Day One: Unified with Open Hearts and Open Minds

Our entire group arrived at the airport before 3:15 am. We all knew this was a good sign. Even though we all have different paths of faith, are different ages, from different cities and attend different churches, we began our sense of community early. The team bonded over a need for coffee and bagels, and the lack of sleep we all got the night before. We laughed about a broken zipper on a checked bag that required embarrassing amounts of scotch packing tape. Everyone set an expectation for the trip and upon our arrival, we were asked to throw them out the door. The flights were uneventful, other than a pretty abrupt landing in Haiti and we made it to our guest house early.

After sorting donations and cleaning up a few products that exploded in flight, we settled into our rooms and then went to meet the neighborhood boys. Everyone was so surprised how many of the boys and workers remembered those who were returning to Haiti. It was really touching to see firsthand how big of an impact others in our group have already made on this country. After introductions, we started a sweaty and dusty game of pick up soccer. It took a while to figure out who was on what team, but eventually we got the hang of it and even scored a few goals on the neighborhood boys.

After soccer, we enjoyed a community-style dinner of shepard’s pie and some of the best Coca-Cola many of us had every had. All of our food scraps were put onto a plate for the guard dogs and the whole group pitched in to clean up the kitchen. We had heard the food here was great, and those rumors were right! We watched the sunset, learned the house rules and then gathered for an evening devotional.

After setting all expectations aside, we shared unique facts about ourselves and picked a word of the day. The overall theme was everyone wanted to have an open mind and open heart to the people of Haiti, the people in our group and ways that God will work in our lives this week. We shared about vulnerability, comfort, love and leadership. Everyone is excited to be here and looking forward to a week guided by God’s love. From mostly strangers to a group ready to be guided by His plan, everyone is feeling unified and grateful for the unique reasons we are here.

With love, thank you for reading about our first day and being a part of our journey.  

            

Day 7 - Church, Mountain, Soccer

Greetings loved ones, today’s blog post is from the hilarious Emma Carlson and the man, the myth, the legend…Jonas Larson. This is a day like no other, prepare yourself. We started the day out usual with devos in the morning and breakfast. We went to Port-au-Prince Fellowship church. A lot of the songs are familiar songs that we sing at Rockpoint Church. It was really cool to see and hear the passion that the Haitian & missionaries people worship with. The sermon was about spiritual gifts and went into great depth on each one. Then, after the church service, we started our trek up the mountain. We drove through Port-au-Prince to Bautillier, the mountain that overlooks the slums, the ocean, and even the guesthouse. The view was breath taking. We had lunch at the top of the mountain at a restaurant that was safe for eating. While up on top of the mountain, the team used their finely tuned bartering skills to purchase unique items that fit each one of our personalities and made us feel complete. After that we started our trek back down the mountain. We stopped by a grocery store on the way back to the guesthouse, which was very surprisingly like the ones we have in America. Upon arrival of the guesthouse, we as a team, played soccer with the neighborhood kids. As you may have noticed about Raena, she is a baller. She scored 4 goals in that game, which resulted in a win for the White(Blan) people (3 of us) team (plus 2 Haitians). The dinner was extravagant, we give it 5 stars. All I can say about it is…Pb&j tastes heavenly after a long day. Now the team is off to bed at a crisp 7:30 to prepare for our flight tomorrow. Pray that Jonas does not have a middle seat because he is 6’5” and long legs don’t fit in the middle seat. On the other hand Emma is perfectly fine with a middle seat because she is 5’1. Stay tuned…until next time. This has been the only post that will ever come from Emmca and Jonas. Goodnight, you have been a wonderful reader. Nothing but love. 

-Emma C & Jonas L

Day 6 - Water Truck, Soccer, Wound Clinic

Today we went into Cite Soleil and had two water stops along the way. At these stops, the amount of little kids was greater than what we saw on Wednesday. Along with that, the amount of kids carrying buckets and involved in retrieving the water was much greater. Today was exciting because we brought soap and basins along so that we could wash the children and babies. They absolutely loved it! It got a little bit crazy when the children started asking for soap in their hands, but overall it was an amazing experience. At both stops, we played Ring Around The Rosie with many of the kids and it was so amazing. All of the kids knew the song so well and their happiness and smiles were out of this world. Through everything, God is truly with them. They don't need mass amounts of water, food or a big house to feel Gods everlasting love. Their happiness is overflowing with something as simple as touch and love. It truly is an unbelievable sight no matter how many times you see it. After the water truck stops, we took the neighborhood boys to play at the soccer field. Although I didn't play, I absolutely adored spending so much time with them. The neighborhood boys have such amazing energy to them that inspires me everyday. My favorite part of spending time at the soccer field was just talking and learning about each of the boys. They are all pretty close to my age, so it was really cool learning about people that are in my same time of life but in a different county. They have such big hearts. We did lots of gymnastics and singing! They absolutely love to do gymnastics and it is a great feeling knowing that I can use a talent of mine and share it with others. 

