Since the last blog last night we have had a great day on Saturday. We spent the day at the NWHM and got to see the entire facility. Janiel has a great heart (he runs the mission). Here is what he has in his Saint Louise mission site (this is the main campus). 1) Baby Orphanage-this holds kids from babies to around 3 years old. After 3 years old, the kids then go out to the new facility in the country around 2 1/2 hour drive. 2) Senior Center-on the facility is a center for older people that cannot take care of themselves. They have rock in chairs like Cracker Barrel and they do different things to keep them busy. This was awesome to see this people group that in the Haitian society would not be much use, find worth. Some of the seniors are blind and have other issues. 3) Birthing Center-There is a center for women to have babies in a clean setting. Before the center, the women were having babies on the ground and getting sick after delivering the babies and in a lot of cases dying and leaving kids orphaned. Now they can have their baby in a clean sterile setting. There were two babies that needed to oxygenate to survive. One was 2 1/2 pounds and the other came in last night as was 4 1/2 pounds. Janeil kept the generators running to keep the babies oxygen running so the babies did not die. They had a baby die a few days ago that was premature, that made all of us very sad. They facilitate 3-4 births a day. 4) Special needs orphanage-The have around 10-13 kids that have special needs. You can imagine that these kids in Haiti are really just left out in society to just die. The kids had a variety of issues, from mental health to physical needs. We discussed a vision from some conversation we had to have physical and occupational therapist from the US come in and work to help these kids' to help them develop. Janiel believes that if they get this type of therapy, some of them can possible get jobs like brick laying (this would be for some, not all, but they can still have a purpose in their lives). The mission could take more special needs kids, but they currently need more space. 5) Medical Facility-they are building a full medical facility, they have a air condition lab as well. They are not too far off get this completed, but they would be able to do surgeries and emergency services. There is not one in the area doing this at all, especially free. It was really cool. 6) Eye Examination Center-They have eye examination rooms that doctors come in a do basic eye care, but also will do cataract surgery. 7) Dentist Facility-They do root canals and other procedures to help people with oral teeth issues. The say the Haitians have a high tolerance for pain during these procedures. I think they are all just happy to have this service. 8) Auto Shop-Since they have HORRIBLE roads, they have to have people (volunteers from the US) come in a rebuild and maintain their automobiles. It was pretty complex, especially for NW part of Haiti.
We did devotionals last night and this morning with the group from the states that were in along with the missionaries that live at the mission. We sang hymns which was really awesome. We left the mission after lunch and then took the hour or so drive back to the airport. The run way in Port-Au-Paix was a street with houses on it. When the plane takes off we pass cars that are on the side of the run way and people are watching on the roadside as we take off. We just cleared the houses (really) when we took off. We landed in Port-Au-Prince around 3pm and then went to another orphanage outside of Port-Au-Prince. I will talk more about that tomorrow, there was a lot more God stuff at the small orphanage we saw after our flight. The good thing is that we got to hook up with Rob again, he is doing fine and had a great time when we were gone. Rob got to hand out "Love Bundles" to the kids at the Christian Lifeline Mission and also got to see two cows slaughtered for the third night of the revival that is taking place tonight (I won't post pictures of the cow being slaughtered, ha, ha). There were also many couples that got married tonight at the mission, it is raining now, and most of us are very tired and beat up from the bad, bad roads.
We love you all, thanks for reading our blog, especially our families. We miss them and can't wait to come back home and kiss them all.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Our Day Up in North West Haiti
Our day started out early. We had to be up at 5:30am to head to the airport. We had to leave one of our team members (Rob) back due to an issue with his stomach (may have had some bad water).
