Day #4 KCC Haiti Team: Here is my Heart Lord, Speak What is True.

Today we visited the Hospital for Sick and Dying Adults.  The ride in the tap tap was about an hour given the traffic but it was another opportunity to see more of Port-au-Prince and the bustling city.  Our visit to the hospital was to deliver supplies that many of you helped obtain and to visit with the patients, provide lotion rubs, and pray for them. While the hospital name indicates adults, many of these patients were young men and women suffering from a variety of illnesses that do not have good prognosis.  Despite their situations, they were very thankful for our attention and prayers.  Again, it was rewarding to be the hands, feet, and voice of our Lord God.  Our team meeting this evening reflected the following experiences at the hospital:

• satisfaction for our efforts, 
• gaining comfort out of an initially uncomfortable experience for some while realizing our vulnerability reside in God's hands , 
• overcoming internal struggles from past interactions with this patient population, 
• an acknowledgement that you receive out our your experiences with God what your are willing to put in,
• feelings of redemption for becoming children of God that we didn't realize we had in us.    

On the way to our next stop, we were able to visit the Haiti Museum and had a brief tour of the history of Haiti from its beginnings of early inhabitants to present day.  It was very informative and gave us a deeper understanding of the land in which we are conducting mission work.

The last stop of the day was the La Loo orphanage.  We spent time with orphans singing, playing, gaining young companions, and conducting a teeth brushing lesson with special dye tablets that the children chewed after brushing to demonstrate where they missed. It was a great hit.  The kids loved the snacks we brought and behaved like any other kids (use your imaginations!)...it was nice to see.  The power of our teamwork shone through right down to our interpreters who always join us.  They were remarkable in leading us in song playing the guitar and a using a chair as a drum.  Thank you guys.

In closing, as one of our team members put it...today was a day of engagement...there was no one sitting on the bench.  We all were touched by God and had the opportunity to do his good work.  Thanks for your continued interest and support. We love you and miss you all.  Look forward to coming home, but for now we have much more important work to do for God.  God Bless!

KCC Day #4: God's Family- If I have you and nothing else, I have everything...

Another exceptional day with Healing Haiti. We spent our day visiting Titanyen, a community northeast of Port-au-Prince where Grace Village is located.  Grace Village is a beautiful school and orphanage that has grown to amazing things through the vision of Healing Haiti over the past 10 years.  We had an opportunity to tour the brilliantly colored facility and hear exciting plans for continued growth of the village.  On site is a school to almost 400 students (Grace Academy), a Medical & Dental clinic for approximately 13,000 area residents a hydroponics and aquaculture program, Job creation efforts include a bakery due to open later this year and outreach extends to Grace Church an Elder program supporting local older residents in need of daily or weekly care and medical attention.  Many of our team members were returning to Grace Village after 6 months to two years and were elated by the grown and progress of Healing Haiti in such a short time.   All because of people who believe in God and the vision of family being the foundation of a Christian faith.

The Elder Program was the most challenging, rewarding, and humbling experience for our team today.  We visited three recipients of the outreach program and delivered hot food, played music and sang for them, washed their feet, lotioned their feet, legs, and arms and prayed for them.  These three individuals provided inspiration for us while we were trying to comfort them.  Despite the sickness and health issues they had today, their dignity and faith for Jesus was unwavering.  It was empowering and emotional to feel the presence of God and be witness to his love through our hands and voice. Several of us were surprised that our discomfort was easily dispelled by the grace of these elders, knowing that they are part of our family of God.

Thanks for following.  We love you all.  Good night.

KCC Day #3: All the Poor and Powerless

Manny, one of our leaders, has an amazing way setting the stage for our upcoming day with music.   The title of this song (by Sons and Daughters) doesn't really describe the depth of the song but the lyrics certainly provided us inspiration for our day as missionaries of God:  "...go on scream it from the mountains...go on and tell it to the masses, that He is God".

We spent time today holding and comforting 30+ infants and toddlers at the Hospital for Sick and Dying Children.  While most are not orphans, their parents do not have the means to care for these children and the children are placed here for whatever time they may have left in their lives.  We had the privilege of assisting in the care and feeding of 10+ toddlers at lunch.  I know I can say for everyone on my team that the children caught our hearts and responded amazing to our love and attention.  We each had the opportunity to provide the human touch of God's love to these precious young souls.  As we were there, it was also touching to see so many of the parents visiting their sick children.  Love and faith was certainly present.

