I was getting ready to embark on a trip that would forever change my heart. It brought reality to something that was only in my imagination. It solidified a desire that has only continued to grow since the day we said "Yes" to this Journey to the Fisher Five.... I have had a hard time finding time to sit and share my heart about this trip; however, one of the wonderful women I went with wrote up a small summary so alas, I can borrow, tweak and tailor it for you today. I honestly could go on for hours and hours about this experience so as me sometime. I would sum it up with the statement that it was an incredibly humbling experience. It was humbling on SO many levels. I can't wait to go back!!!
Consider this a "What Our Week Was Like" Update... I will write a more "impactful one" later :)
We went with Heartline Ministries Haiti and stayed at the Heartline Guesthouse which was excellent. It is located in a gated "village" in an area of PAP called Tabarre. The missionary family and Haitian staff working as hosts were all very nice and it was really neat getting to know them and, not to mention, eating all of our yummy breakfasts and dinners there! The fresh squeezed Mango juice and the Haitian Beans and Rice were at the top of my list.
This was my view for my quiet time in the mornings....
Prepped and painted the inside and outside of one of the missionary family's homes.
Visited with a family living on the coast in Titayen: Here wee had the opportunity to bring gifts (toothbrushes/toothpaste, candy and a huge bag of rice) to this family and spent a couple of hours learning about his family and how they live as fishermen in their community. We also got to take a boat ride in a handmade wooden row boat around the bay... this was the real deal. The owner of the boat shoveled water out of the bottom of the boat with a small bowl the entire way around the bay. :-)
We spent a day working with local community leaders in setting up a student sponsorship program so that children living in the largest (and most dangerous) slum in Port-au-Prince (City Soleil) have an opportunity to attend school outside of their community. The hope is that the children will see that there is potential for them to have a life outside of the gangs and poverty that they are surrounded by within their community. We also had the opportunity to provide new shoes to ALL of the children from City Soleil who will be attending the school (around 50 kids)!
Spent a day around PAP, seeing what a REAL Haitian market (where 80% of people shop) is like - wow - and then visited all of Heartline's different ministries including the Maternity Center, Men's Discipleship Program, Women's Program, and Summer Girl's camp. It was amazing to see what Heartline has done with the properties that they have and the money they have been entrusted with!
Spent an afternoon visiting a village called Chambone to the East of PAP where Frank (Heartline's director) had helped to build a church. We gathered 45-50 children from the village and passed out toothbrushes and toothpaste and listened as Frank told us about the pastor who founded the church and his involvement there - amazing stuff - and then we went down to the river in the community and played with the kiddos. I might add here that Frank accidentally got our truck STUCK in the river and, by the grace of God, some guys in a dump truck came along and bumped it out of the hole it was in. :-) Plenty of adventure to be had!
Spent a day working with the Women's Program - helping them get their next class of ladies set up in the sponsorship program. We also worked with the teen/kids girls camp - playing, doing crafts and painting fingernails! It was so fun interacting with them and actually being a part of the work that Heartline is doing!
Our last full day in Haiti, we visited orphanages - the first one that we visited was an orphanage that one of the Haitian staff members put Frank in contact with. They have very few resources .. one lady and a couple of helpers trying to care for 25 un-adoptable children. :-( We brought clothes and food to them. Heartline is providing education regarding sanitary practices and also providing food so that the children do not go hungry. That was a hard morning. These children NEED interaction and to be held.
After we left that orphanage, we were able to go to the orphanage where Monica, the daughter of one of the women on our trip was living prior to the finalization of her adoption. PRAISE is that she is no longer there... she is now home in the US! This was a totally different experience from the orphanage we visited in the morning because Monica's orphanage has plenty of resources to care for the children there and most of the children are in the process of being adopted. Definitely more hope there; however, still incredible heartbreaking. We were also able to provide shoes for all of the children in the orphanage through a ministry called Samaritan's Feet.
Needless to say, it was a super busy week! Throughout the week, we had opportunities to shop too ... :-) We visited the artisan group (Haiti Design Co-op) that started out of Heartline Ministries' Women's Program and also a group called Rebuild Globally who make handmade flip flops from upcycled tires and leather! We also were able to go to Tin City where the artisans make the art out of recycled oil drums.
There is so much more I will share; however for now this should give you a glimpse. The Lord showed himself throughout in the beauty of the country, the hearts and eyes of its people and the servant hearts of the people I served alongside.
This was the view from our truck every morning as we left to start our day... How I wish I could be there now...
