Amazing

           Today was our free day to do the things that we felt we wanted to do before we leave on Monday. First we went on the water truck for the second time on our trip. The water truck was another amazing experience that really reminded me about how lucky I am to live in the conditions I live in and reminded me that even though the Haitian people have almost nothing, they are always extremely happy. It really helped me open my eyes and change my perspective on life.



The second thing I did today was go to Gertrudes home for special needs kids. This was our second visit there on our trip. Again it was a very fun and joyous time playing with the kids and being a light in their lives as well as them being a light in ours. It a so great to see how they can be so happy despite their disabilities.

The third thing I did today was play soccer. Today was another outstanding evening playing soccer with the little Haitian boys. It is always a blessing to be able to play a game with the boys and have so much fun with a little kickball (soccer ball) and rocks (goal). Everyday as we keep playing more and more kids keep showing up and want to play. Tonight we had a very special gift for the kids after the game ended. We had some extra Feed My Starving Children food and we got to give the kids each two packs of food. It was an amazing moment being able to see the expression on their faces when they got to recieve the food. It was one moment that I will remember for the rest of my life. One last thing that happened before the night was one of my new best friends that I have met on my trip gave me three pictures he drew for me. They were some of the best drawings I have seen in a long time.  They were so detailed and they looked like a person who draws for a living. One of the drawings had my name and his name next to each other and two very neatly drawn birds with flowers and grass. I was so amazed that he drew this and that he made it for me. I thanked him greatly and will keep those pictures for a long time.

        I realized after today that I am making and building new relationships with these people here that will be hard to let go. One of the hardest things about this whole trip will be leaving all of the great people and friends that I have made here. They are loving, nice, happy, joyous, GOD-loving, and outstanding people that have really impacted my life greatly.

-Matt Carson

Captured

The people of Haiti have captured our hearts. 

From the very first moment when we pulled up at the first water stop and they leapt into our arms...they had us.

Today is Saturday, Day 5 of our mission work.  So far we have: delivered water in the Cite Soleil, visited the elders throughout Titanyen in their "homes", held and played with children at the Home of the Sick and Dying Children, visited the special needs children at Gertrude's home, visited a local school, shopped at a local market and  participated in a faith formation lesson at Grace Village and delivered shoes, hats and jerseys while we played with the children there.

Day 5 is "free choice" day, and unanimously we wanted to do the water truck again today for the first part of the day.  We just returned and my heart is heavy because at the last stop I met a little girl named Jennifer whose Grandmother came up to me when I was holding her and asked me to help her because she has no money to take care of her. (this was a common request when we were doing water deliveries, but my first one.)

Both Jennifer's parents died in the Earthquake.  She had beautiful yellow ribbons in her hair and I held her most of the stop.  If I put her down she was never far from me.  Even when I was carrying water buckets for other little girls she had her hand on the back of my shirt and tailed along.  If I gave my attention to any other children she would stand right next to me and hold my hand.

The only time she left my side was when I was doing my job managing the water line did she leave me, but she was right back within reach the moment I moved out from that area. 

Another highlight was a darling girl named Madeline who I sang with.  I began by singing "Jesus loves you." and she then sang it back to me in Creole.  (She is pictured here in the pink shirt in front.) 

The group divided for the afternoon between Home for the Sick and Dying Children and Gertrude's...and we were blessed by holding, singing and loving more children for our last "mission" work of the week. 

Please join us in praying for the mother of a little one who lost their life just as our team was getting ready to leave for the day.  It was heartwrenching for those on our team who witnessed it...pray for their hearts also.

Thank you God for capturing that little girl in your loving and sovereign arms.

Sarah

Grace Village

Grace Village - what a beautiful sanctuary for these sweet little ones.  The village sits amongst a mountain region, overlooking the ocean in the distance.  It has the appearance of a hill city in Tuscany; until the gate is opened and one is surrounded by the most beautiful, sweet children, blessed by all Grace Village has to offer.  They are a community amongst themselves.  The older children are often seen carrying a little one in their arms, easily sharing toys and treasures they find. 

Today we were assigned the task of leading the children of Grace Village in a faith study.  Our team chose to use Mark 9:35, the verse declaring that "whoever wants to be first must take the last place and be the servant of everyone else".  Our activities included making bracelets, playing with dominoes and washing the kids' feet...followed by outfitting each one with a new pair of shoes.  I was struck by how the children of Grace Village ministered right back to us.  One little girl, after having her own feet washed, bent down and took our team leader's shoes off and proceeded to wash her feet!  Amazing.

These little ones are so very blessed to have this beautiful sanctuary - and their Papa Jeff - to surround them with faith, hope and love; and our EP team has been blessed to be a small part of this wonderful ministry.