Our second stop was an orphanage for emotionally challenged and/or physically disabled infants and children.  We were blessed by a "vocal concert" by the children led by one of young men who was blind.  As one of my teammates described, we certainly felt the presence of God in the room as we visited.  This visit was for me, one of my discomfort zones.  But in reflection, I can share with you that as I entered the room, two young girls caught my attention and God provided me with the gift of their smiles and desire to connect.  Quite frankly, their physical deformities were quickly forgotten as we clapped to the music and one of the girls crawled from the floor to be held by me.

Lastly, we visited Papillion Enterprises, a powerful demonstration of hope in Haiti.   This effort has grown to employ 300+ Haitians in creating hand crafted gifts such as jewelry, clay pottery, clothing, and metal work that is sold locally and internationally.

All of our experiences are supported in part by the great work of Healing Haiti.   We are fortunate to be able to contribute to the good efforts of this organization through our personal investments.  God certainly has fulfilled our desires to do mission work in his name.   As Charlies ending song for the day says:  "...we want more and more and more of you (God).  Thank you all for your continuing love, support and interest in our journey. We want you to be a part of it.  Mike

There is Power in the Name of Jesus to Break Every Chain...

The title today reflects what a amazing experience we had today delivering water to Citi Soleil, the second poorest slum in the world.  While Healing Haiti is not a charitable organization, this is the one service we provide to this impoverished community located in the Port-au-Prince area.  Our team reflection this evening simply brought together a variety of emotions including:

• Despite the contrast these people live in compared to us, they are equal to us in their love of God.  The children's love was infectious, and the people appreciative of simple things like helping to carry heavy buckets of water to their simple homes of tin.
• We as a team are transforming our own lives as an unstoppable force to bring hope, love and faith to very deserving human beings.

My word of the day was WATER.  Albeit it might seem a simple reaction to our day of work, it really has so many meanings to me.  Here is my personal definition for today: Water (noun): a common required element of life for all of us that God has called us to share with other human beings regardless of their walk in life.  This experience brings powerful emotion to me.  Thank you all for your love, friendship, and support of our team.  We are doing extraordinary things.  God is CERTAINLY on the Move.

A Day of Journey: KCC Mission Team

Good evening to our followers.  We appreciate your support and interest in our journey. Our day began very early for all of us:  our team of eight from Kennebec Community Church (KCC) in Maine and Charlie from Minnesota.  We are a mix of first timers, second timers and veterans to mission work in Haiti.  It has been an exhausting day of travel, yet our bonds as a team have begun to form through our flights, time on the ground, and through dinner tonight.  We are settling into our accommodations in Port-au-Prince, a safe and colorful compound from which we will work from.  We look forwarding to posting more but our bodies need rest and replenishment.  God is keeping us safe, providing us shelter and sustenance, and reaching all of our hearts in ways that I certainly cannot truly appreciate yet.  Let me close with our words of the day for our team:  we each will choose a word each day as a way to debrief and connect.  In random order:

• Humbled
• Reunited
• Emotional
• Excitement
• Powerful
• Confidence
• Tiring
• Sticky
• Fellowship

Looking forward to our work tomorrow: "Water truck day".  Details tomorrow as this first timer plans to jump in fully and get "his feet wet".  We love and miss our families.  We know that without you, we could not be doing what we are for god.  May God Bless and good night.   Mike Gee

Dear Friends! 

Sarah writing today - thank you for following our blog all week.  I am profoundly grateful for the team God provided for me and Craig this week as leaders.  We asked for them to be all in, to stretch and to give everything they had in Haiti… and they did!  As a multiple time goer to Haiti, each time I go to Haiti I experience it afresh, and God always has something new to teach me.  This week he gently reminded me that no matter how much I plan, coordinate, or anticipate what might go wrong, I will never be fully in charge. (ha. And I never was in the first place…) And if you ever need reminding of this fact, Haiti is the place to teach it to you.

This year, I was blessed by the best co-leader, my amazing and patient husband, Craig.  He was a “leader in training” but really, he taught me so much and is probably more qualified than me to lead a trip internationally because he has been traveling the world for 23 years for his “real job.”  His dedication to the team, and his complementary style of leadership to mine, were a huge asset to everyone, but especially me.  And even if I resisted his gentle care taking of me (yep, again, God trying to teach me I’m not in charge) I am slowly learning that I can’t do it all. (but don’t tell him that! : )

Haiti has become part of what I do, traveling there to mission trips at least once a year, but this trip I continue to be reminded that Haiti is becoming a bigger and bigger part of who I am.  And God keeps making more and more room in my heart for his people there, and equipping me even when I think I am unable or unwilling to do what he’s calling me to do at that moment.

You heard straight from the heart of my team this week how God worked in their lives. And we always try to stay focused on what God is doing in us just as much as what God is doing in the Haitian lives we touch. 

