Common Purpose

Have you ever been part of a team with a common purpose that was a challenge or even perhaps dangerous?  (If not I would highly recommend it) If you have you know the bonding and fellowship that can be shared very quickly.  Even with people you met only that day in some cases. Something about being focused on the same struggle has power.  Or perhaps it is that everyone puts the team and the goal before self.  Which happens so rarely in our "all about me" world.  

Our team was blessed twice today by being part of these experiences.  

This morning we attended the Port-au-Prince Fellowship Church.  They have services twice on Sunday and the attendees are mostly non-Haitian short and long term missionaries living in Haiti.  And the room was packed.  The service was nice, but what really struck me, and many others, was the worship songs.  We sang maybe five songs to begin the service and the power and commitment was awesome! There was something clearly different about these songs and this group of people.  I have attended maybe 1500 worship services in my life - so I have a decent frame of reference.  

Then it hit me.  Everyone in this service was sold out for the mission - that is helping Haiti heal and improve itself.  And when the purpose is clear and the commitment is high - teams have power.  I am a man of faith and so I call this the Holy Spirit.  I am sure others have other names for this power. But I am quite confident in my definition.  Especially this morning in that incredible church.  

The power of God showed up again later in the day.  Funny enough it was again in song.  But this time it was a shared experience with 15 Haitian boys that live around the Healing Haiti guest houses.  These boys often play soccer with teams from America in an abandoned lot next door that is small and full of garbage.  And a few chickens this year. 

Today we took these boys to the Bobby Duval's soccer complex and played a full game on a full field.  It was great fun to see our entire group chase around these quick boys and young men and "try" to play their game.  The score was 3-2 and the black team won.  All goals but one were scored by the locals.  The one was scored by Nick on a penalty kick from a very much disputed hand ball.  

On the way back to the neighborhood in our Tap-Tap (Haiti Bus/Taxi), the boys broke into song.  We were not harmonizing, but we did sing our hearts out.  And everyone one we passed looked at our Tap-Tap.  I think they were seeing the Holy Spirit at work.  But I know they were seeing our team and the Haiti boys with a common purpose - praise. 

God Bless From Haiti, 

Craig 

Bonswa!

Bonswa from Haiti!

This morning we had the opportunity to visit an orphanage in Titanyan called Shalom. When we arrived we handed out donations, like flip flops, washcloths, toothbrushes and canned tuna/chicken. We worshipped in both English and Creole with the children and performed a skit for them from the bible story of King Nebuchenzar and the three Jews who were put in the fire to find that God had sent down an angel to protect them. We also brought crafts to make bracelets with the kiddos, which they loved! The whole time we were with the orphans I had one beautiful little girl that would not leave my side. Looking around at all of the smiling children and laughing with her, I just couldn't keep the thought out of my head that these kids were really orphans and that they are going through life without parents. As I was walking out with the little girl in my arms, one of the workers said something in Creole and looked at her. Then he looked at me and said, "Today, you are her mother!" and she held onto me a little tighter and tears welled up in my eyes. It is the little moments like these that make my heart more and more tender for this incredible country. God has been brightly shining through this team and the Haitian people this week and as the trip is coming to an end, it is becoming very difficult to think about leaving this place.
God Bless!

1 Corinthians 13:7
Katie Hanousek


Hello everyone!

Today we had the amazing experience of going to the Shalom orphanage and making crafts with all the kids. It was so joyous because you could just tell that all those kids were so ecstatic that we were able to come hang out and worship and craft with them. There was this one boy who I was beading with and he was so shy and quiet that after I had tied a knot in the pipe cleaner for him to put beads on, he would tap my arm each time he wanted a bead and point to the color he wanted. He would then wait for me to pick the specific colored bead out of the bin for him and then I handed it to him and he would string it on the pipe cleaner. He did this about ten times until he realized it was okay to grab the bead himself. The difference between our country and theirs is so amazing to experience, especially in little ways like this. The fact that this shy little Haitian boy would touch my arm, even if I was looking at him, and then wait for me to pick out the bead he wanted was crazy to see because in America, children would just grab a fistful of beads and not think twice about asking anyone's permission or thinking about the other kids who needed beads. The need in Haiti is so vast and there's no way coming here for a week and helping a few children will nationally impact anything, but it's so important to know that I can change these kids lives and if I can do that by coming here and sacrificing some things just for a week of my blessed life, that's what I want to do. I want to help change Haiti by helping one shy little boy make a bracelet out of pipe cleaners and beads.