With love from Haiti, Kris

Grace Village

Today we all went out to the orphanage run by Healing Haiti called Grace Village. It is truly a brilliant sanctuary, a city on a hill amidst a town and nation defined by poverty. The kids we found there were far more brilliant than the magnificant buildings we found them in. To see these kids who are so happy with so much less than we have in the US has been one of the many highlights of my trip. After our arrivial, one little kid was so hot and tired he fell asleep in my lap while all the others played baseball and soccer around the complex. Watching him sleep there with a little smile on his face really showed me that even in polar opposite socities, the children and people are far more alike than different. Gods love is truly lived out at the Grace Village orphanage.

-Tim Ose

Highs and Lows

Wednesday

To quote my teammate, Trish... "Today was a day of HIGHS and LOWS".    Here in Haiti, the lows are more than I could have ever imagined and I'm confident they have changed our hearts forever.   But what's beautiful, is that the Highs are so HIGH, it makes every moment of sorrow worth it!  

We began our day serving at Gertrude's orphanage, a home for disabled children.     I knew going in this would be extremely hard.    I knew for a fact we would be uncomfortable, as we had been prepared that some of the disabilites were extreme.    What we experienced when we walked in was multiple kids strapped in wheel chairs, some tied to the walls for restraint.  A room that smelled of urine.   Broken down truck in the middle of the tiny playground, just to name a few.    This was our LOW.   

After just a few short minutes of acclimating, we wheeled the children out into the open air courtyard.   Some we unstrapped from their wheelchairs and took out to hold and play with.  Our friend, Junior, started playing his guitar much to the delight of the children.    The boys started racing hand-pedaled trikes with Mickey and Jr.,who were quite fast!    We gave our visually impaired friend, Maxim, a hand note that said "Glory to God" in braille hand-made by our Eden Prairie friends the Bushlands, whose daughter is also visually impaired.   We had so much fun and the boys were awesome with the kids.  Very poignant moments and our HIGH!

Next, we headed off to the Home for the Sick and Dying Children.   To say this was tough would be an understatement.   Although the care the children get is wonderful, it was overwhelming to see so many sick babies and toddlers.  Each room was lined with rows of cribs.    Babies malnourished and hooked up to IV's.   Toddlers crying from their cribs, arms outstretched with the hopes of being picked up and held.    Many burning up from fevers.  This was a LOW.

We jumped into action, picking up and holding as many babies as our arms could hold.    The boys brought out some balloons and began entertaining the older kids that were well enough to play.    We carried babies out into the courtyard for some much needed fresh air.   We managed to get beautiful smiles  on the faces of children who had looked so sad and hopeless.    This was a HIGH!

When you're in Haiti, it's extremely hard not to be overcome with feelings of helplessness.  The needs are extreme everywhere we go.  Therefore, we are constantly reminded that our mission is not to meet every physical need.  Our most important mission is to share the Hope they have in Christ and remind them of God's great love for them.

For more photos of our adventures, go to our Facebook page - 2012 EP Haiti mission trip.

Much Love from Haiti,
Karla

A day with everyone

Thursday, Day 4 - Today was a day that kept us moving. We started out today driving to Jean Garry's school where 472 kids learn in tight quarters. We played with the younger kids and sang some songs. After that we drove to grace village. It was a blast playing with the kids there for a little while. I cant wait for a whole day there tomorrow. Then it was off to visit with the elderly. They lived in average run down homes/shacks mixed in with the community. We visited 5 of the elderly that aged up to 79. Several were handicapped but all loved our visit. We sang songs, prayed, and gave they some supplies. It was great to see their lively spirits and love for god in their poor living conditions. We played with kids along the way and sung many songs. The mass grave was next. It was a small memorial at the base of the mountains where the unidentified victims of the earthquake were buried. Then it was off to another incredible game of street soccer. With two rocks as a goal, a kickball, and some new Eden Prairie jerseys we played a great game all leaving with smiles. It was a great day full of excitement and I cant wait for tomorrows day at Grace Village.

- Ben Ose

Friendship

Yesterday we got to deliver water to 3 different locations in city soleil to the people that live in shacks made out of anything they can find. As soon as we got off the water truck little kids that had seen us coming surrounded us. It was as if we had known them forever and we were their best friends. They completely trusted us, and even though they were living in about the worst conditions possible they were still so happy to be with us. We went to our 3 stops and at every stop kids were smiling and at the end of our last stop a huge group of kids started singing a song as we left. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. We got back, showered, and ate dinner, but since it was only about 7 o'clock Ben wanted to see if the kids in the neighborhood wanted to play soccer. The rest of us weren't too sure at first but it turned into what Tom called "a sacred time". Those little 10 year olds were laughing and beating us 4 to 0. We finally started to come back when we got this little haitian kid on our team named Jameson. We ended up coming back and tied them 5 -5. When we told them that we had to go, they made us promise that we would come back again the next day to play with them. We had known them for a little over an hour and we already had made some great friends. Then we met up with our group and each of us shared our word of the day. That's where we take our whole day and try to sum it up into one word, and mine was friendship. Everybody that we met was so nice and friendly, and you would want to go back and play with them some more. Yesterday was one of the best days of my life, and I'm never going to forget it.