Packed Skateboards today

Took time this afternoon to pack up skateboards, helmets, trucks, etc.  The 3rd Lair Skatepark and The House have been very supportive in helping get our skate supplies in order.

The Haiti Sports Camp team (17 of us) heads to the airport at 3AM tonight (Monday morning).. yikes!

Attached a couple of pics from today's packing time. (Pete, Roger and Annie helped ... they will not be in Haiti)  Thanks for your prayers this week

-Dobee

Healing Haiti Sports Camp Team Nears Departure

The (inaugural) Healing Haiti Sports Camp Team is just one day from departure! We are finishing up our last bits of packing and our imaginations run wild as to what it will really be like and what adventures God has for us in Haiti. As we have shared our hearts with each other during our times of preparation, I have heard over and over how grateful we are. Grateful to have the privilege of going, grateful for the financial/equipment support and encouragement of others, grateful for the spouses and kids in our homes who are praying and sacrificing to make this all work.

We will meet at the airport at 3:45am Monday morning (July 29) and return on Monday night (Aug 5). We have gathered lots of sports equipment and have many ideas and plans for engaging the children
of Grace Village to a variety of sports and activities. We hear rumors that it is really hot there in July, so please continue to pray for us each day!

Be sure to follow this blog for daily updates. Each evening one or two of us on the team will post thoughts from our day. It will be a way to fuel your prayers and stay in touch with the team.

Blessings, Dobee

Thoughts from the VBS Camp Team :)

Hello supporters and readers alike!  Today we will be commenting on our day as a complete team, unifying our thoughts just as we have unified together over these past few days.

Things that have suprised us...
-A new snack called kaskav bread.  A harder, large 'flatbread' with delicious nutrients, seeds
-A new fruit kenip.  It's so good and fun to eat.  The children loved it for a snack!!
-That we can survive in the Haitian heat.


Moments of inspiration and awe...
-A baby girl from The Home Sick and Dying Babies matching pitch to songs being sung to her.  She would sweetly watch the person singing
-The pure joy that the Haitians have despite having nothing.
-The Haitian children singing praises to God.  It's a glimpse of angels singing in heaven.
-Worship at the 6:00 Haitian church.
-Pastor Wesley's connection with the children and God.
-Children being so excited to be OUR teachers.  I know many new words!

Humorous tales...
-Watching our interpreters dance a jig with the kids during the game time at VBS.
-A child laughing so hard when swinging that she snorted.
-Maxim's ability to get us everywhere alive :) ...and Wilson's ability to cope with sceaming women :)


Typical in Haiti...
-Honking while driving is simply a courtesy to other drivers that you are coming. (A constant sound on the roads)
-Getting a hug from anyone you meet
-Uninhibited love of Jesus
-Beautiful children yelling HEY YOU! to get our attention

Day 3 of Grace Village VBS

Hello friends and family! 

         We had another great and busy day in Haiti. Our theme at VBS was about Lazarus being raised from the dead and God being all that we need in life. We were again amazed to hear the children singing their hearts out to God and reciting verses by memory. It is so rewarding to spend time with such joyous and appreciative kids! 

          After wrapping up VBS and getting a taste of Haitian culture at the local market, we all had a challenging yet rewarding afternoon. Half of the group went to The Home for Sick and Dying babies, while the other half went to Gertrude's, an orphanage for children with special needs. At The Home for Sick and Dying Babies, we found joy in helping feed and change the babies while at Gertrurdes, the children enjoyed tastes of suckers and wheel chair races.  

           

       We ended our great day with Haitian tacos and some great conversation ( With 11 ladies, you know it was a good hour or two of chatting).  We are excited to see what tomorrow holds for us.

Kelli and Nikki

Sowing Good Seeds

We started our day bright and early to attend the local tent worship service.  What an awesome experience as we joined the Haitians worshiping our great God!  We sure could feel the Holy Spirit's Presence!  Watching the Haitians worship really helped us see worship in a whole new light.  This  made us think about how conservative we are in our worship as they worship so freely.  It was a beautiful experience. They praise God with the most valuable item they own - their VOICES!

After another great breakfast, we headed to Grace Village for Day 2 of VBS!  Those sweet little children were waiting for us all decked out in their colorful VBS shirts ready for school. Every day begins with powerful worship with Pastor Wesley- and boy can those kids sing! The theme of our lesson was about planting good seed in good soil (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23).  After the large group lesson, the children rotated to dancing games, small group bible study and a craft project.  The children were so excited as they planted a flower seed in the pots they decorated.  We ended with amazing worship and prayer.

The afternoon was spent at Isaiah's Orphanage blowing bubbles, jumping rope and drawing with sidewalk chalk.  Such simplicity left an overwelming impact on everyone.  God was present in every smile.  On the way back to the guest house, we honored the remembrance of those lost in the 2010 earthquake at the Mass Grave Site. It was a humbling reminder of the brevity of life and the grace of God to carry on.  We sure can learn a lot from our Haitian friends - in hardship they press into God!

Mary, Kristy and Carol

Serving Day 1

Alo (Hello) from Chelsea and Caitlin :)

Today was our first full day of serving at Grace Village, what an amazing place!  We started our day with an amazing breakfast from our fabulous Haitian cooks- scrambled eggs, pancakes and oatmeal all in the same meal- yum :)

Every time we travel from place to place, we take a 'tap tap' which is an adventure ride in real life!  Outside our window we see women carrying heavy loads on their heads, sweet baby faces yelling "Hey you!" and smiling brightly, honking horns to announce when they would like to pass, and street vendors selling coal, gasoline and fresh fruit.  

Once we made it to Grace Village, we were greeted by happy children, ready to hear about Jesus!  We have an amazing team at Healing Haiti who works together beautifully.  Together, we taught 50 Haitian orphans about King Solomon and his lesson of wisdom verses knowledge.  We decorated little treasure chests as the craft and had fun with water games- woohoo!

After a quick lunch in the tap-tap we were headed to the elders homes.  These 4 people we visited are left vulnerable by their age and lack of resources, but blessed by sponsors.  We were able to wash their feet and hands, and rub lotion on them, offering warmth and prayers to people who have little human contact in their days.

Both of us have been in complete awe of the peace the people of Haiti have even though they face more immediate dangers each day than we can comprehend.  They have joy in their faces and in their hearts, loving Christ when they have nothing and are living in a tent.  Each night we have come home completely exhausted, but so filled with the spirit.  

Tomorrow we are leading the VBS lesson, woohoo!  

Bon nwit (good night) from the Sisters, Chelsea and Caitlin :)

Our 'tap tap'!!

Our Ride on the 'tap tap'

Where we have our large group and worship every day at Grace Village!

Olfane was one of the elders that we had the pleasure to visit with today!

Our treasure chest boxes were so beautiful!  The children are such artists!

Wilson and Chelsea on the 'tap tap'!  We were so lucky to have him show us around!

One of the many sweet faces we are able to see everyday!

Arriving in Haiti

Hello Family and Friends,
        We have arrived in Haiti!  We got to the guest house at about 5pm.  After enjoying our first bumpy ride in the Tap Tap.  The driving here is a bit different than in Minnesota:) We made it just in time to eat a great dinner made by our Haitian staff.  We spent the evening preparing for our week of vacation bible school and settling in.  We are so excited to see what God has in store for us in the days ahead.  Tomorrow will be a busy first full day in Haiti.  We will start the day out with meeting the children from Grace Village and teaching them their first day of vacation bible school.  In the afternoon, we will be visiting 6 elders, bringing them lunch and lots of company.  Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we journey ahead.

Kelli and Nikki