Haiti Mission Trip 2010

Rice Feeding

2010-06-24T16:55:00.000-07:00

Today was the day we did the rice feeding. It started out with us finding out the rice was delivered about 90 minutes early. So just as we were trying to grab some lunch we had to jump in the Tap Tap. We got there and unloaded the rice into one of the classroms at the school. After it was loaded we had about 2 hours before the people would arrive for the rice. A huge downpour of rain started and lasted about 20 minutes. After that it slowed down to a light mist that was so refreshing. Several of our groups went outside and started playing Ninja. Soon that got a few kids playing and before we knew it, all the kids came out of the classroms and we had about 60 kids playing Ninja. After that, we sang Jesus Loves You in Haitian. It was an awesome experience seeing probably 100 kids in a circle singing. We sang a couple more songs and then did some movement games of Chicken Dance, the Macarena, head-shoulders-knees, and thumbs out. It was a great experience to see the kids having such a good time.

After we got through playing with the kids we went into the church and all the people were there waiting for the rice. The pastor talked a little bit and then prayed over them. We went to the classroom where the rice was to start being handing out. The pastor was giving out tickets that let them get a 55 pound bag of rice. That should be enough rice to feed a family of 6 for 6-8 weeks. As they came up to get their rice someone would pray over them and offer prayers for their family. It was so exciting to see a big bag of rice on the ladies heads and, as they turned around, seeing the smile on their face as they had this rice in their possession.

While it was exciting to see the kids and giving away the rice it was also very sad to know we did not gave enough rice to give to every family. Each of 10 different churches could give tickets to 10 people for a total of 100 bags. So we had peope outside the gate that were going to get in and get some food. There were also extra people in the church that did not get a ticket. I believe these were members of the church who were begging the pastor for rice. They were able to get to where we had the rice and we had to turn them away. We did have some extra bags of rice but we would probably have had a riot if we tried to give those away to a big crowd and not be able to have enough for everyone. So it was just sad to not be able to give everyone some rice. So it was quite the roller coaster of emotion

-Doug

The Crèche Day # 2

2010-06-24T16:29:00.000-07:00

Nothing new to report today. The Lord is blessing us with eager young children and some good weather. Thanks to all of you for you continued prayers and support.

-Doug

VBS Day 2

2010-06-24T16:17:00.000-07:00

Today we did another VBS program just like yesterday. The difference was that yesterday the kids were from the community and today they were kids from school. Today we had 81 professions that Jesus Christ was their savior. Praise the Lord!!!.

-Doug

Construction Day

2010-06-23T19:02:00.000-07:00

Today we went back up to the area on the mountainside to continue digging down to the foundation of the house so a window could be built. We moved about 20,000 pounds of dirt and concrete from the top of the foundation. While were working there we got some rain so we took a break under a tin roof. While waiting, one of the ladies decided to tell some bible stories which led to a couple of salvation's. Praise the Lord!!!!. After we finished our work and were starting to wrap up for the day, there was another man there who needed help cleaning his area, so we helped him for about 30 minutes and prayed with him.

-Doug

Its VBS Time

2010-06-22T20:03:00.000-07:00

Tuesday was our first day at VBS. This VBS is a little different then most. They gave tickets out to 100 kids who could come. Just thinking about that is a little sad in one way as there were kids that did not get to come in. There were some kids standing on some stairs in an adjacent church watching what we were doing. While it is sad to leave some out, the good news is there are many kids who want to come and see what God is offering.

What is different about the VBS is we get the 100 kids and divide in 2 groups. One group stays in the big room where we do music, games, snacks, and present the gospal in the first hour. The other group gets divided into 4 teams and then spends 15 minutes in each room getting a bible story and doing a craft. After the first hour the two groups switch. So each child gets 4 short lessons, 4 short crafts, games, music, snacks, and a presentation of the gospel.

We did all the presentations with a few minor glitches with great God-given sucess. The kids were attentive to the lessons and had a great time. We did the gospel presentations and got a list of 67 kids who proclaimed Jesus as there Savior. We were able to give a list of those names to the local pastor who also runs the school. He was thrilled how well it went. The leader of BGM commented afterwards that he has never seen a VBS go so well here. It was an amazing day.

-Doug

At the Crèche Orphanage

2010-06-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

This is for the Crèche which is the orphanage with kids under 6.

In the crèche with the babies, before I even stepped on the porch, one little tiny girl named Diana was holding her arms out and crying to me to hold her. When I sat down with her, Francesca also came over and sat in my lap. They both stayed in my lap for 2 hours. If I tried to put them down they cried. The Haitian workers were crèche top to bottom and we had to move from the porch to inside. One lady was cleaning out the fridge and it was spotless. After lunch I went back to the crèche and held Diana again. When she got down, I went and picked up a tiny baby girl named Grace. She has a sister named Hope. I held her and played with her until she feel asleep.

The children then got bathes and got powdered and clean clothes put on. They are all so well cared for and clean. From what we have been told, this is a top notch place compared to other places in Haiti. They currently have 45 babies here and all but 6 are already in the process of being adopted by families in the US and France. Seeing the children here is really sad and breaks my heart, but they are really well cared for and it is a wonderful place for them to be until they are adopted. They are also in the process of adding more space to take in more kids.

