Reflections

I have been so blessed during my time here in Haiti. To actually see the brokeness of the people here, tugs at my heart. Many people in the refugee camps used to have nice houses and good jobs and they lost it all when the earthquake hit. They are now living with ten to fifteen people in a tent. It just amazes me how they are handling it, they are surviving. I am not sure I could do the same. Many of the patients are emotionless with blank expressions on their face. They are broken. We ask them if they have Jesus in their hearts and they often say no. We then explain to them the joy that Jesus brings and he will bring them joy everyday. He loves them and He offers hope. After seeing each patient they receive prayer before they get medicine. My heart is glad because many have said they want Jesus in their hearts and they say the sinner’s prayer. I feel like God is moving in the younger generation. He is raising these children up to change Haiti. One of the most memorable experience’s was when we went into the refugee camps to talk to the people about Jesus. We did a few dramas and Pastor Greg talked to them about David and Goliath. We had all of the children’s attention and asked them if they would like to accept Jesus into their hearts. Almost every child raised their hand. I was just so overwhelmed with their willingness to come to the Lord. We are making a difference here. God is moving in Haiti and it’s starting with the children. Their hearts are open and they are searching for change.

Regina Arnold

Reflections

Today was such an honor.  Every day I work in the clinic as the pharmacist passing out medication to the people of Haiti.  I absolutely love it!  I am the last person they see in the clinic and I love being able to pass out the medication they need so badly along with food and hygiene packs.  However, today I had such a wonderful  extra blessing.  I was asked to come to the English class for about 30 Haitians who are wanting to learn English.  I was able to do a lesson with them about being a teacher in America and a round-robin with them asking different questions in English.  Their joy was amazing to see and their passion to learn was so wonderful.  This was a part of the mission that touched me truly.  My desire would be to come back again and teach English some more.  I will definitely be praying about this and seeing if the Lord has this for me in the future.  This trip has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life.  Wow!  Can’t wait to get home to share it with my friends and family!

Kellinee Barber

Reflections

Thank you Lord for another day in Haiti! I am confident that this trip has not only strengthened my relationship with the Lord but has changed the relationship that others in our team have as well as the way the Haitians look at Americans.  It has been such a joy to be able to show Christ’s love to these people. The other day a man asked me if he had to pay for any of the treatment or medicine. When I told him no and that it is completely free, that we are here to help and bless the locals his face lit up and was filled with joy.

One of my favorite things about this trip is building relations with the people that live here. There is one girl who has stolen my heart. She is 20 years old, loves the Lord, and loves to help out. She wants to learn different languages so that she can minister to others. She will definitely be in my heart and prayers.  Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us, we can feel the love all the way over here.

Isha Craig

Relections

Wow! God is amazing!  I don’t even know where to begin.  The clinics so far have been working great.  A few times during each day we do skits (or dramas)  they are a lot of fun and after each one somebody explains what the message was for the skit. And after they explain it they do what is called “casting the net” and do an alter call.  It brings tears of joy after every skit because you can hear them repeating the sinner’s prayer.  That is the reason we are down hear is to win souls for Jesus Christ.  We have done six clinics, well five and a half, today we saw around 120 patients.  Last friday we treated about 109.

I feel like I am getting very close to GOD while I am down here. We do devotions and worship in the morning and in the evening every day. It is so awesome to start and end each day spending time with the Lord.  This evening we found out that some of the children are so hungry that they have to resort to eating dirt and pebbles. And that for some reason customs here in Haiti is holding up over 250,000 “mana packs” which are a fortified meal pack that will feed a family of six. The whole team sat in the front room and prayed and declared that the food would be released tomorrow.  The presence of GOD was rushing through this house it was awesome!  I am just praying that GOD will continue to bless the remaining four clinics we have this week!

Justin Arnold

Reflections

This experience in Haiti has been life changing for me.  John & Debbie have been the most gracious and hospitable hosts when invaded by 26+ foreigners for days.  I appreciate so much their dedication to the mission and their vision for this country and its people.  Thank you so very much for all that you are doing.  Haiti will be changed forever because of people like them.  When the first week began I was somewhat detached from the people of Haiti.  As time progressed, I was moved by their plight yet inspired by their resilience and their warmth.  They are truly a people that God will use for His glory.  Pastor Gee and the worshippers at his church moved my spirit and showed me how little one needs to truly know and serve God.

Working here brought me a very deep understanding of the conditions of life just to survive in Haiti.  The temperatures, humidity, power issues, lack of basic materials (screws), and water bottles, constantly reminds me of the complexity that basic projects take on in this country after the earthquake.  Each day new issues arise which bring challenges to our hosts and mission group members as well.  Power is in short supply and not installed at all in the church.  Generators are a primary requirement to operate just about any piece of equipment or tool.  I will always remember to pray for this country and its people.  I truly appreciated this experience.

Larry Claypool

no words…

Update-July 26th A land of contrast

Its Monday and we are back at work. Today we will be seeing close to 100 patients in the medical clinic. We are also continuing construction work at the Base Camp and Foursquare Headquarters.

Sunday was a day when we got taste of the reality of the situation here in Haiti. We travelled through the city and saw, first hand, the devastation.  Countless buildings are destroyed, almost randomly. Five houses will be down, while one stands undamaged in the center. There seems to be apparent pattern.

Rubble remains on the streets, although in most places it has been pushed aside. This allows traffic to continue to flow in the streets. And continue it does. As does life. Life keeps going on here. People are surviving and doing their best. Despite miserable circumstances.

Over 1 million people have been displaced. You can see them in countless refugee camps as you drive down the road,. White UN tents, cramped together forming communities of people who have lost their families, friends and homes. It is certainly a disaster.

But there is also light, especially in the eyes of the young. We have seen many smiles from people as we pass by them. Orphans, singing and laughing. People with so little and yet so much.

Last night we ate dinner at a very nice restaurant. What a contrast to the devastation we saw during the day. A man was there who sang a song to us that he wrote after the earthquake. “Thank you Jesus for saving my life.” He was a very happy man.

Haiti is a land of contrast. We have seen healthy young people excited to receive vitamins for their young children and we have seen desperately ill people whom will not live long. We have seen the beautiful faces of children laughing and playing while half naked living in squalid conditions.  We have seen both hope and despair.

Will