Water Truck Day

Working the bucket line

Playing with the children at stop 19

Reuniting with Fabian at stop 21

This little girl loved it when I threw her up in the air

Wow, what an amazing day in Citie Soleil delivering water. I was extremely impressed with the teams' work ethic and the way we all worked hard together to get as many people their much needed water. The water truck workers and our leaders mentioned that they had never seen a team work so hard and on a united front than the way we worked today. I was hard work, and was a little intense and overwhelming at times, but we did a great job and encouraged one another when needed.

We went to stops 17, 19 and 21 which were the same stops we made my first trip down. I was super excited when I got to reunite with Fabian, a girl I met last summer. I got a pic with her and will try to add it to this post when I get a chance. At stop 17 we got a chance to walk out to the ocean as a group. We walked over broken glass, cans, garbage, feces and pee to get to the penninsula and it was so heart breaking to hear that we were walking in these Haitian's bathroom. This is also the place where they bury their loved ones because they can't afford any other way. Junior, one of the translators, explained to us that there is a bathroom facility, but it costs 1 Haitian dollar and most of these people don't even have enough money to provide food for their family let alone spend it on using a bathroom. It is quite difficult to understand and comprehend how little the Haitians in Citie Soleil have to survive, yet they are so full of smiles for us when we come to visit and they love on us and protect us while we are visiting. They are full of a joy that can only come from the Lord and I am in awe of their resilience and of their faith in God. We sang with the children, "God is so good, is so good, is so good" over and over and over again. The children loved it and danced with us praising Jesus. What an awesome experience!

The bucket lines  were pretty intense, like I mentioned before. I had opportunities on each stop to work the line and let me tell you.....It was increasingly hectic and aggressive at each of the stops and it dawned on me at one point that these people were so desperate for water that they were going to do everything in their power to get their buckets filled. Mothers with children running around them hoping for all of their buckets to get filled to sustain them until Healing Haiti returns to deliver more free water. They do not know when the next visit will be, so they NEED it now. Budging, shoving and pushing buckets in your face to fill were just a few things we experienced. The line seemed to never end and when we ran out of water it broke my heart to have to tell them we were all out of water.

All in all we had a fabulous first day of serving. We gave everything we had today and are praying for God to rejuvenate us for tomorrow and give us the energy needed to serve in any way we can. To God we give all the glory today and always. He is doing a mighty work in us and is transforming us from the inside out.

Tomorrow we are headed to The Home for the Sick and Dying and to Gertrude's Orphange for special needs children. I look forward to sharing more of tomorrow's experiences.  Blessings!

Travel Day

We made it safely to Haiti! It was a long day of travel, but all flights were on time and all of our luggage made it without any problems. The team is getting along great! Everyone is extremely friendly and eager to serve.

When we got to the guest house there was an amazing dinner ready for us. After a short team meeting it was time to get settled into our rooms. Tomorrow is our first water truck day in Citie Soleil and I am looking forward to it!

Praying for good rest and rejuvenation tonight....

Blessings,

Alicia

Ready To Serve

  Four days until I travel to a beautiful country with the most wonderful people! It seems as though I get to this point in my waiting and I just cannot wait much longer! My heart aches to get back to the place I feel so unbelievably close to God, where He becomes so very real to me and visible in all that I do. To be able to fully let go of anything and everything and serve in the way God intended, with hearts vulnerable and willing to serve people in real, tangible ways. My prayer is that I would be open and willing to take full advantage of this amazing opportunity to serve and draw close to My Savior!

 This shouldn't come as a surprise to those of you who know me, but I just completed my "practice packing" where I literally pack everything up like I'm leaving today to make sure I have enough room for everything and to get a feel for the best way to get everything in. I think I figured out the best way this time, which is fantastic :) Kind of funny, but I'm a planner and an organizer so that's what I do :) I have our updated itinerary for the trip and wanted to share that with everyone, along with prayer requests for each day that I am thinking of right now.

 Monday, July 30 - Day One 

 We arrive at the airport at 3:45am...Yep, you read that right! A 3.5 hour flight to Miami, then a 90 minute flight to Port Au Prince, Haiti arriving around 4:45pm
     Prayer Requests: for safe travels, that all of our luggage gets to Haiti without any hitches and for composure for the team as we get our luggage and find our way through the airport (not an easy feat) and that we would start our week off with great commaraderie and serve one another throughout the long day. 

