August 6th, 9:00pm

At 3:45am, we all arrived at Terminal 1 full of emotion! After only a couple hours of sleep each, we began arriving at the airport where we came to learn that Jenn had lost her passport and was going to bring her donation suitcase to the airport for us to bring down for her. Her spirits got lifted when Claudia and Derek told her to see if she could get a new passport and join us in Haiti tomorrow! We all got through security without any issues and headed down to our gate. Once we were all together Derek R. inspired us by getting each and every one of us a notebook. He challenged us to write ourselves a letter in the back, discussing our own anxieties and goals for our trip to Haiti. Then when we arrived to the guesthouse we laid out our notebooks for others to write in while we all started to bond and build lasting relationships! We boarded the plane and headed for Miami right on time, and landed safely at 11:00am.

At 2:00pm we boarded our flight to Port-au-Prince. We landed in Haiti around 5 o'clock. As we were coming in to land, I noticed the shacks and some of the shambled buildings that were still leftover from the earthquake in 2010. There seemed to be many little villages made up of tons of little shacks, that are people's homes! This was a shock to me, even though I was partially prepared for it. We headed towards customs were we spent at least half an hour getting through and finding our many donation suitcases. It was sort of chaotic, but we finally headed towards our Healing Haiti taptap. The outside was beautifully painted with the Healing Haiti logo and some bible verses written on the side. On our way to the guesthouse, we all asked tons of questions; "Are there always this many kids unattended?," "Are these people's homes?," " Is that a tent city?" There were also many observations made; "That woman is carrying that large bucket on her head!," "Look at all the stray dogs, they look so sad."

It was eye opening and later in the evening we sat down for dinner and began discussing the things we had seen. We talked about not really knowing or expecting there to be larger and nicer homes, and talking about the community around us. Learning that you can almost always hear music from afar, and that the kids generally wander just because these people are very trusting and know their kids will come home. After we had finished eating, we each said our word of the day. There was a wide range of emotions coming from everyone; everything from feeling blessed, thankful, relieved and protected to feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and in awe of the things we witnessed so far knowing it is only our first day here! We finally heard from Jenn, letting us know that she will be meeting up with us tomorrow and we are all so completely joyed to hear that she is coming. She wrote to tell us her word of the day and this is what she wrote to us:

 

Word of the Day: FAITH

Today my word of the day is Faith! The last 24 hours have really tested my faith. I have stood strong in my faith even when difficulties arose. I knew that I would be going to Haiti and only my faith in God made it happen. Here is what happened in the last 24 hrs.

Met you guys at the airport with no passport :-( My faith was renewed when Derek and Claudia told me to get a new passport and come tomorrow. From the time I left you guys at the airport I began to talk with the airlines and passport agency. Hurdles began when the airlines deleted my ticket because I did not cancel my flight before the plane left. I wasn't allowed to talk with the airlines because a travel agent booked our tickets. I was given a number to call for the agency. After calling them I find out that actually another agency has booked our flights. By the time I found Cheryl the travel agent (from Hilton Head, SC) I had to leave a message. I was frustrated but I continued to have faith. She called me back and began to work hard to reinstate my ticket because of my situation but didn't want to book my ticket until I had my new passport in my hands. I had an appointment at the passport agency in MPLS at 12noon. I waited 1/2 an hour and handed all my paperwork to the agent. Then the agent said that I couldn't use the same passport photo as my last one. He then sent me 6 blocks to the government building to get a passport photo where I waited in line for a 1/2 hour for my photo. Then ran back to the passport office to drop it off so I could get the passport done today. I was told to return between 2:30 and 3pm to pick it up. By 3pm I had my new passport in my hands and praised God. I then called Cheryl the travel agent to book the flight. She said it may take a few hours but she would get it scheduled and would call me with the ticket change fee (around $150). I arrived back at home in Hugo and then received a panicked call from Cheryl saying that the airlines would not reinstate my ticket. She tried everything. A new ticket would cost $1085. She said I had to go to the airport immediately and talk with an agent and nicely plead my case and see if they would reinstate my original ticket. Hurry she said as the seats are filling quickly. Mike another travel agent from MN was willing to help out and find other flight options but nothing was working out. So at 5pm my husband drove me to the airport and I kept my faith in God that somehow I would get to Haiti. I walked up to the American airlines counter with not one person in sight. I ask the woman at the counter if I could get on the Haiti flight tomorrow morning to join my Healing Haiti team. Her and another associate typed and made phone calls for the next 3 minutes. She told the woman on the phone that I was with Healing Haiti and they fly with American airlines all the time. She hung up the phone and looked at me with a smile. "OK, I have you on the 6:25am flight tomorrow morning!" No fees, no nothing! Just a smile and both associates wishing me a wonderful trip. "We love Healing Haiti," they said! My heart sank and I wanted to cry but all I could do is smile and think GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!!