"Be the change you want to see in the world." -Ghandi

Au'revoiur!
Dani Beckman

Amour

Hi All! Yesterday was a very busy day and we were not able to blog, so this portion of the blog is devoted to yesterday's activities. The day started by waking up very early and attending an awesome Haitian church service at sunrise. The service was an amazing experience as the Haitian way of worshiping is so much more animated and joyous than what we're used to in our churches.  In the Haitian churches it is very common for people to walk up and down the aisles with their hands lifted high as they praise God. Many people pace around and may be praying outloud or quietly as another person speaks to the congregation. The music was joyful and although we didn't understand many of the words, it was humbling to know that although our cultures are so different, we are worshiping the same powerful God. After the service we took a tap tap to the memorial site dedicated to the victims of the 2010 earthquake.  An estimated 200,000 victims of the earthquake are buried at this site, although the casualties from the catastrophe far exceeded that amount.  This was an emotional visit as our guide lost someone close to him. For us it was a great reminder of just how precious life is as it can be taken away at any moment. Many times throughout this day we were reminded that while the majority of Haitians don't have much and live in extreme poverty, their lives are not overshadowed by material possessions, which allows them to focus and rely on God in a powerful way.



The highlight of my day was visiting 4 of the elders sponsored by Healing Haiti. Because the life expectancy of Haitians is 52 years, some people outlive their children and don't have anyone to take care of them as they age. As part of the sponsorship program, each elder receives a hot meal every day and periodic visits from a nurse. As an act of service we took buckets, soap and water and washed the elder's feet and put lotion on them. Many Haitians have dirt floors where they live and it is a luxury to be able to wash with clean water.  I would have been happy to stand by and watch others do the washing, but as we approached the third house I really felt called to be the hands and feet of Jesus and show my love to the next elder. The person whose feet I washed was a man named Lindor. It was such a growth opportunity for me as I would never even think of washing someone who bathes regularly, much less someone who does not bathe very often and is a stranger. In the end it was a very loving experience and he was so sweet and appreciative.  It was very moving and peaceful to sing hymns and watch others step outside of their comfort zone in such a humbling act of service.

The day ended with a tour of Grace Village, which is the village created by Healing Haiti. It houses orphans, a clinic, and has a school for both residents and children from the town. The organization is so inspiring in its mission to help the people of Haiti, not only by providing meals, healthcare, and schooling, but also in its efforts to help the people of Haiti improve their own country.  Healing Haiti is working toward breaking the cycle of poverty and provide skills, education, and training to help the children to become successful adults that in turn improve the country.  It is a good reminder to us to invest in ourselves and future generations and to determine what our legacy will be.
-Carson Roland


Hello again readers! Today we did two water truck stops. Both were eye opening however the second one stood out the most. It was very close to the water so it was harder for them to get clean drinkable water. One thing that stood out to me was this boy who waited and waited to get his water and once he had it he gathered the little kids and rinsed them off before himself. He showed incredible kindness and it was precious.
After the water stops we went to General Hospital. It had a sad atmosphere but when we handed out care packages and it brought some joy. We prayed over children who were sick and visited with parents. We felt a bit out of place but overall it was a good experience. For dinner we went to Pizza Amour and enjoyed great American food after a long day. Today was memorable.
-Mo Beckman


