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.
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