SERVANT HEARTS

The internet has not been available for a few days and this will be the last post of the trip.

The team is very grateful for the financial support of the Crossroads District of the Detroit Conference of the United Methodist Church, which provided the funds for the supplies and to hire the Haitian construction workers.  The team has supported the workers by moving rocks and lime, cutting hundreds of 8" pieces of wire, hauling re-bar, laying and nailing plywood, moving more rocks, cutting re-bar, helping wire re-bar together and moving more rocks.  The process of having the Haitian workers complete the main construction and having the team in a support role provides training and jobs in the community and collaboration between the workers and the team members.

It was not mentioned on Sunday that after the church service, Pastor Terry and Pastor Jean-Lesly visited the homes of shut ins to administer communion.  It was a special experience for Terry to visit the homes of the members.  Two of the members were over 100 years old.  He commented on the warm welcome and how immaculate all of the homes were.

 In Port Au Prince, Petit Goave and all the small towns through which we drove, the homes had walls and metal gates.  The one above is more ornate than most of them.  As a result, we were not able to see many homes, other those of the very poor, who did not have walls.  Transportation is primarily walking.  There are more small motorcycles than cars.  Tap-Taps are small pick up trucks with a roof, open sides and benches on both sides of the bed with space for 10-12 passengers.  It is called a Tap-Tap because you tap to let the driver know when you want to get out.  There are also buses, which are about 1/2 the size of a school bus, which also provide transportation.  The Tap-Tap is more reasonably priced and both are very colorfully decorated with artwork, designs and words.  It was difficult to get a photo, as we were always traveling when we saw them.

 The black sand beach above is a short walk from where we stayed and was littered with trash.   There seems to be trash everywhere - along the roads and streets, in the gutters and ditches, around the cities and the countryside.  However, it was observed that Haitians take great pride in keeping their personal space clean inside and outside, whether at their home or shop building.

  This "store" was on the walk to the beach.  Notice the cow in the background. The next day when we went by, they were washing clothes in a metal tub, which is typically how laundry is done.  Cooking is also usually done outside on a metal grate using charcoal, as it pollutes the air when used inside.

 Workers on the roof connecting re-bar together with wire, which had been cut from rolls into 8" pieces by team members, especially Jackie.

 Maury and Stephen connecting re-bar with the wire pieces.   Once the grid is finished, cement will be poured over it to complete the roof.  Maury was the "Energizer Bunny" - he never stopped working.

 Sunshine, who led the singing at church, stopped by the work site and visited Claudia, Jackie and Ruth.  Little Reshama is the daughter of the caretaker.  The family lives onsite at the school in a very small building very near where we were working and have no electricity.  She came every day after school to be with us.  She is very sweet and has a beautiful smile.

 Stephen and Jim sifting rocks from the lime.

 Jack cutting re-bar with a chisel and small sledgehammer.

 Crafts reflective of our faith were done with multiple classrooms on Tuesday and Thursday.  It is always wonderful to interact with the children.  At recess, the children swarm around the team. Language is no barrier to showing love to one another. 

The team is very grateful to their churches, which sent school supplies, children's outfits, soccer balls, crayons, chalk and much more.  The items were distributed to the five schools in the Circuit for which Pastor Jean-Lesly has responsibility.  Pastor Jean-Lesly and his wife, Mode, were gracious hosts, took good care of us and fed us very well. The team also appreciates the prayers of family, friends, church family and all those who have been praying for them.  Please continue to pray for the team as they work for a half day on Friday, then spend the night in Port Au Prince before leaving Saturday morning.

Mathew 22:37  "Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all you mind.....Love your neighbor as yourself."

CHURCH & OUR HOME

Sun. Nov 1 - The team was very blessed today to attend the service at the Haitian Methodist church, where we did crafts yesterday.  We were excited to see some of the children, as well as some of the construction workers in attendance.  Jackie and Terry came to Petit Goave in 1981 and 1982 and helped install the ceiling at this church.  The church had little damage from the 2010 earthquake.

 

There were over 300 in attendance.  The congregation was very warm and welcoming.

 The team sang "God Is So Good" in both Creole and English.

 Terry preached the sermon in English and Pastor Jean-Lesly translated into Creole.  The scripture text was John 5:1-9.  The story of the lame man who laid by the pool at Bethesda for 38 years.  That story teaches us that when it comes to being in a relationship with God, typically we offer up excuses on why things can't happen instead of responding positively to God's desire to heal us and make us whole.

 The communion rail is circular and over 30 of the church family can take communion at a time.  The service lasted three hours, but we all commented on how quickly the time went.  Beautiful music, a baptism and a great sermon.  "Amazing Grace" and "To God Be The Glory" were two of the hymns sung and we were able to sing along in English.  Being a part of the service was a wonderful blessing!!

 This part of the parsonage is the area added for mission teams to stay.  We are very grateful to have ladies do laundry for us.  This is helpful to the team and a source of income for the ladies. When we returned from church, we discovered where it is hung.

Stephen is interacting with a couple of neighborhood boys in the driveway.

Our interpreter, Ricardo, with a neighbor.

1/2 DAY OF WORK & CRAFTS @ CHURCH

Sat. Oct 31 - Although we only worked outside for 1/2 day today, it seemed hotter, more humid and we felt more drained.  Some of the work was more strenuous, as the distance the buckets of pea gravel had to be carried was too far for a Bucket Brigade.  A wheel barrow was also used along with the buckets.  

