Haiti Methodist Children's House

Floating on the breath of God in Haiti

2011-11-23T05:30:00.000-08:00

Where God leads you in life is a wild adventure day after day.Exhilarating, painful, joyful, exciting, fun, tearful and emotional but blissful. I just experienced a childhood dream, never spoken out loud, just in my soul. Humbling and not quite processed.

I have always been an in charge child, and women. When I see a project, a problem or an opportunity, I go full steam ahead, not truly aware of God's "Blue print". Did I take a look at it? I only knew "It" needed to be done. I did not look at the present moment to appreciate what He had laid out before me in His light. I ran up ahead and climbed the mountain of the task at hand, many times in a fog of flurry and excitement. With these actions, comes frustration, false feelings of power, control, success. This happens because I so want to please Him and I am in such need of humanly defined success. My pastor helped me define success of this crazy trip to Haiti without my family. We decided success was just going. No predefined goals to be met ..really no clear agenda. Not the definition from the world that I know

What I have learned is that God does not ask His children to climb Mt. Everest in the storm, without clearing and preparing the way. He provides enough light to see the path laid out for the moment, not necessarily to see the whole mountain. He knows that we cannot handle the whole picture of the task, only what is lit at that time by His Light. He does not over work his children to the point of complete exhaustion and chaos, worry nor confusion. The world does this so we can feel their defined success.

I serve a God of order, peace and love. I have learned that saying yes to Him, this is success. I do not have to have every link of the plan orchestrated since He already does. I have learned that we are a very small part in His very large plan. If I say yes to just one link in His plan, then I have faith that He takes care of the rest.

Each day God brought new opportunities to love the people of Haiti:
From buying a "tent city" child's creation of a bracelet out of old electrical wires;
to cheering on a young man playing his heart out in a soccer game with a ripped ball and no shoes;
to giving money to a child asking for help to purchase books to be educated;
to giving to a child without food who falls asleep in class due to hunger;
to giving a shoe shiner a bible;
to placing a blanket over a worker who has fallen asleep on a swing;
to smiling at a women holding a newborn baby;
to providing a water filter system to a village;
to listening to dreams of the young and the old for their children;
to praying over aged women who lost their entire family in the earthquake and another women who lost all 9 children to disease;
to praying with a young women who was a slave since childhood;
to showing a camera to village children with their picture on it, something they have never seen; to holding an orphan toddler who was brought to church by a neighbor girl;
to smiling, hugging, looking into the eyes of so many broken but strong faithful children of God.

A country with unbearable pain, hardships, difficulties too enormous to put into words.. We go to offer hope in Christ.We go to spend time with them, to listen and to love. Our presence in relationships cannot be underestimated, Jesus spent all his time with His people,side by side listening and preaching. Transforming people with love, love never fails, love bears all things, the "greatest of these is love".

Floating through Haiti watching for opportunities to love.

Home oh so quiet, my ears hurt from the stillness. Processing all that has happened over the course of 2 weeks,it overwhelms my brain, my soul and heart.

God appointments

2011-11-18T14:20:00.000-08:00

Back to Archai today, with 3 tap taps and motor cycle for 3 people, 2 hours later in 100 degree heat. Tearful going thru City Soleill, the poorest of poor areas. I must be tired this is the 4th time thru. My eyes can only see so much, then I have to look away and question why Lord, why them and not me???

I brought a water filtration system all the way for Michigan to this little mountain village. Amazing when you think about how this is so orchestrated.The school children who gave the money, then to the final destination. All the hands that made it possible. I did not plan on delivering this kind of water to this community, but 2 large 5 gallon buckets travel well stuffed in an oversize laundry bag, on the motorcycle. Great sight to see.

I visited Marie Yolene and her daughter Chaphille today. They were dressed up and waiting for our arrival. There were children running and laughing all around. Inside her home was a newborn baby girl, wrapped in a cloth, on the concrete floor, on a blanket that our "House of Hope" women made and our church women prayed over 5 years ago. Tearful again.....the hard part for me was she had no name. No one knew her name, but she was left in the care of Marie Yolene.

Marie Yolene is full of shame from her past that she had no choice of, but also from choices to have a baby with a man she is not married to. She tells her story today.... that she was not asked to leave the church, she just left because her sin was too bad to be accepted by Christ any more.She said that people from the church came, but she turned them away. We sat on her floor for over an hour to talk about sin, Jesus's death and forgiveness. She shared her weaknesses with Satan and temptation, talked about the light of Christ in her....a time I will never forget. On the concrete floor, in the middle of know where, in another language, sharing the gospel to a young broken women of God. We never know where God will take us to share His love.

There are so many Haiti problems and difficulties, that the human in me cannot fix. But, I am able to offer hope to all the broken people God puts before me. I met with 3 young men, Felinord, Phanel and Higgens today. They are children that were asked to leave the Children's House. For 3 glorious hours sharing the gospel of hope, suffering and strength from suffering.They blessed my time beyound imagination. Sharing their stories and answering questions. We shared about our cultures regarding school and education systems. We affirmed God's promises to his children all children. Gifts of letters for people at home, pictures and smiles, hugs and laughter. They bring such goodness to me. Our donations can pay for their schooling.

Meeting after meeting of broken children, who have been thru very difficult times, but still have dreams and hopes for their futures. They are so strong and resilient, full of laughter and joy in spite of difficulties. Praising God in all times thru all circumstances, oh I have so much to learn.

My cup overflows with hope today.

Day of rest

2011-11-16T19:01:00.000-08:00

Do not be afraid to love others fully and completely, radically. I am learning how to accept the blessings and pain with loving deeply without inhibition. If you ask my husband, my co-worker or a dear friend, I never talk about the weather. I always seem to share from the heart, I just do not know how to be superficial with people and talk about the weather, fashion or food.

Accountability? What is that here? Children's House report is the focus in the morning, many e-mails going out to pull info together, I think our donations will go directly to individual children and not to the organization this year. I am not confident that the administration of the Children's House will be good stewards of a donation. God will clear this decision by Friday, I am sure of this.

I was accompanied to the "people's market" across the street today with a man who blessed me with his patience and kindness. He said" if I came to your country I would be lost too, you would show me around your home, this I do for you." He asks women on the street selling their food and goods (called squatters)if I can take pictures of their goods to teach others about Haiti.Every women requested that I do not take a picture of them, only their food. Here they are sitting under noon day sun of 100 degrees, sitting in garbage, tattered clothing and sweating to death.It is hard to look in their eyes and understand their day. It starts about 2:00a.m. with a long, very long ride in the back of big truck with 100's of other women, to the city. They unload their products and set up for day light selling to begin. They sell late into the night, then load up again for another ride back to their home.making only a few dollars. Their endurance, strength and beauty amaze me as I look at their hands and faces. Women just like you and me, but born into Haiti life. Why was I born to live in TC, air conditioned office, too much food, hot showers and comfortable clothing.

