Haiti 2012, Day 3: The Water Flows... and Flows

Believe it or not, most of us had a decent night's sleep last night. The usually obnoxious HAPI complex watch dogs must have been whooped, because they slept more than they barked last night. All praise be to God! When I woke in the morning to use the outhouse, there was one lying curled up in front of the girl's room door. Precious sight to see, knowing we are being protected like that.

After Whitney led us in devotion and reminded us that Jesus can walk on water, and calls us to do the same, reaching for his outstretched hand, it seems water became the theme of the day. The plan was to head out for a couple hour hike down the mountain to visit Basin Bleu, a God-carved pristine waterfall system of basins and pools surrounded by gargantuan rock walls. By the time the aroma of breakfast arrived on Pastor Paul's front porch, the rain had begun to fall again. I say again, because it had come during the night in a pretty steady stream of showers. Nothing monsoon like, but for a community who had to pay for a truckload of water to be brought up for the cistern last week, the showers were certainly a blessing... overnight... but now, we were hoping to make our trek on a day when the bossmen worked just a half day and there were not other tasks for us to accomplish.

After asking Pastor Paul his thoughts, he replied "It's not going to rain anymore...well, 50/50, anyway." His prediction fell on the side of the second 50 and it rained some more and then some more. We were contemplating staying home till early afternoon when the rain stopped once more and Pastor Paul said "Time to go!" We thought "Really?" After 5 or 6 intermittent showers already in the day, we didn't quite have his enthusiasm. But he was right. We never received another raindrop all day. In fact, the sun shown with brilliance and the breeze down the mountain was delightful. The newbies stopped often with their mouths open wide and their cameras held up at the beauty before us. A few of us lost footing a time or two, but nothing more than a scratch or bump.

Several Haitian friends guided us down the twisty, turny path, sometimes less than 10" wide, otherwise opening to wide vistas or fields. Once we hit the edge of the mountain, it was down, down, and down some more. About 2 hours later, we reached the first basin. Beautiful blue waters that are hard to describe with words. It looks fake to the eye, as if an additive was dropped into the water. But if that is so, it came straight from the palm of the Lord God Almighty. It was amazing to see how many others were visiting the Basin this day compared to our last visit. There was a team there from France, another from the Dominican Republic, and an older hippie-type in a speedo speaking Spanish and posing for the camera. All true. All true. There were three or four additional groups that arrived before we left, so the mood was exciting and filled with joy. The energy was contagious.

Some swam while others stood under the falls on rocks below. Some met up with a huge white crab, face to face, while others were brave enough to jump from 40' above down into the largest basin. Others of us sat perched on a huge boulder in the middle of it all, taking it all in as butterflies floated above. Once we were all waterlogged, we made the trek back a basin or two and rested for a couple hours. We snacked as locals brought by baskets of tangerines and bananas. I took a little rest on a large rock, surrounded by the chatter of Haitians and Americans, sharing stories and laughing the sun-filled afternoon away. The sun felt incredible on the skin of a Michigander who hasn't felt it on my skin in many, many months.

The trek back home was a little easier, as we had a van pick us up about a half hour up the mountain in a little village. A homestead there offered us ice cold pop, including Coca-Cola, for just one American dollar. I would have paid $5! We were surprised to see a much newer van awaiting us, than year's before. It is so nice to see one improvement after another in the quality of life for so many Haitians in this area. We saw rows of newly built cement block homes up and down the mountain, painted with tangerine and Pepto Bismol pink. Some were mint green and others a Caribbean blue. There were brand new outhouses covered with metal corrugated roofs with air pipes stretching out the top, all along our journey, as well. Mizak is doing its best to beat Cholera and other water borne diseases. Educating the community, as well as the children, has been paramount in that task. Getting them all outhouses to contain waste and keep it out of the water supply is a huge first step.

