Sunday, December 31, 2017
Shayelyn's Blog
Today is our fourth day in Haiti. We spent the day at the beach, and it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I did not expect the water to be so clear and blue! It was a good day to relax and take in everything that we have experienced so far. Having never been on a plane, out of the country except Canada, and never on a missions trip, it has been very overwhelming, in a good way. The community here amazes me more and more each day here. Family here is not just blood, but your friends and neighbors too. Random people walking down the street jump in to help direct traffic or help a vehicle maneuver the streets. The love and openness is honestly contagious. I think the thing that has hit me the most is that they are content and happy no matter what circumstance we have seen so far. As Americans we were raised to do everything to succeed, which means make as much money as possible or have the most things. Here in Haiti, material things are nice, but they don’t define a person. The thing that has hit me the most was being up on the mountain our first day and finding a baby girl with a neurologic disability. I was told that families here normally place these children in an orphanage instead of taking care of them. This baby girl was so loved by her parents that they didn’t give up hope, and they came looking for us to help the moment we got there. There was nothing that we could do, and that crushed me. However, knowing that they weren’t giving up on her was a gift. I am falling in love with the beauty of this country and people, and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to spend my first trip out of the country. Please continue to pray that God moves in and through us during the rest of our time here. God Bless!
Shayelyn Agnes
Shayelyn Agnes
Photos- Day 3
Sorry it took so long to post these today, but things got crazy busy this morning AND the internet signal is weak (probably holiday weekend).
Yesterday was awesome as Sarah shared. Here are some photo highlights from the time at the Center. I stayed back when the group went up on the mountain so I will have to post those photos later. Today the group is at the beach and I am again at our mission base catching up on end-of-year paperwork and logistics AND finding a way to post this photo blog. Enjoy and THANK YOU for the comments and prayers. Feel free to comment more! We love to hear from home.
HAPPY NEW YEAR from Haiti-
Tick-Tack- BOOM!! (like hot potatoe)
Mountains of rice & beans
All the children patiently waiting for food.
Each got a small gift bag
Some of us got to go to a local private hospital- very nice place!
Yesterday was awesome as Sarah shared. Here are some photo highlights from the time at the Center. I stayed back when the group went up on the mountain so I will have to post those photos later. Today the group is at the beach and I am again at our mission base catching up on end-of-year paperwork and logistics AND finding a way to post this photo blog. Enjoy and THANK YOU for the comments and prayers. Feel free to comment more! We love to hear from home.
HAPPY NEW YEAR from Haiti-
Sorting rice to prepare for the children
Program with the children
Charades
Soccer (through the window)
A chicken leg for each child!
Haitian beet salad
Meanwhile an impromptu worship session started with David (our music teacher for the youth) and the team!
That's all for now.
Sarah's blog
Here in Haiti “up when the rooster crows” is not just an expression! After our morning routine of breakfast and devotion, we went to the Community Center for a Christmas Party for the children.
The students sang and preformed songs and dances for everyone. The program also consisted of reading the Candy Cane Story, a movie, a meal and games. The children are so energetic, happy, and full of love. In the afternoon, we went back up to the mountain.
The team split into two groups, my group [consisting of Rachel, Julia, Emily, Cody, David (translator), and I (Sarah)] went and played soccer with the children from the community at the overlook (a church that was damaged during the earthquake that has a beautiful view of the ocean and the mountains in the background). As we traveled up to the overlook our trail of children grew in number as we went along. After playing soccer for a while the number grew to about 20-30 children.
When we were there I talked to the children about hand washing and how to prevent spreading diseases. Julia then also taught a Bible lesson about David and Goliath. She did a wonderful job! This was an awesome ministry opportunity, especially because our group was only expecting to play soccer.
Being here makes me wish that I knew the language better. But despite the language barrier, there is no mistaking the joy on the children’s face. A smile truly is the universal language!
The students sang and preformed songs and dances for everyone. The program also consisted of reading the Candy Cane Story, a movie, a meal and games. The children are so energetic, happy, and full of love. In the afternoon, we went back up to the mountain.
The team split into two groups, my group [consisting of Rachel, Julia, Emily, Cody, David (translator), and I (Sarah)] went and played soccer with the children from the community at the overlook (a church that was damaged during the earthquake that has a beautiful view of the ocean and the mountains in the background). As we traveled up to the overlook our trail of children grew in number as we went along. After playing soccer for a while the number grew to about 20-30 children.
When we were there I talked to the children about hand washing and how to prevent spreading diseases. Julia then also taught a Bible lesson about David and Goliath. She did a wonderful job! This was an awesome ministry opportunity, especially because our group was only expecting to play soccer.
Being here makes me wish that I knew the language better. But despite the language barrier, there is no mistaking the joy on the children’s face. A smile truly is the universal language!