Tuesday, July 31 - Day Two

 Water Truck stops in Cite Soliel. This is a long day in the sun and our most physically taxing day.
     Prayer Requests: That our team would be filled with energy and strength throughout the day, that we would all love on the children in a way that shines Christ's love, that I would have an opportunity to reconnect with the girls I met last year (Fabian, Rozina and Ellen) and that our team would work extremely well together!

 Wednesday, August 1 - Day Three

 A visit to the Home for the Sick and Dying and to Gertrude's Orphange, which is an orphanage for special needs children. This was the hardest day for me last summer. I literally broke down crying when we had to leave the kids at the Home for the Sick and Dying when a baby girl cried " Momma, Momma" at me with outstretched arms just begging for more love. Aaaah, I'm getting teary-eyed just typing this!
     Prayer Requests: For me to let go of all the apprehension I have in having my heart broken again and loving those babies like Jesus would want me to with no hesitation, for emotional strength, and that our team would support one another at this difficult stop. Gertrude's kids have the most beautiful hearts, I loved playing with them last year and pray for time to go SLOW so we can spend as much time with them as possible and that we would enjoy serving them.

Thursday, August 2 - Day Four

We will be visiting the Mass Grave sight where around 300,000 people were buried after the 2010 earthquake. It is a sombering sight full of reflection and respect for the gravity of loss experienced by the Haitians. We will also be visiting three of the elderly orphans sponsored by Healing Haiti. I think we added another stop to an organization called Real Hope For Haiti. It is an organization that takes in babies whose Mom's died during child birth and the fathers can't afford formula to feed them and meet their needs. After the babies are through with formula they are reunited with their families. They are in dire need of formula, so we will be bringing some to them!
     Prayer Requests: That our team would stay healthy, this is usually around the time when people are getting tired and their bodies are prone to getting sick. Also, that we would respect the elderly and enjoy their heartfelt appreciation, and their faith and hope in the Lord. They are pretty amazing people who have outlived their family and many of them live alone. Also, pray for protection for them as they are vulnerable to robbery and theft.

 Friday, August 3 - Day Five
Grace Village Visit for our faith lesson. It will be my first time seeing Grace Villagge since it opened up for the children and I am extremely excited! There is also an opportunity to go back to the Home for the Sick and Dying in the afternoon.
     Prayer Requests: That our faith lesson goes well and that we have a wonderful time at Grace Village! For flexibility during the lesson as well.

Saturday, August 4 - Day Six
Another water truck day in Cite Soleil and a potential stop to the wound clinic.
     Prayer Requests: Pray for energy for the team and clarity for me as to whether or not I go to the wound clinic. Pray that my anxieties about the clinic would dissipate and that if I feel led to go I would go with a willing and joyful heart.

Sunday, August 5 - Day Seven
Church up at Grace Village with a message from FanFan. This is the day we will get a tour of Port Au Prince and go up the mountain to purchase Haitian gifts to take home :)
     Prayer Requests: Focus and openness to what God speaks through FanFan, and an enjoyable last full day together as a team.

Monday, August 6 - Day Eight
Travel day. Leaving Haiti around 1:15, getting to Miami around 3:30 and hopefully to Minneapolis by 10:30.    
     Prayer Request: for safe travels, planes to be on time, reflection on the week, and to be forever changed by our experiences in Haiti. Wow, that is one long post, but my heart is ready to return to Haiti and I just cannot wait for another week that will forever be imprinted on my heart. Let's do this Jesus!

 Ke Bondye Ben'iou,
(God Bless You)

 Alicia

Gearing Up

My second trip to Haiti will be here before I know it! The suitcases are officially out as a staple in our living room being packed here and there as I think of things I'll need and toss them in. We have our team packing party this Thursday, the 19th, and I am excited to be spending my 30th birthday getting ready for this trip to the country I fell in love with last summer. Haiti is an amazing place, full of the most faith-filled people who are so loving, tender and hopeful. I am honored to have the opportunity to help serve in any way God allows our team and cannot wait to see how God works in and through me once again this time. I'll be sure to post some pics from our packing party so you can get an idea of all we bring down with us for the Haitians. I absolutely CANNOT wait! Two weeks til take off :)

Returning to Haiti

I am excited to announce that I will be returning to Haiti once again this summer!  I have been prayerfully considering when God would have me return to the country and people who captured my heart last summer.  With Travis' encouragement I applied to go with Eagle Brook Church July 30-August 6 and received my acceptance email a couple weeks ago while in Florida with the softball team.

I am ecstatic about the opportunity to return to Haiti to continue the work God is doing and for what He has in store for me and my new team.  I learned so much about who I am in Christ, my strengths, my weaknesses, loving others and placing others before myself, what it truly means to be the hands and feet of Christ, stepping out in faith, and so much more on my last trip.  I can only imagine what God has planned for me this time. 

