We were supposed to be going back to City de Soliel again, however the government has decided to step in and won't allow us to return there. They don't like us helping because it makes them look bad to the people. What's really sad about that is that they know this and are the ones to point it out. If we truly believed we needed to work there and no where else we could go through a process and get authorization to do so, but that would probably come with limitation on what we'd be allowed to do for the people. It's better that we just move on and be thankful for the time we were able to spend there.
So instead of going back there we were invited by one of the boys from the school to go to his village. Since it was so close we walked there. To him it might not be that bad of a walk, but for us it felt like it took forever to get there! It was probably about three miles away from our camp and very hot. Once we got there though it was worth it. To be able to help the people and play with the kids. They did have more than most people in Haiti though so that was comforting. In fact we set up our work area at the school there. One thing about schools in Haiti, if you want to go you have to pay. There is no free education at all. So just from that you knew these people had more than anyone in City de Soliel had. We did our usual medical, lunch and ministry trifecta. We even had bottles and baby formula for women with small babies that need some for of proper nutrition.
The hardest part of the day came when we gave them the lunch part of our team spent half the morning making. They took the food, but some of them either threw it on the ground or at another kid. It was the hardest time I had keeping calm and showing God's love when they were mocking the work we were doing for them. It felt like they didn't care that we wanted to help, but it was also a good reminder that not every day is going to be easy. Sometimes we will face things that will test us and hopefully if you are fully relying on God we will prevail and be able to show Him through everything that goes on.
Then that night Rebekah, Lauren and I started talking together on the patio. We stayed there for a while just getting to know eachother and sharing things from our lives. Then it started to rain again so we went into mine and Rebekahs tent and contiued talking for quite a while. It was a very good, very sobering talk. We just got to know eachother and some of the so not happy parts of our backgrounds. It never did rain that night and I liked how Lauren put it at one point, God was telling us we needed to spend time together getting to know eachother. My prayer is that there is something in both of their stories and advice that I can learn from and for them from me as well.
20 May, 2010
19 May, 2010
Day 2: Haiti
So we wake up at 5:30am everyday, usually that seems very early to me and it's difficult to wake up. In Haiti though the sun starts to rise around 5am so by the time my alarm goes off it's already light and there are people moving around outside. So we got and dressed for our first days work. The typical routine was that about five people would make breakfast while the rest of us met for a quick meeting and then spent about 45 minutes in prayer; individually and in groups. After that we would eat and then everyone would joind for one more meeting where we were told where we would be working and what we'd be doing while there. Mainly that consisted of providing medical care and spending time with the people and children. The place we worked in that day is known as City de Soliel, most people won't go there because it's considered one of the most dangerous places in Port Au Prince. After the earthquake this is where most fugitives and lesser criminals fled to.
Once we got there immediately the kids started to gather around us wanting to play and talk to us. The majority of us spent most the day with them painting their faces and playing games with them. At first, they didn't understand what the face painting was so none of them wanted to do. Once we showed them and a couple decided to let us paint their faces all them wanted it! It was so funny, once they decided it wasn't bad they loved it and wanted us to paint their faces more than once!! It wasn't so much because of the paint though, they just wanted to the attention. They wanted us to pay attention to them and love them and care for them. Most the the kids lost one or both parents in the earthquake so affection wasn't something they knew too much of. They mostly just lived among the people there trying to survive however they could.
Around 12 the team that had been back at our camp preparing food for the people arrived with three giant cast iron pots of food. Once we got it all set up to serve we started plating and the people went crazy. They were all scrambling and pushing to get to the front so that they could get some of the food. We tried to make sure all the kids got food first, but it wasn't always easy. The hardest part was not having enough to feed everyone and having to tell people we were out of food. As soon as we were done serving the food we had to leave. The guys got the pots back to the truck and we all got into the van to head back to the camp.
The rest of the day was pretty relaxed, we got back and just spent time hanging out...until it rained at least. The rain always makes everyone scatter. This time, however, Lauren, Maiko, Egon and I stayed out in the rain. At first we tried to stay out of the actual rain but we didn't go into our tents...eventually we just decided to run around and play in the rain. It was so much fun! The best part was just getting to know these three people, goofing off and not caring about anything but having fun! It seems like I never get to be carefree like that anymore. It was nice to have that feeling again for a few hours, as well as form friendships with the three of them.
Once we got there immediately the kids started to gather around us wanting to play and talk to us. The majority of us spent most the day with them painting their faces and playing games with them. At first, they didn't understand what the face painting was so none of them wanted to do. Once we showed them and a couple decided to let us paint their faces all them wanted it! It was so funny, once they decided it wasn't bad they loved it and wanted us to paint their faces more than once!! It wasn't so much because of the paint though, they just wanted to the attention. They wanted us to pay attention to them and love them and care for them. Most the the kids lost one or both parents in the earthquake so affection wasn't something they knew too much of. They mostly just lived among the people there trying to survive however they could.
