Sunday in Desire

The team had a great time worshiping in Desire yesterday.

Here is Hayden's post from yesterday:
Today was a great day in Desire! We worshipped with our Haitian brothers and sisters this morning. The kids sang some special songs for our team and Pastor Jeannot spoke with passion and heart from 1 Kings. We came back in the afternoon and we played games and spent time just holding them. Most importantly, the kids heard the gospel message. The team is working hard, pouring their lives put for Christ and our Desire kids. Continue to pray for opportunity and unity in our mission to serve our mighty God.

Kim with some of the boys.

Emily and Tyler

Parachute time!

Allie with a buddy.  It's Game Day- the team is serving with all the energy they have!

Today was their last full day with the kids and community children of Desire.  Tuesday afternoon the team will be making their way back towards Port au Prince to spend their last night at Jumecourt- the headquarters for the Global Orphan Project.

We provided a laptop for Pastor Jeannot to help him with ministry and keeping records on the children for school and health.  The encouraging thing to me is that Pastor Jeannot has sent me two email messages in the last couple of days.  That is huge since it would take weeks before I would get an email message back when I would send him a note to ask several questions.  He even included x's and o's and a heart ( <3) in his closing of the message.  That made me laugh!

Keep praying for the team in this last stretch before returning home.

First Full Day in Desire

With wifi presenting a challenge to the team, they now having wifi working in the team's favor.  This is an email sent to me from Hayden:

Hey Chris,
We have arrived safely on Gonaives. Things are going well. Apart from a few minor setbacks (Bens guitar had to be checked and they put it in the baggage claim in MIA- he has it now). Arrived with another from KC that had 26. Things have changed obviously with construction. Many have commented on the improvements throughout Haiti, although still a long way to go. We had a little time in Desire. The kids were so excited. Even the team was ready to bolt out the door! It was great to see Jeannot and he walked us around a little. Well looks great and I can tell it is going to be a tremendous source to the community. The shipping crates are there, but Jeannot says the govt. won't let the kids use them because they will be too hot. Jeannot says Jake is working on some solutions (maybe building another building?). I will check more on this. The other crates look great and it is great to see the kids out of the tents. The team did great the while journey so far. There were pretty tired after a long day.  Today we spend a full day with a break (English am, Bible story pm). I will try to send something in the evening if it works, but for any updates for the website, I will try to send facebook message.
God bless,
Hayden

Desiree pumping the well at Desire!

Ben teaching English with the kids.

James- the team's security detail working hard on his English.

Arrival in Desire

I received an update this morning via text since the wifi at the hotel doesn't seem to be working.  The team arrived safely yesterday in Gonaives and got settled at the hotel.  In the afternoon they traveled up to Desire to see the kids.  Hayden said the team was so excited that as they were pulling into the village, the team wanted to run off the bus as the kids rushed out to greet them.  It was a great reunion for those who have been to Desire before and an overwhelming experience for those visiting for the first time.  The joy from the children when the team arrives is enough to melt anyone's heart!

The team will have a full day in Desire today.  They will focus on English this morning and spend the afternoon with Bible activities.  Continue to pray for the safety and unity for the team as they get settled into a rhythm.

The team (L to R): Allie Loyer, Kim Luymes, Desiree Chasco, Victoria Ledzema, Maggie Medrano, Emily Kullberg, Emily Hoerner, Tyler Hoerner, Tiffany Ly, Ben Schuchard, Lauren Schuchard, Ingrid Bradley, Lynn Jacquart, Penny Lucas, Susan Stednick, Hayden Camp

Spring Break Team

Tonight our Spring Break team heads down to Haiti to visit the village of Desire and minister to the children there and to Pastor Jeannot and his family.  This will be a turning point in our Haiti ministry because I am actively developing other leaders to take our teams to Haiti and my great friend Hayden is leading this team while I stay back this time.  It's bittersweet for me personally because while I am excited about the growth of our ministry to Haiti and the opportunity to expand our vision and go deep, I will miss going because I love the adventure of taking teams, loving on the kids and spending time with Pastor Jeannot, and watching our people from Faith transformed by the experience.

So the plan is that I will blog about this trip by getting daily updates from Hayden.  I'll do my best to convey the heart of what is happening on the ground in Haiti as we continue to weave this story of serving the orphans in Haiti.

We are rejoicing that the well is complete and pumping water for the community.  I can't wait to have our people see it in person and perhaps pump a little water while they pray over it giving thanks to God and His provision for the water to a community in desperate need.