This was, indeed, what our day presented to us: a full spectrum of experiences, emotions, and learning!
We were rudely awakened this morning with the crowing of a rooster, compliments of Tom, at 5:15 a.m. We had to get up this early so we could attend "tent church" for the early service at 6:00, where many Haitians begin their day before they go to work. The service was quite "Pentecostal," with worshipers waving their hands, praying as they steadily walked the aisles, praying on their knees, everyone giving glory to God. Pastor Gary (not to be confused with our Pastor Gary) led us in songs of praise and in an extended time of prayer that embraced the entire world, from Haiti to Jerusalem.
We needed to leave before the sermon because a very busy schedule was before us today. After another delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, French toast, fresh fruits, and hand squeezed juice, we left on our drive to Grace Village. The trip in our tap-tap took us along the Caribbean coast and up through the hills to the village of Titanyen. It was market day in the village, crowded with smiling people selling their goods, from goats to tires to vegetables. We continued up the steep hill, past the new church that is being constructed for the community, and through the gates of Grace Village. (Learn about Grace Village at healinghaiti.org.)
We saw a lot of construction continuing on the site as we met our guide, Bianca, a new full-time missionary at Grace Village. She pointed out the newly finished clinic and staff housing as we began our tour. Next she took us to the new brick ovens, which will provide a way for local people to earn a living by making bread, pizza, and other bakery items. As she guided us to the dorms of the orphanage, we were impressed by the large and colorful playground that dominated the area outside the kids' rooms. There are separate buildings for the boys and girls that number over 50.
From there we viewed the containers, the soccer court, the hydroponic gardens and the school. We were especially happy to learn from Bianca that the containers are used to store FMSC meals.
From there she led us through the school itself. The student population is 351. As usual, our team totally disrupted the students' learning as we made our way through the building, waving to the kids, poking our heads into the children's classrooms, and generally leaving chaos in our wake!
Outside the building, our other guide, Shane, pointed to some stones that marked the property line of Grace Village. He said that Jeff Gracek originally planned on purchasing five acres - but he ended up with fifteen. What a blessing this has been as the village has expanded. We ended the tour at the feeding center, which doubles as the church. The floor is inlaid with colorful tiles of fish, a reminder of the miracle of Christ feeding the five thousand.
After our time at Grace Village, we headed back to Titanyen for some elder visits: Edmond (69), Marie (103), and Vertilia (73).
At each of the tiny homes we talked with these beautiful saints, rubbed hands and feet with lotion, serenaded them with worship songs, and prayed God's blessing over them. Before we left, we gave sandwiches, applesauce, and a drink to them as well.
At Vertilia's, we also ministered to two special needs children who live with her - very active and joyful children of God ready to jump and dance and laugh to the music we offered.
We returned briefly to the guest house, then loaded up our suitcases of gift packs for families of sick children at General Hospital in downtown Port au Prince. When we arrived, we got out of the tap-tap and were instructed to bring in the suitcases and some fans, which we installed to help cool off the patients in the crowded wards of hospital beds. However, the guard had us return the suitcases and bring in only one at a time. We opened each case in the hallway to distribute the gift packs, but this created congestion as the administrator was taking interns through the hospital at the same time that we were handing out the gift packs. People on the street also saw what we were offering and began to press us to give them gift packs as well. Things were unraveling quickly, so we were urgently asked to get back into the tap-tap for safety. Our wonderful Haitian translators helped to diffuse this unfortunate situation, and eventually we were able to continue. Those who received the gift packs were very grateful for these presents and the one-on-one interactions that we had with the parents and children. It was a blessing to them and to us.
One thing that I (Dan) experienced during this visit has deeply affected my heart and spirit. I returned to the children's ward, and as I started down the row of cribs, I came upon a little boy, naked, lying on a diaper, whimpering, with a tube up his nose. He was severely malnourished, with protruding ribs, very thin arms and legs, patchy scalp, and glazed eyes. I reached out immediately to console him, and he immediately stopped his whimpering. He turned his head, looked up at me, and smiled. My heart broke; I began to stroke his little body, making comforting sounds, rubbing his head, and praying quietly for this little one who had been abandoned by his mother. I could not leave him; whenever I slowed the rubbing motions of my hands, he began to cry out until he felt my touch again. I stayed with this little guy until we had to leave for home. As I released him into the arms of God, I prayed that our Heavenly Father would be especially close to him, comfort him, and free him from pain until his tiny, ravished body finally freed him to the joy of eternity in heaven with Jesus. As I write these words, I am still trying to process this experience. It is tearing me up inside, and I admit to a bit of anger over the injustice of one so young having to endure such a painful, all-too-brief existence.
I don't even know his name...
