by Cheryl Michel

A "Hands On" Day!!

Today was a day filled with joy, happiness, silliness, faith, fun, love and comfort!  Some additional words our team members used to descibe the day were open arms, carefree, unquestioning, innocence, precious, hands on, held, useful, inspired, held and provision.  We were up before dawn being driven to a large church service that was very inspiring.  Many Haitians come for the 6 am service on a daily basis to fill up with God as they trust Him to sustain them through the day.  Most of the service was spoken and sung in Creole which is the language of the Haitian people and often called "messy French".  Even though we didn't understand most of the words, we certainly saw the heart-felt devotion in their singing and in their pacing and praying through the church during the service.  It was very inspiring!  We are going back on Friday morning and have been told that Friday's are a celebration praising God for His provision throughout the week.  After breakfast, our team split into two groups with 1/2 at the Home for Sick and Dying Children and the other half at Gertrudes, a place for physically and mentally disabled children. 

At the Home for Sick and Dying Children we went into 3 different rooms.  One room was for infants and the other rooms had children ranging from infants to young children.  The ones who are older were outside in the play area, but the infants and toddlers were inside in their cribs.  When they saw us come in, they would put their arms up and cry for us.  A big smile would usually cover their face when we picked them up and if any other child came near, they usually didn't like it very well and would fuss because they wanted us all to themselves.  When we first entered the building, we walked through a room with a lot of people and children.  They were parents with children who were sick and looking for help.  Through the donations given by many people at home, we brought 2 large suitcases of medicine to them.  The person in charge took our leader, Mike, aside and told him a good portion of that medicine had been dispensed that day!!!  Every donation counted and every person who gave made a difference for someone in Haiti.  Thank you so much!!

Other parents were there visiting their sick children.  The hardest part was when visiting hours were over and the parents had to bring the children back into the room where their child sleeps and eats.  The children didn't want their parents to leave.  I was sitting down with a baby on my lap and with 2 other children sitting at my sides when two dads brought their sobbing 3-4 year old daughters to me for comfort since they had to leave.  I tried to get my arms around them all the best I could, but pretty soon they all were crying so hard.  Mike said he saw one of the dads sobbing as he left, too.  My heart was breaking for them and I was trying so hard not to cry, too.  I knew it sure wouldn't help the situation but it was so hard!  After a while they calmed down.  We spoon fed the babies and then shortly after needed to leave.

The other group spent the morning at Gertrude's.  Disabled children are not valued by many Haitians.  In fact they can be left out on the street to die, Gertrude goes after them and brings them to her orphanage and cares for them.  Wheel chair races were a highlight of the morning, along with the swings and Steve making a hog pile with the giggling children!  There was so much joy on the children's faces as they were wheeled around in the wheelchairs which were a set of wheels with a white plastic lawn chair set on them.  So creative!

After an early afternoon break when all the children were napping, we switched locations so we were able to experience both venues.  It was a great and exhausting day.  We gave our all and now we are tired!  But it feels so good to know we brought joy, fun, love, help and comfort to many children today.  It was another day that we truly felt we were Jesus' hands and feet.  Praise God!!