At lunch in Atlanta today, we did a highlight reel, each person telling me what topped their list of memorable moments during our 7 days of serving these beautiful, humble, God-fearing, perseverant, hopeful people.  They blessed us.  And they changed us. I hope they keep Haiti in their heart, and continue to let it affect their everyday lives. 

My prayer is that you will be touched by their moments, enough to consider for yourself how you might reach into the life of another to bless them – wherever in the world you might be – and in return reap the reward of that moment changing who you are as well.

Haiti Team Beckman Mission 2016 Highlight Reel:

David: At our second water truck day, we turned onto the street of a stop we call Na Boule, and the moment our tap tap rounded the corner a cacophony of voices began chanting “Hey You, Hey You, Hey You, Hey You” in a joyful unison as they ran after the truck trying to climb on the back and ride along with us to the stop where we would deliver water.  The well over 40 voices were some of the most beautiful we’ve ever heard in our lives.  “Hey you” is a term of endearment for us “Americans” at the water stops in Cite Soleil, and was their way of welcoming us with not just open arms but also hearts filled with anticipation of the love we would share with these kids. (This moment was definitely the number one moment for many of us on the team)

Katie: Spending time at the Home for Sick and Dying Adults helping the women care for themselves when they couldn’t do it alone. 

Jamie: Watching my daughter realize her true calling and comprehend God’s plan for her life. 

 Craig: After a failed attempt to go the wound clinic, we got a second bonus session with the babies at the Hospital.  Caitlin, Tyler and I were the only helpers at that time.  I ended up in a room with 25 hungry babies and one feeder – me.   The first little one was not really excited to eat so it was a battle. The second little guy wanted to eat as much as I would give him and fast.  And he watched me the whole time.  I knew I was needed in that moment.

 Tyler: Teaching and practicing English with the kids at Dare’s.

 Mo: When a cute little baby clung to me at Home for Sick and Dying Babies.

Chris: At our very first water stop the first boy I held stayed with me the whole stop. When we went back for a second day, the same boy came running up to me again and grabbed onto me, and then he followed our truck to the second stop and found me again!

 Dani: At Home for Sick and Dying Babies I held a “drama queen” of a little girl, and she reminded me of myself… which made me smile, since I could totally relate!  I loved that little girl with a sassy attitude that would cry every time I tried to put her down. 

Bri:  When the kids saw me step in the dirty water and they took me over to their clean water and washed off me feet. Their concern for me was so precious.

Ryan: When the tiny kids with no clothes on were helping me lift up the water hose even though they could barely reach it!

Caitlin:   For a while now I have felt the call to do God’s work.  I knew I wanted to be in the mission field somehow.  But for the first time in Haiti I felt like I belonged, and I knew in my heart that God is calling me to be a missionary!

Sarah:  Watching my team do things they never knew they could do, and growing in their faith before my very eyes!

Madi: Really connecting with kids at the water truck stops and seeing Haiti from a different vantage point the second time around!

Thank you for faithfully following our trip, for your donations, your prayers, your support in prayer and deed, your sewing, and your love for our team.  If you ever want to go to Haiti, I have several people who will give it a glowing endorsement…myself included! 

All the glory goes to God!  Glwa Pou Bondye.

Sarah, Craig and Team

Hello all!

The last day in Haiti was truly a day of reflection for all of us, I think. We began the day with church at Port-au-Prince Fellowship, where a lot of long-term missionaries attend church. I think that experience gave the whole team a taste of what truly living in Haiti long term is like for these missionaries. They are not protected by translators all day or locked in a compound with guard dogs. These people are living here, amongst the poverty and crime. We were also able to see how these people are able to praise God throughout all their struggles and trials because they are alive. I think that’s the most important thing I learned from church this morning is learning to praise during the trials, not just when things are going well for us, but when we think we can’t find any reason to praise him.

All in all, today was a day of lasts, a day of goodbyes, to our translators and the missionaries from Healing Haiti, a day of remembering the week and all we did, a day of remembering to remember Haiti. I think when we all leave this place, we need to remember to remember and remember to forget. Remember the people here and their love for one another and their communities. Remember everything we learned this week about each other and, more importantly, ourselves. Remember to be changed and live differently when we get home. Remember to love everyone, not just the people of Haiti, but the people all around us every day. Remember to love, to serve, to say hello, to smile, and to be the hands of feet of God. We also need to remember to forget. Forget ourselves and our selfish needs. Forget what we previously thought of our lives. Forget complaining when we are so incredibly blessed as Americans. Forget ever living the same lives as we lead before.

Haiti will forever be in our hearts and our minds and hopefully, change all of us for the better.

Dani