Saturday, December 30, 2017
Photos - Day 2
As Kylee wrote, we spent today at the orphanage in Port au Prince. The traffic to get there and back was VERY bad and we sat, sat, sat in the hot bus. We were able to really take in all the sights, sounds, and smells of the city. But, even with all that, the group has been very positive and has been enjoying each experience and challenge. They were able to share their nursing training/skills with the girls and the nannies/staff by helping with health & hygiene training as well as basic first aid- especially wound care since that is what the staff sees the most. We also had the annual Christmas party for the children. It was another GREAT day.
Watching the talent show!
Handing out the food.... SO MUCH FOOD! (many packed some of it up for later)
Waiting till all are served until eating.... well, MOST of them did.
Julia did a GREAT job explaining why we celebrate the season. We give them all gifts, but God gave them the ultimate gift! His son- who died for each and every one of them.
Kylee's blog
Joy overflowing. The only two words I can think of to describe what I felt today. I always find this to be one of the hardest parts- putting what I feel and experience into words. This is my third time in Haiti and each time I find myself falling in love a little bit more and each time I am amazed because I didn’t think it was possible. I looked forward to this day for about two and a half years since I last left Haiti, and as always, the Lord proved Himself faithful and provided me with this opportunity to return. I am so undeserving but so incredibly grateful.
We spent the day at Life is Wealth Orphanage, one of my all time favorite places to be. One of the most touching moments for me was when I saw Nadia, a sweet girl who I had the privilege of growing close to over the years and she came up to me and said my name and hugged me. I was given such joy in that moment alone and felt humbled and honored to be known by such a beautiful girl. It reminds me how we each are known by God…what a gift.
We had a Christmas party for all of the kids (about 75ish) and helped serve them a meal which included a ton of rice, chicken, pasta salad, and juice. There is just something so special about being able to give of yourself, even if it is simply carrying food up and down the stairs, to the people who deserve such love. We also watched as some of the girls put on the best kind of talent show which consisted of dancing, singing, reading poems, and lots of laughing.
Another thing that I had the privilege of doing was talking to some of the older girls in the orphanage about hygiene and we had a time for any questions that they had regarding puberty, hygiene, health, etc. It was once again such a humbling experience to be able to have those girls open up about things they were wondering and maybe were afraid to talk about. I pray that they learned valuable information and left feeling more confident and excited to take care of themselves.
The rest of the day was simple. We spread love in the best way we could. Lots of laughing, hand games, taking pictures, and can’t forget the best hugs. As always, I found myself receiving the love from each child and my heart was so full. It is never easy to leave a place so full of children that reflect the love of Jesus in so much of what they do. They are such an example to me and I can easily say each child has touched my life in their own incredible way. It may sound cliché but come to Haiti, and you will quickly find that it is so true. The best thing I knew to do before we had to leave was pull James aside to translate and just pray with some of the girls. I am trusting and believing that we serve a God who has good plans for His children and I know confidently that they have purpose and destiny and I can’t wait to see how He continues to use them to advance His Kingdom.
I am forever thankful to embrace the beauty in simplicity and spend a few days with some of the people and the culture I love most. All glory be to the One who loves His children without end. Thank you God for restoring my joy.
We spent the day at Life is Wealth Orphanage, one of my all time favorite places to be. One of the most touching moments for me was when I saw Nadia, a sweet girl who I had the privilege of growing close to over the years and she came up to me and said my name and hugged me. I was given such joy in that moment alone and felt humbled and honored to be known by such a beautiful girl. It reminds me how we each are known by God…what a gift.
We had a Christmas party for all of the kids (about 75ish) and helped serve them a meal which included a ton of rice, chicken, pasta salad, and juice. There is just something so special about being able to give of yourself, even if it is simply carrying food up and down the stairs, to the people who deserve such love. We also watched as some of the girls put on the best kind of talent show which consisted of dancing, singing, reading poems, and lots of laughing.
Another thing that I had the privilege of doing was talking to some of the older girls in the orphanage about hygiene and we had a time for any questions that they had regarding puberty, hygiene, health, etc. It was once again such a humbling experience to be able to have those girls open up about things they were wondering and maybe were afraid to talk about. I pray that they learned valuable information and left feeling more confident and excited to take care of themselves.
The rest of the day was simple. We spread love in the best way we could. Lots of laughing, hand games, taking pictures, and can’t forget the best hugs. As always, I found myself receiving the love from each child and my heart was so full. It is never easy to leave a place so full of children that reflect the love of Jesus in so much of what they do. They are such an example to me and I can easily say each child has touched my life in their own incredible way. It may sound cliché but come to Haiti, and you will quickly find that it is so true. The best thing I knew to do before we had to leave was pull James aside to translate and just pray with some of the girls. I am trusting and believing that we serve a God who has good plans for His children and I know confidently that they have purpose and destiny and I can’t wait to see how He continues to use them to advance His Kingdom.