At this time, I'd like to boldly ask for your prayers in my preparation for this experience.  God has given me a passion for the people in Haiti, and for the work Healing Haiti is doing through obedient servants of the Lord.  I am overjoyed at the idea that I will be returning to Haiti in only 4 1/2 months!  Praise God for this amazing opportunity!

Day 7: Embrace

Yesterday was my final full day in Haiti.  I embraced every moment throughout the day.  Every bump in the road, every smile on the side of the street, the beauty from the mountain top, the bond our team has made, every single moment. 

We started out our morning with church here at the guest house and each team member brought a piece to share for church.  What a memorable time together!  After church we brought donations to the tent city around the corner.  Wow, was that an experience!  Everyone crowded around and wanted a black bag we were handing out.  We would have to say, "La que ou" which means in your house, so that we could know which tents had already received items and to help not cause a riot over the necessities we were handing out.  We didn't want to get mauled.  We were in and out in fifteen minutes and it was fun! 

We then headed up the mountain and made three different stops to buy Haitian gifts.  Our last stop had an overlook that looked down on Port Au Prince and Cite Soleil.  It was a time of reflection and prayer for the people we have encountered this week.

We ended our evening by going salsa dancing with Jean.  It was a blast!!!  The Haitians are amazing dancers and made it look so effortless. 

It has been a difficult morning thus far, as we are leaving in a few hours.  I am getting emotional just thinking about leaving the people I have met here and I am longing for the next time I will get to see them.  I have a special place in my heart for Haiti, and I will forever be changed because of my experience. 

Ke Bondye Beni'ou

Day 6: Desperation

Yesterday we did two water truck stops.  We went back to Cite Soleil 21 first, and the second I jumped off the truck Fabian came running to me and said, "Alicia!"  She then took me along holding my hand to find Rozina.  She wasn't sure where she was but asked me if I wanted to meet her Mama.  She brought me to her home and I was introduced to her Mom.  What an honor that was!  When we got back to the water truck, I spotted Rozina in line waiting for water.  Fabian yelled, "Rozina, Alicia!"  The smile lit up Rozina's face as I embraced her.  How wonderful it was to reunite with these young ladies after just a few days from the first time we met.  I helped out with the buckets more today, and I noticed the desperation these people had for water in a different way.  These people new exactly which buckets were theirs but it seemed to me like many of them looked exactly the same.  They were protective of their buckets and were hesitant to let them go as they traveled through the line holding tight to them.  A fight broke out between two women and it hit me that this is their life.  They don't know when the water will be coming next, so they are desperate to get as much as possible when we come.  I talked with Fabian and Rozina before we left and they asked how old I was.  They were surprised to hear I was 29 and even more surprised when I told them I have three boys.  They giggled and laughed and we hugged and then they asked when I would come visit them again.  With all my heart I said, "Hopefully soon, beautiful, hopefully soon."  I am looking forward to sending a couple pictures down of the three of us with another trip in the near future, so they know I am thinking of them and praying for them.

I got to ride on the water truck again on the way to fill up and met Anel.  He shared his story with us.  He has two children and told us that his brother used to work the water truck 2005, 2006 and 2007 but then he died.  Anel took in his brother's two children, so now he has four kids.  He told me he supports their schooling and was very proud of that.  The hearts of the people I have met this week are amazing.

The second stop was Cite Soleil 17, our first stop we made the other day.  I was on the bucket line the entire time and made sure to make eye contact with all the people and say hello.  Through their desperation for water, they brightened up when I said Bonswa with a smile.  You really have to keep an eye on the bucket line, as people try to sneak their buckets in without waiting in line.  I had to tell one little boy numerous times, "Respect le lin" which is respect the line, while tossing his bucket off to the side.  He kept giving me this sad look on his face, but if I let it in, the people waiting would get extremely upset. 

It stormed last night and two kids from the water truck, Kanol and his cousin joined us for dinner.  When they arrived they were soaking wet.  They came from who knows where, through all the rain, to have dinner with us.  I'm glad Jean gave them a ride back home, so they wouldn't have to be walking out in the rain.  My thoughts were with the people living in the tent cities, and the tin shantis during the rain....Where are they?  Are they dry?  Difficult to think about....

It was a good day, and we ended the day with salsa lessons from Jean in the kitchen of the guest house.  There were six or seven of us crammed into the kitchen learning from Jean.  We had a blast!  We're hoping to go salsa dancing tonight in town.