update - 1/2 way through our time in Chaveneau

I am writing from the Arris house in Carrefour but the team is in Chaveneau  right now working and ministering in the community there.  It has been almost a week since I have been able to update this site, so I have a lot to fill you all in on.  So, bear with me if this is a LONG post. 

Last Wednesday we all piled into two vehicles and drove to Chaveneau.  What a drive it was!  Ron took the Toyota we are negotiating buying with Pastor Duval and another person who knows the road and the rest of us went in a rented van.  That way we were able to take all the water, luggage, food, donations, etc…  The ride was CRAZY fast- it should take 4.5 hours and it only took us 3.5.  The van driver gave us all an education in Haitian driving at its’ best.  But it was a blessing for me to be with the team and listen to them as they saw the beauty of the huge mountains and the pristine beaches along the way. 

When we arrived we realized that the best location to sleep was on the roof of the church- which meant climbing a very scary ladder with all the tents and luggage.  But, the guys all pitched in and helped and the tents were up in no time.  And that is where we have slept for the past 5 nights (and they are sleeping tonight)- on the roof under the stars.  It is beautiful and breezy and very peaceful.  We hear crickets and frogs and LOTS of farm animals.  There are a few local donkeys and roosters  we are getting to know by sound.  Unfortunately one of the roosters  was lunch today.  TIH (This is Haiti)

Ministry has consisted of prayer walking (in the pouring rain) up the mountain behind the church/school.  We were able to pray for many and one man (Anbut) was suffering from a stomach ailment.  Jordan prayed for him and when we went to check on him yesterday, his family and he reported that he felt better immediately after we left the first visit AND the whole sickness gave his sister a chance to present the gospel and he accdepted Jesus as his Savior.  So… we rejoiced with the family.

We have also bonded with many of the children from the school and community.  We each have our “buddies” and they call our names when we are on the roof and wait for the missionaries to come down to play and hang out with them.  We have colored together, made bracelets, sang songs, played hand games, etc…   It is amazing o live in the community and share God’s love.  One of the highlights of working with the children is all going daily to the river for a swim and to laugh, play, splash, etc.. and just cool down together. 

Ron and some of the others have been digging the pit the whole time.  We thought it would be done for us but we have had to dig too.  It is very tough digging because it is very deep.  We will eventually have 2 to 4toilets done, but will certainly not get it all done this trip.  Things move slowly in Haiti but at least they are moving- Praise God!! 

Friday was Field Day at the school- the big “celebration” before exams this week.  The children played tug of war, musical chairs, soccer, they had relay races, and much more.  It was really fun because we got to participate in some of the games and compete against the Haitians in others.  Michelle and Jordan had fun running a relay race against Michael.  They won but yesterday Jordan and Michael had a foot race in town and Michael won.  I am guessing a tie-breaker will happen sometime this week when we return to the team. 

A very encouraging moment was when Pastor Duval took us for a walk and showed us a new medical center that has begun in the past month.  It is very close to the church/school so part of the vision he originally had for the community is coming true.  Right now it is staffed by locals who volunteer and they only have one trained nurse but we pray soon we can have medical teams come and offer care the people so desperately need.  So far at the school I have taken care of a badly burned foot on a little boy, a few minor cuts/scrapes, and we saw a little girl with a swollen jaw/tooth.  We are all amazed and saddened by the malnutrition of the children in the community.  Auston has bonded with one little boy in particular named Daneilson (Da- neil- son) who looked to be about 5 years old but we found out today he is 8.  How sad.  He is so tiny for his age.

Overall everyone is having an amazing time.  All are healthy and managing taking showers behind a tarp (often with Haitian children peeking inside to see how different we look), going to the bathroom in the squatties, etc…  We have all been blessed by the Haitian hospitality.  People  have sent  food, given us gifts, washed our clothes, built us a better ladder, etc…   It is “roughing it” but I can’t think of a better way to spend my summer.  I have not been this happy in a  LONG time. 

Tomorrow we will pick Robert up from the airport in Port au Prince.   This is why Michael and I have returned to Carrefour.  Please pray that we are able to get him with no problems and take him all the way to Chaveneau.  The roads can be “interesting” and you never know what to expect.  Just today on the way home we had to sit for a long time in traffic only to find out that the UN had killed someone and there was rioting.  We know that you were praying for the team’s travels last week because of how smoothly the trip went. 

Other prayer requests: 

-           The vehicle we are considering buying.  It has more “issues” than we originally thought.  The transmission is leaking and the rear tire needs to have the seal replaced (rear differential I think Ron called it) Please pray we can get all this done tomorrow morning early before we have to get Robert from the airport. 