Haiti.
By far one of my favorite places in the world. Despite the severe poverty and lack of physical necessities, I still feel that it is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Today, as we did our serving in Cite Soleil, I had an eye opening experience, as so often happens to me in this place. One of our main ministries we partake in while we are here is the water truck. Delivering fresh water to the poorest slum in the Western Hemisphere is an amazing experience. Water is life in Haiti, so being able to literally deliver life to people is a tremendous blessing. As we poured out life to these beautiful people, I was designated to hold the hose, which is rather heavy. As I held the hose, I noticed some of the smallest children were standing underneath the truck, gathering the drippings from the hose fitting. I realized that one of the bigger kids was monopolizing all the water. As I sat and watched this happen, I felt pity for the smaller kids who were getting miniscule amounts of water. I grabbed the big boys bucket and gently moved him away and let some of the smaller children get a chance to get some water. Eventually they formed a line, and would get some water in their bucket, leave and wash themselves then come back and get in line. As I helped these kids in this small small way, I thought about the verse that says, "As you have helped the least of these, so you have helped me." As we left the water stop, one of the older boys came running up to me. He wasn't begging for anything, as these kids so often do, rather, he simply hugged me tight, and said "Thank you Nick." I was so moved by this simple statement, because I sometimes feel like I haven't done enough for these people, but I was reassured today by some very simple words from a very small, appreciative boy.
-Nick Beckman

Hands & Feet

Hi! Its Emily Cauwels, 

Emily Vakulskas, 

Savannah Kiffmeyer

On Wednesday we were lucky enough to volunteer at the Wound Clinic with our leader, Raena. We stayed behind from the Apparent Project and La Pharre in order to attend. We were dropped off at the Home for the Sick and Dying Babies, and climbed into the back of another tap tap and made our way deeper into town. We were suddenly stopped and told that we were going to get out and walk the rest of the way. Unfortunately we were planted right in the middle of the most chaotic market place we have ever seen.  We hurried between food stands, raw meat, trash, and a lot of people starring. We finally reached the Wound Clinic!! It included a small alley and a small building. There were about 40-50 people sitting on the benches along the walls of the clinic waiting for our arrival. We were rushed into the small building, which contained two medical beds and all the supplies that they used to treat the wounds. We put on our aprons and were given buckets with the supplies to replace the wound dressings, and were sent out to begin helping after one short demonstration.

At the Wound Clinic, we saw all sorts of wounds, big and small. Most of the wounds we saw were on their ankles and calves. This was an eye-opening experience because their medical resources were scarce. We knew that these were temporary fixes and that many of the patients continually seek out help from the Wound Clinic for the same wounds. Many of the wounds we saw were in need of additional medical care, such as pain medications, stiches and surgery which the Wound Clinic could not preform. It was heartbreaking to send them away only after cleaning the wounds and applying ointment and bandages because we knew that the wounds would continue to get worse without proper medical attention. For example, one lady came in with an extensive wound on her arm. She had been cut by a saw all the way down to the bone, which was visible. All they could do for her was clean and wrap the wound. They also made a sling for her out of gauze. They did not have pain medication or stitches to properly address the wound. It was definitely not easy to hear her scream as they cleaned all the way to her bone. This experience made us realize how blessed we are to have such high-quality medical care back home. We are so grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to directly help the people that were at the Wound Clinic. 

Busy Day

Hello from Tyler and Cassie!  Today was a great day full of a wide variety of emotions.  My first stop this morning was to a home for sick and dying babies.  This is the day I was most concerned about because I wasn't sure if I would be able to keep it together and not break down into a flood of tears.  God was right there equipping me to love those babies.  The first one I had was a 7 month old girl who weighed only 7 pounds and looked like a newborn.  Talk about jumping right into the deep end.  And for those who know me know I hate boogers so of course I had a baby whose nose was full of the stuff.  A few wipes later and it was all good.  It really was a blessing to hold and love on those who really need it the most.




Hey - It's Tyler.  I spent my morning at Gertrude's, which is a home for disabled children.  I thought this would be a better area for me as I've had more experience with children than babies.  It was fun playing with the children even though they couldn't play at 100% capacity.  All of the kids were really funny and wild and I thoroughly enjoyed playing with them.