Got to the airport and our flight was delayed one hour. The runway was filled with waste from an overspill that happened due to hard rains the night before. We final got up in the air on a 20 seat prop plane and flew up to NW Haiti, specifically Port-au-paix. We were pick up by Janiel who runs the NW Haiti Mission. Our first stop was to a small sea town and a mission location for NW Haiti Mission (NWHM) that they had just started a few years ago. This area had gotten hit hard by a CAT-4 Hurricane last September that wiped out most of the lower houses in the town along with 400 animals and 10 people that got swept out to sea and died. We pick up a young missionary that is from Lexington, Curtis, and he went with us to see the feeding location. The food that got feed to the kids was the food that NWHM received from Kids Against Hunger (Larry B) and that Orphans Promise helped with the shipping. The took at least 1 1/2 hours and was on the roughest road that most of us had ever been on. We had to drive through a river, yes, you heard me, right through a river. We also saw people walking on the roadside, riding donkeys and a ton of kids waved at us and yelled "Bloncs" which means white during our entire driving trip. The kids do not seem to see too many white people so they were so excited to see us drive by and all of us waved at them.
When we got the NWHM campus (one of many), we saw the kids and they were getting feed rice from Kids Against Hunger. It was very sad to see them lined up and as their name was called, they would head up and get their food. Some of the kids do not eat but once a day! We did our video interview with a women that has seven kids she is responsible for, most of them are her grandchildren since her own children cannot afford to take care of them and have to go to another city to find work. This lady only eats once a day if she is lucky and most of that food comes from the feeding centers. She was only 41 and she looked at least 61.
After we did our filming, we ate lunch and then went to head to an orphanage that NWHM runs. We drove at least one hour and hit a road that has too wet and muddy to head down or back up. We had to drive back and could not go. We did get to see a market (this was incredible). The market was packed and the people looked at us and yelled and waved. Only a few people seemed to have an issue with us, but most were waving and also asking for money. The drive was really a blast, it was like driving through the African ride at Animal Kingdom, but real, and much more exciting.
Finally we ended the night in the city of St. Louie. this is the main campus for NWHM. We will see a baby orphanage and a birthing center tomorrow and then head back to Port-Au-Prince. I will include some photos as well later. We love you all and miss our family. God is so good, this is such a great experience and the need for these people and especially the kids is so great.
Got to the airport and our flight was delayed one hour. The runway was filled with waste from an overspill that happened due to hard rains the night before. We final got up in the air on a 20 seat prop plane and flew up to NW Haiti, specifically Port-au-paix. We were pick up by Janiel who runs the NW Haiti Mission. Our first stop was to a small sea town and a mission location for NW Haiti Mission (NWHM) that they had just started a few years ago. This area had gotten hit hard by a CAT-4 Hurricane last September that wiped out most of the lower houses in the town along with 400 animals and 10 people that got swept out to sea and died. We pick up a young missionary that is from Lexington, Curtis, and he went with us to see the feeding location. The food that got feed to the kids was the food that NWHM received from Kids Against Hunger (Larry B) and that Orphans Promise helped with the shipping. The took at least 1 1/2 hours and was on the roughest road that most of us had ever been on. We had to drive through a river, yes, you heard me, right through a river. We also saw people walking on the roadside, riding donkeys and a ton of kids waved at us and yelled "Bloncs" which means white during our entire driving trip. The kids do not seem to see too many white people so they were so excited to see us drive by and all of us waved at them.
When we got the NWHM campus (one of many), we saw the kids and they were getting feed rice from Kids Against Hunger. It was very sad to see them lined up and as their name was called, they would head up and get their food. Some of the kids do not eat but once a day! We did our video interview with a women that has seven kids she is responsible for, most of them are her grandchildren since her own children cannot afford to take care of them and have to go to another city to find work. This lady only eats once a day if she is lucky and most of that food comes from the feeding centers. She was only 41 and she looked at least 61.
After we did our filming, we ate lunch and then went to head to an orphanage that NWHM runs. We drove at least one hour and hit a road that has too wet and muddy to head down or back up. We had to drive back and could not go. We did get to see a market (this was incredible). The market was packed and the people looked at us and yelled and waved. Only a few people seemed to have an issue with us, but most were waving and also asking for money. The drive was really a blast, it was like driving through the African ride at Animal Kingdom, but real, and much more exciting.
