Reflection: Lauren Molinaro

 

 Today was the day we said our goodbyes to those at EBAC. Personally for me it has to be one of the hardest things to do. Most kids won't even come out of their room because they know how hard it is to say goodbye to another group that comes and goes. After such a week with so much love for these kids and having them hang all over you for seven days, it's going to be weird not having that every day. Last year coming back from Haiti it took me awhile to get used to being back. I know with such an experience I had last year I would not forget these relationships that I have built. I was right, and throughout the year I wrote some of the kids I built relationships with and would send them pictures so they knew I wouldn't forget them. It seemed like this year the relationships got even stronger and it felt even harder to let go this morning. I made a promise to them that I would be back and I plan on keeping that promise.

Many memories were made this past week and I experienced so many different things while in Haiti. The most touching experience was last year I took a picture with three girls I got really close with: Woudeline, TeTe, and Ashley. I printed it out and sent it to them in the mail hoping when I went back they would show me it. Yesterday one of the older women showed me that she had the picture in her room of my three girls and me. She said she loved it and the relationship I had with these girls. That just showed me how much love they have for these groups that come down. I took another picture of Woudeline, TeTe, Ashley, and me and she told me to send it down and she will put it next to the one from last year. I plan on taking a picture with them every year I'm down there and see the collection of pictures of them growing older throughout the year. Seeing them grow up so fast within one year amazed me. I can't wait 10 years from now going back EBAC and looking back at how young they were when I first met them. Haiti may not be so beautiful on the outside with all the trash, the smell, and poverty but I got to see more this year about how God is really working in the Haitians lives. I saw this last night we had our final worship together with a couple of our Haitian friends. I can't even describe how beautiful their voices sound. I could easily sit there and listen to them sing for hours even when they sing in creole. We prayed together and worshiped together, and seeing these two completely different worlds coming together made me realize how great our God is.

There are far too many memories and experiences to type out on just one blog post. I can honestly say going to Haiti is a life changing experience. Last year going through the streets of Cap Haitien, Haiti for the first time made me speechless and it still does not seem real to me. I questioned all this year about how could there be such a never ending poverty? We got to walk out on the streets more this year and go further into the back parts of Cap Haitien. There is not one spot where everything looks ok. No matter where you go there is some sort of poverty or uncleanliness. The smell is so distinct that all of our clothes will probably have the Haiti smell on it for awhile. There really are no words to explain what Haiti really is like. The mental images all of us have from experiencing Haiti will stay in our minds forever and the relationships we built will forever be in our hearts.

The Final Day

The last full day was difficult. Smiles weren't quite as big because everyone knows what's coming tomorrow morning. Many of the students write us letters explaining some needs they have, or ways we can help their family. They're hoping that we will give them a little bit of cash in order to help with school expenses, medical attention, or food. Though we certainly can't blame them, it does wear us down a bit.

Here's the good thing: when we say that some of us will return - they believe us. This is the second time our team has visited Haiti, and it won't be the last. This gives them hope, and it brings us joy.

Kathy and Alice invite us to their home to enjoy a true Haitian dinner cooked by one of the mothers from EBAC - a nice gesture, a delicious meal! We ended our final day by worshiping with some of the older students of EBAC. Words can't describe their beautiful singing... stay tuned for a video.

We'll have a few more blog posts now that we're in the States. One more reflection remains, plus certain videos and pictures couldn't be uploaded from Haiti because of the VERY slow internet connection. I'm hoping to piece together a nice highlight video and post it early next week.

In the meantime, thank you all for following this blog (over 1,500 page views!), for your support, and for your prayers.

Kevin Vinay (team blogger)

Three street kids who spend every day, all day at EBAC

A child at EBAC whose parents were killed in the earthquake

Nobody's very happy during the final day of our trip

The Haitian meal

 Dinner with Kathy and Alice (and some of Kathy's visiting family)

After worship with the older EBAC students

Reflection: Bonnie Collier

 