Cassie here again - after lunch we went to Pappillon Enterprises which is a place that employs Haitian people to make Haitian goods and sell them all over.  They make metal work, clay crosses, beads for necklaces, and stone TURTLES (which Tyler bought).  They also have pillows, journals, bags and Christmas ornaments.  We got to go on a tour to see how everything was made and meet the people.  Pappillon Enterprises now employs 300 people and still can't keep up with demand.  God is really blessing this organization.

Wassup people, Tyler here- After we went to Pappillon Enterprises we went to an orphanage called La Pherre.  There we preformed a skit (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) for the children where, of course, I was the star as King Nebuchanezzer.  Unfortunately, we only had about 30 minutes, so after the play we just played with the kids for as long as we could.  This was so fun - I love playing with people's children.  So far this trip has been really fun. I love all of the people on this trip (yes, even my mom).  It has been cool and very enjoyable. I encourage anyone reading this to either go on the trip or continue to support Healing Haiti.

Thank you all for supporting my mom and me as well as all of the other team members.  This has been a great experience for everyone on the trip, both newbies and veterans to Haiti.  Please continue to pray for all of us and continue to pray for Haiti as this country really needs it.




Hola! Today started just like yesterday, very hot and humid!  We enjoyed another delicious Haitian breakfast with eggs, pancakes, oatmeal, bananas, mangos, and fresh squeezed juice. The pancakes were especially delicious since my beautiful wife, Carson, made them!

After we ate breakfast  and put on another layer of bug lotion, we headed out to the hospital for sick and dying babies. This was such an amazing experience! When we arrived there were already several individuals from other organizations there holding babies and helping the Nuns. We weren't sure what to do at first, but when the other helpers handed us kids, we jumped right in to help. The experience of holding the sick babies and playing with the kids was very joyful and it was easy to fall in love with each and every one of them.

After the first stop we headed to Papillon Enterprises (Apparent Project), which is a fantastic organization which employs Haitians in various trades and provides child-care while they work. The organization is so resourceful in that it takes every-day items, such as cereal boxes, and teaches the workers to create beads, along with other crafts for a profit.

Our final stop was at an orphanage, La Pherre. We had the opportunity to sing worship songs with the orphans and also performed a play about the story of Shadrach, Meschach andAbednego from the book of Daniel. The kids really enjoyed the play and afterwards we were able to play with them. Some of the little girls braided hair while the boys played soccer and skirmished. All in all it was a great time showing God's unconditional love and getting outside of our comfort zones.

We are so thankful to be a part of this trip and are especially thankful for all your support. Please continue to pray for us in that we are able to make a difference and love the Haitian community. We love and miss you all!

Derek & Carson

Complete and In Motion

Yay! The rest of the team arrived today ready and willing to hop right in. Today we ran around delivering water, picking up kids and trying to figure out how we could help in the chaos of water truck day. My eyes were opened in so many ways. I feel like I got up this morning, had a cup of coffee, then next thing I knew kids are running towards the truck ready to jump into my arms. What a day. Thankful to be able to spread the love I have for the Lord with people so open to accepting it. Onward with the rest of the week!! More adventures await. -Madi

Today was surreal. We honked as we pulled into Cite Soleil (the poorest slum in the Western hemisphere) with our 1000 gallon water truck. Women and children ran for us with every bucket they owned and did their best to stand civilly in a line that meant the difference between having clean water to drink, wash and cook with or not having water at all. Healing Haiti is one of the only programs to give out water for free and the average Haitian lives off one to two dollars a day.

Cite Soleil: no running water, trash everywhere, kids continuously yelling "hey you, hey you..." (the only English they knew) begging you to hold them. We made three different stops, each time having to refill our water truck. You were able to tell those who had gone longer without water because the lines were much more hostile, our translators had to shut down the water at certain points to once again tell them to "respect the line". We helped some carry buckets back to their house and spent the rest of the time filling containers and holding kids. Lots of kids. Naked kids.

