Final Serving Day

Yesterday was our final serving day and we ended with delivering water to Citie Soleil.  We only had two stops, but we made the most of them.  Here are a couple pics of Travis and I from the day:

At the end of the day, we got to go to Pizza Amoure for dinner.  We invited Brunet's family and it was so fun getting to know his wife and son.better.

As this week is coming to an end, there is a lot of reflection happening with the team.  Processing what we have experienced as a group and individually can be difficult as we think about returning home tomorrow.  We have become family and have thoroughly enjoyed our time together serving during the day and playing games at night.

Today we head to Grace Church and Wahoo Bay for a day of rest and relaxtion before heading home tomorrow.

Elderly Visits

It was so wonderful visiting with the elders!  This will be a short and sweet blog, because I think a picture is worth a thousand words.

It is such a gift that Travis and I are able to be on this trip together.  The moment captured in this pic is one of my favorites.  There is something so special to be alongside the one you love serving in this way....Our team had a great time washing the feet of the elders, rubbing lotion on their legs, feet, arms and backs, singing praise music with them, giving them a snack and water and praying over them before leaving.  They enjoyed our time together and consider us family.

Water Truck Day

Today's blog will be a picture blog.  Water Truck day is one of my favorite serving days.  I love the physical labor of these days and the act of helping on the water line and in carrying buckets of water back to homes.  Here are a couple pictures from the day:

I carried about six buckets back to this little girls house with her.  I was able to meet her family and hold a brand new baby that had to be aoubt 2 months old.

Travis had a bunch of boys racing with him.  They loved it!

I haven't had much time to write because our team is so awesome and we are having a lot of fun at the guesthouse upon returning from serving!  We have a bags tournament going, have enjoyed a couple games of Catch Phrase and have made it to the pool to relax a couple times as well.  What a gift it is to be able to come back from serving to this beautiful guesthouse.

Light Up

What an amazing day!  It was a day of firsts for both me and Travis. In the morning our team split up with ten going to the Home for Sick and Dying Babies and six of us going to Dare's, a special needs orphanage.  It worked out that Travis and I went to serve with my softball girls, which was a treat!

Softball Family

While we were at Dare's we played with bubbles, had an applesauce snack, sang and played with the kids.  Right away, I was drawn to a young boy who scooted into the room laying on his stomach.  I thought he would like to be held so he could see what was going on.  I held him for a bit, sang with him, and gave him lots of snuggles.  After I got the bubbles and the applesauce handed out, I noticed a little girl laying on a mat near the bench Travis was sitting on.  I went over and sat along side her and tried to see if she could make eye contact with me.  As I whispered close to her face, she lit up from the inside out.  Her mouth turned up into a smile and she stuck her toungue out a bit with happiness.  She loved it when I sang to her, and gently touched her face and arms.  It was wonderful being able to give her the attention, and she was so beautiful!

Travis had these two little ones and it was his mission to make them laugh...See the pic below to see how he did :)

It was a great morning of serving.  In the afternoon, we went to LaPherre's Orphanage and had a wonderful time with the children making a craft, playing with bubbles and chalk, sharing a snack and singing some songs together.  Here are some pics of our time at LaPherre:

We are having an amazing time.  This team is so much fun and they came with willing hearts to serve with everything they have.  More later...

Bondye Beni'ou
(God Bless You)

Travis and Alicia

Day One: Friends Old and New

It is so great to be back in Haiti!  I have been able to reunite with old friends from Haiti and begin building new relationships with the people I will be serving alongside this week.  This team is so fantastic!  They are fun and are ready to get to it with serving tomorrow.  We will be splitting in the morning with half the team visiting the Home for Sick and Dying Babies and the other half will be going to a special needs orphanage.  In the afternoon we will all join back up together and head to LaPhere Orphanage.

I am excited to share this trip with some of my softball girls and their families, good friends and of course, Travis.  I forget how awesome it is to have him by my side through this experience and I can't wait to see what the Lord has for us this week.

Lots of fun to be had....More later.  For now, we rest.

Blessings,

Alicia

Wonderful Welcome

It is so great to be back in Haiti!  It has been 9 months since I have been down with a team, and after reuniting with many friends today, my heart is full.  We had an early morning as we left Northwestern at 3:00am this morning.  Everything went without a hitch today.  It was a great first day!

We are all settled into the guest house, and were able to have a wonderful meal (as always) from the wonderful Haitian staff.  After taking a tour of the houses, we wandered over to the lot next door to play a little soccer.  I was able to play for a bit, but must admit I think I pulled a muscle!  Too funny.  It was a great time, and I was able to catch up with Dickenson and Davidson as well.  They are growing into young men!  It was wonderful to hear how school is going, how their family is doing, what upcoming tests they are studying for, and what their favorite subject is right now.

Our team is amazing!  I am looking forward to seeing what the Lord does in and through this team.  As I sit here and type the rain is coming down hard outside and I am getting ready to turn in for the night.  It's only 8:30pm, but feels like 11:00 or later to me.  I will leave you with a few pictures from today:

Catching up on life with Dickenson

Goal!  We scored!

Eric and I doing dishes after dinner

This gal is turning in for the night.  Until tomorrow :)

Alicia

Beach Day

A recap of our day via pics....It was such a beautiful and fun day, that I couldn't choose only one picture to post.  I guess you get a few today :)

Looking dapper before church

We saw a turf soccer field after church and the boys just HAD to go see it.  They ran on the field and were so excited!  They wanted a picture :)

We had a blast, can you tell?

This team sure knows how to have fun!

It has been a fantastic week!  We have been stretched and we have served with open hearts!  I sit here this morning excited to go home, but I know that in a few hours I will have to saw goodbye to the boys until May.  It is difficult saying goodbye. I know they love the Lord and he will protect them and guide them each and every day I am unable to be here with them.  We serve a mighty God and all glory goes to him, the Lord most high!

Signing off from Haiti,

Alicia