Oh How He Loves Us

How can God allow a whole nation to suffer in such poverty, filth & desperation? That isn't fair. These are the questions and statements I and the people I share my experience with have been mulling over since I returned from Haiti over a week ago. I know my God is a loving God. It is His character and it can not be changed. So how do I reconcile this truth with what I have seen in Haiti? This question did not rock my faith. In my whole being I have always believed that God is Compassionate, Loving and full of grace. Yet, I couldn't quite overcome the quiet, nagging whispers rattling in the corners of my mind. "It really isn't fair. They didn't choose this anymore than I chose to be born in a loving family in a wealthy country with countless opportunities." Than Saturday at church during worship I was enveloped be God's presence. While singing David Crowder Band's "How He Loves" an overwhelming understanding that God loves every single living being as His beloved penetrated me. That is enough. He is all we need. More than wealth. More than sunshine. More than clean water. More than than food. Poverty, sickness and even death can not take away the best gift everyone has been offered. The love of our Father through the sacrifice of His one and only beloved son to die on a cross for us. He lovingly offers this, the greatest gift, more precious than gold to anyone who would receive. To the Queen sitting on her thrown, to the business man in a power suit at a power luncheon, to the spoiled child in a mansion surrounded by toys and delights, to the orphan abandoned and starving, to the sick child slowly dying in a crib in a sea of dying, to those living in tent cities with only the clothes on their back, to the poorest of City Soleil wondering where they will find clean water and a crumb of food for their starving child. Yes, Everyone is loved. Everyone. Life is not fair but our GOD IS LOVE. That is enough.

And oh, how He loves us oh. Oh how He loves us, How He loves us all.

I can't believe that today we are headed home, although it was an amazing experience...it is time! I can't wait to see,hear, smell, taste & touch my" home" with my re-newed senses.


Yesterday several of us went to morning Mass at the Missionary Church. Though we didn't understand the launguage, it's the same Mass....Music...Word...Eucharist...but it was simply more, like everything in Haiti. It was fun to hear the spirited songs & see everyone dressed in their Sunday best (their whites even brighter than their smiles!) and feel the Love radiate from the Priest who walked among the people during his homily.


After church we spent a long day at Guilliam's Orphanage, which will also be moving to Grace Village. Again such loving children. We enjoyed a sticky, colorful day of tye-dyeingt-shirts, jewelry making, coloring, tattoos & ballgames. All this activity going on while Dr. Sem worked tirelessly.


Back at the house we prepared a birthday celebration for Jean(our Haiti house mission director)complete with all his favorite foods...french fries,chicken, goat, & lots of vegetables & rice along with Birthday cakes & champagne! Several of his neighborhood friends joined our celebration. After they left we went out to experience Jean's favorite activity.... Salsa Dancing.... with our team of 12 women!


My word of the day(s) was "FEEL" because when you come to Haiti you have to .....

Forget Every Expectation Let-go Live & Love the experience.



I can't wait to see you all!

written by:Michelle Schroeder
July4th,2011

Rerfreshing

Beach day! We finally got a chance to cool down in the salty ocean water of Haiti. It was refreshing to be away from all the dust of the city. We planned our swimming day with the children at Yvon's orphanage. When we went to pick them up, I walked into their common grounds and said, "bonjour" to the kids standing on the steps and all together the kids responded with "bonjour." You could see how respectful and family-like these kids were throughout the whole day. They listen to Yvon (the orphans' director) and respond to his command instantly. They greeted us with a song and a prayer and everywhere you looked you saw them helping each other and sharing with one another. After our few minutes of greeting, we packed them in a little, colorful bus and headed to the beach about 45 minutes away from their home.

On the ride to the beach you were able to see Haiti from a different light. When we drive through Puerta Prince and City Soliel, you are able to see so much dust, dirt, and lack of color. As we moved along the road to the ocean, we were able to see the vegetation and greener part of Haiti. There was so many trees, farms, and animals. A description such as this may make it seem like a less poverished area, it was not. You still saw tent huts, muddy streams, people taking baths in dirty water, and desperation among the people. It was just a different kind of Haiti, more of the native Haiti rather than the city life Haiti.

When we finally arrived at the beach, we were able to see the beautiful sight of Haiti. The mountains lining the crisp, blue water. One would almost forget they were in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. As soon as we set up camp at the beach, we all got ready to swim and headed towards the water. I swam with the orphans for a bit, but was a little under the weather today so I took it easy. It's funny when you swim with the kids because they all cling to you. They don't know how to swim so they hold on so tight with so much trust that you won't let them drowned.

After cooling off a bit, I headed back to the area where we put all our things and started making peanut butter sandwiches for the kids. I made over 50 sandwiches and by the time I was done, it started to rain and the kids swarmed to our place under the trees. The kids were so respectful while they ate-- they would help each other open chip bags and share what they didn't finish.