-Doug

Working in Port-Au-Prince

2010-06-22T13:45:00.000-07:00

A team of approximately a dozen worked in the city of Port -Au-Prince Monday. The commute was an hour and a half both ways in a crowded tap tap.(click here to find out what a tap tap is). Our services included painting classrooms, sorting clothing, electrical work, cleaning and organizing roof top storage, sorting and safely storing medical supplies for the children. In the six classrooms we painted ceilings, added second coats of paint and painted scripture verses on the walls. The clothing closet was filled with clothing and uniforms that had been tossed everywhere. Here we organized the clothes into size and style, then put them in shelving storage.

The two men doing the electrical work were such an incredible blessing. You couldn't imagine the amount of loose open edged wires dangling from ceilings, light switches and the fans previously installed. They provided lighting in the boys and girls housing and also the classrooms. The boys had been sleeping on the roof top at night because their rooms have been sweltering hot. They were so excited to have fans.

Dr. Eckel sorted the few medicines and put them in plastic storage containers to avoid contamination by rodents. The roof top storage was cleaned and organized into sections that could be used for construction and wood that was rotten and no good. Without the wood being sorted many of the orphanage workers would have used the rotten wood for repairs. The children were so happy to see and interact with us. Many of them helped in the projects we were doing.

During our break for lunch we went up onto the roof top to see the view of the city. I have never been more overwhelmed with the sense of helplessness as I was looking over the city. The entire mountain side and as far as your eye could see was house on top of house. Many of which consist of only three cement walls and a blue tarp or rusted tin roof top. My heart broke for these people. It was as if the reality of their poverty had set in like a bullet. I was so deeply saddened while looking at this view when one of the team members shared this fact with me. Though Haiti is the poorest of poor they're coming to know Christ at great numbers. Just eight years ago Haiti was only 6-7% Christian and they are now 25% Christan, not forgetting that their population has skyrocketed. I am excited to report that while we worked with the children at the orphanage yesterday they all gladly declared that they knew Jesus as their personal savior!! Thank you for your prayers not just for our mission team but for the people of Haiti as well!!

-Doug

First Day at Construction Site

2010-06-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

Here is info from the first day at the construction site:

After a 3 hour bus ride through the city streets crowded with people, cars, and umbrellaed street vendors we arrived at our destination. After taking many pictures of this amazing mountainside village of endless houses, we were saddened by the realization that they appeared from a distance. The few homes that were actually still standing had major damage caused by the earthquake. The whole side of this mountain was completely destroyed by the earthquake. We climbed through the rubble and shifting earth to our destination. To uncover the foundation of a family's home flattened completely as countless others. It looked like a never ending task at first but little by little, brick by brick we saw foundation and steps of the former house appearing.

Emotions ranged from tiredness to joy as the Haitian neighbors pitched in to help in the assembly line of buckets. The father of the house worked endlessly to uncover and rebuild the home his daughter was killed in. One of the best things of the day was learning a little self taught Creole and being able to see happy expressions on the Haitians faces as we spoke to them in their native language. Of course all we have learned so far is "good morning", "good afternoon", and "Jesus loves you". We will head back on Tuesday and work to get as far as we possibly can this week.

-Doug Giles

Bonjou from Haiti!

2010-06-21T06:38:00.000-07:00

Bonjou from Haiti! We arrived in Haiti without any major problems. When we arrived in the airport we were led to a sweltering hot, airless, steamy warehouse we went through customs and baggage claim. It was quite the contrast from retrieving luggage at DFW!! This was, to say the least, the first point of culture shock. Once through customs we guided our luggage over rocky cratered sidewalks and streets to load our buses. Our departure was delayed while we waited on an additional bus to carry all of us and the depth of need to the Haitian people was abundantly clear all around us. We had been given strict instructions not to give anything to anyone: food, money, or belongings. This rule was set down not only for our own safety but also for the safety of the Haitian people. But the first desire of our hearts, believe me when I say this, was to give our sandwiches, which was purchased at the Miami airport, to the men and children surrounding us. I heard many people speak of the guilt they felt eating while these people stood in such despair.

Once we arrived at the Bethel House, things were much different than we expected. The accommodations are very comfortable and the climate is much more agreeable then down in the city. The staff is very hospitable and friendly. The view is marvelous and you can see the hand of God in the creation of this land. This truly is the land of contrast. The view doesn't compare to the desperate man-made conditions of the people in this country. It would be easy to look around and feel a deep sense of hopelessness. However, Dr. Jeff preached on Sunday and it is obvious our Lord is the same Lord here in Haiti as in Texas. He loves His people wherever they are and desires a relationship with them.

Please continue to pray that His work will be done in and through us this week. We will begin various missions on Monday at the construction sites: 2 orphanages and the Creche (orphanage for children under the age of 6). There is a couple staying here from Portland Oregon. They are adopting a little girl.

Below is a slide show of our arrival into Haiti and what we seen the first day.

May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. (1Peter 1:2),

-Doug Giles

Haiti is now live!!!

2010-06-15T14:53:00.001-07:00

The Haiti trip is coming up fast. Stay in touch by commenting on blogs and see what your friends and family are up to. Pics and blogs will be added daily.