Team Video

I created a video slideshow with some of the highlights of our trip in August. Enjoy!

Haiti August 2010

Day 6- 8/17/10

8/17/10


Reflecting back on yesterday- our final day in Haiti. Seeing Pastor Moise again was a blessing and an encouragement. I was glad that the other team members had the opportunity to hear his heart.

Then on to the Orphan Transition Village (OTV)- that was a highlight because getting to see the kids I’ve gotten to know over this past year. Ellison- “Chris!” It was so cool to be recognized once again! That made my heart jump when the kids remembered who I was. That feeling just warms your heart. To be able to hug and sit and let your hair be touched, messed with and played with was fun.

I saw the kids I’ve really gotten to know over my three visits- Rogelin, Renise, Pierre, Jocelyn, Erickson and Alina- I continue to pray for these kids as they have built a home in my heart!

The highlight of the day was being asked to “preach” a few minutes to the kids with Rogelin translating for me. I couldn’t think of anything more appropriate than John 3:16- the gospel in a nutshell.

I am blessed! To be given such an opportunity feeds my soul!

I am proud of my team- they are- as Trace says it- “All-Stars.” A young man doing wonderful things with Global Orphan is a man named Joseph Volcy- he is leading the ministry in the area of kid’s programming. He is a kid at heart and has a wonderful ability to connect with the kids and getting them excited about the activities they participate in. I am praying for this young man that God continues to bless him and shows him His wonderful plan for impacting the orphan children of Haiti!

Day 4- 8/15/10

8/15/10

Had a wonderful morning of worship at the church in Mapu with Pastor Woodman. There was a ton of special music by various choirs- probably especially for us. My experience in Haiti has been that they go all out for their guest and make the worship extra special. There were choirs from surrounding churches coming to join us for worship. My buddy and teammate John gave the message to the congregation. It was a 3 hour experience that didn’t feel that long at all.

Before heading out of town we stopped to play with the kids at Beinac one more time. Again, it was fun to engage the kids in songs and games. It was tough for the team to leave because they had grown attached to these kids in a short time.

Our last night in Haiti we stayed in a place called Kalico Beach Resort. Part of the reason for doing this was to show the team some of the jewels and potential that Haiti has in some of its beauty. But as we arrived at the resort it was a shock to the team. Given all that they’ve seen and experienced with the orphan children- somehow it didn’t seem fair to be staying at a place like this. All of Haiti is just outside the gates of this place while we rest at a beach, swim in a pool, and find reasonable comfort all the while reflecting back on the many kids at Mapu who don’t even have a bed. I think it was a good experience- we need to wrestle with that tension and discover what each of us is to do about it.

Psalm 67:1-2, “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.”

God, why are we blessed? Did we win some cosmic lottery by being born in America? Do we have a responsibility with our blessings? Yes- I think we do. God, help me to give without holding on selfishly because it’s all from You anyway! I need to trust you more.

Day 3- 8/14/10

8/14/10

We are staying at a hotel in Gonaives and it’s pretty nice and reasonably comfortable for us Americans. And the staff was amazingly gracious since they apparently did not have our reservations. They allowed us to stay after all was said and done. I began thinking- what was our back-up plan? There are not very many options for us to stay in safe and secure locations. Thanks God!

I had a pretty good night of sleeping- the room air conditioner worked really well- almost to a point of being too cold- that sounds crazy I know. Exhausting day yesterday- I’m able to find my bearings in adjusting to the heat and humidity

I’m processing the situation before us and the possibilities in Gonaives. The major hurdle I see is getting up here from Port-au-Prince- a 3 ½ hour drive- and effectively ministering here. The other thing I’m thinking about is that the health of the church= the health of the project. It’s too early to tell, but I would like to see how healthy the local church is here.

HOT- man it is hot! We visited Phaeton and the project really feels like it’s in the middle of the desert. The place is located very close to the water- I thought that it may be a bit cooler- but no. There are no real shade trees present on the property and the place seems barren. Until you hear the singing of over 125 children at this place. Then you realize the life that exists here is wonderful! We were greeted by a chorus of singing kids. Overall the health of the kids seems a little better than what we saw yesterday.

