It is Tuesday, October 5, and none of our team can believe time has gone so fast! It seems as though we
we were just tetering down the stairs of Mission Flights International (MFI) on the Douglas DC-3.
onto the island of Haiti. We continue to be drawn to the Haitian people - their "Spirit" is ever present
despite the conditions in this beautiful, but impoverished society!! We love the children's smiles and
their curious looks and touches as they view this "White group of missionaries". They have so little
possessions that the sight of a watch or ring peaks their curiosity and they can hardly contain them-
selves and often ask in Haitian Creole if you can give them the watch or ring, pointing to our wrists
and fingers. They are most eager, some a little shy, however, to teach you their name in Creole.
The team of Kathi, Tracy and myself, Chris ,. .with several other missionaries who have been helping
were in LaBruyere yesterday. There was a bit of disappointment when many of the sponsored children
did not show up. Pastor Dorlean, who has been working with Kathi on the collaboration of
S.C.H.O.O.L. expressed his heart-felt apology but explained that so many of the parents do not begin
sending their children to school until the second week of the beginning of school, and this year school
did not start until October 4th.
ARILUS' WAGON
April 15th, 2011
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
God Surrounds Us
Hi Everyone!...
It has not been a good week for internet access but it has been a glorious week for our team members spiritual growth!! We started off our trip sharing that we needed to focus on a sense of community; not only with our Haitian friends, but with the members on our team. I can certainly say that God has been at work!
I am sure our sponsors are anxious to hear about your precious children! Because of the earthquake, school is just starting today, October 4th! The delay was because they were not finished with the national exams. I know it is related to the earthquake and needing to find places for the children to take their national exam. This exam is for children who will be graduating from 6th grade and moving on to secondary school as well as secondary school students who I think (not totally sure) take it in ninth through 12th grade. They just finished taking the national exams the Friday before we arrived.
Pastor Dorlean and Pastor Degonzague did the best they could to have as many children and parents be at the schools for us on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Of course each day was not without its challenges!!
Wednesday our team of 13 which is including four nurses and three translators went out to Laburyere on two hired tap-taps (taxi). Our goal was to arrive at the school by 9:00, we arrived around 9:45. Children and parents waited patiently for our arrival and greeted us with a warm welcome. It then took almost an hour to scope out how we should set things up and to find out which children were there. The very first child to come through was John-Clifford Aime. His grandmama was with him to help provide what information she could to the nurses for the child wellness part of our program. John-Clifford was the poster child of the day. He had a beautiful smile and we learned that his mama died just the day before at the age of 24. Pastor Dorlean said that their were complications during childbirth about a month ago. Grandmama stuggles to walk, here legs sore but her spirit was uplifting. I gave Grandmama a huge hug and told her mwen regete (I'm sorry). To have such a loss only the day before and to show up for us told me of the importance they put in our program. It really is a moment beyond words.
We did a total intake that day of 28. Our goal had been 37, but we did complete all that arrived. We determined that the health intake takes about 15 minutes per child. It was a full day, we finished around 2:30 and arrived back at the mission house around 4:00 for lunch.
For many on our team this was their first introduction of working with our Haitian friends. Needless to say, they were touched deeply.
It has not been a good week for internet access but it has been a glorious week for our team members spiritual growth!! We started off our trip sharing that we needed to focus on a sense of community; not only with our Haitian friends, but with the members on our team. I can certainly say that God has been at work!
I am sure our sponsors are anxious to hear about your precious children! Because of the earthquake, school is just starting today, October 4th! The delay was because they were not finished with the national exams. I know it is related to the earthquake and needing to find places for the children to take their national exam. This exam is for children who will be graduating from 6th grade and moving on to secondary school as well as secondary school students who I think (not totally sure) take it in ninth through 12th grade. They just finished taking the national exams the Friday before we arrived.
