Bonswa from Team 2!

It is currently 18:07 local time and our team is winding down from a very long day of travel. Nine out of thirteen of our troop departed from the Twin Cities at approximately 05:20 local time this morning, and the remainder departed at approximately 06:20 local time for Atlanta Georgia. The team rendezvoused and was made whole before our departure towards Port-Au-Prince, Haiti around 10:20. Our flight was a slightly turbulent one, but we are all quite thankful to have arrived safe and on-schedule to our final destination! We were warmly greeted by the locals following our landing at around 14:20 and we were escorted to our lovely home for the week once we managed to inch our way through local Customs. We were greeted by our very friendly Haitian caretakers and finally able to unpack and unwind at about 17:00. Our team then underwent a very informative debriefing from our long-term missionary, Ashley, and our team leaders on our itinerary as well as a general idea of what to expect while we're here. The team then enjoyed a much anticipated meal of tacos prepared by our Haitian caretakers. Following our meal, we enjoyed a nice reflection regarding our day, our feelings, our expectations and our hopes for our trip. Once we finished sharing our hearts with the Lord and one another, we participated in a very profound worship time to the melody of a guitar. The guitar was graciously provided by our temporary home, played by our very talented teammate, John Russell. At the moment, our team is taking this time to engage in a little bit of bonding and private reflection. We are so very grateful to the Lord for this opportunity to be serving the people of Haiti as well as for keeping us safe and enthusiastic. To all of those reading this at home, please continue to pray for us and our endeavors!

Bondye beni ou!

Friyay!!!

Hi friends and family!!

We had a wonderful start to our day!!  We attended Church on the Rock for an EARLY morning service.  We were up, church ready, and out the door by 5:45 AM!  We were a little groggy but we sure perked up once we arrived.  Let me tell you, Haitians sure know how to praise Jesus!! Their service was nothing like we have ever seen in the United States.  The Haitians spend the first portion of the service praising God by song and dance. They are all so free, full of life, and full of the spirit of God. They had no care in the world who was watching them - it was their moment with Jesus and it was beautiful to witness. We did not stay for the sermon as it was in Creole, but we are all so grateful to have gotten to experience this - and with open arms from the Haitians. They were happy to see us and so welcoming. Truly our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We walked back to the guesthouse where we had breakfast and prepared for the day.  Our first stop was at a treatment center, Haiti Teen Challenge, where we started out hearing incredible testimonies from a couple of the people going through the program. Along with drugs and alcohol, gang affiliation and prostitution are prevalent in Haiti, so it was incredibly touching to hear their stories and how they got out of that lifestyle. Then a few people from our group shared testimonies - it was an emotional moment, as one of our team member's brothers is struggling with drug addiction and has actually been to Teen Challenge in Minnesota several times. She asked for everyone in the room to pray for her brother, and they did right then and there. They grabbed a guitar, sang a beautiful song (seriously, this Haitian beauty could SING), and once the song was over, they all started praying out loud in Creole for her brother by name. It was the most moving, powerful moment that none of us will forget. And thankfully it's caught on camera so she can share it with her brother back home and show him how an entire room full of complete strangers who understand his struggle better than anyone prayed for him by name. One thing that was said that really stuck with us - "addiction is addiction no matter where you are in the world." So true. I pray every single person in that room continues to draw close to God and lean on him for strength to overcome whatever addiction or hardship their facing. And I pray the same for our team member's brother.

We then headed over to Papillon where we enjoyed a smoothie and a bite to eat. We were given a tour by one of the Papillon staff.  The hard work and details that go into their handmade items was incredible to see in action.  It is vital that this business thrives as many Haitians rely on the sales to eat, pay their rent, and to be able to send their children to school. School is not free for Haitians! If you wish, please check out the link below where you can find more information about this business and shop online if you wish!
https://papillonmarketplace.com/

Our last stop was at an orphanage called La Phare's.  These children truly touched our hearts today. They were beautiful, friendly, playful, and simply amazing. We painted nails, played tic-tac-toe, jumped rope, monkey in the middle and much more!  Our visit ended by some touching songs sang to us by the orphans!

Titanyen!

Hello friends and family!