Around 12 the team that had been back at our camp preparing food for the people arrived with three giant cast iron pots of food. Once we got it all set up to serve we started plating and the people went crazy. They were all scrambling and pushing to get to the front so that they could get some of the food. We tried to make sure all the kids got food first, but it wasn't always easy. The hardest part was not having enough to feed everyone and having to tell people we were out of food. As soon as we were done serving the food we had to leave. The guys got the pots back to the truck and we all got into the van to head back to the camp.
The rest of the day was pretty relaxed, we got back and just spent time hanging out...until it rained at least. The rain always makes everyone scatter. This time, however, Lauren, Maiko, Egon and I stayed out in the rain. At first we tried to stay out of the actual rain but we didn't go into our tents...eventually we just decided to run around and play in the rain. It was so much fun! The best part was just getting to know these three people, goofing off and not caring about anything but having fun! It seems like I never get to be carefree like that anymore. It was nice to have that feeling again for a few hours, as well as form friendships with the three of them.
18 May, 2010
Day 1: Haiti
Rebekah and I woke up at 5ish to get ready and head to the airport. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 7:30am, we arrived at the airport around 6am. This was the first time I have ever flown so I just followed her though everything letting her go before me in most of the lines. After we made it through all the checks and scans we found our gate and sat down ready to wait. About 10 minutes later they called for us to board the plane. The flight was pretty short, if seemed to only take a few minutes from the time we took of to when we landed. It was nothing like a lot of people make flying sound like. Other than my ears popping it didn't phase me at all, the view from the window was so beautiful, even out over the ocean.
Our plane landed around 9:30am. Once we got off we had to get onto a bus and transported to the customs area. We almost had an issue with our immigration papers because we didn't have an exact address for the Double Harvest grounds we were going to be staying at. They didn't give us too much trouble though, they just didn't know what it was. There were about seven other people with Project America on our flight so once everyone made it through the airport and found their luggage we made our way through the crowds, with our driver, to the van that was waiting for us.
Around 11:30am we had gotten our tent set up and our stuff settled in for the week, had breakfast and a short meeting. We were waiting on more people to get there and to get a tire on our truck changed. Once they finished that we went to a city called City Soliel, known as the worst place in the world. It was where all the fugitives and criminals fled to when the jail crumbled after the earthquake. A lot of the people there now are actually decent people, there are still those that have the criminal background, but for the most part the people as a community have kicked them out. We went to visit the people and figure out how and where we would be setting up our stuff for the next day. We all went around the city meeting the people and playing with kids. It seemed like they would come out of no where! There were so many and they all wanted our attention!! It was the most humbling thing to experience!
The heat was definitely a problem the first day, not being used to it at all. We were only there for a few hours, but the heat gets to you quick. Once we left we stopped at a market on the way back to Double Harvest to get anything we may need or want over the next few days. It was pretty interesting, the store was small compared to the grocery store we have here and the food cost just as much. I think I got a soda and a roll of toilet paper(we had to have our own cause there wasn't any in the bathroom.)
Finally we were back at the camp for the night where we just hung out and fellowshiped. It rained around 6 or 7 that night so most of us retreated to our tents or covered area of some kind and didn't come out until dinner was ready. Then not too long after that we had a meeting and then went to bed.
Our plane landed around 9:30am. Once we got off we had to get onto a bus and transported to the customs area. We almost had an issue with our immigration papers because we didn't have an exact address for the Double Harvest grounds we were going to be staying at. They didn't give us too much trouble though, they just didn't know what it was. There were about seven other people with Project America on our flight so once everyone made it through the airport and found their luggage we made our way through the crowds, with our driver, to the van that was waiting for us.
Around 11:30am we had gotten our tent set up and our stuff settled in for the week, had breakfast and a short meeting. We were waiting on more people to get there and to get a tire on our truck changed. Once they finished that we went to a city called City Soliel, known as the worst place in the world. It was where all the fugitives and criminals fled to when the jail crumbled after the earthquake. A lot of the people there now are actually decent people, there are still those that have the criminal background, but for the most part the people as a community have kicked them out. We went to visit the people and figure out how and where we would be setting up our stuff for the next day. We all went around the city meeting the people and playing with kids. It seemed like they would come out of no where! There were so many and they all wanted our attention!! It was the most humbling thing to experience!
The heat was definitely a problem the first day, not being used to it at all. We were only there for a few hours, but the heat gets to you quick. Once we left we stopped at a market on the way back to Double Harvest to get anything we may need or want over the next few days. It was pretty interesting, the store was small compared to the grocery store we have here and the food cost just as much. I think I got a soda and a roll of toilet paper(we had to have our own cause there wasn't any in the bathroom.)
