Leavin' on a Jet Plane

We started our day meeting at 3:45am at the MSP airport; it took nearly an hour to check 26 suitcases full of over 1,100 lbs of supplies graciously donated friends and family of the team and Incarnation congregation.

 

 

14 hours later we have luggage collected at the Port-au-Prince airport, head through customs and out outside to what appeared to be controlled chaos as many Haitians bartered to help us load our luggage in the Healing Haiti tap tap (truck in picture below).  We loaded all luggage (26  checked bags plus 34 carry ons) and 18 people with our driver into the tap tap for a 30 minute drive at ~5 mph over the most rugged terrain.  We navigated between people, trucks, chickens and a goat, crater-sized pot holes that make Minnesota roads look like a putting green!



 

 

 

 

 

Upon arrival at the Guest house, we were immediately served a taco feast.  We spent time orientating to the week and sharing our "Word of the Day".  Tonight we sit on the front porch, listening to the crickets and warm rain falling and preparing our hearts for our first day in the field tomorrow.  Our group will split into two teams, one heading to the home for sick and dying children, and others will do water therapy with seven physically disabled children.  In the afternoon, we will be distributing FMSC food to school children.  These children are encouraged to stay in school in order to receive a FMSC meal after soccer practice.  For those who may recall, some of these kids were at the USA soccer cup in Blaine this past July.

 

We appreciate all of the love, support, and prayers from all of our family, friends and the congregation as we prepare to be Jesus' hands and feet.

 

Deb, Jim, Julie and Lisa

 

 

Hi Everyone - my name is Dan Johnson; I'm the member of the Healing Haiti team that has been missing from the meetings because I live in California! I am looking forward to meeting all of you, and to the experience that awaits us in Haiti. I will be meeting you in Miami next Monday as we prepare to fly to Port au Prince. I am looking forward to the challenges, the learning, and the surprises that God has in store for us during our week in Haiti.  See you soon!

Dan

VBS Haitian Style by Teri Engle

VBS in Creole

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We had the opportunity to run VBS for 54 orphans at Grace Village today. The children don't start school until October 1st and eagerly engaged in our activities. We shared the story of creation and it was translated in Creole. The children became even more alert when we did a few art activities including magic modeling clay, creating a banner for the orphanage and made gospel bracelets. We were all sweating in the 95 degree/100% humid room with no air conditioning. I plan to never complain about weather conditions or a hot office again. Next stop was at Isaiah's Orphanage, then Olson's and the Shalom House where we brought more food from Feed Our Starving Children. How good it is to serve the Lord. Thank you for your prayers. Teri

CONTRASTING CULTURES



 First here are a couple of shots from Day 3 at the Gertrude's Home for disabled children.  The kids were so sweet and really starved for affection.

Today was truly a day filled with contrasting cultures.  We began our day with a long drive out to Titanyen in the foot of the mountains.  Our first stop was at a newly established orphanage for Healing Haiti and Feed My Starving Children.  We played with the children and came back later to drop off some FMSC food. 

We then went to Grace Village.  What an amazing village up on top of one of the hills over looking the beautiful ocean.  The panorama was spectacular and the breeze was wonderful despite the hot day.  The puffy clouds glided across the blue sky with the backdrop of the blue/green ocean.  We took a tour and saw the new medical clinic, the school, the church which was under construction, the hydrophonic fish project and plants grown under green house conditions using nutrients and water from the fish.  It was really amazing.

We saw the contrast of cultures graphically displayed when we visited the elderly.  They were so sweet and it was such a joy to sit out with them and talk with them and rub lotion on them.  They are also such strong Christians that it was a joy to see them.  But the poor conditions that they are living in is shocking yet they still displayed a true joy in their heart for Jesus and being able to relate with other Christians.  The girls were probably the best in giving the rub downs and application of lotion.

We finished one more run to deliver (50) boxes of FMSC meals to the soccer field at night, in Cite Soleil (alright it was only on the edge).  Truly a great day and the shower and hair cut really felt good.

QUICKIE CHANGIE

Today was a typical day on mission.  LOL Our plans for the day were to visit the sick and dying children in the morning and then to go and visit the orphans with disabilities. Weeeelllll we were all dressed in Sunday clothes when we got the notice that there was Cholera at the hospital.  We changed clothes and loaded 30 boxes of FMSC food into our Top Top (team bus) and headed for Gertrude's orphanage for disabled children.
Mary and I were unsure of how this was going to go but after a few minutes we and the rest of the team really settled in as we heard the squeals of joy and saw the joy light up in their eyes.  We played with them until noon and headed back to the guest house to refresh and recuperate from the effects of the Caribbean sun.
We changed back into our Sunday best and waited for a call from the nursing staff.  We were told to wait.  After a couple of hour we got an all clear on the Cholera and were divided into 2 teams, the guys and Debbie to unload 250 boxes of food and a second team to hold the sick babies.  The loaders could change into their shorts and t-shirt (I didn't get the word) and the other team remained in church clothes.
Well when we got there the plans had changed again, the babies had all been moved out and we could not visit.  We did unload and load 250 boxes at the hospital while the church attired team helped.

I thought I was back in the academy with all the clothes changes but a very rewarding day filled with blessings just the same.  A very typical day on mission with many changes requiring flexibility.

WOW WHAT A DAY TO PROCESS

Well today was Cite Soleil, one of the poorest ghetto's in the world.  Some of the other team members have alread posted their impressions and I pretty much echo those.  The one thing I wanted to share tonight before I went to bed were some of the visual highlights that stuck in my mind, and I am still processing.

The first was the water line, some of the crowd situations, the beach which is used as a toilet.  Then I have a picture of a young boy playing in the water with a little boat in the same water.  Finally I have some shots of Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) meals, similiar to the ones we packed, being served to the children.

Blessings beyond words!

We have had an incredible day of blessings here in Haiti!

Thanks so much for all your prayers (and good thoughts!) regarding the weather! We had clear skies today, bright and sunny, but with a nice steady breeze that kept us going :) What a blessing it was! Right now a thunder/lightening/rain storm is rolling through and is lots of fun to watch. Please pray for continued breezes :)

We all slept well last night in comfy beds and AC - what a blessing! We have a hearty breakfast and then headed out to Cite Soleil to help deliver 3 truck loads of clean water. There is no internal water system, well or sanitation in the slump, so this is the only fresh water they have access too. The water trucks come in 6 days a week. We were all impacted and moved by what we saw - the children, the women carrying bucket loads of water on their heads...the poverty...but also the smiles, the hugs, the hand-holding and the chance to "love on the kids" for a bit - some of whom are actually child slaves.

We were blessed by hope as well. We visited a soccer program for 220 boys and 80 girls that helps them stay in school, avoid gangs, have positive adult role models in their lives, and get a free meal after practice. Hope for the future reigns supreme in the midst of so much tragedy.

We are wrapping up for the night...I know it's early, but with the heat, humidity, the hard work and emotion of the day - we are all spent. Off to bed in prep for another full day tomorrow. In the AM we will visit a home for sick and dying children and bring food to them as well as hold/feed babies. In the afternoon, we will visit the pediatrics ward at the General Hospital and possibly participate in the wound clinic as well.

Thanks so much for all your prayers - every time I felt the breeze today, I thanked God for you! You are helping to keep us going, and for that I am sincerely grateful!

Love & Blessings to you-

Andrea