Some of us woke up early to watch the sunrise from our rooftop patio, hot coffee in hand and sleepy eyes.  We listened as the roosters woke up the neighborhood and watched the neighborhood slowly come alive.
Our first stop of the day was Grace Village, but not before we filled our bellies with egg scramble, oatmeal, fresh fruit, and french toast.
Our drive to Grace Village was so pretty with desert looking landscape and a beautiful view of the ocean, turquoise in color.

Grace Village has a school, orphanage, clinic, garden, and more on their grounds.  They even have a playground that was originally in Bloomington, MN - it was refurbished and donated to Grace Village.  It was so rewarding getting a tour from Caleb, the long term missionary who lives in Grace Village. Caleb and his family seem to love it in Haiti by observing their interactions with the staff, children, and us.
Caleb gave us a tour of the grounds, and even shared some inspiring stories of orphans with "success" stories thanks to Grace Village and Healing Haiti.   The grounds were full of sweet, energetic, and happy boys who followed us around the whole tour.  We gave hive fives and piggy back rides.
Caleb explained that the orphanage changed from dorm style, to family style, because they wanted the children to grow and thrive in a family atmosphere. They impressed the importance of the kids having a constant parental influence, so the children have a "mommi" and "poppi", they eat together, and interact together.

A sweet moment was when one of our group members, Erik saw a little boy he remembered from his trip to Haiti last year.  The little boy lit up when he saw Erik! It was translated that the little boy remembered Erik and spent the rest of our time in Grace Village by his side.  It is touching when we can see the fruits of our labor here in Haiti!

After our tour of Grace Village we waved goodbye and stopped at a shop called Rosie's, to get some souvenirs, ice cream, and iced coffee's! We then headed to our next stop - "elder visits".  Grace Village has a community of elders that they provide assistance to as they are able. We visited with four different elders. Our first stop was to an elderly gentlemen who has the best spirit in the world. This man is happy as can be and has an incredible connection with our trip leader, Andrea.  Today was not their first encounter!  We washed his feet, applied lotion to his hands, arms, feet, legs, back, and scalp. We also provided him with a fresh shave!

Our next elder was a woman who was not feeling well. She was feeling exhausted from the heat. We prayed with her and sang her songs. This seemed to brighten her spirits as she was up and walking around just before we left - stating we "motivated" her to get up and move around. Thank God for working through our hands to give her the boost she needed for the day.

Our next elder visit was to a younger woman who keeps a close eye on the neighborhood elders. She is 37 years old and currently 5 months pregnant. We provided her with a foot and leg wash followed by lotion. We rubbed her back and prayed for her health and the health of her growing baby.

Our last elder visit was a tough one!  This woman was complaining of a fever and chest pain.  Because of this, she declined any cares. We still sang with her and prayed for her.  Ultimately, we felt it was best that she be evaluated by a doctor. We drove her up to the clinic at Grace Village where she received IV fluids and was then taken back home to rest.  All elders were also given a warm meal, a beverage, and a few bags of clean water.

Our last stop was at Fleri, a bakery and restaurant owned and operated by Healing Haiti.  There is so much history behind this business and I encourage you to follow the link below to learn more about it!  We enjoyed pizza, apps, and a cold beverage before heading home. We all agreed that the creole pizza was the best of the three we ordered - deluxe, bbq chicken, and creole.  It was amazing!!  Today was VERY busy - hence the long post :)  We were tuckered out at the end of the day!
https://www.facebook.com/FleriResto/

Water, water, and more water!!

Hello friends and family!! Day 3 in Haiti started out with another delicious breakfast made by the Haitian ladies here at the guesthouse.  We have been spoiled with yummy food thus far which we are extremely grateful for!  After breakfast we took a short walk up the street to a local artisan market. Such crafty, creative, and beautiful items to pick and choose from!  This is how many Haitians make a living, so it is important that we make purchases so they may support their families.  Our shopping time was short and sweet though, as we had a big day to attend to!