The street is the easiest place to sell, but then I go to the government land, down the alley, darkened by tents and metal roof covering. The ground in muddy, slimy and covered with layers of refuge. It is almost steamy under their. It smells and it is full of flies and hundreds of women sitting under a tattered tent or umbrella, selling bananas, veggies, chicken, hot dogs, rice, beans on and on. No refrigeration for the small baggies of mayo or raw meat. It was like walking in hell. I tried to focus on the beauty of their produce or how they arranged it, tough for me to do. They were so proud of their merchandise when I asked to take pictures, they would fix it up to prepare for the picture. Then asked to see it, and smile.

I visited a home for the aged women today. The home was simple, but cleaner than our ECF in USA. The ladies were all in bed, but awake.About 10 of them. They were beautiful . I was overwhelmed by this opportunity to serve the other end of the age spectrum. I immediately gave them kisses on their cheeks and held their hands. Some were awake and aware, others were too aged to know we were there. This just caused my eyes to stay wet the entire visit. One women requested to sing us a song, her voice was like an angel. I did not understand her words, but her spirit was clearly communicating her appreciation of us visiting. Another women was blind and had lost all 9 of her children to varies diseases. She was so angry with God, all I could do was hold her hands and pray for her. She was distraught, but at the same time gently touched my face with her withered hands and thanked me for coming . Love is painful but oh so rewarding.

Children singing songs of joy and dancing. Children jumping up and down with total excitement and amazement of cameras with their pictures. Playing hand games with kids and tickling them, thru the sludge of water and garbage. They have little clothing on, but their smiles, squeals of delight and kisses make everything else seem irrelevant. God knew only this would fill my soul with love today. My day of rest from the Lord, filled with blessings and love that changes one forever..

Light touch

2011-11-15T06:28:00.000-08:00

Approach problems with a light touch by viewing them with God. Putting space between me and the problem so God can work his Light on it and I can see more clearly. As I know, and my friends and family know, I am not a light touch kind of women. I see a job and I attack it with all that I am to make it right, especially when it comes to children and justice. God has a lot to say to me about all the challenges with the running of The Children's House.

Meetings with the "Administrators, Supervisors and district Administrators"for The Children's House of Haiti Methodist Church, has revealed to me that no one knows what has been happening behind the doors of this home. The stories and reports do not line up, and only God knows the truth. One thing all agree on is that things need major changes, but no one has the true "authority" to implement them. I have done hours of listening, questioning and watching. What is clear is that my personal storm has calmed as I rested thru the night, without fixing the problems with the care of these precious children. God brought me peace to not do "anything today" To let him guide my decisions.

Today, I have an 0opportunity to go to "Kings Hospital and Orphanage" with another man who is working on clean water. This was in my original plan 3 months ago without success in planning.

The Pastor and Physician in charge have a very good reputation regarding justice for the poor and children. The Pastor is a women and she has been attacked by the powers that be for her "different thinking" and her vocal opinions about our Children's House. I hear she is a true advocate for what is right and true for children. I will give some of our funding to this accountable organization and meet with them. I am eager to see the best way a system can work for the children in Haiti.

The older children who were sent away from the Children's House heard I was hear. Phanal, Higgins and Felanord met me after school. They need help with books, school supplies and future planning. All of them have difficult lives with where they are living, but I loved on them and told them how much people have been praying for them. Felanord pulled a picture of Dillon out of his bible and was tearful about "his best friend for life." Of course I cried again, his eyes and smile melt me. Higgins rarely spoke, Phanel spoke clear English and told me their stories. Reading their body language, watching their eyes spoke volumes compared to their words. Keeping my eyes clear enough to see was very hard between the watery eyes.

We will be giving them money for school supplies, t-shirts, soccer balls, and I hope a bible. I will meet them again on Friday when the children see the doctor that God provided.

When God's light is shining and I am in His presence there is such peace and clarity to this Haiti chaos and brokenness. My hope is that we can make a difference today and by doing that we can make a difference in their future.

First visit to Children's Home

2011-11-12T16:14:00.000-08:00

Peterson, a graduate from the Children's Home, drove me and the interpreter the the Children's Home today. I did not recognize the ally due to all the rubble and tents in the road. My heart was altered by this change, as I see families struggling harder than before for water, sanitation and sleep in the ally.

I was greeted by the caregiver, the only caregiver of the children. He cooks, cleans, teaches and get the children ready for school and church. The most wonderful news is that the children KNOW Jesus. They go to youth group on Saturdays and church every Sunday. This young man, who was also an orphan, was raised in a solid Christian home and knows the Lord. As the last team remembers this was our biggest struggle with the Haiti Methodist Church, they did not take the boys to church and there was a void in Christian education. The children recited Psalm 23 to me and answered questions about Jesus better than most kids even in the states. Their little souls were starving for the word of God. I had 14 little sets of eyes focused on me for about 1 hours as I used materials from our own Cappy to share about our Shepherd during the times of darkness and times of rest. They loved to watch the little sheep getting lost then being called back by God. They loved how dumb sheep are and loved getting a little sheep as their own.

Their coloring books created by a dear friend, Kate, were a huge hit. The children were eager to color in the lines, adding their own combinations of colors. "Mike" brought me his picture for affirmation about 5 x, with his seeking eyes and little tug on my shirt. He never spoke with his mouth but his eyes told me he heard Jesus loved him. Oh, his little soul spoke volumes to me.

The tough news for all my old team members and our church: EVERYTHING we had purchased and brought down to help the boys learn and play, is gone. The shelves are empty except for a TV. No books, no puzzles, no legos, no musical instruments, no cars or trucks. It is all gone, all the kitchen supplies, tables, chairs, numbered drinking cups....gone. I know they are materialistic items, but very disturbing in the least. God knows and He will provide what is needed.

I will work with getting the boys more food this week and whatever else God puts before me. I will meet them at Frere Church tomorrow and teach again. Please stay in prayer, thank you!!!

Restavec

2011-11-11T16:17:00.000-08:00

A french word for "house slave" Marie Yolene WAS the house slave for a family from the young age of 3 until we met her in 2006. She is now 27 years old, graduate from 12 grade, and has 1 year of nursing school under her belt.( Schooling only costs about $300 a year) We were able to send her to school and eventually our son Dillon, used "spark" money to build a home for her and her parents, who lived in the mountain..Her parents live in a cave because......... there "is no room in the in". ?This is the truest form of poverty. We were able to use spark money of

$100 and turn it into $8000, this turned into hope for a child slave with a dream

Today,I took 3 tap taps,( a form of public transportation which is a truck or bus with too many people in it) and a motorcycle built for 1 (but we had 3). The Hatians are so polite even while being a sardine. There are salesmen on the busses, yelling out advertisements to the people while they are riding from destination to destination. The merchandise passes around the bus, perfume and medications. TV commercials without the TV. 2 hours of this entertainment, one way.

