Covant trip D3

Day 3 was making sure we had everything together. After making sure all the meds were packed we went over to the warehouse to set up tents. Why? Well, because the plan was for us to sleep in tents once we got to Covant and we had to make sure all the parts were there and nothing was broken.

We had different style tents

Also some of us hadn't put a tent up before and we needed the practice.

Heidi and Deb working on their tent

We had fun working together.

Pastor Mark heading up the loading

After putting the tents up and taking them back down it was time to pack the trucks. We had to get all our supplies loaded up so we could leave early in the morning.

Every bit of space is filled

Some of the guys have a lot of experience packing for these trips so they did a great job of getting everything loaded.

Waiting for directions

The only thing left to do is to get our personal bags packed and loaded up.

Rainbow

We are ready for an adventure.

Covant trip D4

We got up early in the morning and piled into the vehicles, it was the beginning of a very long ride.

A glimpse into Haitian life

The first day we drove down to Jacmel which is on the southern boarder. We rode in the back of the trucks so we go to see a lot of the sites.

Just a part of a tent city near Port au Prince

It took most of the day to drive to Jacmel so once we got there we stopped at a resort.

The hotel we stayed at in Jacmel

It was a nice place with running water and flushing toilets, such a wonderful treat before we reached Covant.

I think the staff was overwhelmed with our large group

We had a very delicious meal and it was a great time to get to know each other.

Bobby and Sherry, our wonderful leaders

Getting loaded up in our vehicles

Covant trip D2

Our second day at LAC was filled with preparations for our trip into the mountains.

Our awesome assembly line

We had to organize the medication, label it, and get it boxed up ready for travel. There were also 'packs' we had to put together. For instance, if someone needed stitches or an IV all the supplies were in one bundle. We set things up kind of like an assembly line and our team did a great job of working together.

Shelly working on medicine labels

Everybody jumped in and got right to work and we finished ahead of schedule :) I love being with people that have such great work ethics.

Our team waiting to walk to the orphanage

That evening we got to walk over to the orphanage and visit with the kids. The kids were great and did a church service for us ... it was in Creole and we didn't understand anything that was said but it was fun.

Sherry introducing us to the kids.

Bobby and Sherry have set up a very nice home for the kids and where the kids didn't have anyone before now they have a large loving family.

On the walk home we got to see some of the "wild life" in Haiti.

The toads are about the size of baseballs, we could hear them jumping around the tents at night.

Walking through the grass we came across some spiders ... sweet dreams :)

Covant trip D1

The first day of our trip was busy and exciting. After orientation Sherry asked us if we wanted to go to a village close to LAC to give out men's shoes that a ministry in the states had donated.

The village ruins

The village is on the edge of a lake. The original village was destroyed in the earthquake, LAC came in and helped rebuild it. However the earthquake changed the land and the lake started to rise and eventually flooded the "new" village. The people moved further inland and the water levels have evened out.

Most of the houses in the village are made of sticks and mud

So here is a small fishing village that isn't very far from LAC, I can't remember the name of it and I forgot to write it down in my journal.

Handing out shoes

I love how Bobby and Sherry manage the donations that come in. Instead of taking in huge shipments of things to give away they give items to a specific group. For instance, on this trip they handed out men's shoes, then on the next trip they may give out girl's dresses, then maybe baby items next.

Handing out items like that gives them the opportunity to not only visit more often, but it builds relationships. Eventually doors may open to minister to the people on a spiritual level.

After handing out the shoes the people were gracious enough to let us walk around their village. I was thankful that we had this opportunity to get a glimpse into their everyday life.

Erica made a new friend

It's amazing how they survive on so little.

Some of the village children watching us at a "safe" distance

I think our first day in Haiti was amazing and can't wait to see what the rest of the trip holds for us.

Second trip to Haiti

While I was in the Bahamas I would watch Jentezen Franklin live stream on Sunday mornings for part of my church going. He is the senior pastor of Free Chapel and they are big supporters of Love A Child. www.jentezenfranklin.org After learning that the ministry I was with had pulled out of Haiti I wrote Free Chapel and asked about any trips to Haiti. They are the ones that put me in touch with LAC.

