Yesterday...

Yesterday we went to Chaveneau to see the school/church there which is the main focus of our ministry.  It is a FOUR hour drive over crazy roads and we were certainly able to feel your prayers as we were traveling.  Our driver (Peterson) is amazing and he did a great job keeping us safe but we know he was not the only one in control of that 15 passenger van!  He was only co-pilot.  :)

When we arrived in the area we found that we had to cross the FIRST (of three) rivers by foot and hike the FOUR miles into the church/school.  The group was all smiles and was actually excited about this so I was blessed as leader!  God is absolutely amazing by putting teams together because I thought they might complain. A few blisters and LOTS of sweat later we arrived to the school to find that ......... are you ready people who have been praying for this?????..... they have a feeding program for one month!  Another organization has come alongside them and helped finance one so the children were all getting ready to eat a HOT lunch!  Cornmeal and fish and sauce.  They also get peanut butter and bread for breakfast daily.

More later (no power) but we certainly feel your prayers.  This has been a great trip so far and can't believe all we have been able to do- obviously He is providing "beyond all we can ask or imagine".  No one has been sick (a few headaches and blisters and bug bites) or had any significant problems.

Blessings!  -Crystal

PS-  Today we will try to get into the hospital in town and if not we will do some medical care in the tent community near the orphanage.  Then in the afternoon hand washing and other things at the orphanage.

Hey you guys

Today we did the medical clinic. I met and talked to some new friends. Obed taught me that in Haiti 3 fingers up equals 2 hours (he held up 3 fingers and said two hours). The food is awesome. My favorite food is the homemade potato chips:). A neighborhood friend named Franzi plays soccer with me. Redgi and I played a soccer game against Franzi and another boy and we won. Having fun with everyone. 

Love, Ethan

At The Clinic

Today, we went to the church of Pastor Corrnet to run a medical clinic. Last night before bed, I fell asleep worrying that no one would show up and our efforts to provide help would be pointless. Arriving at the clinic, I was pleasantly surprised to see at least 30 people waiting for us to set up. As the day went on, more people showed up, with everyone looking for either medical or dental services. By the end of the day, our team worked with close to 100 people, which ranged between providing antibiotics for respiratory infections to giving out aspirin to help ease back aches to polishing their teeth. Everyone we worked with was very thankful for our time and made sure they expressed their appreciation before they left.  All together, the clinic is something I will never forget and am beyond grateful to have been apart of such a wonderful experience. 


Johnny

Exhausted Physically & Emotionally

It's not supper time yet but everyone is exhausted.  We ran a medical clinic inside the church this morning & were overwhelmed with Haitians in need.  We had stations for triage, medical treatment, dental exams & cleanings, and a pharmacy.  In the end we had to send people away, otherwise we'd still be there.  We carried the remainder of our supplies back to the house & had just enough time to bring our air mattresses down off the roof before the clouds opened & let out a downpour that has continued for the last two hours.  We have electricity right now, the first time since arriving that we've had power during the day, so at least we have light while we're stuck inside.  As for what we witnessed today, I can't describe it.  My heart is broken with how many people needed help that I couldn't provide.  One man in particular will stick with me forever; an old unhealed ankle fracture now causes him to walk on the side of his foot.  A simple ankle brace would help him so greatly but we didn't have one.  I offered him pain medication, he smiled & said it was not needed, God had blessed him.

Pray for us tonight - it's been raining for hours & the tent Alison, Ethan, & I have been sharing is barely surviving.  We might be sleeping under the stars tonight or inside the hot stuffy house.  If we aren't able to get rest at night the days are even more difficult.

Jessica

Another amazing trip so far...

I got up early (as usual) and had a few minutes to write about our upcoming day and the past 2 days.  

Saturday the team arrived and (as Sarah said) they had no trouble in the airport.  Their bags were all in one pile ready for them by the time they got through immigration.  The ride home from the airport was uneventful but gave them a good view of Haiti (Port au Prince area) and some of the things they would be seeing/experiencing during the week ahead.  

We got home and unpacked, sorted medical donations and other donations, set up "camp" on the roof, etc... Then we ate dinner and had a little orientation.  

Sunday we woke early because we had been told we would need to go to church early since it was their 20th anniversary of the church here in Carrefour.  It was a long service full of many guest speakers, choral groups, and more but it was typical Haitian church.  We even got up as a group and sang for/with the congregation.  It was a really blessed experience- worshiping in English as they did in Creole.

After church we made sandwiches and then headed over to the orphanage (about a half hour drive).  The girls there were glad to see us and meet the team.  We got a tour of the place and everyone was very impressed with the view.  Haiti IS a very beautiful country.  

We left the orphanage early thinking a storm was coming because the sky was getting dark.  The girls were eating their dinner anyway.  When we got back to the house Ethan and Redgi had a little soccer game with the neighborhood children while the rest of us relaxed or wrote in our journals or got ready for the medical clinic we will have today here in Carrefour.  We will be heading back to the church to use their facility as a base. They say they will have a few medical personnel joining us but we will see how that goes.  Haiti is a place where things kind of "go with the flow".  Either way, we will have patients to see and medicine to dispense (pretty much all over the counter stuff but some antibiotics should we have someone to help diagnose and prescribe).  

We are all healthy and getting along very well.  There are already inside jokes and people teasing one another- a good thing.  We are already talking about "next time...." and that is good to hear.  This place really does have a way of getting into your system.  

Thank you for your prayers!

Gods amazing love and protection!!!

The week is just beginning and its already been an awesome experience, anywhere all our luggage after looking for it was together in a pile and we have no idea  why or how... to the children at the orphanage being so loving and welcoming to us as we visited with them today. This week has so many more special memories to be made and God's work to be through us here in Haiti. I got to meet my sponsor child today and that in itself was truly such a blessing. The week has been amazing so far and I am excited to be apart of this group and share the rest of the week with them making memories. Please continue to pray for safety and that God can use us to touch these Haitians lives.
-Sarah

Beyond words

Bonjou! Greetings everyone back home. We are enjoying our time. Wait, those words don't seem "enough."
 This morning (early), I opened my Bible to John 3:16 and said to Ethan "God loves Haiti!" and he said "I do too!" I am so thankful for this opportunity---big thanks to ALL that helped and encouraged us! I was wrong (confused---long story) about when/where our sponserchild lives. He is in the orphanage in Port-au-Prince. This morning we went to church from about 8:30 to 11:45ish. We even left very early. They were having a "20th anniversary celebration." It is pretty much church all day. And Ethan thought OUR church was long! After church, we came back, ate lunch, and hopped into the tap-tap to go to the orphanage. We met Robinson (our sponserchild)! I got to give him a big hug! So special. Many children (mostly girls) with so little but the pastor at the orphanage is trying to do the best he can with what he has. The things we have seen, smelled :-), experienced---pictures and words can't touch. I am humbled that God put us here. "Called" on us to come here. The people that help us (drivers, translators, family who gives up their home for us) have all been wonderful! Ethan says "hello and I love you" to everyone back home. His favorite thing so far has been meeting Robinson and kicking the soccer ball with him. So there are a few words for now. Thank you for the prayers. God has answered---feeling good, and safe travels so far. We hope to help as many as we can in clinics, etc, and I might even get a chance to polish some teeth! Keep praying!
Blessings,
Alison