Once the rain cleared up, I moved to a rock near the water and sat with Carol, a 13 year old girl. She is a beautiful, young lady that speaks fairly good English. She offered me some of her chips and we started talking. I asked if she had brothers or sisters, and she told me she had a brother that lives with her mom. I asked if she ever gets to see her mom, and she smiled at me and said yes. From my understanding, Carol wasn't a true orphan, but was living at the orphanage simply because her mom couldn't take care of her all on her own. After observing Carol all day, you could see her love and affection for all the kids. She was almost like their mom. No one would guess that she was a 13 year old girl. She was so selfless and mature for her age. It was incredible. I was moved by Carol's love.

On our way back from swimming, it started to not just rain... it started to down pour. Rain pelted the top-top and brought with it a cooling. It's a sad thing here--it only seems to rain near the mountains and not in the city where the rain is needed. No wonder people in City Soleil can't really grow anything or have much vegetation. It makes sense why it is so dust and desert-like in that part of Haiti.

During my car ride back to the house, I road in the front of the top-top with Junior (our driver) and we talked about his family, his girlfriend (soon to be wife), and he tried to teach me some creole. I think one of my biggest frustrations being here is not being able to communicate with the people. Junior was an excellent teacher and helped me to practice saying things like "I am a girl." and "I am tired." He taught me what the word for cow is and the word for car. It was fun!

The rest of the evening, I was completely beat. My "under-the-weather" sickness caught up with me and I was out-of-it. I could see the love of our group members unfold as they all grew concern for me and checking in on me.

Shelley, our team leader, washed each team members’ feet during the word of the day. It was really fascinating to see her so eager to humbly wash each person’s feet. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to serve God’s children with Shelley. She has a big heart for others and is very accepting of everyone that stumbles, trips, or falls in her path.

so many kids not enough arms

It has been said the eyes are the windows to your heart and soul. That was the case at the home for the sick and dying babies. In a tiny room 20 cribs are crammed in with little room to walk. One or two workers feed, clean, and change the almost toddlers. Every child is reaching up to you as you walk in the room. These huge eyes and absolutely beautiful brown faces are just craving human touch. Each child holds on so tight. When I decide to put a child back in their crib, they cry and reach for you to come back. We help feed little ones in another room. As I am feeding a precious tiny boy, I see a little girl giving orders to other children to get out of her way. She is busy stacking chairs and pushing them into the corner. She is working so hard. Some children have bands on their arm or leg that says their name and date of birth. This band means they have parents.

Outside an American is playing a ukulele and singing with his teenage daughter. The faces are lit up clapping and playing with some instruments.One tiny boy catches my eye. He comes outside on a mission. He fands a tamberine and a stick. Of course, another child has it but he finds awayto get it into his hands. He is smailing ear to ear. He sits down and starts beating to the music. Then he adds an extra beat with his hand. This boy has rythnm! Right in the middle of the little drummer boy's concert, another boy wants to join in. The struggle begins.

There is such happiness on their face when they they have so little human contact and attention.

Written by Team Member Jill

WHY?

A quick comment from a conversation this morning with another team member:

Don't ask, why did they die
Ask, why did they live

GOOD MORNING HAITI

The mornings in Haiti are one of my favorite times. I love to hear Haiti coming to life and have time to reflect in the peace of the morning. The sound of the roosters and the people on the street are such a comfort knowing that it is a new day.

My reflection today has been on Healing Haiti. How the dream of two people has evolved here.

Not only helping the people of Haiti but all of us who are blessed to visit this place.

Thinking about all we have done so far this week and how Healing Haiti has touched so many places here just amazes me.

We have delivered water in a place where they have none. We drove up to Reiser Heights another area far from the dust and crowds of the city. A school which bears the name of a man who has done so much for me and continues to serve the poor in the area through the help of Healing Haiti. Through their support the school and community have been able to touch so many.

Then off to the other side of the island where Grace Village is coming to life. The people who will benefit from this place will be many. It is a beautiful peacefull place and I can't wait to see the faces of the children when they move into their new home.

I wish I could have started coming here a long time ago. It is so nice to see parent's bringing their younger children along with them. I can't imagine what the impact of this place will do to their hearts for the poor.

I want to do so much more here. It is very hard to think about leaving again. I am so thankful and blessed to have this short time here, to see God at work through a vision of two, who have spread their love for God and the poor of Haiti across the world.

God Bless Healing Haiti, the dream and vision of God working through Jeff & Alyn

Faith.

THE LITTLE BOY I PICKED UP AT THE WATER STOP

A BUILDING AT GRACE VILLAGE

I am left exhausted and beat this evening. Physically I am exhausted, but mentally I am stimulated. It was especially hot and extremely dusty today. The city is dry due to a lack of rain these past few days. We delivered water to two spots within the slum today and for some reason they were more exhausting and physical for me than most days. (maybe it is because I was skipping with the kids, jump roping, doing push-up contests with the water truck drivers, and helping hold the heavy water hose). Not only were we busy delivering water within the slums, we also went to Grace Village and delivered food from Feed My Starving Children to a tent city near by our mission house. It was a busy day filled with a lot of activities.