I had a moment of panic as the first naked baby ran up to me begging me to hold her, I thought "umm, I can't hold you, you forgot your pants!" Then I took a moment, scooped her up, let another kid hop on my back and started walking around chatting with them as if they could understand me. Overall, today was like a tv commercial. The one where they show pictures of hungry kids on tv walking through trash.  But  I was also encouraged because even with nothing, they have joy.  And they seemed hopeful because someone was helping meet their basic need for water.  -Chelsea

Journey AND Destination

I often tell my children to enjoy the journey and not wish away the moment in desire to get to the destination.   For the last few days in Haiti, with new and old friends, we got to experience both an unexpected Journey with many twists and turns AND an unbelievable Destination.

 In route to Haiti, we had an aborted take-off at Dallas Fort Worth.  This led to a missed connection, which led to spending the night in Miami, which led to sleeping at the “free” hotel with no luggage and seven very tired travelers.  Needless to say this journey was trying even to the most patient travelers among us.  The final airport/rental car/hotel shuttle ride of the day (number 6 I believe), made this long journey worthwhile. 

The last 6 seats on our hotel shuttle that night were taken by a family of seven who had been traveling for the last 72 hours.  The five children were all under 12, but in surprisingly good spirts.  Disney Paris you ask with a long layover in London?  No.  This family had just escaped the violence of Baghdad, Iraq.  My journey got unexpectedly better with an appreciation for the freedom and security we enjoy every day.  That family made my day and will stay in my prayers. 

And if the journey wasn’t good enough, let me tell you about our day on arrival.  Our team of seventeen delivered free water to the poorest slum in the Western Hemisphere – Cite Soleil, Haiti.  About 3000 gallons (25,000 pounds) were given away, three and five gallons at a time.  We opened the valve on our 2 inch drain line and the mothers, daughters and children came running with their buckets, pails and pans.  And we filled them and filled them and filled them.

I have been in the Water Industry my entire career.  So I have a very good appreciation for water around the world, its cost and availability.  But nothing really prepared me for today.  When water does not get to you in a pipe underground it is hard.  It is hard to pour, hard to contain and mostly hard to carry.  Today we all got a better understanding for the importance and weight of water.   Every one of those 3000 gallons needed to be carried to somewhere else.   Let me put it another way.  It would be like buying milk at Costco and walking back to your car in the parking lot with two gallons.  Now do that 1500 more times. 

So hopefully I will not open a tap or faucet quite so often and never forget to appreciate that I can. -Craig 

Incomplete

WOW! What a day today has been!!

The majority of our team has been traveling since 3am today! 

12 individuals coming from New Mexico (flying to Texas then to Miami then to haiti) 

4 individuals coming from Minnesota (flying to Miami then to haiti). 

7 of our New Mexico teammates (one which is a leader - Sarah) had a plane technicality flying out of Texas so they had to switch planes which forced them to miss the connecting flight in Miami. They did arrive safely in Miami and are spending the night there with a 7am departure! So we will be joining with them early afternoon tomorrow. 

There is a total of 9 of us that made it safely to Haiti. We unpacked, and were able to interact and play soccer with the neighborhood boys. 

We are a little at mystery with where several of our donation suitcases and tubs are - so we would appreciate prayers that when the rest of our team arrives tomorrow, so will the rest of the luggage! 

We are so excited to dive right in tomorrow with water trucks!! 

Please keep the remaining team in your prayers for safe travels!!! We are so excited for them to join us! 

PS the high today was 101 degrees (:

Monday - Traveling

Hello from the Minnesota folks!! There are four of us that will be traveling from MN to Miami today! We will be meeting the rest of our team in Miami and then traveling to Haiti together! This will be our first time being together as a team (and meeting each other)!
We are so excited to be able to be the hands and feet of Christ and minister to those in Haiti this week!!
Please keep us (and the NM team) in your prayers today for safe travels and that our luggage (donations) arrive there with us too!!

Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100:3)