We went into the mountain village where Marie Yolene lives. She is a beautiful young girl who has lived in darkness her whole life unitl 2009. She continues to struggle with the cast society of being a "restavec" and being a women in this country. The vodoo doctor was called to cast spells on her home and her, to make her move.. they did not want a restavec in their community because she surely was doing bad things to have a house built. She has struggled with being accepted even in her church community. She needs support but I struggle to find it for her. She has a home, has an education, she is a free women. She is isolated with no family. But is she really free if she is judged because she was placed as a restavec as a child? She is judged by her past, that which she did not choose. How often do I do this at home to others? Now here I am judging others for what I have done.

She loves Jesus and tells me, that without Him she would be dead. She believes Jesus saved her by sending our mission team and our church family to love her unconditionally. She believes we were sent to bring her out of the dark slave world imposed on her by the wealthier community down here.

Her soul is so beautiful when she smiles, I can see it in her eyes. I see her smile when she talks about God's goodness to her. I can get a glimpse of her smile when I can get her to look at me. She has so much shame in her eyes, it breaks my heart. Lord I beg you to reach into her soul and heal her from the pain of her past. She has no family, no friends and no doctors here. I keep telling her she is loved by our church family and she is a beautiful child of God. I told her she represents hope for so many women. I tell her we are here NOT TO PLACE JUDGEMENT,but to only love her. But she has not experienced this here in Haiti, yet. But, I know God has a plan for her. We will wait in prayer for it to be revealed.

2011-10-27T17:16:00.000-07:00

Traverse Bay United Methodist Church returns to the Haiti Methodist "Children's House" again to share the love of Christ and bring joy to the days of the children. We can only change today.

John Wesley

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can.

Lets see how God helps us to transform the world for Christ one hug and one smile at a time. "He knows my name" is the theme of teaching and loving during this trip.
Please pray for this mission trip on November 9 thru November 22.

Questions please call our church,

Traverse Bay United Methodist Church 231-935-5323.

History

2011-10-26T07:35:00.000-07:00

Infomation provide by Virginia Bell: The very beginning of the "Boys Home" was about 2004. It was discovered that a group of boys were in an orphanage/home situation where there was much abuse-physical and sexual. The manager of the facility was taken to court when some of the older boys complained to authorities that some were not being "paid" the same as others.(they were not complaining about the abuse) The man was arrested and possibly sent back to the states. A Haitian Methodist pastor, Rev Dissieu heard about this and with the help of a friend in British West Indies was able to find a house for the children to stay for short term. The older boys were a problem due to the fact that they never had rules to follow. They were very distructive to the other children and home. They had to leave and the younger boys were kept.

A house on Delmas 54 street, right next to Sister Paulette Holley's home( who is a deconess in the Methodist Church of Haiti) was up for sale. This was in the year of 2005. This house was designed to be a Guest House run by JoAnn Dimmit. It had bedrooms for 2-3 people, multiple bathrooms and a swimming pool. It was for missionaries. However, it was not successful and there were many thefts. This home was converted into the "Boys Home" by abandoning the twin bed atmosphere and putting in metal bunk beds and cots that would better accomodate the children.

Virginia Bell was managing the Haiti Methodist Guest house at the time. She took teams of missionaries to visit the home to acquaint them with the needs of the children. (She had such a soft spot in her soul for them, she could not walk away.) It was thru her dilegent work that teams began to make donations and thru her personal financial support the chidren were provided 2 meals a day, clean water, 1/2 day of schooling with uniforms, safety from the streets and a place to sleep.She advocated for any money she could from the Haiti Methodist Church and grant money from Crusade for Christ in the Caribbean.

In 2006 Traverse Bay United Methodist Church of Traverse City MI became involved. I met Virginia Bell at the Haiti Methodist Guest House on a mission trip for construction of a church in 2006. I had been looking for a way to serve God's Haitian children directly, through the Methodist Church. God brought me to Virginia and we started to plan my first trip to the "Boys Home" for 2007. Her passions ignited my deep passion for children and Christ in Haiti.

Our fist trip in 2007 consisted of my husband, Bob, our son, Dillon and 3 other members of Traverse Bay United Methodist Church. Yo Kamischke and his daughter Rachel, and Mary Gore. this is where our journey serving Christ at the Children's House started. Please enjoy our blog and share your comments with us. Traverse Bay United Methodist Church, "the small methodist church on the corner of M-72" is glorifying God in a God size way. What a wonderful church we have!!!

JOY IN THE LORD

2008-04-16T08:43:00.000-07:00

pictures of Love for Christ

2008-04-13T17:14:00.000-07:00

We're HOME!!!

2008-04-04T15:52:00.000-07:00

We had our ups and downs all week. We were thrilled and disappointed at times. We went through some extemely emotional highs and lows. We are reminded that if we open our hearts, we will find others to love, but we also open our hearts up for the pain of having to leave. And knowing that we left children in conditions that would be deplorable in this country, but conditions are not that bad in Haiti terms. We celibrated together safe trips accross town and having teaching and building materials available, because that is not always the case. We always had water to drink, although it might smell like chlorine, it is clean and safer than the water the average Haitian had access to. I think each of us will tell our own story in time, like telling our faith journey, as we process all we went went through. Were we really in Haiti yesterday morning? I took a very long, hot shower, brushed my teeth with SAFE tap water, and celibrated the use of a functioning toilet (fill in your own details). God has a way of reminding us of all we have when we see people living and surviving with so much less. Monitor each other, and love your families, because when the enormity of this hits you, it can be overwhelming. Our mission, to spread God's love, was well done my bothers and sisters. We would have liked to get more painting done, but that would not have allowed us the time to spend with children who may not get love and attention, and reminders of how much God loves them. Welcome home, but I assure you, you will never be the same. - In God's love, Bob

Our Final Day

2008-04-03T04:43:00.000-07:00

Well today is our departure day. Bittersweet. But nothing like yersterday when we had to say goodbye to the children.

When we arrived at the home they were all wearing the yellow t-shirts we had designed for them (thanks Mike), looking and waiting for us at their windows, waving and saying "bon jour, bon jour". When we walked in, they had decorated with paper chains, balloons and signs saying "We Love You and America", "We Will Miss You", "Thanks Dawn and Devon" and others. The tears started to flow.

We broke into groups and just sat down and played. We cleaned, picked up and showed them how to keep all their toys in the bins and shelves we organized. We assemble a new set of bunkbeds, changed out (3) new mattresses, put on new sheets, and as amazing as it was to the staff, we installed a brand new stainless steel, 5-burner stove that we purchased the day before. God is GOOD.

