Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Mission Trip to Haiti: Day 8

Day 8 was our last day in Haiti.  We woke up at 5:15am and headed out around 5:45am for the airport.  The ride to the airport was bittersweet and somewhat emotional.  We got to say our goodbyes to our Haitian friends and proceeded through the 3 security checkpoints you must go through to get on an airplane in Haiti.  If Americans feel like security checkpoints are bad in America, I'm afraid of what they would say if they lived in Haiti.

Our flight from Port-au-Prince to Fort Lauderdale was smooth.  We were in no hurry.  We knew we had a 3.5 hour layover and were not worried of missing it.  Unfortunately, our flight from Fort Lauderdale to Dallas was delayed too.  The plane broke down and we had to wait an additional 4 hours for another plane to take us to Dallas.  SO, instead of arriving at Dallas around 5pm, we arrived at 10:30pm.  A bit frustrating, but we figured it was better that they found out the plane was broken while we were still on the ground, rather than finding out while we were in the air.

All in all, the trip was a HUGE success.  The house got built, relationships were established, missionaries were encouraged, and lives were changed.  Thank you for your prayers and support!

The finished product  :)

Mission Trip to Haiti: Day 7

I woke up and was determined to go to the jobsite today.  We had biscuits and Haitian gravy for breakfast. Instead of having the traditional gravy with sausage, our gravy had eggs in it.  It was interesting.

It was going to be our last day at the jobsite, and we also wanted to visit a house that was previously built to say hi and give them some gifts.  We decided to go say hi first.  The other house was the complete opposite direction from our jobsite and was on a mountain overlooking the Caribbean.  The mountain was so high, that our SUV couldn't even make it up to the house.  We had to walk at the steepest part.  When we got there, I was awe struck.  I felt like I was on top of the world.  Homes for Haiti had built a $10,000 house with a $1,000,000 view.  We were able to give the kids of the area some treat and toys and gave the home owner a water purification system and a Radio that plays the Bible.

A view from the house on top of the mountain.
We eventually headed back to our jobsite and dedicated the house to the future homeowners.  It neat to see their appreciation and hear how the house was going to make an impact on their lives and the lives of those around them.  We also gave them a water purification system and a Bible on radio.  The understanding we have with the homeowners is that they will hold bible-studies in their home with the neighbors around them.

Once they left, we finished up the roof and other last minute things and headed back to the Villa.  That evening we had the chance to have dinner with the pastor of the church we partner with in Port-au-Prince.  Members of their sister churches were their and we enjoyed an evening of fellowship and fun.  


Mission Trip to Haiti: Day 6

I wanted to go to the jobsite today, but I was still in a lot of pain and the other team members felt it was best that I stayed back.  I can't lie, I was a little upset that I couldn't go.  It wasn't until later in the day after talking with a friend that I realized that everything happens for a reason.

Midway through the day while I was reading my Bible and writing, I looked out my window and saw smoke coming out of one of the rooms.  I stepped outside and got Sarah (a missionary on the field in Haiti) and we went to action.  A group of Haitians were staying at the Villa for a conference and one of them had left their computer on a charger that eventually caught fire.  Everybody was knocking on the door afraid somebody was still in the room, because Haitians are notorious for taking afternoon naps.  Somebody came down with the key, and before I could warn them to not open the door quickly, the door was open and the fumes went higher.

A picture of the area once the fire was put out.


It was at this point that I saw a make-shift Haitian Fire Department.  The Haitians grabbed some 5 gallon buckets, ran to the pool, and made an assembly line back down to the room and proceeded to throw the water on the fire.  Unfortunately, everytime they threw water on it, the flames grew.  I guess that's what happens when you use water mixed with chlorine.  In the meantime, Sarah had ran to the kitchen and found the fire extinguisher, and eventually put out the flames.  The room was destroyed, but nobody was hurt.

When the team got back, we went next door and watched as the kids sang us songs (in Creole and English) and gave testimonies of how God had blessed them.   It was so neat to see how each kid thanked God for protecting them in the earthquake.  So many of them were only feet away from almost certain death.  I left with goosebumps on my arms.

Mission Trip to Haiti: Day 5

Sorry it's been awhile since I've posted.  We're on the brink of having a little baby girl enter our lives and that has distracted me quiet a bit these past couple of days.

Day 5 started like all the other days.  We got dressed, went to breakfast (eggs and toast), and took the trip to the jobsite.  It was extra busy on the roads today.  It took us almost 2 hours to get there.  The sun was hot, the exhaust fumes were many, and the road was bumpy as usual.  All this combined to make me very car sick. 

When we got to the jobsite, we unloaded supplies and a member of our group led a devotional on the Roman Roads.  Our task today was to take down the forms and begin putting on the trusses for the roofing system.  I was on the scaffolding.  When we got done with one side, we had to move the scaffolding to the next corner of the house.  It was then that I either pulled or tore a muscle in my chest.  I was in extreme pain.  I couldn't stand up, I couldn't sit down, and I could barely breathe without pain.  I ended up leaving the jobsite and headed back to the Villa.  

On the way back, I passed out.  I'm not sure if I passed out because of the pain or because of exhaustion.    The rest of the day was a blur for me.  I tried to take it easy in hopes that the pain would go away, but it didn't.