Back in June when we had our VBS we call Kidz Day Camp we had a mission project. We were encouraging kids to bring a dollar to help send blankets to Haiti and the kids would help finish these blankets that my team would personally deliver to the kids in Haiti we would visit. In addition I hid two parrots each day for the kids to find and then keep for themselves. On a Wednesday morning after the opening time a 10 year old boy came up to me with the parrot he found the day before and asked me if I could take this parrot and give it to a child in Haiti. Wow- this kid gets it! He was willing to give up something so that another less fortunate child could have it- way to go Brayden! So when we visited Phaeton I had a little girl instantly cling to me for the duration of the day- I gave her the parrot Brayden gave to me for this little girl.

We squeezed in a visit to our third project- Bienac. This project is located in the city and is a tough location because it is land locked and there is an incredible amount of dust from the passing traffic. This dust is presenting the children with respiratory issues. The dust is a result of the two hurricanes that swept over Gonaives two years ago. Overall the kids were great and they took care of their project really well.

At the end of a long, jam-packed day we had dinner with an American missionary and her kids and the pastor of her church. What a blessing the evening was. The pastor is Filipino and has an incredible story about his ministry there in Gonaives including running a school for the deaf. He has been there 15 years! He has seen a lot and experienced a lot in a city where it is said that every rebellion has had its roots in Gonaives and recently the city has been run by gangs. I pray for this man and his ministry.

Day 2- 8/13/10

8/13/10

This team is fantastic! Here is a team that has been wanting to go to Haiti since February! This team consists of those who had applied for our first trip but were not selected- when I contacted them about this upcoming trip, they were excited to finally get their turn. The team was assembled for a trip in July but the trip was postponed until August. Then when their turn came, our flight was delayed at the terminal and they had to wait ONE MORE DAY! Ah, the frustration. Finally, here we are in Haiti traveling to our first project. The team jumps into getting to know other team members from around the country during our 3 hour bus ride from Port-au-Prince to Gonaives. As a leader I feel the pride of a proud papa as I observe this group of servants jump in with both feet. The moment arrives as we pull through the front gate of the Mapu project and our team dives into action with the kids as they are warmly greeted by 80 Haitian little brothers and sisters! Playing, loving, singing songs- being the hands and feet of Christ- suddenly the frustration and disappointment is gone in an instant with a smiling face of a Haitian child!

Mapu is in great need by my observation. Not enough living quarters for the kids. A large number of kids are sleeping in the church on mats. And yet the pastor felt his greatest need was for a place for the children to eat (which they do need) but is it the greatest need? Our trip leader said that sometimes pastors tell us what they think we want to hear. Why? Is it because they are afraid if the need is too great the American church will shy away from helping? So maybe the pastor starts with a need that won’t scare of the American church. Clearly the need is greater for kids to have proper place to sleep. Some of the kids look like they are struggling with their health- some even suffering from borderline malnutrition. I’m praying for Faith’s role as we visit these projects. Tomorrow we will visit Phaeton, a large project in Gonaives.

Our team time has been very fruitful with members sharing their hearts tonight. And our first bead ceremony went well. I love it when a team is fully engaged and ALL IN!

August Faith Haiti Trip 8/12/10

8/12/10


Another trip to Haiti with a team from Faith to love on orphans and hopefully further confirm the Lord’s plans for our church visiting often and loving the fatherless. Looking back over the past year, God has put me on quite a ride- who would have thought that in the course of a year I will have made 5 trips to Haiti?

The first day of trying to get to Haiti has been a disappointment because of mechanical issues on the plan flying from Denver to Miami. We had a very small connection window and almost any small issue could certainly put chances of connecting to the last flight to Haiti slim and none. As it turned out there was a hydraulic leak with the landing gear- I’d gladly rather arrive safe than the alternative! But the cost was the loss of half a day in Haiti on an already seemingly short trip. While there is some disappointment, the team is resilient- I expect great things from this team!

James 1:27- Why does James say that religion that is pure and faultless is this- to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being defiled by the world? More to come…