-          That we will all remain healthy and are able to complete whatever tasks God calls us to. 

-          That we will keep our focus on Him- if we just bring “facilities” to this community or health care or play with the children but do not tell others about Jesus and help them form a relationship with Him, we might as well not have come. 

-          Those considering or planning trips with Hearts United with Haiti this summer- that God would make His will known to them.  We really pray for God to work to bring teams to Haiti- especially Chaveneau.  There are so many needs and so many to love there!  :) 

Thanks again for all your prayers and support.  You have no idea how much it means... to all of us!  Blessings to you-  I will write next week when we return from Chaveneau (and maybe I will put up a few photos tomorrow if I can)....   Bondye beni w (God bless you)

Off to Chaveneau

Today we plan to go to Chaveneau.  Ron is planning to drive with Pastor Duval in the truck we are working to purchase (we have about 1/2 the funds so far).  It will be filled with supplies for the 2 weeks we are out there- all our suitcases, water, food, donations, etc...  The rest of us (Jordan/Michelle/Steve/Auston/Daniel (a translator)/Michael and myself) will take the bus.  This will be an experience- those vehicles going to Les Cayes get PACKED with people and supplies.  Ron and Pastor Duval will get to the school in Chaveneau and then they will unload the supplies and head back to Les Cayes (they have to go through the city to get to the school) to pick us up.  The public transportation only goes that far. 

It is a lot of "planning" so we will pray that God gives us traveling mercies and He directs the timing and keeps us safe as we embark on this adventure.  We are all excited and looking forward to the trip.  Pray with us that we stay focused on Him as we travel and that He gives us opportunites even as we go to bless those we meet. 

Last night was a perfect example of "it is a good plan, but not necessarily God's plan" which is something you will hear me say often in Haiti.  We PLANNED to go to a crusade where a Nigerian pastor was speaking but we were just relaxing around the house and it never seemed to happen.  Some of us were feeling the effects of sitting for a few days (yes, we had gone out walking in the community yesterday, but so far we have not been very productive) and were anxious to get out and about.  So, I was a little "stir crazy".  BUT then as I was sitting Auston asked if he could use my camera.  I told him "yes" and watched as he went to the edge of the balcony and peered down.  As I went to see what the "photo op" was I saw Steve sitting on the ground with KIDS all around him.  He was sharing English with them and they were sitting attentively.  He came upstairs and got stuff to make crafts with them and that soon turned into a dance party/fun time of hand games, piggy back rides, etc. with all the team down there loving on the kids of the neighborhood. 

God spoke to me in those moments and said, "Crystal- this IS ministry.  They are having fun and they are sharing MY love with the children of Haiti"  Thank you Lord for giving us the chance to be here and to love these children and this community.  (and it's not just the children- there was an older gentleman sitting there watching the action and his smile was huge!)

Can't wait to get to Chaveneau and build relationships with those people too.  :) :)

Reminisce

Hello! It's Michelle again! :) Just checking in and giving you a brief update on what been happening. This morning was pretty chill; we spend some time in listening prayer (where you ask God to reveal to you what he wants you to do that day) and head-to-head prayer (where you pray with another person and they don't tell you any prayer requests, you just pray as you feel led) and talked as a team and got to know each other a little better. We decided to do some things around the Aris house in the morning and go out into the community in the afternoon. As we were walking this afternoon Crystal mentioned we were not too far from Pastor Cornet's house and immediately Jordan and I asked if we could stop by to see Jean Bernard (a little boy that we met last summer, most of you probably know his story). We stopped by his house and saw him; he is as sweet as ever! As soon as I saw his shy smile and big brown eyes I was immediately started to reminisce about last summer and the day we left when he was riding around the house on a tricycle saying "My name is Jean Bernard!" at the top of his lungs and how I thought that was probably the last time I would ever see him. I felt so incredibly blessed that I had the opportunity to see him again. Then we walked down to the lighthouse by the ocean and seeing that reminded me of playing soccer by the ocean last summer and all the great people I met, played with, and ministered to there. God brought back all the faces that I got to know and share the Gospel with and as I reminisced I prayed for them all. Silently. Right there as I stood looking out at the ocean. After we left the beach, we walked to the house where Jordan and I stayed for a week last summer. As we walked down the steep steps down to the street where the house was I was again taken back. I saw the roof and invisioned all our tents up there and thought of our roof-top chats on the "peaks" and the tropical storm that took down all our tents. And I remembered how God got us through it ALL. As we approached the house and some of the neighbors were out. I recognized them and they recognized me! One girl who I prayed with last year was standing off a few yards away and I said "Bon swa! Como ou ye?" (I'm sure I spelled that wrong but it means "hello, how are you?") and she smiled and I said "Muy rele..." (My name is...) and she said "Mechelle!" and I said "Wi!". After a brief exchange, we had to go but I could tell that she was really touched that I remembered her and came back to see them. On our way back to the Aris house we saw Pastor Jean Philippe's church; it has walls now! and steps! the progress is incredible! As I snapped a few pictures I again began to reminisce. The memories of VBS and "Papa Abraham" and hectic craft time and soccer games in a 10' x 10' area... I feel so blessed that I was able to come and minister to these people not only once, but twice! God is truely working in this country. Although there's still MUCH to be done (spiritually and physically), progress has been and is being made! I am so excited and joyful and blessed that I am able to join God at work here. "Greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in HAITI."