I am forever thankful to embrace the beauty in simplicity and spend a few days with some of the people and the culture I love most. All glory be to the One who loves His children without end. Thank you God for restoring my joy.
Friday, December 29, 2017
Photos- Day 1
Inside a Haitian home on the mountain doing blood pressure checks
The community on the mountain
Home made pin ball game
Group photo
Computer class at the Center
Update: Day 1
Today the group prepared items for the Christmas party we will do for the children of an orphanage (about 75 of them) and for the youth at our Community Center in Carrefour. Those events will take place on Friday and Saturday respectively. They also counted meds in the cabinet so we know what we have when setting up the pharmacy area of our clinic next week and organized other things around our mission base.
In the afternoon we broke into three groups and did a prayer walk around the community that is just up the mountain from our mission base. Each group had a translator, a leader, and a blood pressure cuff- pretty much all you need to strike up some great conversations with the community members. Each group talked about the encounters God gave them when we had evening debrief. Some were invited into Haitian homes, some sat and listened to people's stories of what life is like here for them, some were led to people with more urgent medical needs. One group talked to a little girl who has scabies and some areas of infection where she has scratched them open. Another met a family with a child who has special needs. We were able to take that one to a doctor and he confirmed what we originally thought- that she most likely has microcephaly. She is two years old with very little muscle tone and obviously severe developmental delays. We are reaching out to some organizations that we know of here in Haiti who can work with the family and help her have the best life she can (and also so they can have support while raising her- emotional as well as financial). It was tough to see and hear about some of the real situations people living in poverty have to face daily.
Then, the group went to an overlook area where they spent time in prayer for the people they will meet and minister alongside this week.
When they returned some of the group went to observe the English classes for youth ages 8-11 at our Community Center - just so they could see more of what our ministry does. Eventually we would love to offer community education for adults too (especially when groups like this come so they can teach first aid, education about blood pressure & diabetes, etc). They said it was a great class and the children are learning a lot.
Dinner was amazing and we all ate a TON. Chicken, rice/beans, papitas (plantains cut like long potatoe chips- they are addicting), pikliz (spicy cole slaw), pasta salad, sauce, beets/carrots, and salad. YUM!
In the afternoon we broke into three groups and did a prayer walk around the community that is just up the mountain from our mission base. Each group had a translator, a leader, and a blood pressure cuff- pretty much all you need to strike up some great conversations with the community members. Each group talked about the encounters God gave them when we had evening debrief. Some were invited into Haitian homes, some sat and listened to people's stories of what life is like here for them, some were led to people with more urgent medical needs. One group talked to a little girl who has scabies and some areas of infection where she has scratched them open. Another met a family with a child who has special needs. We were able to take that one to a doctor and he confirmed what we originally thought- that she most likely has microcephaly. She is two years old with very little muscle tone and obviously severe developmental delays. We are reaching out to some organizations that we know of here in Haiti who can work with the family and help her have the best life she can (and also so they can have support while raising her- emotional as well as financial). It was tough to see and hear about some of the real situations people living in poverty have to face daily.
Then, the group went to an overlook area where they spent time in prayer for the people they will meet and minister alongside this week.
When they returned some of the group went to observe the English classes for youth ages 8-11 at our Community Center - just so they could see more of what our ministry does. Eventually we would love to offer community education for adults too (especially when groups like this come so they can teach first aid, education about blood pressure & diabetes, etc). They said it was a great class and the children are learning a lot.
Dinner was amazing and we all ate a TON. Chicken, rice/beans, papitas (plantains cut like long potatoe chips- they are addicting), pikliz (spicy cole slaw), pasta salad, sauce, beets/carrots, and salad. YUM!
Rachel's blog
Hi my name is Rachel and I am here through Malone University. Today has been a very eventful day as we planned and prepared things for the rest of our stay down here. In the afternoon we had the opportunity to go up the mountain and participate in a prayer walk throughout the community. Here we had the chance to take blood pressures and pray for the people we encountered. It was such an amazing and humbling experience. If someone had a high blood pressure we had the chance to educate the people of Haiti on things they can do to lower it. Being able to dive into the culture of Haiti has opened my eyes incredibly. No matter what they are going through they never fail to have a smile on their face and to be grateful for what they have. I have noticed a great sense of community in the short time that I’ve been here. The people of Haiti truly cherish and take care of their family. After today’s experience I am super excited to see what God has in store for us throughout the rest of the trip. We ask that you continue to pray for us here in Haiti as we are showing the love of Christ and hope to touch as many lives as we can.
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Malone arrived
The students (and leaders) from Malone University are on the bus on the way to our mission base after a LONG day of travel. We will update you tomorrow with more details but their beds are ready for them. So was dinner (hoagies).
Continue to check all week for details and updates from the field.
God bless
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