Rainy day in Haiti

Sorting donations

Aug 24, 2011 Rain, Rain, Rain, Our morning trip was cancelled because of the rain. So we spent the morning at the house. During the rainy season rains can come in torrents with almost no warning, then just as quickly it's gone. We had to ride in the back of a pick-up truck so there was no way we could go out that morning.

Thankfully this morning the rain didn't last long and after it stopped raining the sun came out and dried things up pretty quickly. Sam got on the phone and started working on another ministry destination for us.

We got to go back to Pastor Abraham's girl's home (same one we visited our first day). It was really cool to get to see the girls again. We spent time singing with them and doing some crafts. I love doing this.

This cutie is Rebecca, she was born with a birth defect so she was abandoned. Such a sweet girl

two orphanages in one day

Aug 23, 2011 We went to two different orphanages on this day. Originally we were going to an orphanage that Mother Teresa started but people were only going in there for photo ops and weren't actually helping. The sisters that run the orphanage are very selective in who they let in now and very few groups are allowed in. With that being said we went to Pastor Abraham's boys home first.

I could have taken him home with me :)

These boys captured my heart. As I was there I thought, this is my calling.

I love that smile

We brought gift bags for all the boys, they got cars, balls, crayons, coloring books, and candy.

Rob helping him button up his new shirt

 A girl that had visited before sent clothes for the boys.
After we left Pastor Abraham's we went to another orphanage, it was in a big yellow house. I called that orphanage the wild house :)

I felt sorry for the workers because they were understaffed and over worked. The workers needed a break and the kids needed a hug and a little discipline :) with love of course.

We sat on the roof of the building so it gave the kids a place to run and still be contained. It also offered us a gentle breeze.

It was a day full of sweet memories that I will always treasure.

Working

Aug 22, 2013 Our week started out with helping to clean and organize one of the buildings on the church property. It was hard hot work but everyone pulled together and got the job done.

After that we went back to the house and washed up, ate lunch, and got ready to go to a church. Sam, (the full time missionary there) had been working with the kids doing a VBS (vacation Bible school) type program.

Sam explaining the art project, Belt of Truth

He had been teaching on the armour of God and we were there for the lesson on the Belt of Truth.

We had a lot of fun playing with the kids and doing their art projects.

A little boy climbed onto Rob's lap and fell asleep

The kids coming out to tell us good-bye

I was amazed at how many kids came out. The village was very small and I only saw a few huts, I kept wondering, "where did all these kids come from?" It was a great way to start our week.

The beach in Haiti

Ocean view in Jacmel Haiti

Aug. 21, 2011, My second day in Haiti was a Sunday so our group went to church. There is nothing like sitting in a church service where you can't understand anything that's being said. :) We didn't have interpreters with our group so we had to watch the congregation and follow their lead. But there was a unity worshiping together that only God can orchestrate.

Calvary Chapel Mission Team :) :)

After church our group got to go to the beach. It was our one day to relax and enjoy the beauty that Haiti had to offer. There was a tropical storm headed our way so there were lots of waves, evidently the water is usually very calm.

It was a great day of relaxing and getting to know each other before our week of ministry began.

People work every day just to survive

The beauty of the ocean contrasted with the poverty on the road's edge.

This is where vendors set up trying to sell us their wares

The locals came to see if the foreign visitors would buy anything from them. I ended up buying a couple of painted sea shells from two little boys. I paid way more than they were worth but I couldn't help myself, the kids were just so cute and I wanted to help them out.

Girls orphanage

August 20, 2011; My first day in Haiti. We had a small group so things were easier to plan and change if we wanted. There weren't any ministry opportunities set up for the first day but we got the opportunity to visit a girls orphanage, Pastor Abraham's.

They children here were very well behaved and taken care of. We had gift bags for them and the older ones made sure the younger ones had something before they enjoyed their own gifts.

Ashley's new friends

I'm thankful that my first experience with an orphanage was at a good one where the children are loved and in a safe environment. As we walked up to the building a little girl walked straight up to me and put her arms up, how could I resist?

Me with my new friend

This was the type of home settings I had hoped to see, and I am so happy that they do exist.

Christy has her arms full and loves it :)

This was my first experience in Haiti, aside from the terrifying plane ride, and I fell in love.

My journey begins

Port au Prince, view from airplane

After I got back from Haiti this time my mom asked me what I was going to write on my blog. I had been thinking about it quite a bit and I want to make sure the story of my journey to Haiti makes sense. So rather than jump around with the timeline I have decided to start from the beginning. The first time I went to Haiti it was with a small church group and since it was such a small group I can introduce each one.

Susan, her daughter had been in Haiti for several months. This was Susan's first mission trip.

Ashley, a college student and faithful friend that had already been to Haiti before and loves the people

Christy, a florist and wonderful friend. Her first mission trip.

Rob, our fearless leader.

When I first arrived in Haiti the first thing I remember is that it was hot and very muggy. It seemed like there were small fires everywhere so the smell of burning rubber and trash permeated the air. We landed at the main airport in Port au Prince and immediately had to go to a smaller airport down the road.

The 'small' airport

We were headed to Jacmel which is on the southern side of the mountains, the road wasn't finished yet so it was easier and quicker to just fly over the mountains.

This is the plane that took us over the mountains

This was the smallest plane I had ever been on and I was a little nervous.

The co-pilot explaining the plane to us.

View of Port au Prince

 As we were flying out of the city in our plane we could see some of the affects of the earthquake. Much of it was still in rubble and there were tent city's all over the place.

Me trying to not be sick.

I got the very last seat so it was my responsibility to open the emergency hatch and grab the first aid kit and flares if we crashed. Yes I was actually told this :) Talk about praying a lot.

The bay area in Port au Prince

 The contrast between the beauty and the destruction was very stark. The pictures don't even come close to showing the story.

View of a mountain road as we fly over.

At times it felt like we were on a ride in a theme park rather than on a plane.

Jacmel Haiti

 Then I got my first view of Jacmel, I had no way of knowing how my life would change and to what depth the people there would capture my heart.

Back home

I'm home!! I had a wonderful time in Haiti and am already looking forward to going back. When I left for Haiti this time things didn't go as smoothly as I would have liked, but God had things in control.

It's snowing at the Chattanooga airport

My flight in Chattanooga got canceled because of mechanical problems and while the airline was working on getting me on another flight it started to snow.

There wasn't another flight going to Haiti that day so we started checking other airlines. Unfortunately there was no way I could get to another airport in time to fly with another airline.

So I had to be redirected to New York, yes that's right New York! I wasn't going to make it to Haiti on Saturday, I was really disappointed, and they were sending me in the wrong direction.

My room at the Hilton

The airline put me up at a hotel in NY. When I arrived it was dark and snowing so I didn't really get to see anything and I wasn't dressed for the North so going outside to walk around was out of the question.

Airport in New York

The next morning there was about 2 inches of snow on the ground, so enough to be pretty but not enough to mess up travel plans. I was finally on my way to Haiti.

I'm Here!!!!

I arrived a day late but it all worked out. I met some wonderful people and had a great time. Even though things didn't go exactly like I had planned God was in control and I was at peace the whole time.