Unfortunately the masons were slower than we expected but were doing a beautiful job parging the back block wall that was installed last year, so we weren't able to paint it with the paint we had purchased. We left it for the house maintenance guys to paint later.

However, the plumbers did show up with (seemingly) all the parts and pieces to install a larger new water pump and fill line to the (2) rooftop holding tanks, repair the (6) bathrooms in the house, including completely replacing (2) of the toilets. Words can't describe how happy the caregivers were when we got the water working throughout the house. They haven'ty had running water for nearly (2) years. Can you imagine raising (31) children and having to bucket all of your water from a cistern? They were ELATED!

After we finished several other projects, the staff bathed the boys after their lunch and dressed them for school. We all gathered in their dining/activity room and began to sing songs of God and Jesus. This was by far the toughest, saddest and most heart crushing experience any of us had experienced. After Dawn expressed how greatful we were to be able to do God's work for them, she told them how sad we were to leave. Then Senel stood up, and in English through his tears, told us how much they all appreciated our help and our love, and were very sad to see us leave. Everyone was weeping. Dawn assured them that even though it may not be us, that there would be another team returning in the future. The tears continued to flow until Devon got her guitar and began singing songs until their van arrived to take them to school. I've never been so emotionally drained. Needless to say we weren't much use after that. Just so heart crushing.

Today, the first team has already left for the airport and we're being called down for breakfast. Wish us "Safe Home" for our journey back to Traverse City. God be with us, the children and all of you.

Love,
Cappy and Scott

joy and sadness

2008-04-02T06:35:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note from Cappy and Scott. We're leaving for our last day with the boys in just a few minutes. Joyous to be there and sad to leave. Joyous to be coming back to our families and sad to leave our team. Joyous to have all the blessings that we have and sad at others' lack of things. While trying to learn all the boys names before we leave today, I find myself thinking the the good shepherd knows all of his sheep by name and am humbled once more at the goodness of our God. Okay, the bus is waiting. Bye for now S and C.

2008-03-31T18:55:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. Today is Monday March 31, 2008. We got to the Children's House today and the children were already for us to teach them songs and give them love. It really is amazing how much the children learn so quickly. Their minds are like sponges ready to absorb God's love through us. Today we cleaned throughout the house and reorganized the clothes and the toys, puzzles and cards. One little boy gave me his bracelet that they made during the craft time. I felt so special because they do not get many things that they can call their own. They usually have to share things even things like socks, underwear, and other clothing. By sharing I mean they do not have their names on any clothing item. The children here love to go to school. It is a privilege for them. They teach about Jesus in private schools and public schools.

Here the culture is saturated with Jesus written on everything, cars, buildings and signs. It seems that almost everyone here believes in Jesus and they are not afraid to express it but back home the children are not even aloud to say Jesus in school anymore unless of course they are cursing Him, then it seems that that is OK!

I'm struggling to understand the vast differences in culture and the social injustice.

I thank you all very much for the prayers for myself and our team. If you have not been praying for the boys. Please pray day and night for children here and all around the world who have the many struggles that the boys in this home have.

MUCH LOVE to Scooby, my sis, lelly I miss you all and see you soon.

Sheila :)

2008-03-31T18:36:00.000-07:00

Hello Everybody!

Today is Monday, but we are all having a hard time remembering what day it is. It has been a long day, but a good one. When we arrived at the Children's House we were greeted by all of the kids, sitting in rows, waiting for us to teach them! How wonderful it would be if all the kids in the US were that excited to be taught about Jesus! We did not know that we'd have this time, so we were really excited. It was music to our ears when we sang the song, "Jesus is a Friend," and all the kids sang it to us in English with smiles on their faces! It certainly has been an experience that I know I won't forget. After about an hour of teaching and singing we decided that we should get the kids to help us clean up the place. Some people took kids upstairs to their rooms and helped sort and fold clothes. Others went to the play room and sorted through old books and toys. Lauren, Dawn, and I set out to finish putting rock in the backyard where we have been trying to improve the garden area. We only had five buckets and lots more kids, so they began taking handfuls of rock from the street (that's being used to plaster the back wall) and using their shirts to carry stones back and forth. They were so excited to help us, it was great!
I've been shaking sand out of a stone pile, that is then used to plaster the wall in the backyard. It is not quite complete, but should be tomorrow. Then we hope to paint it before we come back to MI.

I had a wonderful opportunity today - I learned how to do laundry! Don't get me wrong, I've done laundry before, but never with a ball of soap and my hands. I enjoyed getting to know the ladies, though we did have a hard time communicating. I imagine they were teasing me, but I didn't even know it!

The boys went to school today all powdered up in their little yellow shirts. What a handsome bunch they are, and SO sweet and loving! We are blessed to be here and to have had three whole days of their undivided attention.

Haiti is a tough place, that's for sure. We see glimpses of struggle all around us, and it makes us want to be bearers of hope and love. These little children really understand that Jesus is their friend, and I imagine that might get them through some tough times.

As a pastor, this trip has been a double blessing for me! I am in awe of the people God has brought together, their gifts and talents have been maximized and we have accomplished things we never thought we'd do. We laugh a lot, cry alot, and sing alot. Most of all we recognize God's sovereignty as we continue to feel led by Him! Thank you for your prayers! We can't wait to tell you about our trip.

Tomorrow we head out for some sightseeing and shopping! YAY! I'll be taking LOTS of Dramamine and carrying my two "barf-bags" from the airplane...just in case!

We are blessed!
devon

WOW

2008-03-31T03:33:00.000-07:00

I am going to write about last night and us going to St. Joseph's for the dance theater. This is a home where kids live that used to be on the street ( I think). They have three different homes and have been open since 1985. All I can say is WOW these boys know how to dance. There dances have so much meaning and emotion about themselves and their past. There are three drummers and they were amazing. They have traveled all over and we were so blessed to be able to see them perform. The arts are so prevelent here and there are so many ways to show your artistic side. I can't wait to come home and tell everyone about what we have seen and learned. This has truly been an amazing expierence. We also went to a "safe" restaurant yesterday which was different you had all these choices of what to eat and you had to go to different sides of the restaurant to order and then go somewhere else to pick it up. Sheila, Devon and I got a pizza YUMMO!! Hard to believe that our week is coming to an end. We will miss those boys so much they truly are a joy to be around. Okay I am off to go sit on the patio!!
Rebecca

chuch service and ride home

2008-03-30T12:31:00.000-07:00

I'm not good at writing on the top of my head so sorry if this sounds funny or corney

Today, Sunday, we went to the Thomas church...the service was about 2 hours but it was great. There was lots of singing and smiles!!! We took all of the children from the children's house. After the singing was a long but fascinating...the precher was talking about his life and how GOD had changed it (i think...it was given in Creole). When the singing came to a slow hult all the children were given Nutter Butters(yummy)and we all packe dinto the vans. On the way back to the childrens home we saw montians WOW they were beautiful!!i have never seen them in my whole life. Also one of the little boys Fedner fell asleep on my lap. When i first came here to Haiti I have to admit i was terrified of the people but come to find out they are just the same as americans but with a different color skin...they laugh the same communocate in the same way(except thier language)and lastly they LOVE the same way...

love always...aleasha

REMEMBER: GOD loves you no matter your skin color!!!!

