Thoughts From Back Home

Never have I thought of the term "brothers and sisters in Christ" as I had this week. Arriving in Port Au Prince and being greeted by Edvens felt as if I went to visit my brother in college and gave him a hug. The people we worked along side with this week, "blancs" and Haitians, continually reminded me that I was there to help my brothers and sisters, not someone who was lesser than me. Not only did I think that, but had examples put right before me of how amazing my "brothers and sisters" truly are. 

Leaving a whole bunch of teenage friends and going and getting to know some new friends only reminded me of the friends that I left at home. They still have that sense of humor that makes you laugh so hard you want to cry, the kindness to share their knowledge with you, and the eagerness to have fun every minute possible.

Multiple times during the week I was reminded that we were all worshiping the same God. Although church might be the most obvious example of this, two other instances proved to be more heart warming. One morning I walked past one of the preschool rooms and heard Chris Hestwood singing "Amazing Grace". I poked my head in just in time to see the teacher turn from the students and sing "Amazing Grace" back to Chris in Kreyol. During a later day in the week I was in the school painting when I was approached by one of my friends. I thought he would stick around but I was thoroughly surprised when he said "I will be back in a couple of minutes, I want to go pray." When he said that I just about fell over with astonishment. Never have I ever been told to wait because someone has to go pray. Him saying this only reminded me once more that he was my brother in Christ and needed God in his life just as much as I need God in mine.

My family's sponsored child, Virgenette (in the white),
her sister,  Carlmaria,  and her mother.
So I guess you can call this more of a "Family in Christ"

I was blessed to be able to go to Haiti this past week and have experiences such as these. I look forward to returning in the future to have my eyes opened even wider to God's vast greatness.  

You might also enjoy reading my traveling companion Sarah's thoughts. Here she writes prior to our trip. And these are her thoughts upon returning home.

Day Seven

Today was as good as a last day in Haiti can get. We spent most of our time today in Paul following whatnurses Susan, Ellen, and Shelly did yesterday. They spent time organizing the pharmacy, giving out medicine, patient visits, and Ellen got help a young boy who had broken his arm. Today we visited the school and dewormed 600 school students. In addition to the deworming, we weighed and measured them so we can reference their growth in future medical visits and target those that need nutritional support. When we got back to the mission it was time for our final English class which the kids were very enthusiastic about, especially when they were singing "happy birthday" to Dave. We wrapped up our time with the youth with one final game of chubba chubba can can (or in this case chubba chubba suitcase suitcase) to whom which the winner was awarded Jason's prized hat. Then came what most would see as the saddest part of the week, but for me it was a time of hope, promises, and love. As I said goodbye to new friends and old, I promised I would return in at least one year. My time here, this trip and last, has been such a blessing and there is no reason for me not to return to this extraordinarily hospitable and hopeful country. Although I may cry the whole way home tomorrow, I will know that my brothers and sisters in Christ will always be in my heart.

Prayer Requests Today's requests are for.... For Pastor Pierre as he continues to lead this mission and be a model of Christian character to all that he encounters. For Paul Conley and Bobbie and Tom Hartman ... thankfulness for their leadership of the group this week and for their work while they remain in Haiti for one more week. Gratitude for prayers answered....we realized in our last meeting after dinner tonight that the leaders of our trip had been praying about the large numbers of travelers (this is the largest group thus far) and the logistics that would be involved. They also prayed for the many travelers that didn't know what "task" they would perform upon arrival. The prayer was answered in wondrous ways as the travel was smooth, the group acclimated well to their surroundings and everyone was busy and productive the entire week!

Day Six

From Reeny Davison: Every morning bright and early a small group of us (first time for me this morning because I am not a morning person but woke up early with lesson plans in my head); we grab coffee and sit on the rooftop to watch the sun come up over the mountains. That nicely describes the peaceful serenity and smooth teamwork we are all experiencing. For example, the electricity team got it to work in the new school this morning because they worked together so well. Another example is how we help each other in teaching. Dave, Jason, Bobbie, Sarah,and Jenny (with the electricity and painting guys peeking in) are all helping the children pronounce English words and serving as teaching assistants. We have been teaching an English lesson every day at 4 o'clock. And a couple of people on the team tell me that the students see them working and  they use the English phrases they have learned. Nothing could be more gratifying to me as a teacher. I keep thinking that the team fulfills the words in Matthew 25: "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand. Come, ye blessed of the father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  For I was hungry and you gave me meat:  I was thirsty and you gave me drink: I was a stranger and you took me in: naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you invited me: I was in prison, and you came to me.  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and fed you?  Or thirsty, and gave you drink?  When did we see you a stranger and took you in?  Or naked, and clothed you?  Or when did we see you sick, or in prison and came to you? And the King shall answer and say to them, verily I say unto you, in as much as you have done it unto the least of these my brothers (and sisters), you have done it to me." We have never felt so welcomed as we do by these loving adults and children.  We are grateful to be here.