Today was our first water truck day!!! Throughout our stay here in Haiti, we have two days planned as "water truck days".  What is a water truck day you ask?  These days are VERY special, eventful, exciting, exhausting, and extremely important for the Haitian people. On these special days, we make three stops within Cite Soleil to deliver water to the residents.  We are accompanied by a full water truck with each stop. Each truck holds 3,500 gallons of H20!  Can you imagine how much of an impact this makes for the Haitians???  The water in Haiti is extremely polluted and not safe to consume.  Drinking the water here in Haiti can and most likely will cause serious medical problems. Providing the Haitians with safe, drinkable water is life changing for them.  As we arrived to each stop, the Tap Tap was immediately surrounded by excited and happy children with huge smiles on their faces who could not wait to greet us!  Water truck day is not just about the water....it is also a big day for the people in Cite Soleil who often feel forgotten and helpless. Showing them that they are NOT forgotten is a big priority for us.  Besides filling and carrying water buckets, we also spent much of our time loving on as many people as possible.

While in Cite Soleil, we also had the opportunity to tour the new Hope Clinic which recently opened in January of this year.  This clinic is owned and operated by Healing Haiti and staffed with two physicians, two nurses, a receptionist, and a dentist!  An initial office visit will cost 50 gourdes - which is equivalent to $0.58 cents in American money. A follow up visit will cost 25 gourdes - which is equivalent to $0.29 cents in American money - CRAZY!!! This is a flat fee which includes the cost of medications, labs, and any other testing that may be needed. Praise God for Healing Haiti and the difference they have made in the lives of the Haitians!  Located right next to the clinic is a new church which is now available to the people in Cite Soleil. 

After this long day, we returned to the guesthouse to a homemade Haitian meal.  We spent the evening relaxing, socializing, and learning how to Salsa dance!  Our trip has been so amazing thus far. We are so blessed to be here serving God and the Haitians, all while creating beautiful memories along the way.  Tomorrow is a new day and we cannot wait to see what God has in store for us! 

First full day in Haiti!!!

Day 2 in Haiti is officially in the books for our Eagle Brook team - and boy was it an eventful day!  We woke up to an amazing breakfast prepared by the wonderful Haitian ladies here at the Healing Haiti guest house. Our spread included pancakes, egg scramble, fresh mango, banana, oatmeal made with sweetened condensed milk, and fresh passion fruit juice!  With our bellies full we boarded the Tap Tap and headed to our first stop - Deux Mains, owned and operated by Rebuild Globally.  The Deux Mains staff re-purpose tires that are no longer usable and use them to create the soles of sandals!  To make the sandals more fashionable, they also use locally sourced leathers, fabrics, and other findings. Sandals are one of the many products they create and sell.  You can also find other handmade items such as handbags, jewelry, and more!  The history behind how this company began is unbelievably inspiring. The goal was to provide STEADY employment to the Haitian people so they may provide consistently for their families. Because of Rebuild Globally, there are currently 36 Haitians will full time jobs, benefits, access to medical care, and free lunch daily.

Our next stop was to the Metal Market in the city of Croix-Des-Bouquets.  The Metal Market consisted of an overwhelming amount of handmade metal art!  Many stands/sellers to visit and choose from! Each and every item was carefully created by the men and women of Haiti.  How inspiring to see such hard working men and women who take such pride in their work.

The last stop tugged at our heart strings just a bit!  A special needs orphanage filled with many beautiful and happy children.  We bonded with them by coloring, dancing, jump roping, painting their nails, and simply showing them as much love as possible. Their smiles are forever engraved into our minds and something we will never forget. It was difficult to say goodbye but we did need to head back to the guesthouse where we had a delicious meal waiting for us - homemade lasagna and marinated veggies.  

God has blessed our team and we can't wait to see where He leads us tomorrow!

Day 7-Joy & Kindness

Romans 15:13  "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Our Sunday morning started off with our usual delicious breakfast and devotion.  Our topic this morning was joy and kindness.  We have all experienced incredible joy throughout our week and have enjoyed sharing joy within our team and with those we've met along the way.  The kindness showed to us by the Healing Haiti staff, children, directors of various organizations, and the people of Haiti is infectious! 

Today we boarded the Tap Tap and headed to Leveque to attend the Deaf Church!  The road to the church (as well as the school where the HDA students attend) is a VERY rocky and bumpy ride.  Due to road conditions, we had to walk up a fairly steep and rocky path to get to the top of the hill.  It was all worth it when we were greeted by the precious students who were all dressed up in their new Sunday finest!  Many thanks to all who donated the beautiful clothing.  The students were all smiles in their new outfits. 