We were home by 4 and had a lazy afternoon. I had been assigned tomorrow's message in worship, so I spent a few hours writing. Just when I thought, "Yes! I'm done!" Pastor Paul asked if I had the rest of the worship service in order, as well. Must have been a busy week! Ha! So the team and I laid out some prayers, some scripture readings, hymns and testimonies to fill out the service. As we worked into the night, the Shalom Singers came by to practice for worship in the morning. They used their new wireless microphones that Jerry's team last week had sent with us to drop off. They were thrilled and appreciative, to say the least. The youth gathered around the wood tables on the porch with new friends and old, as the cards began to fly again. I broke out some chocolate and shared a bit with all. With the band playing in the background, the evening was rich and layered. Community is real here. We are born to be in community. It's easy to forget that at home. Each of us hide in our own homes most evenings and even though we jump online to meet up with friends, I am quickly reminded that is not enough.

Tomorrow's a new day...a day of worship and praise. Psalm 118 will guide my message. His love endures forever... drop by drop, basin by basin, day by day.

Haiti 2012, Day 2: It's a Bumpy Ride, but All Worth It

The day started early with Darryl entering the sanctuary in a calm, hospitable voice "Good morning! Next stop, Haiti, so let's get up and get ready. The breakfast crew is here..." My alarm had not yet gone off, so I knew it was before 4 am. Slowly we began rolling off the cushioned pews that we had been sleeping on and began the day. Our dear friends at Poinciana UMC had a delicious spread out for us including toast, muffins, danishes, bagels, coffee, apples, strawberries, and the most incredible Florida orange juice I have had since last year's breakfast.

Before heading to gather our luggage back up, for delivery to the airport, we decided to spend $1.80 on some artwork. The children of Poinciana UMC had displayed several of their creations on a bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall. Each was creative and beautiful, but even more so, inspirational. My favorite said "What Jesus did for us is not normal." :-) No, it is not. That is what makes our salvation so special. So at 60 cents each, I went all out and purchased three of them to decorate our girls room once reaching HAPI.

Soon we were on our way across the skies of Miami and into the skies of Haiti. The trip seemed shorter than prior years and the clouds were erratic and delightful. It was a joy to see a local band playing just off the tarmac near the entry doors to the airport. The flavor of the Haitian people was in the air! We were also happy to see continued improvements at the Port Au Prince airport. The long concrete wall along the backside of the airport had many large cracks and crumbling cement from the earthquake of two years ago. But it was being replaced and renewed with a fresh coat of concrete after repairs had been made. Inside, the movement through customs and baggage claim was smooth and professional. Our good friend Ulrick met us just beyond customs and handed out huge smiles and warm hugs to each and every one of us.

Before we knew it, we were outside soaking up the wonderful Haiti sun as we rolled all our luggage toward our third leg of the journey toward Mizak. The last leg would be the bumpiest of the three and would last nearly as long as the other two legs combined. After loading our slew of luggage into one van, we poured into the second for a long expected four hour trip through Port Au Prince, and out the other side southwest to one of the beautiful mountainous regions of Haiti. It is hard to describe the view other than spectacular. Vistas were continuous and breathtaking. Palms towered above any I've ever seen in the States and the other foliage simply adds to the richness. Markets were back to what I remember three and four years ago, pre-earthquake. The colors were vibrant, the textures were voluptuous, and the smells were... well... varied. The smell of roasted meats covered in spices was enticing, yet here and there we also encountered the stench of old rubbish and burning waste. The further out of the city we drove, the cleaner the air became...and the bumpier the road became.

Poor Kevin hit the side of his head, oh, I don't know, maybe 14 times?? Seriously. Each time the van was tossed from one side to the other as the rocky ground beneath us jutted upwards or dropped down from wash out. It's easy for necks to become stiff and backs to become tense. But then there is the view. Ahhhhh... the view. Every so often the trees would open up and the foliage would spread its wings just long enough for a glimpse of heaven on earth. If your camera was in hand and you already had your finger on the focus button, you had at least a chance of keeping that moment for years to come. If not, and the camera was on your lap or pointed elsewhere until the wings of opportunity were open, then your memory became a glimpse of the trees just past the pristine view.

Villagers walk all along the four hour drive that weaves right and left and right again, sometimes turning back on itself before turning in the opposite direction again. Most often we were near the edge of the mountain and rarely were there any guardrails between us and view below. The newbies were enamored with the ongoing beauty. No matter how many times we turned again, the next view was as breathtaking as the one before. It's hard to believe that the locals could ever "get used" to this.