-Annie 

Day 5-Carrefour, Einstein Bowls, General Hospital

Today we took a long trip on the Toptop to the city of Carrefour and visited the home for sick and dying adults. This is my third trip to Haiti, but my first time going to this place so I did not know what to expect. The whole property was beautiful with flowers blooming and such bright colors on the building. I was very impressed with how organized and sterile the place was compared to most places I have seen on my trips catering to sick adults. While massaging the sick older women I came up with my word for today. NUDE. Last year when I was in AP Art History we learned the difference between nude and naked. Nude is unashamed, embracing your anatomy, before Adam and Eve took the fruit. Naked is ashamed, not wanting to be exposed, how Adam and Eve felt after taking the fruit. I was first taken back by the woman totally stripping down and embracing the lotion on my hands. But as I carried on I grew more comfortable with her bare body because I realized that she was nude, not naked. I knew she was comfortable enough that she could feel unexposed and comfortable with me seeing it. I love that places like this exist that a woman on her death bed can have love and comfort that everyone in this world deserves. No matter their wealth or status. 

- Emma H.

After we had left the home for sick and dying adults, we traveled to general hospital which is exactly as it sounds; the hospital for Port-au-Prince. At a Haitian hospital, it is a little different than our hospitals in the states; the patients are to bring everything of their own including bedding, clothing, medication and anything else they will need for themselves or their children while they are staying there. The night before, we made 75 bagged lunches filled with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a granola bar and two diapers in which we passed out to each patient as we traveled through the rooms. There were a few different rooms, one was for “pediatrics urgencies” which had very sick babies, the next one was a general pediatrics, another one was for elders, and the last room we stopped at was for post surgery adults. All of the patients/parents of the patients were so grateful that we were bringing them something and they all had huge smiles on their faces and said “mesi” (which is thank you in Creole) and the best thing is, they hadn’t even opened it yet to know what it was that we brought them. There were a few women sitting at a table with some paperwork (I’m not sure if they were the nurses or not), I didn’t see any while we were there. I find it interesting that they need to bring ALL of their own supplies and everything they will need in addition to hopefully receiving proper care. It is crazy to see how different one country is to another and how blessed we are to have what we do in the states, we take for granted everything that God has blessed us with and we don’t realize it until we see different circumstances. 

- Erica

Day 4-Grace Village, Elder Visits, Mass Graves

Beauty in Many Forms

Our day began with a group breakfast of french toast, oatmeal, mangos, bananas, scrambled eggs and fresh squeezed juice, not to mention more than a few pots of Haitian Rebo coffee.   Fully fortified, we packed into our tap-tap (bus) bringing along our water and lunch for the day.  We maneuvered through the uneven roads into town where there is a traffic signal that no one appears to notice.  We headed past Haitians going about their daily routine: selling soda, water, fried plantains, working on cars, and manufacturing metal gates. The boys and girls in their school uniforms chatted happily as they walked to school. 

Once outside of the town, we whizzed by banana trees, multi colored tap-taps full of people and many others selling their wares roadside.  We began to climb into the foothills.  The landscape changed from tropical to more desertlike, with cacti that villagers use to created fences around their modest homes.  Soon the ocean appeared to our left - Caribbean blue and amazing.  The views of the ocean were with us most of the day.  

We pulled up to the purple metal gate of Grace Village school and clinic which was built by Healing Haiti.  Beautiful things are happening in Grace Village.  The school is educating 400 children, from age 3 (pre-k) through graduation (grade 13).  It is home to 75 orphans, most of whom live in small home-like settings with a Mama and Papa.  We walked through the cafeteria that feeds the 400 school children every day as well as the 100 Haitians who are employed at Grace Village.  We visited the Grace Village clinic that treats about 50 sick and injured Haitians a day who live in the Titanyen area that surrounds Grace Village.  We peered down on the barrels of tilapia that are raised and harvested every three months to feed those who at Grace Village.  We learned of the plans to use garden space to teach agricultural skills. We looked down the hill to the bakery that is getting ready for production and a pizza restaurant that should open this summer.  More skills and jobs for the Haitian people. The beauty of work and all that it brings: self-respect, the ability to educate and feed children, hope for the future and learning of the gift of Jesus during the journey.