Good Sunday morning

2008-03-30T02:50:00.000-07:00

My alarm was on daylight savings time, and this country is not. So, sorry guys but we are up at 4:00 AM. We will go to Thomas for church about 1 hour away. We are taking all 30 children in three vehicles. 15 big white Americans and 30 Haitian children. Won't we just slip in the back row unnoticed? I'll be breif. The power keeps going out and I lose my post. All is well. Out team is becoming a family. God is amazing and we call on Him more in these trying times. Tonight we will be tired but we hope to go the the dance theater at the other boys home. -In God's Love, Bob

2008-03-29T04:08:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

First of all i want to thank everyone for their prayers and support! You guys are the best. And secondly, for those of you who heard about the rooster that gets you up at 4, i have not heard it once.
That was Lauren. This is Helen Marie. She's awesome. Yes, we can feel your prayers. Rooster no big deal, but we do hear dogs. The Guest House lets them loose at 10 to protect us - I think there are 2.
Lauren again. (continuation of Helen Marie's thought)...although by the sounds of it there may be more. I busted out the ear plugs last night. The dogs are annoying yes, but i hate to think what would happen to us if they weren't here.

Everyone is healthy although i noticed a lot of grunts and groans this morning when we pulled ourselves out of bed. As far as i know, everyones bodily functions are occuring normally.... :-)

A little about the area... Petion-ville (I have heard) is the upper end of many cities surrounding Port-au-Prince. It is made up of mostly the elite (can they be called that?). The cleanliness of the streets is much better than i had initially expected. There are women carrying baskets of fruit on their heads and chickens running around. People look clean and there are no children eating mud and no excrement laying in the streets. I have noticed that if you smile at people through the van window, most will smile back. There is a rapper called Wyclif Jean who is Haitian. It is his money that is cleaning the streets and hiring Haitian people. He put on several free concerts here and i guess they were the largest gatherings were no violence broke out. (The news reports violence in their society but i can't imagine that it is more prevalent here than in the U.S. We have not seen any sort of violence.) So even if you don't like rap, you should buy his CD's as it is positively impacting this corner of the world.

The children at the Children's House are awesome. If i could, i would bring all of them home with me. They are so unlike American children (sorry if i'm stereotyping) in that they never complain, they don't worry at all about who is first or if someone else's portion is larger. One of the things that really touched me was when we gave Gesset his birthday box yesterday. A handfull of lifesavers (candy) was put in every birthday box. A little while after Gesset opened his box, i noticed that many of the boys had a lifesaver. Come to find out, Gesset took his birthday present and shared it with the entire "orphanage" (we're not supposed to call it that). Now how many kids would do that in America?

I spent the day playing with the children. Two of them, Christina and Kerby, did not crack a smile at all yesterday and i have heard that it was the same way all of last year when the team was here. Today (or rather yesterday), they smiled! It made my day. It wasn't just a little smile either. It was an ear-to-ear, joy-reverberating-through-me smile that lasted most of the day.
In the morning i was playing with number cards with a boy named Vetchy. He would say them in English and I would say them in creole. Apparently i was saying 8 wrong (it is huit and not wuit) but when he tried to spell it for me, i didn't understand that "ash" meant "h." All of the sudden he looked at me with a smile on his face and said "Espanol? Espanol?" So i started doing these number cards in Spanish. Vetchy and the other boys around us found this very very funny. After the number cards, we took a wooden car and passed it back and forth, counting in English. We got to 100 which is exciting unless you don't know that 100 is a pretty big number...
In the afternoon, we started moving rock into the small "garden" in the front. The kids wanted to help! There were 6 or 7 of the youngest ones out there pushing rock around with their shoes and trying to lift the five gallon pails that they used to transport it. Then they started jumping off the steps...don't ask me why but they all found it very fun. It was maybe a two foot jump, so it's not like they couldn't do it on their own but we ended up setting up an assembly line of sorts. I would hold their hands while they jumped down and Cappy stood at the end and gave them all high fives. After a while Dillon joined us and started giving high fives too! This went on for quite a while...only ceasing when people started singing inside.
One thing about the singing, is that we may sing a song once or twice in a big group but all day the boys will sing it/hum it back to you. It's great!
The two older boys, Phenel and Peterson, have been helping Scott, Kirk, Bob, and the Masons a lot. They were very eager to help and i think it's great that they are as then they will feel some ownership of this place that they call home.

I'm scared that the power will go out so i'm going to stop now...
We love you all!
Lauren

haiti fun

2008-03-28T15:19:00.000-07:00

God is working dilengently with us today. Wonderful news, we did not wait for the estimate on fixing the plumbing. Scott our own specialized team member accomplishe lots with just a rented generator. He got water to 3 toilets and 2 sinks, we cried with joy. Scott does not know why there is water, because logically it should not work. God works his will. We hope the DS of Port Au Prince does not have my head since I approved the work. I was tired of waiting 2 days!The securtiy wall is almost finished with parging and will be ready to paint, the workers are wonderful. Especially the white women that joined their crew hauling sand and gravel.
My goal is to get the boys to church, we left money last year and the DS would not allow the money to be used. I took it back and went on a "tap tap" into the market with Helen Marie, and 2 Haitian workers from the Children's HOuse. We bargained hard and bought 28 church pants for $120 US Now we have pants, the boys were overly excited to have them.
OUr sunday School Teaching could not be better. The boys and 3 girls are sitting on the edge of their seats listening and watching the flet board stories. Devon plays guitar, Cappy plays key board and we all sing and dance until you cannot hear a thing. The boys are alsready reading music and playing their recorders wonderfully. They are so very smart, grateful and loving us all over. The coimputer is dying, thank you God and TBUM family for letting us love on these children with all we have. We are blessed by God tremendously, Love DAwn

We're Here!!!!! from Helen Marie

2008-03-27T20:15:00.000-07:00

Arrived safe and sound by 3:30 on Wed. in Haiti. The drivers from Pine Grove church were wonderful and speedy to Detroit. Arrived there about 1:30 a.m. Tried to sleep on the airport floor. Very few did. Arrived in Miami about 10:30 a.m. 4 hours wait there. Nice surprise for me that the plane to Haiti was huge! Where do all those people go here???? Met one mission team from Alma. They packed in all 100 pounds of their food. Thankful we were not them. They drill wells and have for years.
Drivers were at the airport to meet us. The guest house is wonderful. Can't say I miss cooking for myself!!! The food is good and plentiful. People are very gracious. Va Bell and husband Jack come to visit lots plus their friend from Blanchard - a blueberry farmer (female)
We went to the Children's House for the first today (Thurs.) The boys are sooooo precious. They are off school this week so we played and played - soccer, basketball, coloring, legos, reading. A thrill for me to hear them read in their lang. We teach English and they teach us Fr. Creole. I remembered many of my color words from French class in high school - that's a stretch!
10 of us in one ladies room. Like camp. The guest house is full tonight. A team came in from Indiana and Fla. and will leave early tomorrow for a dental clinic building mission. 6 hours by car!
Everyone says they are having a good time. Seeing the boys today renewed our energy and purpose. Love to all.