Check out my daily email bible verse today.

For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! ~ 2 Corinthians 4:17

See you tomorrow!

Jennifer

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I think that Jenn sums everything up wonderfully by saying faith in our Lord is holding everything together. So far on this trip we have faced Satan plenty of times, but we all decided that we are encouraged by this because we (with the help of God, of course!) have pushed through Satan's traps. With God on our side, nothing can stop us from helping those who want help!

I want to end my blog with a verse that I flipped open to at the end of the day today. I feel that it kind of sums up what we are trying to do here and what our goals are.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the sames things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.

As Americans we are coming out of our comfort zones to be the hands and feet of God and spread His good word to those who seek it (and even to those who do not know that they are seeking it)! Some in our group were weighed down with troubles today but we all pushed through and everything is turning out to be good, the way God planned it to be. I know that personally, I cannot wait to see what God is going to teach not only me but everyone else in this group. I cannot wait to watch everyone grow in their faith with God and sing His glory everyday.

Praise be with you all and thank you for supporting each and everyone of us throughout this journey of a lifetime!

--Lauren Kranig

Lasting Impressions of Haiti

I have experienced so many things on this mission trip to Haiti….so much to tell I don’t even know where to start or how to put it into words.  My team has been fantastic…we all got along so well and new friendships were made in this week that I am sure will continue even after we get home.  I will be taking many images of Haiti in my mind when I go home and they will remain as lasting impressions.  Since I can’t seem to find the words to tell about everything we experienced, I will at least share some of the lasting impressions in my mind.

WATER TRUCK DAY:  so many desperate people needing water….long line of white 5 gallon buckets that seemed to go on forever…buckets being pushed by hands to keep their place in line….tension as I try to maintain the line and prevent people from “butting in their buckets”….the little Haitian girl that must of sensed my frustration and put her finger under my chin to make me lift my head up from my task to look at her and rewarded me with the most beautiful smile and a soft “bonjour”...made me realize that God wanted me to smile at his people…..the throngs of children that swarmed us as we got off the truck only wanting to be held and given some love and attention….their smiling faces and sweaty hugs and their loud “HEY YOU” that greeted us…the laughter ringing out from the children ….children who have nothing but still find so much joy in the little things we did with them….buckets of water being carried by little children to their families….the sorrow I felt when the water truck would run out of water and there were so many people still left in the line that did not get water that day….the hugs and waves from the children as we climbed in the truck to leave.  Water truck days were a lot of hard work, but so many rewards given to us those days.

ELDERLY VISITS:  elderly people sitting in small tin houses with no family to take care of them….the blind man sitting in his small, dark hut….the elderly woman laying on the floor of her house by the open door to catch the small breezes to try and get relief from the heat….rubbing lotion on dry arms and legs of the elderly and their look of relief as we rubbed their skin….the elderly man who had not family to take care of him sitting under a tree that when asked “where do you live?” and his response was “I live here with my Lord”…..the hands of our team placed on each of the elderly people we visited as we prayed for them and while tears rolled down my face….the children on the streets getting piggy back rides from our team members and their screams of joy….the excitement on the faces of the little girls as we painted their nails. Elderly Visit day was a very emotional day and God moved all of us that day.

HOME OF SICK AND DYING CHILDREN:  the cries of children and babies….the rooms lined with so many cribs filled with children….the crying children with arms reaching out begging to be picked up….the little girl I found wandering around the cribs with a little dress on and no diaper…her beautiful little smile as I picked her up and held her….the little baby with arms so thin they looked like they would break and his big brown eyes filled with tears and his weak cry as he tried to hold his arms up begging to be held….the crying little girl that was standing in the crib and her clutching hands as I picked her up that frantically grabbed my neck and her head laying on my shoulder as she seeked the comfort that only I could give her at that moment….rocking babies til I felt like my legs would drop off….the heartbreak of leaving the orphanage and having to put the children back in their cribs and hearing their cries as we turned away. We visited the orphanage 3 times during the week and each time was as hard as the first….but we were comforted with the fact that for a small  amount of time in their day, we brought them comfort and smiles and joy.