Pastors Benedict and Jacques Wilson offered prayers, worship songs, and the message about Daniel and how he fully trusted in God.  To sit in this special place and worship with these beautiful children and adults is truly an honor and a blessing. 

On the way back to HDA we stopped at Chez Maggy's, a true Haitian restaurant.  We enjoyed chicken, fish, and goat, along with traditional fried plantains and rice and beans.  With our bellies full, we returned to HDA and enjoyed some time hearing stories from the directors, Meredith and Keith Henderson, and then spent some time playing with the students.  There was jump roping, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, a parachute, and soccer!  Needless to say, we were all hot and tired when it was time to say our farewells.  Good byes are never easy but we will always cherish these memories and the special friends we have made along the way.

To cool off and refresh ourselves, we headed up to spend some time reflecting on the week at the pool.  We shared our favorite memories which included water truck day, La Loo Orphanage, the Home for Sick and Dying Babies and Children, pizza at Fleri, Montfort School for the Deaf, and the Haiti Deaf Academy. 

We continued the conversation over a great meal of shepherd's pie and fresh vegetables.  We wrapped up the evening uploading all of the photos from the week and continuing to reflect on all of the blessings we have received over the past seven days.  One of the best blessings is to have shared this week as a TEAM, a team of friends who joyfully served in Haiti and grew in our faith.  We will  be sad to leave and part ways, but we know that we have a bond with one another through Jesus and nothing can break that bond.  We want to say a special thank you to each and every person who has made this trip possible.  You prayed, you purchased birdseed wreaths, jewelry, paintings, t-shirts, coffee mugs, and many other handmade items.  You ordered cakes.  You encouraged us when we needed it most, and for this and so much more, we are truly grateful.  Thank you for following us in our journey and praying for our safe return tomorrow.  We leave you with this Haitian phrase: N a we pi ta, Ayiti, or See you later, Haiti!   

A day of Reflection and Sun

From Radiant Life - Michigan and Minnesota

Just like a regular Sunday back at home, we began our morning attending a church. This time it was not the one we are used to, for today we got to attend Rendez-Vous. Here we were able to wear headphones that translated the sermon into English for us. It felt a lot like a church service at Radiant Life some of us go to, back in Sturgis. The seats were filled early with people eager to worship and hear God’s word. We worshipped, took communion, and listened to a sermon about time. The basis of the message shared today was focused on how time is valuable. Filling your day with things that are not as important as they may seem, can take you away from your time spent with God.   

                                                                                    

After a wonderful service at church, we all loaded onto the Tap Tap to get ready for a bumpy, FAST ride. This time we were headed to Wahoo beach. Getting to be here opened up a totally different view of Haiti. The sun was shining like it has been all week. The ocean was gleaming and just waiting for us to take a dip into the refreshing atmosphere. From seeing a jellyfish in our swimming area to seeing Paul zoom away with our fearless leader on a jet ski, I’d say it was quite a fun experience. Aside from swimming and jet skiing, we kayaked, paddle boarded, played volleyball and relaxed while soaking up the sun. The time spent here allowed us to reflect on our past few days of service to the Haitian community.

Throughout the week I was able to watch each team member, including myself, grow miraculously in our faith. Most of us did not know every person before this trip, but we quickly became family as the week went on. Jokes from Tom, Tap Tap rides, and serving God as a team brought us together. We were able to share an experience that not all of us have gotten to have before. From delivering water to visiting orphanages, we saw God here in every direction we looked. Haiti is a beautiful place. I have not watched this place change from what it was before, for this was my first time. But I can clearly see God working in all the hearts of whom I got the opportunity to meet. I’d just like to say, “Hey you!” from the team of 10 of us Michiganders and Minnesotans, or so called the M&M’s. As we head home tomorrow, we will surely bring home our well worth it sunburns, and most importantly the memories we created here in Port Au Prince. I will forever be changed by this trip. Blessings to everyone. I am excited to continue to watch this place transform into the visions that God has laid out, and what the people here imagine it to be someday.

-          Brandi