 Jack, Terry and Ricardo helping lifting plywood up to the Haitian workers to be used as the floor on the second level.  It will then be covered with cement and re-bar next week.  Ricardo not only serves as our interpreter, but also is an integral part of the team.  He works along side of us and is with us for meals.  He lives in another town and is away from his family for the eleven days we are here.

 All of these piles of lime, rocks and pea-gravel were moved to this location.

 Jim and Stephen on the roof, helping nail down the sheets of plywood. Terry and Jack also helped on the roof.

In the afternoon, the team went to the Haitian Methodist Church in Petit Guave.   Our host, Pastor Jean-Lesly, serves as the Circuit Superintendent for 25 churches in the area.  This church is part of that Circuit. and his wife, Mode, organizes a children and youth group on Saturday afternoons. 

Jackie, Susie, Stephen, Bill and Terry help the kids to make fish mobiles from CD's as Jesus said "I will make you fishers' of men". At the other end of the table, they are making butterflies, which are representative of Jesus' resurrection.

 The kids and the team had a lot of fun together.  The boy in the photo below decorated himself and Stephen.  Ruth is helping another child make a butterfly.

BUCKET BRIGADE

Fri, Oct 30 - Much of our work has been moving sand and rocks to a new location in preparation for mixing cement next week. Using two shovels and four 5 gallon buckets, the team forms a line and passes the buckets from person to person.

 

Susie, Maury, Bill and Claudia loading buckets

Terry, Lisa, Susie, Ricardo, Claudia, Denise, Bill & Jim made up The Bucket Brigade.  Team members rotated, as they took a break from the heat and humidity.

 

The Haitian "workbench" made from tree limbs and rope and tied to a tree.  They made hooks to use for holding the rebar for the floor of the second story of the school. 

 Boys at recess playing soccer with a small rubber ball.  The school and church will receive good soccer balls donated by some of the churches of team members.

 At recess the younger children gathered around team members.  Language was no barrier to the team in interacting with the students.  These girls were fascinated with Jackie's hair.

GRACE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL & PETIT GOAVE

Thursday, Oct. 29 - We spent the morning in Port Au Prince at Grace Children's Hospital managed by International Child Care, whose headquarters are in Kalamazoo, Mi.  They provide many services to the community and the country.  Before the 2010 earthquake, the Children's Hospital had 65 beds and they now have 15, until they are able to build a larger hospital.  They provide many services throughout the country including clinics for TB, Eyes, Shots,  Lab, Pharmacy and Gynecology.  For the children to be healthy, they need to also take care of the mother and father. We were told the Grace would not have survived after the earthquake without the help given by United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR).

The team had devotions with the patients waiting to be served at the general clinic.

This special needs abandoned boy is VERY excited as he is getting dressed in the new outfit made for him by the Sewing Ministry at St Joseph First UMC.

Lisa with one of the children at Grace Children's Hospital.

On our drive from Port Au Prince to Petit Goave, we saw first hand the pervasive poverty in the country.  We saw hundreds and hundreds of street vendors on the side of streets and roads selling everything and anything trying to support their family - charcoal, produce, clothes, tires, food they had prepared, shoes, etc.  The drive from was harrowing, as there are no streets signs, stop signs or stop lights and there are no speed limits.  At intersections, the bravest go first and our driver was really brave. On the highway, there seems to be no regard for when it is appropriate to pass other cars.  Motor bikes create a lane of their own.  The rule of the road seems to be "honk & go".  With God's help, we arrived safely in Petit Goave at the home of the Circuit Superintendent.  An area to house mission teams has been added to their home.  We have comfortable beds, some air conditioning and refreshingly cold showers.  Our hosts are treating us royally and we are having great Haitian food.

 Street vendors along the road.

 

We appreciate your continued prayers for health, safety and that all those with whom we come in contact will feel the love of Jesus Christ.

INTERNET NOT AS EXPECTED

Our internet access in Petit Goave is not as expected, so we may not be able to update the blog as often as planned. Keep checking back, as we will update whenever possible.

ARRIVAL IN PORT AU PRINCE

Thank you for your prayers for uneventful travel, as all our flights went very smoothly.  The airport was chaos, but with the help of several Haitians, we left the airport with all our luggage.  In the photo above, Maury and Jim are riding with our luggage in one of the trucks transporting us to the Port Au Prince guesthouse for the night. 

Waiting for our rooms at the guesthouse.

The entire team in the dining room of the guesthouse.  We will be gathering later this evening to get organized for tomorrow - visiting Grace Children's Hospital in the morning, the Baptist Mission for lunch, then travel to Petit Goave.

Getting Ready

 United Methodist Volunteers in Mission - A Service of Sending Forth Haiti Mission Team.  Pastor Harris of St. Joseph First UMC sends Bill and Denise forth to witness and serve.

The team is busy preparing for their trip by stuffing their suitcases with items for Brakeman School and Grace Children's Hospital, while trying to make the 50 lb weight limit.  Team members and their churches are sending many things which are fun and useful.  Denise displays over 100 outfits made by the Sewing Ministry and soccer balls from the Missions Commission of St. Joseph First UMC.  

The Crossroads District Haiti Volunteers In Mission (VIM) Team will arrive in Port Au Prince on Wed. Oct 28 and return on Sat Nov 7.  We will visit Grace Children's Hospital, then travel to Petit Goave to work with local Haitians at Harry Brakeman School to build an additional classroom.  Please pray the love of Christ will be felt by all those we encounter.   Please also pray for safe, uneventful travel and good health.