Grace Village & Elderly Visits - Day 3

        Our team had a packed schedule today in Titanyen. We began at Grace Village, an organization funded by Healing Haiti. The work that is being done there is simply remarkable. There is SO much going on! They provide housing for children in a family-style setting. They also have a transition program where teenagers living at Grace Village who are approaching adulthood can attain skills useful for life when it is their time to leave. They provide a school for Kindergarten to 11^th grade and nearly 300 children are enrolled. There is also a clinic where anyone can be seen for a very minimal charge. They have a church close by where nearly 1,000 Haitians come to worship throughout the week. Ever heard of aquaponics? Neither had I until today! I can’t even try to explain the process to you but basically they are organically raising tanks of tilapia to be used there and sold in the marketplace. The neat part about Grace Village is that it’s not just a bunch of Americans running the place. Its Haitians hired as cooks, nurses, teachers, engineers, and so much more! They are trying to give the people of Haiti an opportunity, not just a meal and a bed. They are giving them life skills that they can bring to their community.

Next, we visited five of the locals. Not just any locals. Elderly men and woman, and wow! it was such an awesome experience. First, we met Marie, a woman of 104 years. How amazing! She loved the visit and we brought her food, water, and we gave her massages! (We did this with all the elderly we visited) We sang with her and prayed with her. We also met Meme (74 year old blind man) and the smile on his face when we arrived is one that I will never forget. We visited Antchola (64 year old woman) and we even got to meet with her grand-daughter! Edmond (81 year old man) is blind, deaf, and is still praying for another wife! His brother was nearby and we had the opportunity to pray with him as well. Finally, we met Maricia (74 years old) and she was a woman full of hugs and smiles. She LOVED our visit and as we sang to her, she danced and that is something I will never forget.

Finally, we went to the mass grave site for those that had died during the earthquake in 2010. It is unsure how many had died during the disaster, but it is estimated 300,000-400,000 people. One natural disaster hasn’t stopped the people from continuing on. Today reminded me that God is at work in Grace Village, in Haiti, and EVERYWHERE. All that is going on at Grace Village inspired me. God is there and doing huge things! The joy all the men and women we visited today brought me to tears at one point. They worship God all the time and trust that God will provide the essentials to carry on. And He will. He always will. Today was my favorite day of the journey so far. God is so good!

Hanna