In the power of Christ alone,
Michelle

photos from the trip so far...

Michelle's preyme (first) blog

Hey guys it's Michelle! For those of you who don't know me I'm summer staff for HUWH for the next three weeks in June! :) Like Jordan, it's my first time blogging...I couldn't let him have all the fun ;) I came to Haiti last summer for a week with my youth group and this summer God blessed me with the opportunity to be here for three weeks and I'm super excited about it and what God is doing/going to do. :) But enough about me, you're reading this (hopefully, otherwise I'm just talking to myself) because you want to know about the ministry. From the first minute I arrived here I have loved every second of it! The Aris family and everyone here is GREAT. Although we haven't done much "designated ministry" yet, it's been cool to hear about how God is working. We have mainly been preparing for the summer, getting organized and such. Acutally, right now we are all having a meeting about our trip out to Chaveneaux (hopefully) on Wednesday. (We were supposed to be going out tomorrow, but of course TIH so everything is on Haitian time). There is so much to be done behind the scenes that needs to be done, it's been incredible to see the dedication of everyone here. Thanks for all the prayers, please continue praying (a lot!) as this is a formative summer for the organization. We are hoping to lay a solid foundation this summer for the years to come and from what I've seen so far, with God's help we are off to a good start! :)

As for me personally, I forgot how much I love it here! Here's a few highlights so far...
Seeing friends we met last year (Pastor Jean Philippe and Zick)
Sleeping on the roof under the stars
Playing guitar and singing while on of the Aris girls sings in Creole
Having a little girl (Zazu) fall asleep on my lap

That's all for now!
Bondye beni (God bless)
-Michelle

Jordan's Debut

Hey! All is well in Haiti. So far it has been pretty chill. Yesterday I drove around with Michael to get water and bread for the weeks. Haitian driving is crazy!!  Oh and also on the way home from the airport we saw the presidential palace, which has propbably come to to be the symbol of the earthquake destruction here. Today I got to catch up on sleep after being tired from travel, worked on getting the chords to songs that Crystal has but Michelle didn't, took a walk to the dump/river, and that's it. But thats ok with me because it's hard to do God's work while exhausted, so rest was very welcome.

Since we didn't plan on being in Carrefour for tomorrow (TIH), we will be praying about our ministry for tomorrow and see what God has for us. Exciting!

Overall, being staff for this misistry has been great so far. I love to be a part of the decision making and the behind the scenes logisitcal work that goes into doing all this, especially since it is a young ministry and they are still feeling things out. Currently sitting in a "meeting" with Michael's dad working things out for our trip to Chaveneau on Wednesday. Thanks for all your prayers. Hopefully we will still be able to update the blog while in Chaveneau so you know what is up. :)

In the power of Christ alone,
Jordan

Steve/Auston here

They arrived with no problems today... we got them at the airport after taking Pastor Duval to work in Port au Prince and then paying for Michael's travel visa appointment (Yes- we are trying again) and then going to pay for internet at the house.  After picking them up we went to lunch at a deli. YUM- Haitian sandwiches. 

Tonight after dinner we took a little walk to throw the trash from the bridge by Son of God orphanage.  It was a new experience for everyone.  Tomorrow we are doing ministry around here- we will see what that is-  God knows.  We are planning on going to Chaveneau on Wed.  A man is out there now digging the hole for the outhouses. 

As for the truck... we received a donation toward the lease/purchase of it plus we are putting some of our money from the budget for this trip toward it (transportation budget) so we should only owe about $1500 on it... but we need that as soon as possible.  So keep praying... and THANK YOU for those who have been supporting this... :)  One more chicken bar-b-que and we would have it... yay!!

Anyway... still in a meeting with Pastor Duval so I will turn the computer over to someone else to update.  Blessings to you all.....