The day started with a great conversation with Fanfan, our creole translator, about religion. He talked about how so many people go to church or say they believe in God (or Jesus), yet they don't live their lives as a testimony of their faith. People subject themselves to worldly pleasures and evil things that bring them away from their faith. It was a great conversation to start the day out with. He reminded me that I must not only live out my faith and the scripture here in Haiti, but I must bring these actions back home and share them with others. These words came alive for me today at the slums. It is so easy to get frustrated, turned-off, and unengaged at some of the water stops because you really see the desperation, the poverty, and the needs of those that live within these cities. It can be frustrating seeing the unorganized mess, the chaos, and the dirt. It is so easy to reject holding a dirty hand, carrying a heavy bucket, or holding a naked child. Denying the invitation to participate in the Body of Christ is so simple. At one stop, a small boy without any clothes on kept coming up to me and reaching his hands up to me. He would speak in creole to me and look at me with those big brown eyes. I knew what he wanted, he wanted me to hold him. I remained hesitant for a while and even denied picking him up several times. Though I had turned him away over and over again, he would not quit. He came back to me arms stretched out, reaching for me. I looked at him and it finally clicked in my head. What do I have to lose. He may be naked and covered in dirt, but he is a small child that needs love and affection. I picked him up off the dusty street and a smile shown across his face. His little body pressed against my already dirty shirt and, now looking back upon this moment, I realized how my shirt was nothing but a material of this world. The small boy had invited me to participate in the Body of Christ and I denied the invitation over and over again. When I finally accepted the invitation, both me and him were filled with this simple joy as we smiled at each other. This experience remains a worldly metaphor of how so many people deny God's invitation to grow deeper in their faith. He continually reaches up to us (or down.. or within), hands stretched out trying to invite us into a life trusting in Him. He continually invites us into His kingdom on Earth, yet we resist, we deny and we live our lives always trying to do the bare minimum in our faith. It is so easy to reject and turn away from His love.

After our water truck stops, we went back to the mission home and then drove 45 minutes to Grace Village (the new orphanage that Healing Haiti is building). We stopped at one of the mass graves on our way up the mountain. It was so sad to reflect upon the many lives lost during the earth quake. To see all the crosses and the thorn crowns made out of sticks.. what makes it harder to witness such a place is that I have no empathy for the situation- I simply can not began to understand the pain, the anger and hardship this devastation has brought to these beautiful people. I can't even imagine how they can have so much faith and love for God after having been through so much. This is something you continually learn from these people... they have SO MUCH FAITH even though they have SO LITTLE EARTHLY THINGS. They have LOVE for God.

WOW! There was so much done with Grace Village (the orphanage) since the last time I had been there. It is seriously a heaven on Earth. The orphanage sits on top of a mountain overlooking a city and the ocean. Every little detail of the orphanage reminds me of my Aunt Alyn. EVERYTHING from the tiles on the floors and walls to the designs of the iron work on the outside of the building. Though Alyn passed away this past November, she has left a footprint on this Earth.. especially here in Haiti.

Before dinner we went to a Tent city, were we distributed manna packs and shoes that were donated from a friend and a store called TC Runnings in Edina, MN. Our team split up into four groups and we ventured between tents handing out packs of food from Feed My Starving Children. It starts to turn into complete chaos when distributing things to the tent cities. Everyone wants food and it is so easy to get lost in between the tents placed so closely together. I can not imagine the lives these people must have. I can not imagine spending a year and a half living in a tent. These people have made the best of their living conditions though.. (a lot can be learned from this). I saw everything within this tent city-- people studying for school, to a lady listening to music, to children sitting on top of bricks with their heads nearly touching the power cords above them, to people with nutritional deficiencies I have only seen in textbooks, but never in real life. My heart broke during these experience .. upon arriving at the stop I had instantly connected with two young men that looked to be about 19 or 20. They looked like athletes -- their bodies toned and fit. They had seen the bag of tennis shoes sitting on the floor of our top-top. I promised them I'd be sure they get a pair of shoes. After food distribution was complete, I knew immediately that Jean was handing out the shoes from the top-top because a mob of people surround the little truck. I raced back up the hill to the top-top and saw one of the young men on the way up. I smiled as I saw that he had been given a pair of shoes. I stopped for a picture and raced back up the hill to see if my other friend had gotten a pair too. He was standing in the mist of the crowd and I fought my way to the truck to get him a pair. My efforts failed. The mob grew more chaotic and our plans to distribute shoes fell apart before us. We moved to plan B, which ended up in more chaos. Before we knew it, we were back on the top-top with a bag full of shoes and kids running after our top-top as we sped down the streets of Haiti. The young man in his blue basketball jersey was amongst the group of people chasing down our top-top. My heart sunk as I knew I had failed him. I wasn't able to give him a pair of shoes like I had promised.We all continued to watch in amazement as the swarm of kids kept running after our top-top for blocks.. they were determined to get something... ANYTHING from that hockey bag laying on the floor of our top-top. Oh how I wish I could have given that young man a pair of shoes..

