Haiti 2010

Back in July, I led my 4th mission trip into Haiti. Once again, it was an amazing experience! It was such a thrill to be able to have Leanne (her 2nd trip), and Jessica (her 1st trip) along with me this year.

We had a total of 18 from our church participate. Our youngest was 11 and our oldest was 70. Most of them had been to Haiti before but 8 of them were first-timers. Here are just a few pictures and comments concerning our experience.

We spent the first night at the main mission campus.
But the first day we traveled to another campus site
called "The Bay." The full name of the town is
The Bay of Mosquitoes. While we were there we
led a VBS for the local kids. We spent the night on the
roof of the mission and the next day we purchased some goats
to be given to different Haitian families.

VBS at the Bay

This is the mountain top church where we distributed
some of the goats we purchased. The Haitian minister chose
the families to give a pair of goats to. He encouraged them
to pass the gift along and give away some of the offspring
of the goats. He told us that this was not a little thing but
a big thing we had done. What we gave each family was
equivalent to 6 months of wages.

Local transportation in Haiti is by "Tap Tap."
Basically you load up into the back of a small pickup truck.
This was our Tap Tap after we dropped off the goats.
We had about 10 people in the back of the truck and
it hit a rut in the road and got stuck.
Tap Tap rides are always fun!

At the orphanage we led our VBS program. We also had
to go two days without running water or bathroom
facilities. The group that came in as we were leaving
had ice. You would have thought they were nuggets of
gold the way we reacted to it. Thankfully they shared!

We went to Ansefelour (sp?) as well.
It is a beautiful drive along the coast.

Ansefelour is the voodoo capital of Haiti.
We led our VBS there for 200 kids.
Then we hiked up the mountain to a voodoo monument.
It used to be a cross that was placed by the Catholics
However, when lightning struck the cross and knocked
off its arms and a portion of the top the local Haitians
believed Satan was claiming the site. So now those
that practice voodoo will hike to the monument,
perform sacrifices, and pray. We gathered around
the monument and had a much different time of prayer.

Then we went inside the voodoo temple in town and prayed
in the same room as a group of people who were praying
to a porcelain baby doll that they believe fell from the sky
undamaged at the same time as the lightning strike.

It was sad to see the hopelessness of their belief.
It was a bit eerie to see the blood stained pole
where they performed their sacrifices and to see
a murky watered pool where they believe
they can receive forgiveness.



Back a the mission campus we chose to host our VBS
with the Gran Moun (the elderly). They always
enjoy singing and they liked our craft as well.



We helped paint some huts at the baby orphanage.

On Sunday I was able to preach at a Haitian church.
We had a short drive and then a 35 minute hike to
the church. I have never been so hot in all my life.
My interpreter was even sweating like crazy.
Right before we left I took my tie off and gave it
to the preacher at the church. I knew he could use
a new tie and I was too hot to wear it any longer!

Of course Leanne and Jessica loved being with the kids.

I really like this picture.