Purple Plate support

2007-12-05T04:15:00.000-08:00

We are in need of prayers for the Children's House Orphanage children and our team. The orphanage is now caring for 30 boys and are in need of indoor plumbing, transportation, more beds and mattresses and financial support. We are on a mission to raise $11,000.00 for the home. Yikes that is a very tall order from God! There are 15 of us heading back down to teach about the love of Christ, paint the interior and exterior home, help install plumbing and teach play skills. As you may all know, my profession is working with children and teaching them play. Play is vital for developmentof cognitive skills. We desire the boys to be as smart as possible about God and all things that may make a better Haiti.
If you could help by purchasing a "purple plate" for your family to support our cause. Please call Traverse Bay United Methodist Church, 231-946-5323. Go to the "thepurpleplate.com"to check out the history and reason for the purple plate. They are $25 each and could change your mealtime experience with your own family. The plates must be purchased thru our church for the money to go to Haiti Boys Orphanage. God bless you and your family during this Christmas season. He is the Miracle and the Miracle is Love! Dawn

Pictures "God at work"

2007-06-23T17:36:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all who have prayed for us and provided for the boys at this orphanage. God bless you as we share a few pictures of the joy we experienced on this trip. Enjoy, we have hundreds of pictures but can only show a few. Please ask us to tell the stories when you see or talk to us.
The pictures are in no particular order, just a little collage.

Pillow cases created by each child on Saturday play day. Thank you to Laura and Lois!!!

Praying over each boys bed on our last day before leaving!

Wall being completed after cleaning up the back yard. The wall needed to be 3 more brick layers higher for safety reasons.

Boys before school all cleaned up and in Methodist school uniforms, 1/2 day of school is a luxury when there is 80% illiteracy rate.

Jonah Murial

Daniel and the Lions Den

Noahs Arc

Teaching boys how to play twister

Smiles and laughter

Completed first skyscaper after Lego training day with the boys

Artist at work creating their masterpieces on pillow cases.

Lego training days, piles of Legos! Thank you 5th grade Westwoods Elementary children!! Way to go!

First birthday box given by Traverse Bay United Methodist Sunday School Classes...Happy Birthday Stanely!Each boy will get a birthday box on their birthday throughout the year.

Famous Tarantulas...DEAD NOW! Boys took the shovel to them! Thank you boys. Mary, Dawn and Rachel remained in the house painting the rest of the trip!

Lunch time with the boys. Rice and bean is a staple!

Team picture day of departure, Yo and Rachel, Mary, Bob, Dawn and Dillon. Sad to leave, but ready to rest at home.

All the boys gather for a picture the first day we meet them>

The back yard old dog house and piles of garbage filled with glasss, barbwire, metal, and tarantulas.No place to play outside when we got there, but we cleaned it up and left money to build a basketball court and soccer court. Great timing for summer vacation! See above picture for clean up view.

2-4 boys to a bed, not all had sheets but all have a safe place to sleep and have a VBS blanket from TBUMC to call their own. Donations of the sheets gave each boy a clean one to lay their head and a new pillow donated by other churches! Thank you God!

Hot wheel cars, never played with them before but man did they know what to do. Many many smiles and you could feel the joy!

Group photo in the "play room", only thing on the shelves was a TV.......but not by the time we left the gifts from Traverse City community!!!!

Flooded septic area due to rain, rain, rain. In the garage area of the orphanage.

Teaching about how God provides when there is not enough fish and bread! Teaching how to share when their is little. They know more about this than us.

We do not know for sure if God will bring us back to this little home of boys, but we know He just needs willing hearts and we can be used. The needs are great but God is Greater, so the boys wait in hope, faith and prayers for better tomorrows. God uses all of us to love these boys, and He will provide for them! This is what I know for sure. Maybe the boys thought they got to see a little of heaven thru our service and I know we changed their lives for the days we were there. That is what we were there for, just to change one day at a time. They changed each one of our hearts with each passing day, we fell in love with all their eagerness, simplicity and appreciation for what we were doing. I hope you feel and know the love of Christ thru these pictures. May God bless your day with the opportunity to share the love of Christ with a child. Praise Him!

Home

2007-06-08T08:11:00.000-07:00

After a long trip, with a few snaffews, God got us all home safely. After a couple of good meals, calls and visits with friends and family, showers with unlimited clean water, and a night in our own beds, we realize some of what we have been through. I don't know what to say when I know I'll hear that question: "Did you have a good vacation?" or "Did you have a good time?" It was / is so much more than that and not something that I can put in to words. I am not sure who is impacted more by a mission trip- the visitors or the hosts? We see things in such a different light. What waste we have and what abundance. We are so fortunate, yet those "less fortunates" are sometimes happier than we are. We read in our devotion book of how those with so little seem to praise God with that much more enthusiasm, perhaps because they are so thankful for the little bit that they have. Speaking of enthusiasm, we need to bring some of that energy from Thomas church back home.
I keep thinking about Dillon telling me, as he scratched the ear of a sad looking dog we nick-named "Skinny:" "At least for these few minutes, he will have some pleasure in his life." I pray that we had an opportunity to touch some lives through God, as our lives were truly changed.