My heartaches again. No matter how much we do while we are here.. there will always be more to do.

Today we met the water truck for a couple of deliveries into Cite Soleil. Once again we were greeted by smiling , dirty faces. I Don't Understand Such Trust, which they have, in God taking care of their needs! We could all learn from their simple faith.
My word for the day is DUST because we drove through it most of the day. Everyone's shirts looked like they slid into home. We all had dusty boogers in our nose & eyes. Trucks honked their horns & flashed their lights to warn of their coming as you could hardly see through the DUST!
It occurred to me that it could be the acronym for Don't Understand Such Trust and made me wonder what things in my Life cloud my vision & blind me from seeing with such simple faith & trust as the people I've met in Haiti?!?

written by : Michelle Schroeder
July 1, 2011

PICTURES

If you would like to see pictures from our group, please click the following photo albums:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1826885393272.2091535.1274400099&l=e9670a50b7

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1826281298170.2091503.1274400099&l=3acf44e22c

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1822998536103.2091363.1274400099&l=731c1c4cd9

Numbness

Last time I came to Haiti I felt this numbness on my emotions, as though I couldn't feel anything. I felt almost as if I was going through the motions, even though I really wasn't. I felt sadness, joy, happiness, and frustrations.. so don't get me wrong. The numbness I felt was one that captivated my ability to cry and to really let my emotions loose. This numbness made me frustrated in Haiti and made me frustrated upon my return home from Haiti. I struggled to find the answer as to why I felt this way.

Well, it's day FOUR for me in Haiti and my feelings of numbness and frustration have returned. When I want to break down and cry for all the hardships I see here and all the experiences I am having, I just can't. I feel like a rock that can't be broken to reveal it's inner most self. It's almost like I haven't been able to fully connect the experiences and my senses to the reality of the world around me. It is like I am dreaming that I am in this sort of horrific, yet beautiful mess and not fully able to grasp the deeper meaning to all of this. I am left feeling weaker, more frustrated, and confused than ever before.

-Kristina

A long journey but so worth the trip.

Let me start by apologizing for my previous post it was not properly edited before posting the excitement of Haiti and need to share got the better of me.

Yesterday we had the chance to see a different Haiti where the homes are large and the trees are plentiful. However apron closer look many home are unfinished or sitting empty. I hoped or dreamed that possible that these unfinished dream home were a family struggling to build it themselves step by step and that someday it might be filled with love and laughter. However we still saw plenty of home huts of canvas, tin, tarps slid into any nook. My friend Shelley referred to this a “green poverty”. these people though living in someplace with trees and flowers still had very little (little by our standards I guess). As we climbed the air became cooler and the temp dropped and the roads in some areas were nonexistent looking over the side of the truck was look straight down. When we reached the top we were greeted by many families whose children attend a school funded by a local church in Minnesota. It was nice to see first hand that the donation we make to our church and their missionaries abroad really do reach there destination. Though it was summer we still had a large group waiting for arrival. We entered and it was so silent as our team gathered in the front of the room. Many inquiring stares as to who we were and why were there. However quickly as the festivities began decorating cookies the first time for many as they didn’t know what to do with the sprinkles, fishing game with many prizes ( the kind we get at the dollar store and soon are discarded by our own children) that were received with huge grins and a quick turn to show their friends what they had received. Many of the young girls had the nails painted for the first time. We passed our new shoes to all those we could fit. Then the festivities moved outside for soccer and jump ropes. Shelley through donations was able to buy several donkeys and goats for the local families a very valuable asset.

As we boarded the bus there were many hugs and thank you for making such a long journey to see them.

A long journey but so worth the trip.

Stephanie

After a very bumpy, adventurous roadtrip (Junior was our driver,who I nicknamed Mario), we arrived safely at Reiser Heights in the village of Les Pinneasse. It was fun to see the school, which in the summer becomes a community center, where our church has sent donations for many years. We enjoyed a crazyFun day of nail painting, games, cookie decorating,coloring & jumproping with the kids and many happy kids walked awy with new shoes. At the end of the day when families came to pick up their children, we were able to give some families their new goat or donkey which was purchased with donations from the Reiser Foundation of Epiphany Church. The smiles were priceless as the children walked their new animal home or in one case where the goat ran the little boy down the road in a chase!
My word for the day was CONTRAST.
Chaos,Overcrowded,Noise,Transition,Rough roads,AIR,Steep,Tranquility..... I never imagined using the words Haiti & Beautiful in the same sentence, but the scenery of rolling hills, lush green, terraced farms & flowering hibiscus along the road was nothing less than stunning!

written by: Michelle Schroeder
June 30,2011

Value

Yesterday we were at the Children's Home for the sick and terminal. How do you choose? How do you choose out of 40 cribs which child needs to be loved the most? It's funny, we all come with preconceived ideas of what an experience is going to be like. When I heard we would be visiting here I thought it would be the "throw away" children of Haiti. The babies no one cared for. My experience today proved my assumptions wrong.