Prayer Requests  Today's requests are for.... gratitude for the gift of song. We hear adults and children singing while they work and play all through the day. It is joyful and uplifting. We have joined this rhythm and ritual by singing our evening grace before we eat. for safety for the children we heard about today that need to water their fields at night after they've carried the water  in buckets from the well that is several miles away.

Day Five

From Chris Hestwood: Today was exhausting but productive I was up on the roof at 6 am, as has been my custom down here, to see the sun rise.  Jason is often the first up, followed by me and then Susan or Bobbie.  What a great way to greet the day!  We left around 8:30 to go to two rural schools.  While there, we gave the students anti-parasitic medicine , which was followed by a piece of candy to ease their palate.  Apparently it tastes awful-you'll have to ask Margaret, who gave it a try.  The little ones were so cute, but a bit apprehensive about the whole process.  The older students accepted the whole process with resignation.  At the end, each student was given a composition book that included a handwritten letter and a picture from my students at Baker Elementary School.  The letters had been translated into Creole, so there was no language barrier.  This afternoon I attended a music class.  Music is, truly, a universal language!  The students were using solfage (do, re, mi...) quite unsuccessfully.  The teacher asked me to do the exercise.  I don't think they know I have advanced degrees in music.  They were quite surprised that I, "la Blanc (the white)," could successfully complete the exercise! I am stunned by how closely Haiti resembles Malawi.....extreme poverty...similar landscapes...the same faces and images...But Haiti is a mere two hour flight from Miami.  And Malawi is halfway around the world, far from "civilization." It leaves me scratching my head that the Dominican Republic, the land of posh resorts, is on the other side. I am in awe of Pastor Pierre.  His vision and commitment to the people of La Croix and surrounding communities is something to see firsthand.  His and his wife are not only excellent hosts, but magnificent stewards of our many gifts.   From Lois Franks: Dan Paul and I decided to sponsor a child in LaCroix. Denny, the translator, was able to introduce me to Binda and she is eleven. With Denny's help I conversed with her and wondered what I could buy her or get for her. Tears ran down my cheeks when her answer was that all she wanted was a goat. I was surprised first that she didn't want a toy or a dress but secondly that the goat would be only $30 and could be delivered on Tuesday! This trip has been a blessing in so many different ways.

Prayer Requests  Today's requests are for.... blessings upon the many Haitians that help and support us...from the kitchen staff to the translators to the guard at the mission gate to the man that insists on helping to paint the school walls and so many more! that tomorrow can be productive to wrap the projects in LaCroix as the entire team heads to the region of Paul on Friday to work with the school children there.

Day Four

From Rev. David Fetterman: A group of us are helping Reeny Davison this week as she teaches English to a group of Haitian children. Every afternoon we're gathering in a classroom as Reeny leads the group through learning basics of English. What a joy and what fun it was for us to sit among the children and learn basic words and concepts like sit, stand, dance, and sing. To learn those words we don't just say the words. Instead as we said them we sat and stood and danced and sang! And we laughed and learned each others names and just had fun being together. What a neat experience to share God's love among God's children! I can't wait for our next class!   From Gary Gallo: As I approach the midway point of my second visit to this oasis amidst the chaos, I'm more convinced than ever that the model of the La Croix Mission is a shining example of outreach worth supporting. I can see with first hand clearly that the modest investment my family makes in sponsoring a child's education is used effectively and efficiently to achieve tremendous results. Most of my time here has been spent doing construction in the middle school that Westminster's New Cornfield Campaign helped to build. The place is teeming with children excited at the opportunity to learn. When school is over, kids eagerly watch the work we're doing and want to learn about electricity and power tools - two concepts completely foreign to most!

Prayer Requests  Today's requests are for.... for the children that we worked with in the clinic today. The little that was done today was effective but there is so much these children need to be able to stay healthy. gratitude for the team's safety, good health and the sense of community that has brought us together for a common cause.

Day Three

Today was the official start of the majority of our projects. I started the morning off by going a chemistry lesson with Bobbie and Lois. Although we asked for 24 students we were pleasantly surprised when 30 arrived. The students continue to amaze me with their eagerness to learn and attentiveness and respect towards their teacher, Bobbie, Lois, and I. Tomorrow we start a more complex series of lessons and we look forward to seeing how the students tie in what they have been learning in the classroom so far this year to the lesson. A group of people from our team also painted 20 pieces of plywood with chalkboard paint and as Tom says we "will have a grand hanging tomorrow in the school...but not mine, of the chalkboards." Susan, Ellen and Shelly went to the clinic today and the Haitians presented a wide range of sicknesses. The ladies handled them with great care along side the help of the doctors who already work at the clinic full time. After the school for the older kids lets out, a group of girls started the scarf dying project which is now in its fourth year. I have never seen the process before and was delighted to watch them intelligently combine colors to make gorgeous scarfs. Many other things happened today such as the teaching of how to use Excel to the men who work in the child sponsorship office. Additional electricity was added to the school building, and the documentation of this trip has continued and is coming about tremendously. Although the group is hard at work, the moment to crack a joke never ceases to pass. We were all sitting down for dinner and there is a cat who lives in the compound with us and when Margaret, a red head, approached the cat, who is red and white, and said "Aw look at us... we have the same colors, red and white!" Pastor Pierre waited a few moments to say that "the cat doesn't speak English" just in case Margret wasn't aware.

