Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Spring Break Team: Treasure and Friendship

From Hayden:

Today was our last full day in Desire.  The team worshipped with the kids and the community.  Pastor Charlie preached about the treasure of Jesus.  When presented with that amazing gift, we have to ask ourselves, what will we do with it.  Do we embrace it, do we run from it, do we hide it?  When we embrace it and accept it, we have true life.  This message hit home to us as we wrestle with what we see here in a land filled with hopelessness, poverty, and corruption.  How do we reconcile with it? As we were worshipping with our Haitian brothers and sisters, we were reminded that no matter where we come from, we all get that chance to choose God because He first chose us, and He sees all of His children the same.  They are His children.  And tomorrow, we say good-bye to these children that we have embraced.  While we say good-bye, we know in our hearts that these children represent God's treasure on some level.  Their love, their desire for a relationship, and their hope of a future beyond our wildest dreams all point us back to what we know is the greatest gift of all, God's treasure.



Monday, March 17, 2014

Spring Break Team: Sunday in Desire

From Hayden:

On Sunday, we had the chance to worship in Desire with the kids and some from the community.  Pastor Charlie spoke on behalf of the team and preached on God's treasure.  Afterwards, we had time with the kids.  The highlight was a gift of a picture to each of the kids and mamas.  They were so excited to have this special piece of them taken.  In the afternoon, we had a quick review of the English lesson and some music.  It was mainly a time to play with the kids.  We saw girls jumping rope, soccer, dodge ball, and kids learning to make friendship bracelets.  It was great when a team member heard Pastor Jeannot say, "when the kids play, I am happy."  And, so were we.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Spring Break Team: Ruth and Dodgeball

From Hayden:

Today the team really poured it out.  They  spent time playing with the kids in the morning while we took pictures of all the kids.  Each child will receive a picture of themselves by the time we leave.  It was exciting to see the pride and excitement in their eyes about getting their picture taken.  In the afternoon, our team shared the story of Ruth and shared the gospel with the kids.  The story involved the team and the kids and was entertaining.  Later they were introduced to the game of dodge ball.  How exciting it was to see  the kids enjoy this classic game.  No one was hurt, and the team had great fun playing with so many kids at one time.  The last part of our day was spent visiting  with Jan Thompson and the 32 kids (Hopesters) at Christopher's Hope Mission.  It was another look at an orphanage in Haiti and time to hear Jan's story.  In all, it was a great day and the team really emptied their tanks to fill these kids with hope, love, and time.  Tomorrow, we get to enjoy worshipping with Pastor Jeannot, the kids, and the community.  

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Spring Break Team: Saturday Photos

More pictures from Bob Schuchard:






Spring Break Team: In His Arms

From Hayden:

In HIS Arms.  What does it mean?  It means letting go of everything: my fears, my past, my hopes and dreams all fall onto Jesus.  My trust rests in Him.  When  I do this, I can rest in the comfort and strength of His arms.  Nothing else matters then.  Joy and peace fill me.  With these kids, it's kind of like that too.

Friday, March 14, 2014

Spring Break Team: More Photos

Spring Break Team: One Body, Many Parts

From Hayden:

This afternoon, Ryan shared from I Corinthians 12 about one body, many parts.  "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ."  The body has many parts, and each plays a role in making the body move, breathe, and function.  Just as the body has many parts, so does the body of Christ.  We each have our different gifts and personalities, and together, reflect the love of Christ as a church.  And, just as we are a team from Fort Collins and a village of orphans in Haiti, we bring our differences together as one body to reflect the love of Christ.








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Spring Break Team: Best Friends

Here is the latest from Hayden Camp:

This morning we spent some time with the kids teaching English.  In this lesson, we talked about friends.  Who is your best friend?  What do you do with them.  How do they make you feel.  If Jesus is our best friend, we know that we have Him for life.  The kids enjoyed the entertaining lesson, reading with team members, and coloring friendship links.  This afternoon we will go back and have some bible story an game time!

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Spring Break Team: Haiti Bound and Arrival


From Hayden Camp:

Our team, from Faith E Free Church, left on a 16 hour journey from Fort Collins to Gonaives, Haiti Wednesday night.  Our team of 20 has retuners and those new to Haiti.  Our purpose is to make a difference to 72 orphans, their house mamas, Pastor Jeannot and his family.  We also hope to make an impact on all those we come across by being the hands and feet of God.  Our journey was smooth, but long.  We arrived Thursday and went up to Desire in a rain storm.  We didn't get stuck, but one of the tires was damaged.  So, we weren't with the kids very long, but the smiles and joy were enough for energizing us all.  The team is tired, but content in knowing they have an opportunity to shine for Christ in the coming days.  Tomorrow, we will spend time teaching English, a story from the Bible and engaging the kids in games and fun.  Tonight we enjoyed goat, chicken, and fish together as a team.  Then we debriefed the day.  The team shared encouragement from seeing the kids, seeing the progress made in this country, the opportunity to be in this place doing God's work.  At the same time we deal with the challenge of langauage barriers, of processing what poverty really is, and the struggle of sinful nature.  It is exciting to see what God will do through this team, but also in this team.  Please pray for opportunity to be the hands and feet of God, for perseverance, and for selflessness.  

Spring Break Team: Traveling

The Haiti team is currently on the road in Haiti heading towards the city of Gonaives where they will stay at a hotel for their home base.  Each day they will journey out to Desire- about a 45 minute, 12 mile drive through rural Haitian countryside to visit the orphan project.

Please pray for the team's safety, health and unity.  Pictured below is the team.  They will arrive in Desire to see the kids and Pastor Jeannot by this afternoon.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Spring Break Team headed to Haiti

We have a team preparing to leave tomorrow to visit Desire.  It's been a while since my last post and it's time to get caught up.  This team leaving tomorrow is being led by Bob Schuchard and Hayden Camp- two seasoned Haiti leaders.  I will be posting their updates here on my blog as well as adding my own thoughts and comments during the course of this trip.

From Hayden:

In just a few days, I will have the opportunity to help lead a team of 20 men and women, from our church, and travel over 2400 miles to a little village at the end of a dusty road in Haiti named Desire.  We will have the chance to see 73 orphaned children and spend time loving on them, playing with them, teaching English, sharing stories from the Bible and sharing God's love with them.  It is our prayer that we engage them in these things, but in the end we want to build a relationship that will hopefully point them back a Father whose love is beyond our comprehension.  Please pray for our team: for unity in purpose, for safety, for strength, and most importantly that we will serve Him.  I hope to blog daily, so check this site when you can.