Fun

What a great day to be back in Haiti! It seems the week is going by so fast, I just want to slow it down and savor every minute. I love being back in this place; the people, the smells, the mountains, everything is just so beautiful to me.

Today we went to the hospital for sick and dying children. I spent the morning holding lots of children. They seemed to be more content today and cried less when I put them back in their cribs. I don't know why this was maybe less of them are sick or maybe they have had more volunteers lately and the kids are less lonely. Whatever it is it made me happy they are more content. It was so fun to see the dads visiting with the kids and loving them this morning. One dad was having such a hard time leaving his little girl because when he went to leave she just kept crying, so I offered to take her. He seemed relieved because she stopped crying. After he left one of the helpers said he was there every day and always has a tough time leaving. It was cute to see him so caring and loving towards his little girl.

Over Lunch we went to Gertrude's an orphanage for special needs Children. It was fun to go back and see the same kids we saw just a few months back. What a blessing Gertrude is to take in all these orphans with special needs and care for them.

This afternoon when we went back to the hospital for the sick and dying, I picked up a little girl who I couldn't quite put down. She wanted me all to herself, so I spent the afternoon cuddling with her. I couldn't quite get her to smile she just wanted to sit with me and be loved, UNTIL we found the swing. Seeing her little face light up when I pushed her in the swing brought me so much joy! It was so fun to watch all the children come alive after we had been there for a while and spent time loving them. The little boys and girls who just couldn't quite follow the rules and just kept getting in trouble was so much fun to see....reminding me they are just kids just like every other kid.

On the walk home it was so great to just be... in Haiti and experience life with the Haitian people; Soccer games being played in the street, people getting water, hanging out with friends and family cooking dinner. Walking on the familiar path back to the guest house it just felt like home a place where I am totally at peace with the world around me. I know when I am here I am called to love and that is all I have to do. Loving the Haitian people is so much a part of who I am now that I can't imagine life without this place.

-Katie

Home

April 6, 2011 Home

I am home back in Minnesota with all the comforts of home, but my heart aches. Something is missing, it seems I left my heart with the children of Haiti. I took my dog for a walk today and as I was walking I was thinking there are no children to scoop up and love. I can’t walk the few short blocks to Mother Theresa’s to comfort the children who are hurting. The children of Haiti brought so much joy to my heart with their sweet smiles and all the love they give to perfect strangers. I go to make a differnce in their lives but in the end they make an even bigger diffence in mine.

As I reflect back on my trip it is hard to put into words the expriences I had while I was in Haiti, hard to explain everything I felt. I had so much hope and excitement on this trip, so much more than I ever expected as I prepared to go back. The expirience of coming back to this familiar place that I already loved made every minute so much more fufilling. I was able to see everything in a whole new light! On my first trip I spent time trying to figure out what I should be doing, wondering if I was really making a difference, and wondering if I should be giving them something more than love when they needed so much. This trip I was confident I was there because God had sent me to LOVE his beautiful Hatian people! It felt so good to know my purpose in Haiti and look for ways to give more and love more. I was able to see that when I visit Citi Soli I am showing God’s love and water that they might not receive otherwise. It’s about putting God first, others second, and myself last. This trip wasn’t about me but yet even still I received so much. I was able to see children I had seen just nine months earlier. They had grown and changed in so much in just a few short months. I saw so much beauty I saw all around me; from the green mountains, the beautiful people, the eyes of the adorible children, the laughter of a sick child, the people out clearing debrea from the earthquake. It was all so exciting to me!

My first trip I drove through Port Au Prince and saw tragedy and destruction. Now I see hope, progress, and restoration. I see it in the people too and that gives me so much happiness, hope, and joy. I can only imagine what it will be like when I go back again to this amazing plae! I go there to Haiti give, but I return with so much more than I gave. God is so good, I am so thankful he gave me Haiti. I pray that he will continue to give me opportunities to love those around me and that he will help me to shine his light in all I do until I can go back again.