In American culture we place value based on where you come from, what kind of job you have, what you look like, what kind of clothes you wear, how talented you are, etc. In Jesus world things are much different. I watched the mother of a 2 month old who was one of the newest babies. Silent tears were streaming down her face as she gazed at her baby boy.Her heart was breaking that she had to leave him here. This baby had unsurpassable value to her. Than there was the 10 year old girl who was visiting her 15 month old brother. He could not have weighed more than 10 lbs. His skin hung from his bones, his face skeletal, his hands wrapped, and IV in his head. His face looked like he was 80 years old. I wasn't sure how he was still alive. The sister lovingly changed him. She tenderly held him and fed him through a feeding tube. He looked so small & fragile in her strong little arms. You could see she loved him intensely. She valued him like a priceless treasure. There is something in these moments we need to grasp. Our culture places value on things. Jesus world turns everything upside down. These children are so valuable to Him. Jesus loved children. He held them and healed them. He told His disciples not to hinder them because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. AMEN!

By Laura Fixsen

Heartaches.

Today is only day THREE for me. I am left feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and completely emotional. I met another small boy, he was the smiliest kid at the whole place. When you look into those big brown eyes and shoot him a smile, the corners of his lips moved towards his ears and the little white, straight teeth inside his mouth began to show through. You wouldn't even think that this little guy was sick by disposition and lively personality. Looking at his little body you could tell he had been struggling with undernutrition. The bones on his arms shown through and his legs were stick thin. His little feet were swollen with fluid and his belly was plump. His name was Alexander. He looked no older than four, but his wrist band indicated that he was seven.

Laura and I were sitting down on a patio of cement with our arms full of sick babies. Alexander came over and sat by us. We smiled at him and naturally he smiled back. Laura moved her head towards his, and he moved his towards hers until they were touching. A little smile creeped up on his face, and you know that he was enjoying the new little game of head-touch. It was a sweet little moment shared by the two of them. Once their game was finished, I put my hand up like a high-five and his little hand met mine. Our fingers locked together and we held hands for several minutes. He shown me a big smile. You could tell he liked the attention and felt our love for him.

While sitting on the patio, my arms were still full with the small child but I wanted to reach out to Alexander. I did the only thing I could think of, rub his little back. I rubbed his back for several minutes. You could tell he liked it cause he slowly leaned in closer and closer. After a while he lay his little head down on the cement. My heart ached as I thought about how uncomfortable he must be. When he looked at me, I pat a spot on my leg and he smiled. He stood up and sat down on my leg. Now I was sharing my lap with two small boys. I could tell Alexander liked the love. I held his little hand and rubbed it. He smiled again.

When it was time to leave, we walked back towards the room with all the sick children. I kissed Alexander goodbye and told him God Bless you. I waved and walked into the room knowing this was going to be one of my hardest goodbyes. I walked into the room, put the other baby back down in his crib, and turned my head to see Alexander still standing there by the door. His face no longer shown a smile, as tears began to fill in his big eyes. I grew weak inside and my heart ached with sorrow. I walked towards him, knelt by his side and saw tear drops streaming from his eyes. He knew this was the end of our visiting time and possibly the last time we would see each other. I felt so helpless inside. I kissed him again, but knew I just had to walk away. I grew weaker.

I will never forget little Alexander. I pray that he grows into a strong boy and that God will provide for him both in physical and spiritual health.

I love you little Alexander.

My word of the day is "shutters".At the Healing Haiti guest house, I found a book called..."Glimpes Of God...Simple yet amazing ways God reaveals Himself to us" written by Julie Miller. She describes moving to France and how she had to get used to shutters & not screens on the windows. Sometimes bugs or a stray bee would fly in and also how they blocked the light out & she'd stumble around in the darkness. She goes on to say how it reminded her of the human heart and how if we crack it open to new people & experiences it makes us vulnerable & exposes us to the possiblilty of being hurt. Yet if we kept the shutters of our heart closed, we take the risk not hearing the voice of God & can just stumble through life without having our spirits fully awakened as God meant for them to be.
Spending the morning at a home for sick & dying babies can't help but awaken your senses. I looked up from one precious, fragile little baby I had been holding & saw light streaming through the shutters on the window.....I know God's light was filling my heart!

written by: Michelle Schroeder
June 29, 2011

another orphanage....no pic for today not allowed ....hope to have more to post tomorrow.

