On a wing and a PRAYER (literally)!

I think I have mentioned that when I signed up on the trip to go to Haiti I was unaware of the second flight that we were to take. I am not a world traveler. Including the 4 times I flew back and forth to Guatemala to visit Eliza I have only flown a total of 8 times in my life!! This was not what I was expecting, and I have to admit I was NERVOUS! When I get overwhelmed and uneasy, my body wants to shut down… most of the time I try to go to sleep. I think it is my way of not dealing with what I am going through. Exhibit A: In the Haitian mini airport-

 

I was tired and all, and we did have to get up WAY early to get there and wait 4 hours… but still????

We also had to weigh every. single. thing, each bag, backpack and yes even the people had to get on the big ole scale and write down their weight on the passenger manifest. That was not my kind of fun adventure.

The planes are flown by Mission Aviation Fellowship and I was blessed to find out about this ministry. The pilots are missionaries to missionaries. They raise their own support (funds) and move their families to another country so that they can fly around people like me in country (on top of all the pilot and mechanic hours they require). Michael our pilot was from East Tennessee (which made me feel better) and prayed before we set to take off (which calmed my nerves).

We had to take 2 flights. We were the second team to go.

I think Amanda and I were the most afraid. I was crying on the outside and screaming on the inside. Yes, I white knuckled my seat most of the way. I also prayed a lot.

Galleson, our translator was taking  his first ever flight. He smiled like this the entire time. He also used his camera to film the entire 22 minute flight.

 Sonja and Samantha were surprisingly calm.

I wanted so bad to just shut my eyes so bad and open them when I got there, but the view was too amazing. Both over the city of Port Au Prince and then when we got to the mountains. Haiti in creole means mountain over mountain. It was truly breathtaking. From the sky you could see mountains for miles and miles. You would also see little groups of huts and houses in random spots far, far away from any town. I really thought about the people in those huts and what life must be like. They have to live on what they have because getting help or even simple necessities were miles and miles away. It also made me understand what the Bible says about Jesus not coming back until all have had the opportunity to hear about him. I remember looking down and thinking, there is NO WAY anyone has gotten to them to tell them about who Jesus is. We have a big task at hand… we must continue to go.

Finally ahead, we see the burned off goat pasture (we were told that it was burned off just for our arrival, and the goats were moved too). The landing was better than any big airplane I had ever been on. We got off the plane grabbed our luggage, jumped on a truck, and headed to Haiti Home of Hope, our home for the rest of the week.Our ride into the orphanage left me humbled and speechless.

The streets of Pignon.

It was wash day in the local river.

Not sure if this is a home or a business

This was the typical way they stored their foods to keep the animals and critters out of it.

Our first task at hand was to get settled and unpacked.

This was the view from the outside of our dorm.

 

This was the inside where all the girls slept together. This was right as we arrived, before we all rigged up our mosquito nets. My home was the far- back, top- right, bunk.

This was the outhouse where only cold, cold, COLD showers existed(and where Fredia the tarantula lives).

We also unpacked and loaded up the clinic with all the formula we brought. This shelf was completely empty before we got there. They did not have one single can for Clinic Day. This is what all was supplied by our generous friends and family. It was also spread out in other places, but this was the one spot designated for it. It felt SO GOOD!

There was also another large task at hand that we were not aware of. Steve brought along his construction friend, Dave, and they had plans to put a roof on the concrete dining pavilion for the kids.

Since we did not have anything on the agenda for the rest of the day, the “Nashville Crew” went to work with the tools. We spent the next 24 hours working hard to get this roof up and ready to use. We stopped at dark and dinner on our first day and ran through lunch on the second. First, we went to work trying to level the ground for gravel until concrete could be poured. It was very hard work and we did not make progress very fast.

It is amazing what you find when you start digging in Haitian dirt. Amanda worked on conquering her fear of spiders with this tarantula the team dug up.

 

Then we went to work hammering together the 10 trusses that were to hold up the roof. It was harder than it seemed. Every time I hit with the hammer, someone else hammering a spot down the board would shimmy it right back out.

Samantha and Sonja were our muscles doing a lot of pushing and holding the trusses in place.

Sam was so worried about our Construction Foreman, Dave, and his tightrope walking skills.It really could be difficult holding the rafters in place for an extended time. We had to trade out turns when arms started to burn.The girls were excited to carry the last of the trusses to put into place.

Our “Jack Bauer” hanging in the rafters.

All in a days work. I was so proud of this roof. I did not even know that we were going to be doing this and we were a part of it. I discovered a hidden talent about being able to toss up 4 nails at a time to Steve or Dave hanging in the rafters.
 

All our hard work and sweat was rewarded with our first ice cold drink.

What I learned in these 2 days: I thought I knew what kind of Mission Trip I was headed on. I learned that I was totally not in control. God knew where and on what tiny plane he was sending me. He also knew that I thought I would be loving on babies, and he allowed me to put a complete roof on a building that had not been able to be used up to this point. I think He might have been aligning my heart with my husbands who was going to be so proud that his wife went to Haiti and did  a little construction work.

I also want to remember that there was a leak in the pump plumbing. I was assigned the task (with some friends) of digging out and finding the leak. I found 3 leaks and was able to show Dave where they needed repair. I might or might not have made a funny about being able to identify the location of the leak by just looking into the hole. I don’t think Steve or Dave knew what they were getting into with this group. I really enjoyed this day getting to know them and feeling a part of something lasting! Something that would be used for years to come, and something that would allow the kids to feel more like a family eating together rather than in their rooms.