Can't believe I'm in Haiti again :)

I applied for the medical mission in Oct. 2012 and was approved. I couldn't believe I was going to Haiti again.

These are the tents we slept in at LAC

Bobby and Sherry Burnette have been missionaries to Haiti for 40 years, they moved there full time 20 years ago. So they have had lots of time to work on their property and figure out what works and what doesn't.

The inside of our tent

The property is nicely set up and is completely fenced in with round the clock security. There are many places in Haiti that aren't safe but it is very safe at LAC.

There is a school on LAC property

Children in the school yard

During free time we were safe to walk around the property and see what things LAC is doing for the people in Haiti.

Sherry during orientation

We were there to do a mobile medical clinic up in the mountains, so for a couple of days we had to prepare medical packs and pack them. Bobby likes to call it the "regions beyond". Since we were going so far out a lot of preparation was necessary. The staff at LAC is use to doing these clinics so they have it down to a science, it just takes a willing team to buckle down and do the necessary work.

Carol, the head nurse, explaining the meds

First ministry experience over seas

This past week I told you about my first trip to Haiti, I hope you enjoyed seeing how my adventure started. I had a great time rereading my journal and remembering the first impressions of Haiti.

After visiting Haiti I began to seriously think about going there as a full time missionary. I did a lot of praying and talking to my family about the possibility of making this a reality. I applied with a ministry and was approved. I was very excited to see how this new journey in my life would come to be.

The office building at ALC

There is a ministry in New Providence Bahamas called The Adventure Learning Centre (ALC). www.alcbahamas.org  The ministry that I applied with is associated with the ALC, they asked me if I would go there and train for a year. So I went to the Bahamas and that is where I spent most of last year.

The super slide at ALC

We did an awesome Summer camp for the Bahamian children, for those of you that know what VBS is I attribute Summer camp to a six week VBS program on steroids :).

It was a great learning experience for me and I met some wonderful people. Unfortunately the ministry I was working with had to pull out of Haiti so that door was closed.

Three destinations in one day

Christy made some new friends

Aug 25, 2011 Our last full day in Haiti was the busiest day. We started out going to a village church were we did a VBS type program.

Susan found a new friend too :)

Patiently waiting for us to start

Once again I was amazed at how many children showed up. We had to walk down this little path to the church / school and it didn't look like there were many "houses" around but as soon as we started setting up the chairs the kids began flowing in. How do they know?? It amazes me that word can travel so quickly when they don't have tv and radio.

Playing a game

So we played games with the kids, sang songs, and did an art project. It was lots of fun. Then we were off to our next destination.

The kids were sitting at a table waiting for us to arrive

Our next stop was at Kay Angel orphanage, the lady that started it is from Holland her name is Lia. Lia takes in children that nobody else can or will take. These are kids that are either very sick, handicapped, or are HIV+. I have got to say they are also the best behaved children I have ever seen and they are very well loved.

The kids are kept on a strick medical regiment and some that were born with HIV now test negative. If you would like to check them out there is a website www.wecanbuildanorphange.org

I don't know what she's saying but she has mine and Rob's full attention

After leaving Kay Angel we went back to the house for some lunch the hit the road again. This time we went to an orphanage that was started by Audio Adrenaline, it's called Hands & Feet.

Rob's new buddy

I spent the entire time there in the baby room. There were five baby's at the time and I got some wonderful snuggle time in :)

This is heaven

This orphanage also has a website if you want to check them out www.handandfeetproject.org

To end a wonderful and tiring day our group decided to walk down to the beach.

Walking down the trail...can you see a trail?

Walking down to the beach wasn't exactly a casual stroll :) it was down the side of a huge hill / mountain. The trail was narrow and steep. I was glad we had people that knew where we were going.

We had started at the top

The walk was harder than I thought it was going to be but it was worth it.

Beautiful view of the ocean

What a way to end the week. I was looking at my journal and I want to quote from my last entry on this trip. "I don't know if God will open the door for me to go to Haiti again, but wherever He sends me I know that He is in control and I am not alone."