The higher we headed up the mountain, the more our ears popped and the higher our butts were being lifted off the seats...and the more times we would hear poor Kevin seem shocked that he did it again...his head bouncing off the outer wall of the van. A potty stop and a cold mango-carrot bottle of juice later and the girls began their familiar giggles of excitement. They were well out of their seats and would have hung out the windows if they could have fit, I believe. It was about then I think it hit us all: Jaime is just around the bend...and we all began chanting "Jaime! Jaime! Jaime!" Jaime is one of our youth who has a long term heart for Haiti. It will not surprise me if she lives there full time one day. So this year she went down with our first team two weeks ago. When they left two days ago to return to the States, Jaime stayed with Pastor Paul and his family. Today, she will join our second team for the next two weeks...and begin her first stint as Co-Leader. I gave up the Team Leader position after last year, finding it harder to be responsible to all the tasks involved between the church, pastor's school, and the new Open Door Free Store. So Jaime took on the training and has joined Darryl as the two new leaders of this second team.

And there she was...and the screams couldn't be held any longer. All the girls were up and ready to jump out of the van the moment it came to a stop. And they did. There stood little Jaime girl with darkened skin and a crocheted cap drawn down over her recently braided hair. She looked at home. After the luggage was all unloaded and hugs were handed out to those present, we asked to go see the work site. Just a two minute walk behind the HAPI complex opened up to a huge-mongo ghost of a foundation that stretched 50 x 70 feet. A trench was already hand dug by shovel all around the perimeter and a cistern was already dug in solid rock. When I asked our guys the measurements on the cistern, they answered "real deep!" It holds something like 70,000 gallons of water. Wrap your head around that one.

We spent the rest of the evening reuniting with friends, laughing as they saw two "Darryl's" (his twin Dwain is along this time...), and enjoying each other's company. Before dinner the boys got in a good ruckus game of football (soccer) and the rest of us took a short walk toward the well to watch the sunset across the valley and behind the next row of mountains. Many photos were taken as each of us knew the days would quickly count down and the bumpy ride back down the mountain would come sooner than any of us could anticipate. Dinner was scrumptious and the card games have now begun. Local youth have come by one by one and joined the girls with back to back games of UNO. As I sit and type, they are all giggling and laughing as Darryl begins to yawn. I don't think it will be long before a few of us retire for the evening. The long two hour hike to Basin Bleu begins at 8 am.

Haiti 2012, Day 1: I am the Church, You are the Church, We are the Church Together!

I finished my list of to do's at 4:30 this morning with a smile on my face and content in my heart. Off to bed before the alarm was set to go off 3 hours later. The last minute "darn, I knew I forgot something" list was completed in well enough time to still get my final hot shower, hair wash, and leg shave in before heading to a mountainous area of Haiti called Mizak.

We all met up at the church parking lot and piled our ever growing stack of luggage into our two vehicles to begin the first leg of our trip. Eleven check-in luggage and eleven carry-ons had now grown to sixteen check-in, eleven carry-on and several "personal items", as the airport likes to call them. Those are things that won't fit in the other luggage but can be hauled on your person as long as they will fit under the seat in front of you. I think we all had one of those too. It's amazing when people find out you're heading to Haiti, how many have items they were just waiting for God to find a way to get there. :-)

So we packed a suitcase for Stephanie, one of the newest United Methodist interns to be placed at the Haitian Artisans for Peace International (HAPI) site we will be joining for the next 12 days. Her father lovingly met up with me, beaming with pride for his daughter as he talked about her work there. Another suitcase was packed with new band equipment that last week's team purchased as soon as they arrived home yesterday, wanting us to take it back with us today. Another had a slew of art supplies and tools for the classes and workshops I'll be leading next week for artisans in Mizak. We will be working on new product development. Can't wait to see what we all come up with. And then there was a suitcase for Angelica, a prior UM missionary at HAPI who is now working with another local missionary from the states, Lee. They have a school and art gallery they help run in Mizak, so several supplies where needed by them, as well. Our dear friend from New York, Christy, traveled with us last year from Miami down to Mizak. She sent along some Valentine gifts for friends in the area. Then there was a bunch of other small oddities that people had shipped to us or dropped off to take down. So all told, we will be known as Santa this year. What a joy to bring such excitement and anticipation to others.