Finally we ended the night in the city of St. Louie. this is the main campus for NWHM. We will see a baby orphanage and a birthing center tomorrow and then head back to Port-Au-Prince. I will include some photos as well later. We love you all and miss our family. God is so good, this is such a great experience and the need for these people and especially the kids is so great.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Working hard for the stories and getting details
John has had his pad and pen by his side all day long. Here is a photo of him writing down his thoughts for a good story. My job tomorrow is to get more pictures of Yuri, he is always on the move getting photos.
Video from the Conference Service Tonight
These girls came down from the mountians 5 hours to sing at the revival.
Our First Full Day
Lots to talk about. We got up this morning and had breakfast. Then we got to see the medical mission and meet the doctors that are here from the US (a few from Monroe, Michigan). Lots of kids and babies, a lady with a leg that was burned and had a rapping on it. The mission charges around $1.00 for the service just to give the people dignity. In the medical mission, each person receives the gospel before they get their medical service. The medical mission is also stocked with Pharmaceuticals to help people with all different things. The next closest medical facility is one hour 1/2 away in Port-Au-Prince. Children's Lifeline also feeds around 1500 adults and kids per day (5-Days a week). Haiti women work in the mission make the food for the kids. The feeding helps not just people in the village right around the mission, but they also feed people in the mountains. These people come down 2 to 5 hours to get food. The mission also has a Christian school that has classes up to 5th grade. They are trying to expand the school up to the 8th grade by next fall. Children's Lifeline hires around 60 people from the community. The mission also has some vocational training for the people/kids in the community. They have training for block making and sewing. The students make up to 350 blocks for building per day. This skill is something that helps the people make money and gives them a skill that will help them for life. The sewing area trains young and old women to make bags that they can now sell to help them take care of their needs. We also went out today and saw a piece of land the Children's Lifeline owns in the next community. They now have 108 kids that are getting a Christian Education. Their long term vision is to build a school on the propriety to add another 200 kids plus. This project will cost $40,000.
The other cool thing today we got to see was the dam. Water from the mountains flows into canals that were made in the 60's by the peace core. It was really cool. The Haitian kids jumped into the water and started swimming. The kids are awesome, we all want to take them home with us. They are so beautiful, and all our hearts hurt that they are in such a poor situation.
Right now we are getting ready for what the mission calls a conference. It is like a big tent revival. As I am writing this, they are sing worship music Haitian style. It is cool.
We head to NW Haiti tomorrow am at 8:15am and arrive by plane in NW Haiti at 8:50am. We will stay with Northwest Haiti Mission until Saturday 2:10PM and will arrive back in Port-Au-Prince around 2:50pm. We will drive to see a small orphanage with 13 kids. A lady contact Orphans Promise for help, her husband died and she is really hurting for funding. Pray that God helps her and the kids.
I am hoping that we have Internet in NW Haiti, if so, I will send another blog.
Love you all from the team and God Bless. We miss you all.
The other cool thing today we got to see was the dam. Water from the mountains flows into canals that were made in the 60's by the peace core. It was really cool. The Haitian kids jumped into the water and started swimming. The kids are awesome, we all want to take them home with us. They are so beautiful, and all our hearts hurt that they are in such a poor situation.
Right now we are getting ready for what the mission calls a conference. It is like a big tent revival. As I am writing this, they are sing worship music Haitian style. It is cool.
We head to NW Haiti tomorrow am at 8:15am and arrive by plane in NW Haiti at 8:50am. We will stay with Northwest Haiti Mission until Saturday 2:10PM and will arrive back in Port-Au-Prince around 2:50pm. We will drive to see a small orphanage with 13 kids. A lady contact Orphans Promise for help, her husband died and she is really hurting for funding. Pray that God helps her and the kids.
I am hoping that we have Internet in NW Haiti, if so, I will send another blog.