Hello from Haiti,

Today was a beautiful hot day here in Haiti. We started our day with a wonderful breakfast to prepare us for the day. Our first stop a place that parent take their sick and dieing babies. I was met at the door with an overwelming feeling of sorrow as the rooms were all filled with many many small cribs most with crying babies in them. We arrived in time to finish feeding breakfast to some of smallest and sickest babies. My first baby was approx 8 months old maybe 15 lbs and could hardly hold her head up however she ate rice ceral quite well just as we finished to my amazement her parents came and aske very shyly of they could hold their baby. My eyes filled with tears of joy to know that this little package of joy parents were there to vist and help care for their son. I gladly turned him over. I ventured back in and found the littlest bundle in the back corner. This baby had a head curly hair that so reminded me of my own children when they were newborns I instantly melted. This baby by far was the smallest child I have every had the oportunity to hold. He weight maybe 3-4lbs I wept the entire time this child was in my arms .... I prayed for him to fight, grow stronger. I fear and wonder if he survived this great fight what would become of him, what opportunities would be offered to him in this crazy world he had been born into. This place was not all sorrow however each child you touched, held, fed and looked deep into their eyes left an imprint on my heart forever, This all before lunch wow....

In the afternoon Shelley, Michelle and I decided to vollenteer at the wound clinic I didn't think I could handle emotionally another session with the babies so I thought wounds why not I have seen my fair share of smelly wounds. We boarded a van with a group of people from Spain and 2 sisters and headed off the to clinic. Not knowing where I was headed next I have just have surrendered to where the Lord wants me to go. Partial into our trip one of the sister said to the other oh my we forgot the baby and asked the driver turn around. The ladies and I all secretly hope to hold this child as we traveled to the wound center. Not fully understanding what was happen the nurse appeared back at the van with only a small box placing in gentlely on the seat in the van. As we departed the other sister asked us to say the rosery for God newest angel that we were taking to the hospital. My heart sank I went into silent panick mode to think it could have been one of the children I had held earlier that morning. I wept inside as I mumbled the rosery. The caous of the world outside slid away as we prayed for God newest angel. It took about 45 minutes to go maybe 15 miles (this would be a hour story all by itself). We arrive at the wound center. The Sister said as we began to "remember this could be Jesus in front of you". Wounds larger then anything I have ever seen......we cleansed scrubbed and wrapped wounds for people who had lined up outside to see us. Through all this the people with there horrific wounds smiled and where so gracious and gave me ultimatley more than anything I could have given them.

My day ends with a new respect for the poor as they have far more to give than I could have ever imagined. When you look deep into someones eyes you are truely capturing a piece to their spirit. I only hope that I can reciprocate and leave them with a little of mine.

Good night we are off to another ophenage/school tomorrow hope to have more pic as today children and

Stephanie

OUR FRIEND, MATT!

Pray for our friend Matt today as he makes his way up to Grace Village to help with the construction and the Haitians building the orphanages.

Matt is a wonderful man that was recently added to our Healing Haiti team. I have been able to see Matt's love open up to everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) he encounters. It has been fun to see him interact with the Haitians and to see his heart broken in Haiti.

RESCUE ME LORD

God, Watch over your precious children. Give them nourishment both in body and in spirit. We pray that you have your way with the sick infants and children that we held, fed, and changed today. We place them in your protection and care. We thank you for putting them in our paths. Help us not to forget how these poor, sick, and helpless children impacted our lives. We pray this in your name, Jesus. Amen.

When you hold a sick child in your arms, you feel so helpless. Their limp bodies pressing tightly against your skin, sweat dripping down their faces soon to mix with the sweat from your body and carefully mixing together in a pool on your shirt. They hold on tightly to you, nearly squeezing you as though you’re their own mother. They carefully place their head on your shoulder and just lay there so calmly. The heat between your two bodies and the Haitian heat causes more sweat to trickle down your face and you think to yourself, how can they continue to hold so tight, how are they not irritable because of the heat. They continue to lay calm for minutes, even hours. Every now and then you adjust their position on your body and watch as they gently reach to the beaded cross necklace around your neck. Their little fingers tracing the lines of the cross and moving the beads gently around in a circle. It’s a beautiful thing to observe. You cannot help but say a small prayer for the child asking God to provide for their benefit.

As you sit caring for the child throughout the day, you cant help but wonder where the child came from, if he or she will survive, and what kind of home they will go back to. As they chug down a large sippy cup of water, you wonder if that is the only clean water they will get for weeks, months, years, or even a lifetime. As you help feed them a large bowl of rice and beans or oatmeal, these same thoughts race through your head. You become so attached to the child you’ve cared for all day that you just want to take them with you, bring them home, and provide for them. I wish it were that easy.

