Good evening!

It is hard to believe that we woke to our last full day of serving in Haiti.  The past few days have been quite the experience.  

Friday afternoon was emotionally difficult as we visited the General Hospital.  If any of you have seen the movie The Impossible, the hospital conditions are about the same.  Considering we were able to walk in and the nurses were happy to let us hold babies that were laying in wood cribs and terminally sick gives you a sense of the need in this place.  Many of these babies have been abandoned and the parents who are there with children sleep under their cribs and have to bring in their own supplies.  We are so grateful that God led us in this path to the hospital to love on children who may never get that type of human touch again. 

Yesterday was spent at the beach with some of the local children that live near the Healing Haiti guest house.  What an experience.  Most of them have never been to the ocean let alone have the freedom to just swim and play.  They were given a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch and you could tell it was probably their best meal in a long time. 

We went to church at Grace Village now and spent the afternoon Shopping and driving to the top of the mountain for one of the most beautiful scenic views of Haiti. Tomorrow we will deliver the Feed My Starving children packets and then head to the airport.  We have included a picture of one of the boxes packed at Calvary this past year which we will personally hand out to the Tent City.  What a small world it really is!

Looking forward to seeing you all again and sharing our stories.  Prayers for safe travel is requested.

Posted by the Healing Haiti Calvary Team

Ready to use our blessed hands

Good morning!

We just returned from attending the sunrise service in our neighborhood.  As we walked through the neighborhood it was interesting to see a man coming out of his home (a tent) dressed in his best and holding a clean cup of water and a toothbrush.  Presenting themselves at their very best is so important. 

 

The pictures attached are from our time yesterday.  We started at the mass graves, home to hundreds of thousand who perished in the earthquake.  It was a perfect moment for us to take some time in prayer to give thanks for all that we have in our lives especially when we are surrounded with so many with so little.  The boys in the photo were at the graves and we gave them each a cross necklace and a soccer ball.  We wish you could have experienced the joy on their faces.  It was beautiful!

The second half of the day was spent at two orphanages where we spent time singing with the children and coordinating an activity.  Oh the care they put into their drawings, they wanted their work to be just perfect!

We've also included photos from the aquaponics area at the orphanage.  They are doing an incredible job of raising Tilapia and vegetables to feed the orphanage as well as the locals.  The next step will be to teach and allow the local Haitians to use the facilities so they can sell the goods at the market.

 

There is so much work to be done it is almost overwhelming.  Prayers of guidance are so important so that we put our gifts in the right place.  This morning at the church service, the message was about if you go and do good, if you use your gifts, God will surely bless your hands.

 

We are leaving now to visit the elderly and going to the General Hospital to help out the families.  They say the hospital can be really challenging on the emotions, so prayers of understanding and openness and grace would be greatly appreciated.

 

Posted by all the Healing Haiti Calvary Team

 

Water Truck Day

Here are some photos from our time in City Soleil yesterday.  We spent the day delivering 6.000 gallons of water to the poorest section of Haiti.  On one of the stops they gave us a tour of their neighborhood which included a trip by the ocean.  The difficult site here was that this is now the bathroom for most of the neighborhood unless they want to pay to use a facility.  But here is the beauty, even in the midst of all the garbage and destruction, they made a point of stopping looking over the water and singing to us...they sang God is Good, God is Good,  God is so Good to me.   

Yesterday's devotional was from the book of John and the two verses that stand reflecting on it now are: 

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not over come it".

The Haitian people clearly understand life and we are learning so much being in their presence.

Today we will spend the day at Grace Village, providing art activities and lessons to the children. More to come later.

 Posted by the Healing Haiti Calvary Team

Magnanimous Day

Hello Family and Friends,

It is Tuesday evening and we just finished our evening devotional time.  We picked words to describe our day and they included words such as responsive, connected, energy, magnanimous, etc.  In simple terms it was an incredible day. 

We obviously arrived safe and sound yesterday with a very smooth travel day.  This morning we woke to a wonderful breakfast and then headed out to the home for sick and dying children.  As you can imagine seeing this on the itinerary is nothing short of overwhelming and intimidating.  For those of us who had not experienced this before it is hard to believe that we have any thing to offer, that is until you walk in the doors and see the rows of cribs with the most beautiful children, arms up high, begging you to hold them.  It didn't take long before we were all stepping in changing diapers, feeding milk or dancing in the hospital room.  The presence of our Lord Jesus in that room was so clear in every eye of every child.


Our second journey was to Gertrude's Orphanage for the disabled.  We spent time playing with the children and then had an incredible opportunity to bring six of them to a local hotel swimming pool for swim therapy.  Most of the children have cerebral palsy and operate often with clench fists and crossed legs that is until they reach the water.  What a sense of freedom for them, in no time their muscles relax and they feel as light as air.  One of them actually fell asleep and began snoring as she was being held in the pool. We have attached pictures and hope they give you a glimpse of what it was like for them.

Tomorrow is Water Truck Day where we will be bringing fresh water to the people in City Soleil and then we head to the Haitian initiative where the youngest member of our team, Ellie, will be giving these Haitians a run for their money playing soccer.

We miss all of you and are incredibly grateful for your support and prayers.  We will be sure to post more tomorrow.

Blessings and Good night.

Posted by Susan Schneider - Healing Haiti Team Member

Schneider Family

We are the Schneider family - Mark, Susan Jack (16) and Ellie (14). Mark had the opportunity to travel with Healing Haiti last January and came home transformed by not only serving those who are in dire need but more importantly getting clarity on God's greater purpose in his life. Immediately upon coming home he began planning for the next trip and wanted to make sure that our family could experience it together. We feel so blessed by our family, our co-workers and the kids school for supporting us and doing everything possible to make this trip the best it can be. We are so excited to go and cannot wait to begin this journey and seeing where the Lord takes us from here.

Sandy Rogness

Today I’m attempting to pack for my second mission trip to Haiti.  How different than a year ago when I physically prepared so far ahead.  Now preparing seems more about prayer even though I know what the basics of our purpose will be.  The message God is good, gracious, and ever present will abound.  My husband, John, and sons, Jeff and Nick and their families have known wisely to let Mom have a somewhat clear calendar for the week before leaving, no caretaking of the grandkids.  I go as a retired teacher, with years of volunteer time at our church and some at our day school, subbing and tutoring, yet I wonder why this sense of inexperience as I try to pack.  Last year I joined with friend Cheryl, as an adventure to see her daughter, Jessica Burmester, serving a full year at Grace Village.  This year, without Cheryl,  I’m keeping Christ closer, as I feel my heart strings will tug harder with more babies and children to hold, smiles of joy and the blessings of Jesus being proclaimed as we share activities and food.  I go to give, and yet will receive so much more, attempting to take in how much of our Lord’s presence is at hand.  Can’t wait to see Jessica again!

Allison Puppe

       

Hi, my name is Allison Puppe. I am originally from Nebraska, but now live in New Hope with my dog, Eddie. I attended a mission trip meeting on a whim after church one day and was absolutely captivated by the pictures and stories from previous trips. After a short weekend of soul searching, I volunteered for my first mission trip. I could not be more thrilled for this opportunity. In a world full of discontent and always wanting more, I am hoping God will show me, through the Haitian people, to be satisfied with what He has given me and how to use the gifts I have to be His beacon to others. I believe it is through His will that I have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to be a member of this mission trip.