Pastor Dorlean and Pastor Degonzague did the best they could to have as many children and parents be at the schools for us on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Of course each day was not without its challenges!!
Wednesday our team of 13 which is including four nurses and three translators went out to Laburyere on two hired tap-taps (taxi). Our goal was to arrive at the school by 9:00, we arrived around 9:45. Children and parents waited patiently for our arrival and greeted us with a warm welcome. It then took almost an hour to scope out how we should set things up and to find out which children were there. The very first child to come through was John-Clifford Aime. His grandmama was with him to help provide what information she could to the nurses for the child wellness part of our program. John-Clifford was the poster child of the day. He had a beautiful smile and we learned that his mama died just the day before at the age of 24. Pastor Dorlean said that their were complications during childbirth about a month ago. Grandmama stuggles to walk, here legs sore but her spirit was uplifting. I gave Grandmama a huge hug and told her mwen regete (I'm sorry). To have such a loss only the day before and to show up for us told me of the importance they put in our program. It really is a moment beyond words.
We did a total intake that day of 28. Our goal had been 37, but we did complete all that arrived. We determined that the health intake takes about 15 minutes per child. It was a full day, we finished around 2:30 and arrived back at the mission house around 4:00 for lunch.
For many on our team this was their first introduction of working with our Haitian friends. Needless to say, they were touched deeply.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Our Flight to Haiti
September 28th, 2010
Our alarms were set for 4:30 a.m. to prepare for our flight to Cap Haitian. Most of us received little sleep as we anticipated what was to come. The Sleep Inn always opens their continental breakfast at 5:00, special for the teams that are headed out on mission trips. Our morning started off with prayer and a variety of breakfast choices from cereal, toast, fruit, yogurt and bagels.
We arrived at Missionary Flights International and saw our beautiful DC3 just awaiting our arrival. This amazing plane has serviced our country well. In WWII she carried our faithful troops who jumped from her comfort into the unknown. For the newcomers on our team, they are going into the unknown.
In God We Trust.
Our alarms were set for 4:30 a.m. to prepare for our flight to Cap Haitian. Most of us received little sleep as we anticipated what was to come. The Sleep Inn always opens their continental breakfast at 5:00, special for the teams that are headed out on mission trips. Our morning started off with prayer and a variety of breakfast choices from cereal, toast, fruit, yogurt and bagels.
We arrived at Missionary Flights International and saw our beautiful DC3 just awaiting our arrival. This amazing plane has serviced our country well. In WWII she carried our faithful troops who jumped from her comfort into the unknown. For the newcomers on our team, they are going into the unknown.
In God We Trust.
Friday, September 24, 2010
September / October 2010 Trip
Romans 12:6- "In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them."
09/24/10 The time is fast approaching for our team of 11 or 12 to get better acquainted. Currently strangers not knowing each others strengths and weaknesses. In just two short weeks we will be bonded forever from a journey that changes us in ways we can't begin to predict.
This is my seventh trip to Haiti and each time I am touched more deeply than the trip before. I value the relationships that are being built and am excited to put my limited Creole to use. We will be having the same tap-tap (taxi) driver that we had last June. We became fast friends on our travel back and forth to LaBruyere and Lassoudray. I teach him English and he teaches me Creole. We test each other each morning with lessons from the previous day. I wonder if he is as exited as I am to see how much we have gained since we last met or what we still remember.
Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them."
09/24/10 The time is fast approaching for our team of 11 or 12 to get better acquainted. Currently strangers not knowing each others strengths and weaknesses. In just two short weeks we will be bonded forever from a journey that changes us in ways we can't begin to predict.
This is my seventh trip to Haiti and each time I am touched more deeply than the trip before. I value the relationships that are being built and am excited to put my limited Creole to use. We will be having the same tap-tap (taxi) driver that we had last June. We became fast friends on our travel back and forth to LaBruyere and Lassoudray. I teach him English and he teaches me Creole. We test each other each morning with lessons from the previous day. I wonder if he is as exited as I am to see how much we have gained since we last met or what we still remember.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Poem (Visions of Haiti - Cap Haitian)
The first Sunday that I was back from Haiti, I awoke to this poem was floating around in my head.