Today I held a 2 year old boy named Nagale, probably weighing under 30 pounds, with very little hair on his head, dry skin, and a body as limp as a cooked noddle. His big brown eyes immediately drew me in today, and as I picked him up from his crib, he molded to my body as though he were made of puddy. Every breath Nagale took was full of razzels—he had water in his little lungs. My buddy was most likely sick with pneumonia (and a few other things.. ). The whole description above explains the emotions, feelings, and experiences I had while caring for Nagale. It’s an overwhelming experience that drains you emotionally. You feel helpless no matter how much love you give him.

We have all seen sick children and we all see how sick some kids can get, even in America. However, I think it breaks your heart even deeper when you see sick children in a third world country. When you see the conditions they live with on a daily basis, when you see the lack of medical supplies, equipment and professional help, as well as the lack of resources to get care in the Hospital, you feel completely fragmented...

Another experience that broke my heart, shook me up and filled me with Joy was meeting another missionary. My new “zanmi” (friend) was a young Haitian woman. Her mission group were mainly Haitian people that were currently living in the United States. I spoke with the lady for a while and learned a lot about her. She said she had family here in Haiti, but was working in the states. During our conversation she expressed her desire to come back to Haiti to help her people. She told me how much they need the help and how she just loves the children. “It’s hard to know where to even start here” as she expressed her feelings of helplessness for her people, “but I want to start something or be involved.” I was so moved by this Haitian woman. So many times people assume that the own people just flee the country or are not so eager to help those living in complete poverty, however this woman and the rest of our Healing Haiti Haitian staff, school teachers, and orphanage directors are living testimony to the hearts the Haitian people have for their own people. I see God moving through these people. They have touched my life and have remind me that there is so much good in this world, despite the dark, sadness and sin we see on a daily basis.

I thank God for being so alive today through my experiences and the people I have encountered.

SONG DEVOTION FOR TODAY: RESCUE

Zanmi means friend.

Being here for my second time is almost more amazing than the first time. While I remain caught in between the feelings of "just you wait for what's next" for my group and trying to remember that this is their first time experiencing these emotions, feelings and interactions, I find myself feeling even more connected to the people. I feel as though my heart has been broken even more than my last trip to Haiti. While I saw a lot of poverty, devastation, and filth that always shocks me, irritates me, and makes me moved beyond measure, it was my Haitian Zanmis (friends), the people that I met during my last trip here, that broke my heart. It's unbelievable how many actually remember your face and don't forget you. Almost six months later... after meeting several dozen Healing Haiti teams.. and my Zamnis still remember me. It almost feels as though we have been connected on a deeper level than being materialistic friends; we have been brought together by a spiritual connection, one that is beyond materialistic value and the vocabulary in our human language.

It felt so great today to see our water truck drivers and have them still remember my face. I expected them to remember me since we interacted on several occasions over the course of my mission trip in January. What really broke my heart was seeing my little friend at our third water truck stop and having her run up to me immediately as I got off the truck. It was as though she knew I would be there! The minute I saw her, I remembered her face and every moment of our last encounter. She was the young girl that was trying to learn English from me and was glued by my side throughout our whole visit to the block during January. Just a half hour or so of simple play and language barriers..

Before I knew it she was calling my name and we were hugging as though we were sisters or life long friends. It was an instant attachment and bond as though I had never left. We hung out at the water stop nearly the whole time. She asked me to help her carry water buckets to her house, so I grabbed a few team members and carried her buckets. We sang Justin Bieber's Baby song together. She played with my hair and held on to me tight. The most amazing part of our interaction was that she kept taking care of me. While she was full of dirt and filth, she was so concerned about keeping me clean. She would clean my shirt, fix my shirt so that it was perfectly folded, adjust the straps on my tank top, tuck loose hairs behind my ears, and make sure that I still looked "good." It's an unbelievable experience to have happen to you; one that nearly blows your mind. This young girl cared more about me than she did about herself... after years of living in a culture where "me, myself, and I" come first for just about everyone, an experience like this, especially with a young child, just puts you into complete disbelief.

I am left speechless and nearly in tears thinking about our beautiful interaction (and trust me it takes a lot for me to cry..). This is what I love about Haiti, though. People that haven't been here can't quite grasp the full effect this place has on you. In a place full of filth and lack of essential resources, there remains some of the most beautiful people with hearts like gold.

Water

Today was the most amazing humbling experience. The opportunity to share something we take for granted **WATER** As we approached our first stop there was alot of people running and gathering with buckets kiddy pools empty rubber made tubs just about anything that would hold water. As the truck stopped and we got down to prepare I noticed the littlest baby crawling on the side of the road as her Mother stood in line for the chance to fill her buckets. I scooped her for some love and safely returned her to her Mother not before she left me with a warmed heart and a wet shirt. I have been greeted everywhere I turn with heart felt hugs and smiles. My love affair with Haiti has begun.