Katie

Leaving Haiti...

March 5^th Leaving Haiti….

As I sit here in this airport and reflect on the trip I find myself very content yet filled with so many feelings. There is a big part of me that doesn’t want to come home yet, but I’m excited to see friends and family as well. I often wonder why Haiti? Why did I come to Haiti? But when I’m here I know why. God is so present in everything. Haiti is a beautiful country but yet so much poverty. Where someone might see despair and garbage I see the kid flying a kite or the men fishing in the ocean. Haiti is a place that brings me joy and makes me smile. When I’m in Haiti it is much easier for me to completely let go and let God. Why is it when I get home I try to control things and try to do things my own way?

When I’m in Haiti it’s a constant reminder to me as to how extremely blessed I am. This is something I often take for granted or simply over look. It’s the little things in life like being able to brush your teeth with clean water from the faucet, taking a hot shower, walking down the street and not being covered in dust, simply walking down a paved street with sidewalks, or having enough food to eat. In America these are things we expect, but here it would be a luxury. I’ve learned that God doesn’t want me to feel guilty about where I live but He wants me to remember all that He has blessed me with and challenges me to extend the love and grace that I am so richly blessed with to those less fortunate. Whether this is in Haiti or Minnesota or where ever, I know that God is calling me serve and be thankful for all that He has given me. Nothing that I have is because of me, but it is all from Him and should be used for Him. But why is that so hard to do in America? I think God is teaching me that it is important for me to extend grace to others as God has extended to me. This isn’t always easy, but if someone has done it for me shouldn’t I be willing to do it for others?

Leaving Haiti makes me sad, but I am joyful for all that God has used me for and what He has done in my heart. We serve an amazing God and I know He has great plans for the country of Haiti.

April 4^th2011

Today is Fanfan’s birthday!! We are so happy to be able to be in Haiti and celebrate with him. Fanfan is such a man of God and so inspiring in the way he lives his life for God. We have so much to learn from him.

It is a bittersweet day knowing that it is our last day. We will be heading out on the water truck again.

We are excited to love on the children but said to be leaving them. Haiti is a heartbreaking place but yet brings us so much joy and happiness. Everytime we come here we fall more in love with the people of Haiti and the beautiful country God created. Despite all the devastation,  Haiti is a beautiful place and the people seem to have been restored. It is such a joy to see so many working

and taking care of their land and families. We have seen so much hope this week-more than we could have ever imagined. God is good! We know there is still pain and heart ache but the people are thriving in this beautiful place.

Please continue to pray for us today and that everyone would stay healthy. Please pray for safe travels tomorrow and that the adjustments home will go smoothly for all of us. Thanks for your continued prayers this week they are greatly appreciated!

Lots of love

Katie and Jess

P.S. Give Caribou and Murphy a big hug and kiss from us! xo

April 1st

April 1, 2011

Today we went to see the elderly. We stopped at the Market to buy them goats and Chickens to give the elderly.They will use the goats for milk and the chickens for eggs. When we went to bring one of the women some chickens we found out she had just lost her daughter, I felt so bad for her in such sorrow.

We went to Yavonne’s to see the children at the orphange. It was so great to see them again and see how they’ve grown. One little girl in particular brought me so much joy to see her again, Kishna …the last time I saw her I could bairly get her to smile today she was all smiles. It made me so happy to see her smiling and happy.

Remember

March 31, 2011

Today we went to see Grace Village the orphanage that is being built in Titanyen. On the way to see the orphanage we stopped to see the mass gravesite it was incredibly humbling to see all the lives that were lost in the earthquake. The crosses represent all the lives lost, the number of crosses is only a small representation of all the lives lost. It was so sad to think of all the people who lost family members. I pray the people who lost family will find comfort in knowing they will see them again in heaven.

Grace Village has made so much progress! The orphanage is going to be so beautiful. The feeding center is going to feed so many people and the children will be able to run and play overlooking the beautiful view of the ocean.