GERTRUDE’S:  handicapped children that were dropped off and left at the door…the screams of joy from the children as we entered their home….the crazy playtime that brought smiles and screams from delighted children….the little girl in the wheel chair who looked at me and I saw an angel in her eyes...ANGEL EYES was all I could think of when I saw her…..my immediate love for this little girl…the overwhelming urge that I got to pull her out of her chair and snuggle her….the tears that rolled down my face as we had to leave.

Another emotional visit but a day that God used to help me overcome a personal barrier of my own…God is so good.

Colleen Collins

Water Truck & Home for Sick and Dying Children

Hello, today was another glorious day in Haiti! The morning started out with two more water truck stops.  It went a lot more smoothly today because the people "respekte liy lan" (respect the line) more than they did the other day.  The kids were SO energetic and excited to play with us.  As soon as we pulled up, they all gathered behind the tap tap (truck) and jumped and shouted "HEY YOU HEY YOU!"  in unison.  It was so cute!
Taryn instantly befriended a little girl wearing a pink shirt and pink shorts. When it was Taryn's turn to hold the water hose, the little girl just did not want to leave her side, so she helped out by holding the hose behind Taryn. How helpful! Rita was claimed by a little girl in a white lace top.  She was VERY possessive and would not allow Rita to pick anyone else up! When she finally released full claim on Rita, a little boy was next in line for Rita's full attention.  His smiles and giggles were the best! Andra was handed a baby wearing flannel pajamas.  The mother was so proud of the baby and was happy that Andra held it!  After a short break in the guest house, a few of us made our third trip to The Home for Sick and Dying Children. 
This time we were allowed to go into the "very sick room."  It made all of us really sad to walk into a room to see rows of babies in little cribs with blank stares.  It looked like they didn't even have the energy to cry.  Many of the children were suffering from severe malnutrition, so they were all really small and skinny for their age.  We all fell in love with special babies. 
Rita was drawn to tiny Betchilove who was way too small for fifteen months, but loved to be held.  He hummed a bit into Rita's ear and was very sad to see Rita leave.  Andra held several babies, but her favorite part was feeding them! Taryn scooped up a little girl who was crying when we arrived.  She was calmed just by being held. Because these babies were malnourised, we just wanted to get as much food into their little bodies as we could.  We were so frustrated when they sometimes refused food or drink. 
We all left in tears as we had to leave the babies crying for us to stay.  Please pray for these babies. We trust God's plan for them, but it sure seems unfair. On a lighter note, we got lots of laughs out of a mischevious little guy who kept sitting on the edge of his crib. And at one point tried to climb out. We were so concerned he would fall, especially since he was hooked up to an IV. What a sneaky little laugh and giggle he had everytime we tried to get him back into his crib!  Bondje Boni' ou (God Bless You), Rita Taryn & Andra

Joy & Love

Love is overflowing.  A couple weeks ago we visited a hospital in Port Au Prince and I met a boy named Sebastian.  He had very big bright eyes and was probably around six years old.  He was running around and jumping on us – he seemed healthy and I was rather confused why he was in the hospital.  The next time we visited the hospital I saw Sebastian, except this time he was very skinny, seemed very sad and wasn’t responding to anything.  A couple days later we went back to this hospital and Sebastian was hooked up to an IV and looked very sad and in pain.  I put Sebastian in my lap and just sat with him.  He held onto the cross on my necklace and I asked him about Jesus.  After a couple minutes I began to pray some prayers I knew in Creole.  He started praying the prayers with me and his face lit up, as did mine.  We prayed the different prayers and sang the prayers and we laughed and smiled together.  A couple days later I saw Sebastian at the hospital, except this time he was with his mother and his two siblings.  They were so happy to be with him and hold him.  I went right over to them and spoke with them and prayed with them.  I witnessed to such beautiful love. 

Joy is present in the midst of suffering.  The other day we visited a woman who was very old, lonely and ill.  The moment we arrived at her home she went into her tiny rundown house and pulled out a couple of dirty old chairs for us to sit on.  This woman kept repeating Mesi Jezi, Mesi Bondieu – thank you Jesus, thank you God, with a huge smile on her face.  She was overwhelmed with joy, just by our simple love.   I am feeling challenged to continually love people all the time.  Mother Teresa says that the worst poverty is loneliness, or not feeling loved.  So many people are hungry and thirsty for love.  We have given much love to people and have also received much love in return. 