At the beginning of the week I was unsure if I would ever make a return trip to Haiti again. I shared with my group the feelings I was having and they seemed to provide me with some advice. They reassured me that my heart would tell me what was right. Over the next several days I seemed to fall in love with a few children I have become close with here in Haiti. I talked with them and spent the day with them learning about each one. I learned who each one was and what their life was like and what ambitions they were working towards. The love that these kids have to give is like a gift from god. All they want to do is have somebody there to comfort them and talk to them and make them feel wanted. There love is like a gift from god it is so pure and innocent. The kids from the United States are so immersed in how American culture tells them they should be and how to act. But here in Haiti the children are not influenced by the pressures of their society and they can just be kids and have a simple life. They put God before everything else in their life and they are not afraid to discuss their faith. Kids in America usually do not talk about their religious beliefs the way the Haitians do. I came here to try and help these children and make their lives better however I think they changed me. I learned once again true meaning of love and friendship. I was able to learn more than I ever imagined about God and the bible from these children. They have opened my mind to the different cultures that exist in the world other than my own. I was always able to believe that other cultures existed but you can never truly grasp what that means until you see it for yourself. As we drove through the woods of Haiti what you see is truly primitive. People were living in small huts with tin roofs sometimes there were three to four or maybe more people living in one small space. These were the types of things I you only see in movies but never can truly imagine exists. I spent a lot of time just looking out the windows and trying to take in everything I was seeing. Several kids have really touched my heart over the week and I want to form life long relationships with them. I want to know what happens to them and how they grow up and what becomes of them. I definitely want to return to Haiti and also consider going on other missions around the world and learning about other cultures.

The Beach

It's quite a treat for the kids to visit the beach. It's pretty nice for the mission team, too.

We crammed into the bus - no really, with 90+ people we literally crammed into the bus and traveled down dirt roads, over potholes, through enormous puddles. At one point a group of us got out of the bus so that it could cross a large ditch caused by a stream. Haitians were in the process of building a bridge. 

It was a little cooler today (late eighties), but the water was beautiful (late seventies). These temperatures were pretty cold for the Haitian kids, who shivered as they played in the water. But it was still a very fun, exhausting day. Now, we're back at EBAC prepping for our final day with the kids.

Mr. Destin's New Ministry

Some of us visited Mr. Destin's new ministry yesterday afternoon. Mr. Destin teaches French and Geography at EBAC. He and a team of leaders from EBAC feel led to begin a new ministry to local families behind the orphanage - in the valleys of the mountain. After walking for twenty minutes, children began following our small group until we arrived at a small home with a decorated back "yard."

Here, the leaders led the children in songs, games, and a gospel message. Mr. Destin taught the children about how the sacrifice of Jesus washes away our sin and offers us a hope for a future. If heaven - where everyone is made perfect and there is no sickness or crying - sounds to good to be true for us, imagine what it must sound like to the ears of impoverished Haitian children.

We're grateful to God for the hope that Jesus Christ brings - to us and to them.

The local children singing songs

 

 Mr. Destin playing a game with the children

Riding On a Tap-Tap (Part 2)

Riding On a Tap-Tap (Part 1)

This video was taken while hanging on to the back of a tap-tap. We were on our way to the market. There are nine of us squeezed in the back, and two of us standing on the bumper. This wasn't done for thrills. This is completely normal in Haiti. Our very good friend Guillin (Ge-lay) giggled when we told him that it's mandatory to wear seat belts in the States.

Kevin: Riding on the back of a tap!
Tim: It doesn't get better than this, boy! It doesn't get better...

"Up From the Grave He Arose"

The children singing verse two of "Up From the Grave He Arose." This was part of the opening sing-along for Children's Church. So, sing along in English if you want (unless you're fluent in Creole).

Reflection: Tim Comer

It is an honor and privilege to come back to Haiti this summer.  The hopeless state of this country and the basic human needs that exist are beyond comprehension and hit me just as hard as it did last year.  I cannot seem to get my head around it all. After riding from the airport through the heart of Cap Hatien and viewing all the despair we arrived at the orphanage and were greeted by the kids in the orphanage and many of the street kids.   It was very emotional seeing and reconnecting with the many kids we built relationships with the previous year.  It was a beautiful moment.

This second trip it has become very apparent to me how important it is to keep your word with the Haitian people.  When you say you are going to do something; you do it.  Our relationships immediately deepened with the young men and women of this orphanage when they saw many of us from our trip last year had returned.  As the week went on I was confronted by several young people who asked why I hadn’t written them.  This is an area where I must do better when I return home.

This year I’ve had the opportunity to see and experience a lot more of the pain and devastation that exists in Haiti. I visited a couple of the street kids’ homes this year.  They are basically a concrete structure with a tin roof about the size of the average bathroom in America, only not as nice.  There are usually 5-6 people (sometimes more) living in these homes.

I also had the chance to visit an orphanage (Peace and Joy) that is not as well off as the EBAC orphanage where we are serving.  The conditions were indescribable and when we arrived they only had enough food to feed the orphans for one more day.  We took up a collection and went out and bought 3 bags of rice and a bag of beans so they could get by for a few more days.  It would cost around $1000 to feed the entire orphanage and staff for one month.  Perhaps this is a project/mission to take on.  Anybody in?