Shared by team member Stephanie

Haiti Day 2-the water truck

I really do not have words to explain everything I have seen. It will take my brain awhile to process it all. Today we took the water truck to 3 very poorest areas. As the water truck pulls in people come running with every kind of bucket to be filled with water. Kids come up to you and reachup to be held. We went to a watse area. On the edge of the ocean there is so much garbage and people use this area for a bathroom. The smell is terrble! The kids follow us and we are all singing praises to god! You should the beautiful smile and very nice teeth. No sugar like our kids have! Jill Forsman

Haiti Day 2

Today we took the wter truck to 3 very poor areas. It is amazing to watch the people gather with evry kind of bucket to fill with water. The first stop kids just reach for you to hold them. Beautiful little faces and I want to take everyone of them home. If you know me you aren't surprised. They are so smilely and they have amazing teeth! No sure to mess up their teeth like our kids do! We went to a waste area on the edge of the ocean. Garbage is everywhere and people use thie place for the bathroom. The smell is worrible, but the droves of kids follow us. We are all singing praises to God! Jill

Today we delivered water in Cite Soliel, one of the poorest slum areas in Haiti. I don't believe there are words to explain what we heard, saw, smelled, tasted & touched....there should be another sense to explain it.....a truly a (WithOut Words) WOW experience that is indescribable! The conditions these people live in are unimaginable yet they show such gratitude! The chidlren's smiles and laughter as they dance and sing " God is so good, God is so good, God is so good He's so good to us!" would melt even the hardest of hearts! I will never be the same!
written by: Michelle Schroeder
June 28th, 2011

First Dose of Haiti for Most of Our Team

We are officially in Haiti. Our travels were smooth with no major delays, problems or set backs. Haiti hasn't changed much since I was here in January. The place still looks the same, except it looks as though the Haitian airport has had some major improvements. It feels like I was just unboarding the plane in January. It's crazy how time just flies and I automatically step off the plane back into the feelings and emotions that captivated me throughout my last experience in Haiti. I felt so comforted as I saw our friendly Healing Haiti Haitian staff greet us with their bright smiling faces! A stream of excitement rushed over me as I saw Fan-Fan and Junior-- two of my Haitian friends! It's a funny thing here-- these people don't ever forget you! Junior hugged and greeted me as thought we were best friends. He picked up my suitcase and took my heavy backpack. I told him he didnt have too, but he insisted on helping and chuckled, smiled, and took the bags from me. Junior has such a giving heart and is always stepping up to help and to serve-- I could tell that he appreciate me allowing him the chance to serve me and be a servant of Christ.

It felt so great to be back in Haiti. It almost felt like I was home again, as we drove down the streets of Haiti in the Healing Haiti top-top (taxi like bus). Having been to Haiti before, it was awesome to see the excitement, the emotions and the reactions of my fellow team members as they were able to witness, first hand, the tent cities, the piles of garbage on the roads, and the sights, sounds and smells of Haiti.

After settling into our rooms at the mission home, playing ball in the courtyard, and finishing an awesome Haitian dinner, several of us took a stroll along the streets surrounding the mission home. I think the team members were shocked, amazed, and a bit shooken up over the brief encounter with Haiti! I could relate to their emotions and the overwhelmed experiences. However, this was nothing like what they will see tomorrow when we deliver water into the poorest slum in Western Hemisphere. Boy do they have no idea what is ahead of them! I am excited to help bring this experience to life for my group and allow them the chance to be moved, be touched, and be renewed by their encounters with the Haitian people.

Tonight during our team meeting I said a prayer for our group that they open themselves up to let themselves go and to be true servants of Christ. I encouraged them to not only serve these people, but to allow the Haitians to serve them as well! We are all apart of the Body Christ, therefore, we all have equal contributions in this life.

Father God, I ask that you watch over us tomorrow as we embark on an activity that will provide essential resources to our Brothers and Sisters of Haiti. Please open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts to doing your will. Help us to be open to You and the experiences we encounter-- shape us, use us and mend us into the people You have called us to be!

For my pictures, check out the link! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1822998536103.2091363.1274400099&l=731c1c4cd9

-Kristina

Prepare our Hearts, Oh Lord.

Malgre nou manke yon rad
pou ale legliz
nou manke manje lakay nou,
e nou gen selman dis kob nan poch nou,
gras Jezi sifi.

Ak gras sa a, nou rich.


Although we lack a dress
to wear to church,
lack food at home,
and have only two cents in our pockets,
the grace of Jesus is enough.

With this grace, we are rich.

- words taken from the book God is No Stranger (2004)

God,

I ask that you guide us over the next nine days as we pack our bags for Haiti. Prepare our hearts for what breaks yours and help us to see the world as you see it. Open our eyes to your people, and open our hearts to hear your will. Give us the grace, the power, and the strength to see ourselves as you see us-- broken, wounded, weak and powerless. Make us a humble servant before you so that we may do your will and serve you better.

Amen.