We stopped by Jean Gary’s school to see the kids. They were so cute when we walked into the class room with suckers all the little kids started saying “hey you.”

We went to Gilliums to see the kids and measure them for uniforms. Jackoline was so cute sining all the time, we got some really cute video of her just singing her little heart out. When I picked he up she ws so cuddly, she loved hanging upside down and being tickled. She didn’t want any of the other kids to play with me she wanted me all to herself. She would hit them because they were touching me, little stinker. It was so great to see the kids again.

Tonight went to Fanfan’s bible study. It was great to worship with them. There was a little boy sitting next to me who was so cute he was so passionate about worship. He would tell me what I was suppose to be doing ;stand up , raise your hand and wave it…it was really cute how he wanted to make sure I knew what to do. It was so great to expirience their faith and worship, so encouraging.

March 31

It has been such a blessing and joy to be back in Haiti. It's amazing how a place with so much poverty and destruction can bring so much joy. I'm continually reminded of how blessed I am.

Today was a day that was filled with so many emotions . As Fanfan says, “God is so good!”

We started off our day heading out to Titanyen, where Grace Village is being built. On the way there we stopped at the mass grave site where the people who died in the earthquake are buried. It was a sad and so real reminder of the devastation that occurred on January 12^th. While there I noticed a butterfly flying around and it reminded me of how our Heavenly Father sent His one and Only Son to die for us and to save us. It gave me joy to think about the many people that are now with Him in Heavenly and I can only hope that most of those who died had Jesus in their hearts.

We continued onto Titanyen where we were blessed with the site of the amazing work that has been done on the orphanage and feeding center. I was shocked at all that has been done since I was last there in June. God is so good!

After Titanyen we stopped by Jean Garry’s school. It was so great to see so many kids in the school. He said they had about 400 students! God is so good! The classrooms that the students were in were so small and as a teacher I can imagine how hard it would be to keep all the students focused and not playing with each other. But here it is amazing to see how well behaved the students are. They really value their education and is so great to see.

Then we went to Gilluame’s Orphanage where we were able to do a little bible lesson with the kids and talk to them about how God provides for His people. Then we spent the afternoon coloring crosses and loving on the children. I think they give us more love than we could ever give them.

Tonight we went to Fanfan’s bible study. Witnessing their passion for God while praying and worshiping brought a smile to my face. Fanfan gave a great message about giving our problems to God and how He will take care of us; we just need to be still and call upon the Lord. Worshiping tonight with the Haitians made me think about how amazing it is that we all worship the same God even though we are in different countries. God is so good!

It was a perfect day in Haiti today. I am so blessed and fortunate to be able to back. God is so good.

*Sorry I couldn't upload photos..maybe later

Great to be back...

Today was a great day in Haiti.! I am so excited to be back… it seems like I have been waiting for so long to come back to this amazing place.
Today we wnt on the water truck and delivered water to the Haitian people in Cite Soliel. We rode on the outside of the truck. What a great expirience...At first it seemed dangerous, but after riding for a little while it seemed totally normal-Haitian style…don’t worry they drive safe for us! Riding outside is such a great way to experience Haiti; I can’t believe I missed this experience last time. You can feel the wind in your hair; see everything going on around you and the many different smalls of the city.We made three stops; Soliel 17, Belekou, El Nan Borojet. We took a walk down by the ocean with the kids at Soliel 17.We prayed for them and sang Glory to God with them in Creole. Fanfan has such a great way with the kids getting them all excited to sing.

It was so great to be back and love the children they are so sweet! So great to see their smiling little faces! What joy they bring!!

I feel so hopeful being back here and seeing all the progress that has been made in a year. The Haitian people seem hopeful too; people are out in the street selling and making things, working on the buildings and streets. I wonder if surviving another earthquake season gave them hope or the hope that comes with the election? Maybe thier faith in God and his protection has been restored with time and healing after the earthquake....Whatever the reason I am happy to see their hope has been restored.

-Katie