Prayer Requests  Today's requests are for.... gratitude for the Haitian doctors and nurses in the LaCroix clinic for they are dispensing great medical care enrobed with preventative education, for patience and understanding while working with the children in  after school classes because so many want to participate and they are so eager, for safe travel for the medical team when they go to Paul tomorrow.

Day Two

Chris and I started the morning off with children's chapel which consisted of 75 children singing their hearts out. An hour later we joined the rest of the group for normal worship. Well, normal for them at least. The music was accompanied only by percussion, trombone and a saxaphon. This may seem like they were lacking musically however the congregation made up with their enthusiasm and praise while dancing and sing like no other. After Paul gave the sermon, which Pierre translated, we sang "Here I Am Lord". Later in the day Chris was able to teach it to some of the teens and thye reciprocated by teaching her the Kreyol words.Worship was followed by the the enthusiastic greeting of 150 of our newest friends and the renewing of friendships from past visits.  After church we proceeded to begin scoping out our projects and begin the process of filming a tour of the school. Reeny, who is an educator, also gathered a group of Haitians from the ages of 4 to 16 to teach an English lesson which a couple of us sat in on to help the pronunciation of some of the words.  Today my family and I also had the joy of meeting our newly sponsored child. It turns out that I know her younger sister form my previous trip in June so it was good to make the family connection. In addition to that we also got to meet her mother!  Tomorrow the projects will swing in to full gear with chemistry classes, trips to the medical clinic, craft projects, computer lab set up, and construction in numerous areas.  Also here our some words from a fellow group member Dave Fetterman: "We Are One." Thoughts from Haiti I went to church today. Nothing astonishing about that -- except that the service was in Haiti, not Upper St. Clair. More interesting still -- at least to me was that I understood very few words and when I prayed and read scripture I had to have an interpreter. Yet, over and over again from start to finish a scripture passage recurred in my thoughts during that service: "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28) Despite the miles between us, we are truly one because of God's love.

Prayer Requests  Today's requests are for.... good health so we can continue to work unity as we work side by side with the Haitians clean water for this country as that is essential for so many reasons

Day One

Words can't even begin to describe how happy I am to be back in La Croix, Haiti. We started off the day in the bleak and snowy JFK airport and I am now sitting on the roof top of our building admiring the clear sky filled with hundreds of stars. Since our group split up to travel to Haiti today, my family was the last to arrive. We were greeted by Paul Conley, Edvens, who is a translator and works in the child sponsorship program, and the big man himself, Pastor Pierre. Our ride to La Croix was filled with discussion as to how the new president of Haiti is improving the country step by step. His goal is to have 500,000 new jobs for Haitians in the next years as he builds a college and international airport in the north. Pastor Pierre also told us how the parliament has a budget of money to give to Haitians however for years, none of this money would actually be placed in the Haitians hands. This all changed this new year as the President handed money out to the Haitians himself. Good things could be ahead for the Haitian! As far as the logistics of our trip go, we are thankful to say that all of the members, and all 36 suitcases full of supplies, arrived. As I write this the group is busy trying to figure out where the contents of each suitcase should go and when and how they will eventually be put to use this week.                             Although this may be a third world country that most would never feel called to travel to, I entered the mission and it felt like home. From the roof top I can hear all the same noises I can hear back in USC. Off in the distance there is the neighbors pestering dog barking, on the road there are the crazy teens out driving and you can hear their laughter from miles around and as far as nature goes, the bugs are eating away at me as if the bugs in USC gave them a heads up that I would be here.                            Tomorrow morning we will join the Haitians in their regular Sunday morning service, however little did I know that the group would be singing a song for the rest of the congregation. With that being said I should probably do myself some good and go practice!

Prayer Requests  Today's requests are for....  gratitude for safe travels, that all the supplies made it and for the hospitality that has already been extended to us

Preparing for Haiti Trip January 2012

Most of the team traveling to Haiti (19 travelers) stood in a church classroom on Saturday shaking their heads at the mountain of 36 suitcases and tables overflowing with medical provisions, school supplies, computer equipment, children's books, painting equipment and more! It must have been a God moment that when the packing was complete all the supplies fit in all of the suitcases and there were six extra allotted pounds to spare!     The projects planned for this trip include: painting the school  installing classroom chalkboards placing power/data in computer labs computer installation running medical clinics teaching English and chemistry library organization furthering existing craft micro-businesses Among missionaries the motto seems to be that you "make a plan and then need to be prepared to readjust" because conditions and priorities can change once you're in the field. So stay tuned as we hope to be able to send news of our progress as the trip evolves with several different writers sharing as the week unfolds.

Prayer Requests The bags are packed, the plane tickets are in hand, now we ask you to join us in prayer. Today's requests are for.... safe travel expedient arrival of the suitcases with all supplies intact, that God will be honored by our actions and work, and for good health so we can work diligently. Thank you for the many ways you have helped us prepare for this journey and for your continued prayer support.