"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." (Matt. 2:18)
Dan and Vicky
We were rudely awakened this morning with the crowing of a rooster, compliments of Tom, at 5:15 a.m. We had to get up this early so we could attend "tent church" for the early service at 6:00, where many Haitians begin their day before they go to work. The service was quite "Pentecostal," with worshipers waving their hands, praying as they steadily walked the aisles, praying on their knees, everyone giving glory to God. Pastor Gary (not to be confused with our Pastor Gary) led us in songs of praise and in an extended time of prayer that embraced the entire world, from Haiti to Jerusalem.
We needed to leave before the sermon because a very busy schedule was before us today. After another delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, French toast, fresh fruits, and hand squeezed juice, we left on our drive to Grace Village. The trip in our tap-tap took us along the Caribbean coast and up through the hills to the village of Titanyen. It was market day in the village, crowded with smiling people selling their goods, from goats to tires to vegetables. We continued up the steep hill, past the new church that is being constructed for the community, and through the gates of Grace Village. (Learn about Grace Village at healinghaiti.org.)
We saw a lot of construction continuing on the site as we met our guide, Bianca, a new full-time missionary at Grace Village. She pointed out the newly finished clinic and staff housing as we began our tour. Next she took us to the new brick ovens, which will provide a way for local people to earn a living by making bread, pizza, and other bakery items. As she guided us to the dorms of the orphanage, we were impressed by the large and colorful playground that dominated the area outside the kids' rooms. There are separate buildings for the boys and girls that number over 50.
From there we viewed the containers, the soccer court, the hydroponic gardens and the school. We were especially happy to learn from Bianca that the containers are used to store FMSC meals.
From there she led us through the school itself. The student population is 351. As usual, our team totally disrupted the students' learning as we made our way through the building, waving to the kids, poking our heads into the children's classrooms, and generally leaving chaos in our wake!
Outside the building, our other guide, Shane, pointed to some stones that marked the property line of Grace Village. He said that Jeff Gracek originally planned on purchasing five acres - but he ended up with fifteen. What a blessing this has been as the village has expanded. We ended the tour at the feeding center, which doubles as the church. The floor is inlaid with colorful tiles of fish, a reminder of the miracle of Christ feeding the five thousand.
After our time at Grace Village, we headed back to Titanyen for some elder visits: Edmond (69), Marie (103), and Vertilia (73).
At each of the tiny homes we talked with these beautiful saints, rubbed hands and feet with lotion, serenaded them with worship songs, and prayed God's blessing over them. Before we left, we gave sandwiches, applesauce, and a drink to them as well.
At Vertilia's, we also ministered to two special needs children who live with her - very active and joyful children of God ready to jump and dance and laugh to the music we offered.
We returned briefly to the guest house, then loaded up our suitcases of gift packs for families of sick children at General Hospital in downtown Port au Prince. When we arrived, we got out of the tap-tap and were instructed to bring in the suitcases and some fans, which we installed to help cool off the patients in the crowded wards of hospital beds. However, the guard had us return the suitcases and bring in only one at a time. We opened each case in the hallway to distribute the gift packs, but this created congestion as the administrator was taking interns through the hospital at the same time that we were handing out the gift packs. People on the street also saw what we were offering and began to press us to give them gift packs as well. Things were unraveling quickly, so we were urgently asked to get back into the tap-tap for safety. Our wonderful Haitian translators helped to diffuse this unfortunate situation, and eventually we were able to continue. Those who received the gift packs were very grateful for these presents and the one-on-one interactions that we had with the parents and children. It was a blessing to them and to us.
One thing that I (Dan) experienced during this visit has deeply affected my heart and spirit. I returned to the children's ward, and as I started down the row of cribs, I came upon a little boy, naked, lying on a diaper, whimpering, with a tube up his nose. He was severely malnourished, with protruding ribs, very thin arms and legs, patchy scalp, and glazed eyes. I reached out immediately to console him, and he immediately stopped his whimpering. He turned his head, looked up at me, and smiled. My heart broke; I began to stroke his little body, making comforting sounds, rubbing his head, and praying quietly for this little one who had been abandoned by his mother. I could not leave him; whenever I slowed the rubbing motions of my hands, he began to cry out until he felt my touch again. I stayed with this little guy until we had to leave for home. As I released him into the arms of God, I prayed that our Heavenly Father would be especially close to him, comfort him, and free him from pain until his tiny, ravished body finally freed him to the joy of eternity in heaven with Jesus. As I write these words, I am still trying to process this experience. It is tearing me up inside, and I admit to a bit of anger over the injustice of one so young having to endure such a painful, all-too-brief existence.
I don't even know his name...
"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." (Matt. 2:18)
We returned home from General Hospital, cleaned up while waiting for our supper, and that concluded the "full spectrum" of our day.
Dan and Vicky
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