Love you all from the team and God Bless. We miss you all.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
John and Yuri after dinner
Yuri and John after dinner tonight. They really are having a good time even though the picture seems like they are serious. We are all heading to bed now.
Reading the Word
Rob reading the word at the Hotel at the Airport in Detroit before we leave. We got 3 hours of sleep
From Haiti with Love
We all finally got in today. Larry, Rob and Christian got in around 3pm, while Yuri and John got in around 7pm. The drive was rough, but seeing the people is amazing. The Haiti people seem to be so far in the past as it pertains to our standards in the US, but they all seem happy (the kids, not all the adults). I did feel a bit of the satanic impact of the country when we landed at the airport. Childrens Lifeline has been awesome! We just had a great Haitian dinner. Our entire team is talking and getting to know all of the people that are here. There are a lot of Americans here, they are having a revival and hundreds of Haitian are showing up tomorrow morning at 5am. God is good! We will talk to Childrens Lifeline and see what they are doing to help the Haiti Orphans, tomorrow will be a busy day. We will also go and meet with the towns witch doctor as well and get a better understanding of the mix of Christianity and Voodo that exists in Haiti and this area. We all miss our family and love them very much.
Love from Haiti
Love from Haiti
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Winning Haiti from Satan to Christ
Below is a report from Christian World News. If you click the link, you can see the TV report.
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/231322.aspx
Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and is getting poorer every day.
Half the population is under-nourished. One in five children dies before he or she reaches five. The majority in the country don't have access to clean water.
But the nation's top evangelical leader says there are deeper issues that plague his nation.
Haitians made a blood pact with the devil 200 years ago after a witchdoctor by the name of Boukman dedicated the island to Satan.
Lesly - not his real name - is a voodoo priest. He says that is his spirit name. Lesly runs a voodoo temple on the outskirts of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince.
He says for the last three decades, he has tended to the desperate needs of many Haitians.
"Many come to me with all kinds of sickness. Some have evil spirits in them," the voodoo priest said. "They ask me to solve their problems and I do. I also help them get voodoo spirits that can look after them in the future."
One Haitan sees the future of his nation in a different light.
"There's a saying in this country that Haiti is 70 percent Catholic and 30 percent Protestant and 100 percent voodoo! But things are changing," the native said. "An army of believers says it is enough that for 200 years, this nation has suffered under the curse of voodoo. Things are changing."
Spearheading that change is Pastor Chavannes Jeune, Haiti's most prominent evangelical leader. On most days, you'll find him traveling around the island with one goal in mind.
"What we are trying to do to our country is to claim it back for the Lord."
Thousands of Christians are joining that campaign with fervent prayer and fasting.
Pastor Jeune visited CBN News in our studios. He talked with Reporter Wendy Griffith about how the the island has changed in recent years. Below is a transcript of that conversation. You can watch the entire interview by clicking play above.
Jeune: Haiti was called a voodoo country, but now I think the Christians are taking over because we have about 42 to 46 percent Christians in the country.
Wendy: And you're seeing a revival now?
Jeune: We are on the verge of revival because their is a lot of room given to spiritual things, even at the national palace we've been granted permission to organize a monthly prayer service, every first thursday of the month, we do that also at the Prime Minister's office and at the ministry of Justice, and also the Parliament, the Congress is open to that to.
Wendy: What impact is that having on the Haitian government?
Jeune: I think they recognize that the current stability and security that is being developed is the result of the Christian prayers and the effort and the will of the government to create this environment.
Wendy: What would you say Pastor Jeune are Haiti's greatest needs?
Jeune: I think the greatest need is, you know, the poverty is so rampant, and we need to create jobs because 80 percent of the people are not working, and the literacy rate is very weak, because it's only 35 percent of the people that can read and write.
Wendy: How is the church on the ground in Haiti helping meet some of those dire needs in Haiti.
