Day 9 - A History Lesson

Friday, October 28, 2016

Today the team took the time to learn a bit more about Haitian culture and history.  We visited Mupanah - the Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien .No pics were allowed inside and I had to laugh at the sign that listed the symbols for No Guns just before the sign for No Cameras. The displays were interesting and our tour guide provided the historical background and details needed. I don't think any of us will ever look at Columbus the same way. Exhibits also documented the conditions endured during slavery that eventually led to a revolt and formation of the first independent black republic in the world, to be known as Haiti, in 1804,  More modern history is explained and there is a revolving display of Haitian art.

                                           

 

Then we took the long tap tap ride up the mountain to the Baptist Mission. It was overcast but we enjoyed some lunch at their open air restaurant with a view. There was a gift shop featuring artisan works. We toured the grounds, their museum and a small zoo. While used to seeing people carrying loads of merchandise on their heads, a museum photo of a woman carrying a huge pile baskets must be some sort of record.

                                                        

                                                       

 ~ Although, for me, on our trip, seeing a man with a huge basket filled with live chickens of every color on his head was pretty impressive. The Mission also runs a school and a clinic. On the way back down we stopped at the look-out but again our views were limited due to the clouds. 

                                

Before returning to the guest house we went to Laphare orphanage. We did a craft and applied temporary tattoos which the kids loved. We played with a parachute, did the hokey-pokey and passed the hot potato. The kids were so much fun but it was soon time to leave. It was a great way to end our service.

Our final night together was celebrated at a local restaurant with the team, Jean Fils-Amie (Director of Development for Healing Haiti) and Mike's friends and family. Great lobster and music! We presented gifts to Rev. Willis and Rev.Jeffrey in honor of Pastor Appreciation month. Time for some final packing and sleep. We leave early in the morning. How to say goodbye???

Day 8 - Simple Pleasures

Thursday, October 27, 2016

One of our team members was still a bit under the weather so another stayed back with her at the guest house while the rest of us delivered water to neighborhoods in Cite Soleil. Again we were greeted by children, some asking to be held and some wanting their photo taken, while many lined up to fill and carry their buckets. Again many smiled and laughed as they enjoyed catching water under the truck or taking a bath from a bucket or basin at the side of the dirt road. Such joy found in simple pleasures.  

The experience took on new meaning for me after our recent visit with Kiki at Grace Village. She told us that about 40% of the children in Cite Soleil are restavek, Simply put, restaveks are child slaves. They are used as unpaid domestic help or put out to work at very young ages. Their lives are harsh and they rarely attend school. I knew about restaveks but had no idea that their numbers were so staggering. So as I watched the kids around me - many as young as 5 or 6 struggling to carry these 5 gallon buckets - I wondered who among them were living this existence. 

One boy had an infected knee and asked if we could help. I used the first aid kit to put on some antibiotic ointment and a bandaid and the word quickly spread. Soon there was a line of kids with boo-boos needing bandaids. Then Ann found a little girl with a large sliver in her foot and with the help of Jim Kells it was safely removed. It was quite the spectacle as everyone gathered around to watch. In one way it seemed silly to worry so much about a sliver when their needs were so much greater but, in another way, infection is a real possibility in that environment so it may have been a real help ... and, in any event, the care and attention shown surely made a difference to her that day.  

                                                         

                                               

Nearby we stopped at a mission called the Haitian Initiative. They work with children in Cite Soleil using soccer as a catalyst to motivate youth to stay in school. Each child must show proof of attendance to participate. Through a sponsorship program, the children are provided food, English lessons, soccer equipment,and coaching.They also concentrate on developing leadership and social skills necessary for teamwork on the field and community engagement beyond the field.

After a long and dirty day, rather than wait in line for our cold showers, we opted to go to a nearby hotel that allows others to use the pool for a small fee. A cool dip. some hot pizza and a cold soda refreshed and renewed us. We returned to the guest house for fellowship with another team, enjoying guitars and singing and especially Grace's beautiful voice. 

Sue S

                                                

Day 7 - Grace for the Elders

Our first stop this morning was Grace Village, the School and Orphanage we visited on Saturday.  WE were given a tour of the facilities by the Director, Kiki.  It is very apparent that Kiki is a women of God and her love for the children is clearly communicated whenever she speaks. - "she glows".  

The school/orphanage is about 45 minutes from the guesthouse, north into the mountains, in the villages of Titanyen.   Titanyen translates to "less than nothing" which we found to be far from accurate.  The village is void of businesses at the moment, but progress is being made thanks to the expansion of Grace Village.  They have a community church {which we attended on Sunday) and a bakery that has just opened and will soon employ 50 families. Sue bought us sticky buns for our dessert tonight.  The school has over 400 students and 39 resident children.  The resident children live in family style homes with a momma and papa, a family unit.  We were impressed with the organization, leadership and care put into every aspect of the children's schooling and socialization.  We also toured the medical and dental Clinique that is house within the grounds and is available to the surrounding village. 

After lunch we headed out to visit with the Elders.  On the ride we passed the Haitian Mass Grave, a memorial that marks where hundreds of thousands were buried following the earthquake.  We visited with 4 Elders in their homes - Maricia, Aloude, Jude Jean Paul, and Dieufort.  We provided a hot meal and a cold drink.  We sang, rubbed lotion on them and polished nails.  They were all so very sweet and very appreciative.  Before we left each one we joined hands and prayed. 

Once we returned to the guesthouse we changed into our bathing suits and walked to the Elite Hotel and Visa Lodge.  There we enjoyed a relaxing swim in the pool before dinner.  One of the other teams was there also so we were able to get acquainted.


After a dinner of tacos we had devotions and team discussion led by Jon.  Later some of us joined the team leaders in a meeting with Jean Fils Aime who is the driving force behind Healing Haiti.

Donna

Day 6 - Serving in the Name of Christ

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

On Tuesday, we woke up to a beautiful day looking forward to learning more and serving in this diverse, challenging and beautiful country.  Our agenda included visiting the Home for Sick and Dying adults in Carrefour in the morning.  We traveled through a hard part of town only to find a beautiful refuge where sick adults were able to find peace and solace under the auspices of Saint Theresa's sisters.  Much of our time was spent providing one to one attention through massages and music.  Many of the men's thin bodies made the simple act of rubbing on lotion painful.  We had to adjust our pressure according to their reactions to make each experience pleasurable.  It was amazing to note the excellent care these patients were receiving in such a harsh environment.  Our inability to speak Creole didn't hinder the forming of bonds only God can make possible.  As our time with them drew to a close, I realized the quality of our time spent providing TLC was invaluable.  Words were not needed to know how appreciative they were.  If only they knew how thankful we are to be given the chance to serve them in the name of Christ.

In the afternoon, we visited the Artisian Store for shopping.  Our experience also provided an opportunity to Expand Healing Haiti's range of options for teams to purchase a variety of gifts made and sold in Haiti.  Our journey to the store was so complex, the GPS couldn't follow.  Only the expert personal guidance of Pastor Mike and his contacts saved us from a very detailed and long tour of the old city.

Our evening was filled with reflections of the day's activities.  We had a chance to decompress and share our thoughts with one another.  Devotions gave us insight into our faith and its impact on our lives.  Not only in Haiti but at home as well.  It reminds me of our need for Christ in our lives because the challenges of life, can never be handle on our own.  Through God's grace, we will not only survive but thrive in our mission to bring glory to him.

Jim