"Whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers, that you do unto me."

Words are inadequate to describe all that our group of 15 saw, felt, heard and experienced today.   At day's end, our individual "word of the day" included hope, dehydration, eyes, blessed, impressive, kids, conflicted, acceptance, roller coaster, incremental, precious, progress, remember, improvement and Ronaldson (name of one of the children).

Being an earlier riser, Dave woke up this morning before sunrise to the sounds of chickens and sight of sparring goats in the open lot next to Guest House #2 where we are staying this week.

Our day started with a delicious and large breakfast of scrambled eggs, pancakes, as well as avocados, mangoes, oatmeal, fresh squeezed juice and coffee.

Our first stop was at a home for approximately 60 sick and dying children.   These babies and children are brought to this facility for physical care.   Parents come to visit, hold and play with their children throughout their stay.  We spent several hours just being with the kids in hopes of making life a little easier for them for at least a few hours.

The "tap tap", our mode of transportation, took us through the streets of Haiti to the "Apparent Project" where the results of one person's efforts are making a huge difference in the lives of 300 Haitian employees and their families.  Through a business that makes and sells handmade crafts, Shelley Clay's goal is to provide an income sufficient to allow employees to keep their families together.

Our third and final stop was at General Hospital where we distributed care packages to families with sick children in the pediatric section of this hospital.  Most of the children were being treated for severe dehydration.  By Minnesota's standards, this hospital would be closed down.  However, for the people in our group who have experienced Haiti previously, the pediatric section has made significant changes in the past year.  The children are housed in a new, enclosed structure with clean floors and air conditioning.  Evidently, last year the sick children were housed in a horse stable-like building, not enclosed and with hot, humid, small, dirty partitions.

Our devotional this morning seemed apropos as we felt the presence of God throughout the day.

"And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."  Matthew 28:20

Written by Joy and Dave