Last days

2007-06-05T18:15:00.000-07:00

Wow, we have been working to get all the painting done. Rachel is an excellent organizer and had us all on different shifts to achieve our goal. We painted hand prints of all the children in primary colors, then I sponged painted over them. Wow talk about bright. Then the Christian fish was placed on all the beams, then stamping away with bugs, and start. BEAUTIFUL. We were able to give each boy a pillow with their own decorated pillow case, then we place a gift under each one. After, of course we put sheets on all the beds. Most were sleeping on thin sponges, or thin mattresses without sheets. Some were even using the blankets from VBS to sleep on top of their mattresses. Most single bunk beds sleep 4 children, 2 per mattress. Our team then individually prayed over each boys bed, the Holy Spirit was surely present. There was not a dry eye on our team, as we recalled each boy and asking God for their protection. We then secretively wrote our names and special messages on a wall that has huge cupboard on front of it. We saw many of the bibles that Lauren Aprill wrote in from VBS, however the boys cannot go to church because they have no clothing or transportation. So, we left the extra $1000 that you gave us to buy the boys each 1 church outfit and to pay for transporting them weekly to church. There they will learn to read their bibles. Thank you TBUMC for that extra money.
I wanted to take one of the very tattered shirts home with me today, but I knew the little boy did not have another one and I did not bring an extra shirt with me to replace it with. They all have 2 school uniforms and 1 set of play clothing. Sandy Aprill I thought of you often, man how does one organize clothing for 28 boys from ages 5-16. Where does one start with 28 pairs of shoes and flip flops, when you do not know who belongs to what. To watch the laundry lady, Marie, wash by hand every day the mounds of clothing....lay it on the roof to dry or hang it to dry....then watch Laonise press each school shirt and pants. Socks and undies, what a hoot to watch the boys try to find them? Ask Bob about the littlest angel boy!!!
Mary has been a wonderful barter for the best price on merchandise on the street market. Ask Dillon how they work together!
We are all ready for home, with many tears of the beautiful blessings that God has bestowed on us. Thank you for your outpouring of love, support and prayers. The boys at the Children's House Orphange know TBUMC family loves them like Jesue. See you Sunday, Dawn

The Lords day no matter where you are

2007-06-03T16:42:00.001-07:00

A day of rest was the plan for this day. After worship at Thomas, which is the church the TBUMC assisted withbuilding, we went to lunch and had ice cream. Church was only about 1 1/2 hours, and no Dillon did not use his game boy in church. The Church was beautiful and we were greated ever so warmly. (especially at 100 degrees).Pastor Bernard gives the best smile ever and a very real hugs for our whole team. We sang "Lord Prepare Me to be a Sanctuary" for the congregation and Dawn went to the pulpit to introduce the team and the reason we came to Thomas. What a wonderful extended church family we have. We provided some Sunday School Marterials to Pastor. The classrooms are all painted and have electricity. Bob and Dawn met Marie Yolene who goes to school there, they sponsor her education. She needs a job for food, because she cannot work for food when she is in school. Many days she goes to school hungry, or she does not come b/c she needs to work. the Haiti hot lunch is only there 3 days, and does not qualify b/c she is too old( 10th grade). Well, we needed to help that situation. Done. The healing quilt the ladies of TBUM blessed was given thru many tears (Mary, Dawn and Bob too). We found ths child of God a job in the church to help her not to miss school or have to go to the city for work.(It is a dangerous and long trip to make daily).
The rest of the day, we have napped, walked, swam, played cards and had a few cold cokes. Mary plays a mean Euker game with Yo, Rachel and Dillon. We all needed this day very much to rest in the Lords hands. Emotionally, physically and mentally....Good nourishment for the reamining 2 work days. Thank you for your prayers, and see you next week. Blessings

2007-06-03T04:57:00.000-07:00

today we are going to go to church in Tomas. It's going to be a long day. Haiti is so Hot. I got a machete as a present for my best friend. I miss my dog=) Church is going to be 2-3 hours long. I get to bring my Gameboy.

Legos, Artist and candy

2007-06-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

What a blessed day we had with the boys. We started with name tags to help us get to know them by name, just as God knows us by name. It is affirming!We had a play day this a.m. We dumped 2 large piles of legos on the tables and Dillon, Bob and Yo instructed in how to build. Someboys played there for the full 2 hours. We also decorated pillow cases with permanent markers, after we placed TBUMC and Jesus Loves you on each one. A few of the boys colored with great detail for the whole 2 hours. They were so intrigued. Dillon gave them pop rocks for a fun treat, man did the popping suprise them. The boys have a very hard time making eye contact, even when you get down at their level. When you hug and praise them for their work, at times you get a glimsp of a smile. They are such beautiful children and are a wonderful resource for this country. If only we can provide more education for these 30 boys, they can start to make a difference in the poverty and harships here. Children are the future. So, as I see it, we help this small corner of the country, and other organizations help other small corners with Christ as our guide, we could have a better place for the people of Haiti. It is very interesting in the lack of play here. They have no toys, so they just sit and lie around all day when they are not in school. Developmentally I am concerned, so I talked to Virginia Bell, and we are going to sit down with the staff on Monday to discuss the importance of Play and learning. We brought toys, but the ladies just put them in the closet where the boys cannot get them. But, the whole society works like that, they are so busy trying to survive that they have no play skills. When the rain comes, it washes all they have away. When you are always hungry and thirsty, there is no time to worry about the garbage that lies around everywhere or education. The average haitian worker here at the guest house puts in over 40 hours a week and make less the $25 a week. UMmmm, they work very hard.
We have experienced exceptional hospitality from all we have met, we feel very safe and the countryside is so beautiful along the mountains. We shopped a lot of street vendors, who have no mercy on us when we say "no, thank you". We buy things we do not need, just to stimulate the economy and help the people out. We feel bad when we do not buy things from them. It confuses Dillon when we buy things we do not need.
The Lord is so good, and has blessed our team with joy, laughter, tears,and compassion for this country. Thank you for all your prayers, and support. We are in the best of care. See you all next Sunday, Peace TBUMteam

Friday's report, on Haitian time

2007-06-02T04:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a pretty busy day. We got a lot done on the walls and it looks like the men in the back are ready to pour cement. It was very hot though, 105 so pretty much all of us went straight for the pool when we got back. There were a couple more people at the guest house last night on their trip back from le Cayes where they were doing some medical work. They flew out early this morning. We're not entirely sure what's on the plan for today but we'll find out soon enough i suppose. Until tomorrow then.

Good morning

2007-06-01T03:22:00.000-07:00

Our schedule here is one of early to bed and early to rise. I woke up to the taunting of a crazed rooster who seems to have lost his watch. It is 5:30 AM and life has already started. Yesterday is already a blur of activity. Karen, our interpretor went outside the gate to exchange money for us. It was probably not a good thing for us to show our white faces on the street. At the least, the exchange rate might have gone up. It rained so hard while she was gone that I thought we would be washed away. WHen Karen didn't come back, I was very concerned. The laborers worked through the rain, carrying garbage and would through knee deep "water." Karen finally made itback and paid the trash guys. We cought them dumping our trash in the newly formed river, so did we just contribute to the litter down the hill? It is the way I am told. We are all safe a well fed, and the pool is a welcome sight at the days end. We got to spend some time with the boys yesterday, and that makes everything worthwhile.