Visions of Haiti - Cap Haitian
Visions of Haiti sift through my head, lying here in my comfy bed.
A starving young boy out on the street
with no one to get him something to eat.
The contrast of beauty and trash all around,
for one you look up, the other you look down.
A student studying by the lamplight below,
hungry to learn, wanting to know,
how to change Haiti, it's government corrupt
I can't be the one who decides to give up.
Missionaries come and then they go,
some helping the country more than they know.
A Pastor's conference where hope is found
to change this country from being upside down.
Lord in the early morning light,
please hear my prayer to make things right.
More important than any of the changes above
is for people to know of your great love.
I pray they invite you into their life
to receive the great gift of your truth and light.
The problems are not in Haiti alone,
but around the world, even in our homes.
Lord we bow in prayer and praise
at your feet thankful we have something to eat,
It may not enter through our mouth,
but nourishes our soul through your sacrifice.
When people see me Lord, let it be your smile they see
your love shining through someone as simple as me.
Shape us and mold us in the likeness of you,
caring and giving all the way through.
Visions of Haiti - Cap Haitian
Visions of Haiti sift through my head, lying here in my comfy bed.
A starving young boy out on the street
with no one to get him something to eat.
The contrast of beauty and trash all around,
for one you look up, the other you look down.
A student studying by the lamplight below,
hungry to learn, wanting to know,
how to change Haiti, it's government corrupt
I can't be the one who decides to give up.
Missionaries come and then they go,
some helping the country more than they know.
A Pastor's conference where hope is found
to change this country from being upside down.
Lord in the early morning light,
please hear my prayer to make things right.
More important than any of the changes above
is for people to know of your great love.
I pray they invite you into their life
to receive the great gift of your truth and light.
The problems are not in Haiti alone,
but around the world, even in our homes.
Lord we bow in prayer and praise
at your feet thankful we have something to eat,
It may not enter through our mouth,
but nourishes our soul through your sacrifice.
When people see me Lord, let it be your smile they see
your love shining through someone as simple as me.
Shape us and mold us in the likeness of you,
caring and giving all the way through.
Friday, July 9, 2010
June 2010 Teacher's Conference
The 2nd annual Teacher's Conference was attended by twenty two Haitian teachers and administrators. We were honored to have educators, Terri Conley of Bangor, Maine and Andrew McKendry of Jackman Maine volunteer to teach this three day seminar. Dr. Chris Gnanakan was our keynote speaker and kicked of the seminar with spiritual encouragement.
The seminar topic was "How to prepare a lesson plan and Methodology of Interactive Educational Games". We had two wonderful Haitian translators, Tina and Pastor Rosa. The teachers from the two schools were encouraged to work together throughout the year. They were also encouraged through biblical verse, Luke 12:47 "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."
The teachers felt that they would apply what they have learned and would share it with the teachers who were not able to attend. They enjoyed learning techniques that would encourage participation from each student, whether shy or outgoing. They would like to have a five day seminar next year.
Teacher, Terri Conley chose this bible passage to share in closing.
Ephesians 4:1-3
"Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace."
The seminar topic was "How to prepare a lesson plan and Methodology of Interactive Educational Games". We had two wonderful Haitian translators, Tina and Pastor Rosa. The teachers from the two schools were encouraged to work together throughout the year. They were also encouraged through biblical verse, Luke 12:47 "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."
The teachers felt that they would apply what they have learned and would share it with the teachers who were not able to attend. They enjoyed learning techniques that would encourage participation from each student, whether shy or outgoing. They would like to have a five day seminar next year.
Teacher, Terri Conley chose this bible passage to share in closing.
Ephesians 4:1-3
"Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace."
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