Wearing Sunday Best

The children in their church clothes waiting for Children's Church

Some of the boys with Dave and Keaton

Kathy, Alice, and Guillin leading Children's Church

Kay was asked to help with some of the songs - good choice! 

Jennifer with some of the girls

Three boys from EBAC

 

A new evangelism ministry by Mr. Destin (EBAC teacher)

Pics from IDADEE

Cramming into the tap-tap

Hang on tight, it's bumpy

Ben

Bonnie

Kay

Lauren

Playing with the children

Keaton

Meal time

Tim

Meal time for the two year olds

Enjoying the shade by the playground

The new playground (1)

The new playground (2)

The view from the hillside (ocean inlet in the middle)

Our team with some of the children

The funny pic

Reflection: Emily Sobeck

 

Today is Saturday and we had the privilege of getting a tap-tap ride over to the IDADEE orphanage. IDADEE houses children that are between newborn and about 3 years old. Talk about a lot of diapers! There are currently 28 orphans at IDADEE. Our team was able to play with them on the front porch, feed them, climb on the playground equipment with them, and spend a lot of time holding each child. The immediately cling to you and want to be held. They were adorable children. During meal time I spent some time in the cafeteria with the kids. They eat spiced rice…no matter if you are 5 months old or 3 years old. I was given the opportunity – along with several other team members- to help feed some of the infants. One caregiver was trying to keep an eye on 15 kids eating at the kid table, while feeding 6 infants alone on a bench, while 3 of them were crying … so we joined in to help her feed them infants. After a lot of sweat, spit up, food thrown on the floor, and tears – the kids were fed. It was a wonderful experience. Although the help is minimal, it was great to see these kids being cared for.

There was a woman living at IDADEE named Monica. She is from Lancaster, PA. She moved to Haiti 9 years ago and worked as a nurse. Along the way she adopted 11 children from Haiti and the Dominican Republic who had lost their parents. She also met her husband, Jean-Claude, while serving Haiti. She and her husband, along with their 11 children live at IDADEE. They care for their 11 kids and help out with the other kids. They are currently working on building a house right down the road from IDADEE. I believe she said that their house is being built based on donations. How awesome.

EBAC is located on the outskirts of the town. IDADEE is located in a way more rural area- more into a wooded area. While riding to and from IDADEE our team was able to see what life is like for those families living out that way. There were a lot of shacks and huts made from tin, bamboo, trees, clay, and scraps. I saw several women cooking by a fire pit, carrying food/water on their heads, and people wearing barely any clothes. There are no words that could describe how these people live day in and day out.

One thing you notice when you drive through the streets of Cap Haitian is the amount of emaciated animals. There are so many malnourished cows, oxen, dogs, and horses. You can always see their bones, their skin is sucked in, and some animals just lay there because they can’t stand. Some people have these animals tied to a tree to most likely use them for food, while others are just wild. I have been doing ok handling such animal disparity, until the dog at the IDADEE orphanage. There was a dog tied to a metal pole right on the backside of the orphanage. He had about 2 feet of leash, no water, no food, and no place for shade. He was a very friendly dog- definitely a puppy, maybe 10-12 months old. He was truly malnourished and his muscles were not forming all the way because he does not get an activity. He could stand- but his legs were very flimsy. He was just laying there panting in the sun. I carefully approached him and learned that he was such a sweet, sweet puppy. I grabbed a bowl in the grass and gave him all the water out of my water bottle. I then went inside and picked up the cheerios off of the floor from the kids at breakfast and gave them to him. He was so grateful! I got a little tail wag! As I knelt beside him he curled up in my lap just like my two dogs at home do. It made me so sad to know that he will most likely die on that 2 foot chain, in the sun. I asked around as to why this dog would be chained up- as most Haitians do not want pets because they would be another mouth to feed. I was told that they most likely have him chained as he probably provides a good “alarm system.” So sad. I took a blue tarp that was lying in the grass and created a little place of shade for him. He immediately climbed under the tarp and laid down. I loved on this puppy for a while, filled up his bowl one more time, and then had to walk away.

While at IDADEE today most of the team members spent some time climbing up the big hill in the backyard to get a spectacular view of Haiti. It was so beautiful. The scenery and mountains of Haiti are so humbling. As you stand on top of the hill you are able to see mountains, a part of the ocean, and several different villages. Each village has its cluster of shacks and huts, fire pits, clothes lines, and wild emaciated animals. Taking a moment to stand on that hill and look out into Haiti makes you think how a place so beautiful can be so broken.

A Glimpse of Keaton's Pics