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.

Photos- Day 1

Inside a Haitian home on the mountain doing blood pressure checks

The community on the mountain

Home made pin ball game

Community overlook

Group photo

Computer class at the Center

English class (students got to ask questions in English)

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! 

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.

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

Arrived safely

Shelby and Kylee are safely here in Haiti. The rest of the group comes tonight.