The airport had a new outdoor check-in that moved the process up exponentially from year's prior. Way cool. Way fast. And the plane trip down to Miami was uneventful, unless you count the beauty of fast moving clouds and me being able to have three uninterrupted hours of hand quilting on my new granddaughter's quilt. A wonderful young man from Wyoming, I think he said, just arrived back from Haiti and saw our shirts at the airport. He asked if he could pray for us, and we responded "Sure!" as we all circled up. What a joy to see the body of Christ be the body of Christ. He had just returned from helping a church group work with micro loans to chicken farmers. He built two chicken coops while down and changed two families' lives forever. He inspired us all.

We arrived in Miami with the weather in the 70's and a light, warm rain. The palm trees stood stately as ever, sucking up the moisture and swaying in the light winds. Their leaves glistened with the rain coating them and Earl and I just stood outside for a few minutes to take it all in.

Pastor Pike, the youth group, and the rest of his congregation were the epitome of audacious generosity, once again. Carlos, his wife, and two children came in the church van to pick us, and our massive slew of luggage up. Carlos told us jokes along the ten minute route back to the church and his beautiful wife pointed out the closest Starbuck's for coffee at 5 am when we return to the airport in the morning. God bless her!

The youth and members of the church met us at the van, helped carry in our slew of luggage and then circled us up again for prayer and praise. Piles and piles of hot pizza, garlic drizzled bread sticks, salad, munchies, homemade desserts, pop, and more lined the walls of the lobby just outside the sanctuary. We ate to our bellies' content before circling back up again for prayer-led blessings. Each time we grasped one another's hands, brothers and sisters in Christ, we became one. It didn't matter if we made our home in Michigan, Wyoming, or Florida, our Christ united us all.

The youth soon headed into the sanctuary to play games with their new found siblings, as the adults dispersed to a bible study, conversations with new friends, or even a soft couch in a quiet room. I chose to join in a fantastic bible study that I had joined with last year, as well. Thought provoking, each time. They too offered us prayer, asking God to bless our efforts, our health, and bring us back safe again. I'm not sure I have ever been prayed for and over so many times in one day. Our God is so very good, and tends to our every need before we ever know we have one.

So today we are reminded that the journey has just begun. Cannot imagine what is yet to come tomorrow or the next. I think I'll just simmer in this one for a while. [sigh] It is good to be the Church, surrounded by the Church, while being loved and prayed for by our home Church, all at the same time. We are the Church best, when we are the Church together.

This is the Day!

Team Trinity is back home safe and sound and how it's our turn. We head out about 11 am today and begin our first leg of the journey toward Haiti. A plane from Detroit Metro, then picked up by some youth at Poincienca United Methodist Church in Miami for the night...

This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Team Trinity continues their hard work...

We haven't heard much from our team down in Haiti right now. They are workers more than they are talkers! We do know they are working hard and have really surprised those on site on all they are able to accomplish in one day. Hope to get some pics and more updates soon as they complete their first week and begin their second. Keep those prayers going...

Team Trinity is on their way!

The team of 10 left Michigan yesterday, was blessed to stay with the great people of Poinciana UMChurch in Miami, Florida last night, and should be close to their destination about now in Mizak, Haiti. They would have landed in Port au Prince earlier this morning and then ventured up the mountains to Mizak which is about 4 hours southwest of Port au Prince. Prayers for everyone appreciated, as 6 of the 10 are newbies this year.

There is much to adjust to the first couple of days: from the weather (70's to 90's compared to teens to 40's at home here in Michigan), to a very different diet (mostly beans, rice, maybe some lettuce, tomato, or banana), to a new language (not understanding anything being said around you, ever...), to new accommodations (outhouse, rarely any electricity, no running water, maybe once per week "bath"...), to hearing wild animals and barking dogs all hours of the night. Did I mention the roosters, tarantulas, or geckos??

Prayers appreciated for all. Their journey is only just beginning!
If I get any updates from the team, I'll pass them along here.

Soon and very soon...

The time is coming for not one team but two teams to return to Haiti in 2012. So be watching, be praying, as we venture out once again, in Jesus' name...