  ENERGY!

Next up was laundry.  Everybody loaded up the tap tap with quarters and Tide and headed to the LaundroMat.....nahhhhh, just kiddin!  The elder ladies showed us how to laundry their way, of course with the tools and resources available to them.  Clean water is limited so it is all done in a few large basins, minimalist and efficient.  There is a soap bar and a special way of scrubbing and squishing.  There is a method and process.  It's surprisingly hard to get right!  Sitting on the concrete in the blazing sun, those ladies showed us how it's done with patience and good humor.  I wonder if their backs are sore right now, like mine?  Do their hands hurt too?  HUMILITY.

Once we got the chores done, it was time to head to the water truck stop.  Pile in the tap-tap, load up on sunscreen and water.  Mop the sweat from your brow.  Clear your mind for the next experience.  We arrive to curious and excited faces, so many people already gathered with water buckets.  Children zipping around but always aware of each other and us; they are "polite", respectful. The occasional motorcycle that comes right through the crowd beeping as the people part the way.  There is a musical quality to the combined sounds of voices, the pump generator, water splashing, the "Hey you, Hey you's".  It is hot, there is no shade.  We pile out and get right at whatever it is we are drawn to do.  Watch.  Fill buckets. Haul buckets.  Pick up littles who eagerly present themselves.  Hold a hand, or two or four.  We have talented photographers on this team who are stealthily capturing amazing moments and simple moments and profound images from perspectives and novel vantage points.  Time flies when you are just being present.  Scratch that- time is irrelevant when you are truly engaged.  We get the signal it's time to go after being there only a few minutes, or that's what it felt like.  We were there for almost 2 hours.  PRESENCE.

To wrap up an exhilarating and to be honest, exhausting day, we showered and went to Max's Pica Pollo restaurant for dinner.  A shower after a day like that is truly glorious!  The little restaurant behind the door was surprisingly cool, and very welcoming and smartly decorated with twinkle lights.  With  a  brightly painted wall on one side and bamboo, open air walls in front, and upbeat Haitian music playing, you feel festive and eager to re-engage in this kind of group activity that has been so missing from our experience over the last year.  We happily chatted and recounted the days events as we await our chicken or spaghetti dinners.  Max prepared the whole meal behind an iron door in a space that was not more than 5x5feet.  He had the most proud an happy smile on his face.  I know that feeling too, being happy to have people in my kitchen.  The food was dee-lish!  The fellowship was natural and fun.  It was the perfect end to a perfect day. CONTENTMENT.