Return to Well Being- Day 2

To start our day we took an early Sunday tour of Port-Au-Prince. It was good day to do so because the crowds were low. The sights and sounds were almost more than my brain could take in. There was one area of tent homes that spanned as far as I could see. The seemed to be no place for trash and the streets were littered with it. People were roaming and selling whatever they had to sell on the side of the road. You could find food, clothes, shoes, candy, and even universal remotes. The damage everywhere was overwhelming, but Steve assured us that he could not believe how far they had come. He was here within weeks of the earthquake and said even the big roads were not passable. I was struck with the fact that if this was one of our big cities, the government would not allow this. They would do something about it. Imagine thousands of makeshift tents across the street from the White House… that is what it was like. It has been two years and these people have lived in tents with no where to go, and no means to change things. I have heard that 50% of American families donated to the relief efforts in Haiti… where did it all go?

This is the Presidential Palace. I am not sure if you can tell from the photo but the top of the building just slid off the front. It was still so pristine and groomed. It was beautiful and odd all at the same time.

We stopped by the school where our Pastor/Translator attended. He was in the part of the building that is now on the ground. He had friends die. He presses on in school at another building and into Jesus knowing he has a calling to reach his people.

We next stopped at the Cathedral. We got out and walked around a bit. A church service was being held in tents across the street. It too was beautiful and laid in ruins. Some of the stained glass still in tact. Our team stopped for a photo op inside the ruins. We also were surrounded by people begging for anything we had to give. It was very humbling and sad. I have had people beg before, but the desperation in these people’s eyes was different. There was a complete emptiness that haunts me.

 
Many of you know my fabulous team leader Kari Gibson. Visit her on my sidebar at My Crazy Adoption. She is going to start sharing stories next week about our life changing trip.

We finally made it to our destination for the day. Day 2 at Well Being orphanage. We did not have a plan set in stone, but hoped to love on, play with, feed, and pour into the children and the directors. When we arrived we were greeted with the same love from the children. The children wanted to hold you, and not just be next to you holding your hand. It was a death grip kind of hold where their muscles were tense and squeezing never wanting to let go. My friend (who they called Smite) would not let me move. He sat in my lap wrapped his arms around me and pushed others away. He too told the translator that he needed me, that he wanted to go with me.
You can see below that if he could have crawled under my skin he would have. We were both squeezing. Also a funny aside… the boy next to me took my sunglasses. They were passed around all day and even though I looked for them, I did not go home with them. They were no where to be found.
As some of our friends started preparing lunch, we played around with the kids. We passed out flip flops and hats, played Frisbee and watched as some of the bigger boys climbed 80 feet up into the Mango tree to share some of their precious fruit. I don’t think the kids were allowed to just get the fruit on a regular basis because it was like candy and each of them tore into it peeling away the skin with their teeth.

Sonja went to work in the kitchen. We brought food on the previous day for a “Celebration Meal”. As soon as we got there the staff and friends got to work preparing which was no small task. She sat (with Stephanie) and made Pesto from scratch. It took over an hour of cutting and mashing and grinding. I am not even sure what part of the meal it went into, but each part of the meal took a lot of work and effort from both their staff and our team.
Our team also provided Sprite, Limeade, and Fruit Champagne. The kids were so excited, but mostly about the kitchen sink size block of ice that was sitting in the back of our Tap Tap. Some boys went to work smashing it into bits and we filled and refilled glasses over and over. (I know how they felt. I had only been there 2 days and would have done anything for something ice cold- well almost anything I sure was not tempted to eat the big block that had ridden the dusty roads in the bed of a dirty truck)The staff of the orphanage had included us in the meal planning and expected us to participate in the Celebration Meal. Some of our team was brave and ate most all that was offered.I was glad to finally have my stomach back and out of fear only tried a bit of fried , flattened banana.After lunch many on the team went around to the front of the home for a craft and play time. I decided to make my husband and father proud by helping make the makeshift lean-to more stable and larger. I have had years of practice holding boards for sawing. If only I knew where my sunglasses had gone.


After my help was no longer needed with the shelter,  I found an older girl from the orphanage trying desperately to get the baby to sleep. I knew she had other responsibilities so I somehow convinced her to hand the baby over. I bounced and hummed her right to sleep. This is my gift, this is what I do. I tried to hide out under the trees so that someone would not take her from me and lay her in a bed somewhere. It lasted for a while. (Also noted that doves in the trees do poop on you.) Notice Smite is back  in the first picture. As soon as I got her to sleep and sat down he was right there making sure that I did not forget that he had laid his claim. He stood there (with the strangle hold) for quite a while. He also helped clean the dove poop off my leg.
My buddies were busy in the kitchen  and with the crafting, but they got their love time in too. Yes those are my sunglasses again.

The older girls kept disappearing into the girls dorm. I got curious as to what they were doing. This girl must have been in charge of the ironing. She had several piles of completed clothes that were ironed to perfection and several bowls left to go. I detest ironing our church clothes for Sunday morning. I cannot imagine being responsible for that many kids school and church clothes. WOW! Look closely at her iron. It is an iron, iron and hot coals were placed in the bottom. We praised her for her work and she was so proud.
 
Like any good guest, before leaving our team helped with the dishes (in buckets on the porch) and left gifts of candy and silly bandz.

Pray for Mami pictured with our team below. She runs the orphanage. She also has Diabetes and has recently lost one leg. Her other foot is starting not to do well. These children love and adore her. I cannot imagine what all she puts into making this orphanage work and she does it in this condition.