Finally we were back at the camp for the night where we just hung out and fellowshiped. It rained around 6 or 7 that night so most of us retreated to our tents or covered area of some kind and didn't come out until dinner was ready. Then not too long after that we had a meeting and then went to bed.
17 May, 2010
Report On My Trip
This is going to be a very condensed account of my time in Haiti, but I need to write while I can.
Rebekah and I headed out for Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday where we spent the night at one of the girls apt who is from our church. Arrived there around 9pm found a gas station to get food from then crashed. Woke up at 5:30 Sunday morning, got everything together and headed to the airport. It didn't take long to get through all the security at all; then we boarded after waiting for only about 10 minutes. There was a group of about 9 of us on that flight. Once we arrived in Port Au Prince(PAP) we met our driver, Charles, and waited for the rest of the people to make it through the airport.
About 20-30 minutes later we were at the camp at Double Harvest being greeted by so many people we didn't know, but felt like we had known for years. The first hour there is a blur, so much was happening at once I couldn't take it all in. I am so grateful to have had Rebekah and Charlie there with me. After getting everything set up and settling in it was time for breakfast. The first day there was really relaxed, we didn't actually do any work. Around 10am we headed to a place called City Soliel where we would be working the next day and met the people, played with the children.
The next day when we went back and set up a tent to provide medical care, entertained the kids and finally provided as many of the people with lunch as we were able to. It was heartbreaking not being able to help every person there, but there are just so many living in the small area! After we gave them the food we had to leave because it got pretty intense when we started handing out the food. So we headed back to DH and just spent time getting to know eachother that afternoon. It rained that night as it did the night before and the next night, I thought it was going to be a daily pattern after the third night, lol.
So we found out that we wouldn't be going back to City Soliel because of political reasons, instead we spent the next day working in a nearby village. It was the same routine as the day before and this time we had bottles to feed babies formula with. Since it was close to DH we walked there and back that day, it was a long walk that's for sure. Totally worth it in the end though.
The next day we spent most of the morning waiting to find out if a group of our people were going to be able to get us some much needed medical supplies from the border, which we finally heard that they had managed to get them across without any problems. Once they got back we had 4 or 5 bags of supplies. We spent the next few hours going through and organizing everything we had.
Then the next few days were more of the same, going to communities that needed our help and doing what we could for them. Everyday was a different experience and an even bigger blessing. God is doing something amazing in Haiti and this group that I had the privilege of serving with is a definite part of that!
Rebekah and I headed out for Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday where we spent the night at one of the girls apt who is from our church. Arrived there around 9pm found a gas station to get food from then crashed. Woke up at 5:30 Sunday morning, got everything together and headed to the airport. It didn't take long to get through all the security at all; then we boarded after waiting for only about 10 minutes. There was a group of about 9 of us on that flight. Once we arrived in Port Au Prince(PAP) we met our driver, Charles, and waited for the rest of the people to make it through the airport.
About 20-30 minutes later we were at the camp at Double Harvest being greeted by so many people we didn't know, but felt like we had known for years. The first hour there is a blur, so much was happening at once I couldn't take it all in. I am so grateful to have had Rebekah and Charlie there with me. After getting everything set up and settling in it was time for breakfast. The first day there was really relaxed, we didn't actually do any work. Around 10am we headed to a place called City Soliel where we would be working the next day and met the people, played with the children.
The next day when we went back and set up a tent to provide medical care, entertained the kids and finally provided as many of the people with lunch as we were able to. It was heartbreaking not being able to help every person there, but there are just so many living in the small area! After we gave them the food we had to leave because it got pretty intense when we started handing out the food. So we headed back to DH and just spent time getting to know eachother that afternoon. It rained that night as it did the night before and the next night, I thought it was going to be a daily pattern after the third night, lol.
So we found out that we wouldn't be going back to City Soliel because of political reasons, instead we spent the next day working in a nearby village. It was the same routine as the day before and this time we had bottles to feed babies formula with. Since it was close to DH we walked there and back that day, it was a long walk that's for sure. Totally worth it in the end though.
The next day we spent most of the morning waiting to find out if a group of our people were going to be able to get us some much needed medical supplies from the border, which we finally heard that they had managed to get them across without any problems. Once they got back we had 4 or 5 bags of supplies. We spent the next few hours going through and organizing everything we had.
Then the next few days were more of the same, going to communities that needed our help and doing what we could for them. Everyday was a different experience and an even bigger blessing. God is doing something amazing in Haiti and this group that I had the privilege of serving with is a definite part of that!
04 May, 2010
4 Days
4 days till I leave the coutnry for the first time. Untill I'm miles away from home in a foriegn land, in a culture I dont't know, around people I don't understand. I really don't think the full impact of it all will hit untill I'm there. Simply because I've never experienced anything like this before in my life. I'm going to have journal of my trip there for sure! Pray with me that this trip is what God wants it to be, not what I want to make it.
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