Thur.

2007-05-31T18:36:00.000-07:00

Rachel and yo met Elove this morning. She is the child that Rachel has supported through Compassion for five years, and has to be one of the cutest kids in the world. All smiles and dimples. She is from northern tip of Haiti and this was a trip of firsts for her. First tap-tap ride, first plane trip, first time to the capital city, and using the swim suit we brought for her she and Rachel went into the pool here at the guest house so first time in water that was deeper than her knees. she was pretty overwelmed by it all. She and Rachel were able to exchange a little with Rachel speaking French and Elove speaking Creole, but most was through the interpreter. She came with a Compassion worker from her town. She goes to school with 400 other children and 230 of the are supported by compassion in her town. 55,000 compassion children in the country.

In the afternoon we worked on the murals on the first floor. All four of them are drawn and it should not take long to finish the painting tomorrow. Work progresses on the back yard and the wall. More materials were delivered today and moved to the back of the house. Half way through the afternoon it started to rain cats and dogs. The road outside the house became a river and it just kept comming and comming.

A Long Day

2007-05-30T17:49:00.000-07:00

Today was a very long day, a good day, but a long day. We got most all of the painting done this afternoon with the generous help of the childrens house staff. We did the dinning room (which is very large), a hallway, the stairwell, the TV room and another hallway. They got a lot done in the back yard too evening things out and killed 3 more tarantuallas in the process. They've said that we can teach after all after lunch before the kids leave for school so were going to try that. That's about all for news, we're all exausted after today and probably headed to bed pretty quick. Keep praying for us!

Work day

2007-05-30T16:45:00.000-07:00

We are all doing great, exhausted. Healthy, eating great. Swimming after each work day. The days are long and hard, but oh so fullfilling. We are so blessed to be able to beautify the home of God's children. In the city, everything is so dirty and garbage fills the side roads. Then to be able to give joy and beauty in their little corner of Haiti, is a true joy. Thank you for all your prayers, b/c God has been very good and gracious to us this day. Much work is being done b/c of our families, friends and church families have supported this trip. Thank you for allowing us to represent you, God Bless your day!

Work day!

2007-05-30T16:36:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a wonderful day God provided! We decided to spend the extra money building the security wall, although it had nearly doubled in price. They already started bringing in the supplies today and we hauled buckets of gravel. More tarantula stories today, so much garbage and barb wire in the back yard of the orphanage. What is the last layer? It was very bad, no wonder the children did not play outside. Very dangerous. The boys helped shovel it into the bags. They were very excited to hear about the opportunity to play basketball and soccer. They were hard workers. Dillon shared hot wheels with a group of boys, who went wild with them. They have absolutley no toys, so they wanted to take off with them to their rooms. The VBS blankets are all over their rooms, on their beds. What joy it was to see them used! Painting was very productive today. We painted 5 rooms: blends of orange, yellow and green base coats. The stafff at the home were wonderful and all wanted to help.

I think our team increased the level of humidity with all the sweating that was going on. Very HOT
The boys singing their grace before lunch was just beuatiful and brought tears to my eyes. They had bowls full of beans, corn mush with tomatoe gravy. They do get 3 meals daily, this was their main meal. You should have seen them get ready for school. They were all bathing in the back yard together, then running around in towels to get dressed in their clean uniforms. The staff powder them and oil their hair. They take wonderful care of them.

Happy birthday Dawn

2007-05-29T16:26:00.000-07:00

We had our first big day in Haiti for three of us, old hat for the other three. All is well inclding the food. Dillon and I are picky eaters but the food is great. (Sorry Mike, but they haven't kicked me out of the country for eating too much.) We washed walls, primed, and got started painting inside while Dillon, Yo and I along wih two staff guys whose nasmes Iam yet to get , worked outside. It was only in the 90's so it was "cool." We killed about 5 terantuals (ok Ican't spell ugly purple hairy spiders as big as my hand.) We knocked down a bunch of old sone and block walls and we could have realyy used a sledge hammer. We dumped all the debris in a hole, trying to make a more level and more safe place for the boys toplay. We got to stare at each other , but we have not made introductions yet. The coputer clock is off probably because the electrricity is not too dependable. I'm sure you will all want to come here yourselves. Dillon has been a great worker but we all got pretty tired and hot. We are sure this is where God wants us to be, but I'm not staying! - In God's love, Bob

We Made It!!

2007-05-28T18:04:00.000-07:00

We got in fine, a little late so we had to deal with traffic but that was ok. It rained all evening so it wasn't too hot, only in the 80's or so. Hopefully this rain will help the humidity clear a bit. Tomorrow we go buy paint, repack the suitcases and look at what is to be done with the security wall. It doesn't look like we'll get to do much teaching this week because the boys will be too busy with school. We are going to leave the supplies and lesson notes though and they will do the lessons this summer after school is out when the boys have more time. Dinner was amazing and miricle of miricles, Dillon loved it. We got to meet the man in charge of the program sponsored by the methodist church that as far as I can tell does a little bit of everything there is to do. We also met a woman in charge of a health clinic (eyecare, dental, midwives, again a little bit of everything) a ways a away from here. Besides that there isn't much to report, hopefully we'll get started on the projects tomorrow. All our love to our Church Family and thank you for praying for us.

Getting ready

2007-05-21T09:26:00.000-07:00

Traverse Bay United Methodist Church family has once again blessed another mission trip to Haiti. The Children's House Orphanage, in Petionvill, now has about 30 boys awaiting for our arrival. We packed 12 suitcases full of donations. They were filled with special birthday boxes(made by the Sunday school children),paint supplies, bed sheets and pillow cases, balls, art materials, games, vitamins and much needed financial support!!!We are truly blessed by God's disciples. Thank you TBUMC!
We especially thank the fifth grade children and staff of Westwoods Elementary school for donating 1 suitcase full of Legos and 1 suitcase full of hot wheel cars(200 cars). Dillon will be working hard at teaching the boys the wonderful fun of these toys! Great job Westwoods school!!!!
We will be departing on Monday May 28th. All 6 of us have started our malaria medications, have all our vaccinations and have all we can fit into our carry-on luggage for personal items. God has blessed our trip abundantly as usual, and His plans for us will unfold as we begin our travels in 1 week. It has been awesome to watch Him work in our lives as we prepared over the past year.
Tentatively we will be painting the inside of the orphanage, building the rest of the security wall surrounding the orphanage, painting a Christian mural, and teaching about Christ thru some innovative lessons. But, as you know, especially any of you that have traveled to a third world country, things always change and we may not do anything that we have intended to do. We know for sure that we will be used how God intended. Bless you all, and may you find the blog site insightful and informative. May you be blessed abundantly by our telling of the story of the people in Haiti.

2007-03-03T17:01:00.000-08:00