Today we went to Grace Village and ran a faith lesson with the orphans about the importance of having faith.  We had praise and worship, played games, and danced around.  We planned on running a very elaborate activity and it did not go as planned whatsoever.  God has some different plans and the day went amazing.  Thank you Lord for the gift of joy and love.  May you deepen these fruits of the Holy Spirit within us. In Christ, Dylan Himmerich

Elderly visit and Grace Village

Bonswa, this is Brandon and Luke doing the post tonight. Today we visited the elderly and we brought them a meal and a bottle of cold water. It was so sad to see them in the shape they were in. They were in horrible living conditions and some of them had no family to take care of them. But you would never believe all the faith and joy they had for God! At one particular visit we asked one elderly man if he had any family, he said no and that he just lived with the grace of God and nothing else. We visited four other elderly that had their own story, but they all had one thing in common and that was the bigger picture of God and their faith in him. While some of the group visited the elderly, the rest of the group played with the kids outside of the houses. We rubbed lotion on the kids, put oil in their hair, panted their nails and just had a great time with them. After we were done visiting all the elderly we went to grace village. The place is so nice, all the kids had their own beds and the kids even had a playground. All the women in our group went over to the girls dorms and played with them. Then the men in our group went to the boys dorms and played with the boys. We played a big game of keep away with them and it was a blast. We also had a big game of soccer with the boys where we were against all the the boys. Just let me tell you that they are amazing soccer players. After that we headed back to the guest house where we had our first actual Haitian meal and it was delicious. We also prepared for our return tomorrow to Grace Village where we will be doing faith lessons with them. It will be a great day with lots more love and joy serving as the hands and feet of our savior Jesus Christ! God has worked in so many amazing ways through all of us in the last few days and I can not wait to see what else he has in store. Good night to all!!

God Bless,

Brandon and Luke

Water Truck Day

Water Truck Day

Wow, what an amazing day in Citie Soleil delivering water. I was extremely impressed with the teams' work ethic and the way we all worked hard together to get as many people their much needed water. The water truck workers and our leaders mentioned that they had never seen a team work so hard and on a united front than the way we worked today. I was hard work, and was a little intense and overwhelming at times, but we did a great job and encouraged one another when needed.

We went to stops 17, 19 and 21 which were the same stops we made my first trip down. I was super excited when I got to reunite with Fabian, a girl I met last summer. I got a pic with her and will try to add it to this post when I get a chance. At stop 17 we got a chance to walk out to the ocean as a group. We walked over broken glass, cans, garbage, feces and pee to get to the penninsula and it was so heart breaking to hear that we were walking in these Haitian's bathroom. This is also the place where they bury their loved ones because they can't afford any other way. Junior, one of the translators, explained to us that there is a bathroom facility, but it costs 1 Haitian dollar and most of these people don't even have enough money to provide food for their family let alone spend it on using a bathroom. It is quite difficult to understand and comprehend how little the Haitians in Citie Soleil have to survive, yet they are so full of smiles for us when we come to visit and they love on us and protect us while we are visiting. They are full of a joy that can only come from the Lord and I am in awe of their resilience and of their faith in God. We sang with the children, "God is so good, is so good, is so good" over and over and over again. The children loved it and danced with us praising Jesus. What an awesome experience!

The bucket lines  were pretty intense, like I mentioned before. I had opportunities on each stop to work the line and let me tell you.....It was increasingly hectic and aggressive at each of the stops and it dawned on me at one point that these people were so desperate for water that they were going to do everything in their power to get their buckets filled. Mothers with children running around them hoping for all of their buckets to get filled to sustain them until Healing Haiti returns to deliver more free water. They do not know when the next visit will be, so they NEED it now. Budging, shoving and pushing buckets in your face to fill were just a few things we experienced. The line seemed to never end and when we ran out of water it broke my heart to have to tell them we were all out of water.

All in all we had a fabulous first day of serving. We gave everything we had today and are praying for God to rejuvenate us for tomorrow and give us the energy needed to serve in any way we can. To God we give all the glory today and always. He is doing a mighty work in us and is transforming us from the inside out.

Blessings,

Alicia