Heading down the hill from Grace Village with hot meals  and supplies for care, we wove through narrow, uneven and unmarked roads through a maze of small cement homes with metal roofs.  We were headed to visit several of the elders who are assisted by Healing Haiti.  As we sang to each of the older folks we washed their feet, massaged their backs and worked to brighten their day through service.   They brightened our day by showing through their lives and their faith the peace they find by living in the Lord.  Some of the village children came running to us hoping to be held and played with.   We practiced our Creole, learning their names and ages and asking other questions about their daily life that is so different from ours.   Their smiles filled us with happiness.

Back to the tap-tap to visit the mass grave where over 300,000 Haitians were buried after the earthquake on January 12, 2010.  Over the last year a large memorial and garden has been built at the site.  One of our translators told of his personal experience during the earthquake, including seeing the injured and dying and the months of terrifying aftershocks.

Sobered by that experience, we were surprised by a quick detour to take a dip into the ocean.  Smiles all around as our group was alone at the end of an earthen pier, immersed (literally) in beauty that exists on this island. There was little hesitation as we jumped, fully clothed into the sea for a little fun and a welcome chance to cool off.  Our day was another full day of giving and receiving love and being the hands and feet of Jesus.

-Ann

Painting Nails for this wonderful 103 year old

Washing and massaging with lotion

Grace Village children

Worshipping with our Elders

Spur of the moment beach moment (: 

Mass Graves - January 12, 2010

Day 3-Water, Water Everywhere

Wow what a day! Our third day was the water truck day, which consisted of traveling to three different spots in the heart of Cite Soleil to provide them with water. Healing Haiti is the only organization that provides Haiti with clean water to the Haitians which is free of charge, 6 days a week. The water truck stops at each place, sounds the horn and the men, women, children and even the elderly would come running. At each stop we filled bucket, after bucket, after bucket after bucket; the line would have continued if the water supply would have allowed. It was such a surreal experience to see these people become so aggressive over water and making sure their bucket was next in line when that is something I take for granted on a daily basis, it definitely puts a different perspective on my own life and how grateful I am for the life I have. There were SO many children; some of them were fully clothed, some partially and some not at all, and ranged from babies to teens and older. It made my heart so full to see these children LOVE the attention and interaction we were there to give them. They would tug at your shirt, stick their arms out and say “potem” which means “pick me up.” They enjoyed climbing on us, piggy back rides, playing hand games and just loved being held. I spoke with three older boys around the age of 15-20 and found out that they spoke Creole, English, Spanish and even French and all had been orphans at one point. One of them was wearing his school uniform and had just finished for the day and came to hang out with us. It was amazing to me see how many children were wearing school uniforms; in Haiti, children are able to attend school only if they can afford school uniforms and it was so enjoyable seeing how many of them are able to go. Today was definitely physically exhausting but being able to interact and help made it all worth it. Having the opportunity to be able to provide and serve today was such a wonderful and fulfilling experience-I love knowing at the end of the day that I came here for a purpose and that purpose was to serve and do God’s work.

-Erica

Day 2-Deep Dive

Rockpoint Team

Today a group of us went to a home for handicapped children. Aside from being eyeopening and heartwarming, this visit was very hard, mostly because we had to leave these wonderful kids. I’ve never felt more loved in my entire life yet I continue fighting back tears. I grew up continuously asking for more; more toys, more clothes, more electronics, more, more, more. I believe that you could buy these children anything, but the only thing they'd truly want is your love. A little boy who had a hard time walking kept on climbing on our laps to give us kisses. This group of strangers who don't look like him, act like him, talk like him, entered his home and all he gave us was his LOVE. 

Today was incredible; a much needed wake-me-up. As I try to comprehend what I should take away from it the first thing that comes to mind would be to love with no restraints, always. 

-Corri 

Today nine of us went to the Home For Sick and Dying babies. This home consists of the Malnourished, ill, and occasionally the physically handicapped. This specific home is run full time by a group of gracious dedicated Sister who spend their days taking care of these children. At any rate, as a group of us walked into the Home we were instantly put to use, weather some cut up vitamins, or others fed children, or even playing with the children who are capable of moving freely. Today was no easy task. It broke my heart. Seeing children who were one to two years of age the size of a nine month old infant destroys me. All I am able to give is the love that God is pouring into me… but the astonishing part is the amount of love you receive from those who have nothing. If anything, today, God has showed me the true meaning of boundless love. I have seen the glorious works of God today through these children as you can hear stories of the children who come in malnourished and leave healthy. God is doing something in Haiti, God is here.

-Grace