Jeune: Well you know that the church is mostly from the poor, bottom line, and I think that the church is doing its best, like in school, we have 39 percent of all the elementary school -- that's the highest percent in the country -- the government only has 11 percent. Also, a lot of development in social work is being conducted by the church in health and in microcredit and in a lot of things like that.
Wendy: Well let me ask you, what can Christians here in the United States and throughout the world do to help Haiti.
Jeune: First, I think that they should continue to pray for Haiti because we are on the verge of a revival and we want that revival to break through.
Wendy: Well, we will pray for Haiti and we thank you so much for being with us.
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/231322.aspx
Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and is getting poorer every day.
Half the population is under-nourished. One in five children dies before he or she reaches five. The majority in the country don't have access to clean water.
But the nation's top evangelical leader says there are deeper issues that plague his nation.
Haitians made a blood pact with the devil 200 years ago after a witchdoctor by the name of Boukman dedicated the island to Satan.
Lesly - not his real name - is a voodoo priest. He says that is his spirit name. Lesly runs a voodoo temple on the outskirts of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince.
He says for the last three decades, he has tended to the desperate needs of many Haitians.
"Many come to me with all kinds of sickness. Some have evil spirits in them," the voodoo priest said. "They ask me to solve their problems and I do. I also help them get voodoo spirits that can look after them in the future."
One Haitan sees the future of his nation in a different light.
"There's a saying in this country that Haiti is 70 percent Catholic and 30 percent Protestant and 100 percent voodoo! But things are changing," the native said. "An army of believers says it is enough that for 200 years, this nation has suffered under the curse of voodoo. Things are changing."
Spearheading that change is Pastor Chavannes Jeune, Haiti's most prominent evangelical leader. On most days, you'll find him traveling around the island with one goal in mind.
"What we are trying to do to our country is to claim it back for the Lord."
Thousands of Christians are joining that campaign with fervent prayer and fasting.
Pastor Jeune visited CBN News in our studios. He talked with Reporter Wendy Griffith about how the the island has changed in recent years. Below is a transcript of that conversation. You can watch the entire interview by clicking play above.
Jeune: Haiti was called a voodoo country, but now I think the Christians are taking over because we have about 42 to 46 percent Christians in the country.
Wendy: And you're seeing a revival now?
Jeune: We are on the verge of revival because their is a lot of room given to spiritual things, even at the national palace we've been granted permission to organize a monthly prayer service, every first thursday of the month, we do that also at the Prime Minister's office and at the ministry of Justice, and also the Parliament, the Congress is open to that to.
Wendy: What impact is that having on the Haitian government?
Jeune: I think they recognize that the current stability and security that is being developed is the result of the Christian prayers and the effort and the will of the government to create this environment.
Wendy: What would you say Pastor Jeune are Haiti's greatest needs?
Jeune: I think the greatest need is, you know, the poverty is so rampant, and we need to create jobs because 80 percent of the people are not working, and the literacy rate is very weak, because it's only 35 percent of the people that can read and write.
Wendy: How is the church on the ground in Haiti helping meet some of those dire needs in Haiti.
Jeune: Well you know that the church is mostly from the poor, bottom line, and I think that the church is doing its best, like in school, we have 39 percent of all the elementary school -- that's the highest percent in the country -- the government only has 11 percent. Also, a lot of development in social work is being conducted by the church in health and in microcredit and in a lot of things like that.
Wendy: Well let me ask you, what can Christians here in the United States and throughout the world do to help Haiti.
Jeune: First, I think that they should continue to pray for Haiti because we are on the verge of a revival and we want that revival to break through.
Wendy: Well, we will pray for Haiti and we thank you so much for being with us.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Getting Ready for Trip to Haiti
There are five of us getting ready this weekend for our trip to Haiti. I just had a conversation with the team in Northwest Haiti to plan our visit. Also had some great conversation with the team just outside of Port-au-Prince at Christian Lifeline International. We leave on Wednesday Feb. 25th and get into Haiti around 12:30pm and the other team around 4pm.
More to come.
God Bless
More to come.
God Bless
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