Provided below, is a compilation of the "end-of-day" e-mail reports that the Haiti 2011 Team (courtesy of my good friend and brother, Bill Hailey) sent back to our church (newhope church) and prayer partners during our time in Haiti this past April. Enjoy…
Dave
Day 1…Friday, 1 Apr 11
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
We have arrived in Port Au Prince Haiti and are settling in at the New Life orphanage and guest house. After our arrival, we visited downtown PAP and the destruction of the 2010 earthquake. Words cannot describe what we saw. We are tired but are in good spirits as God has been with us and has brought us here safe and sound. Thanks to all of you for your love, prayers, and support.
In Christ,
Bill Hailey, on behalf of Team Haiti 2011
Dave
Day 1…Friday, 1 Apr 11
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
We have arrived in Port Au Prince Haiti and are settling in at the New Life orphanage and guest house. After our arrival, we visited downtown PAP and the destruction of the 2010 earthquake. Words cannot describe what we saw. We are tired but are in good spirits as God has been with us and has brought us here safe and sound. Thanks to all of you for your love, prayers, and support.
In Christ,
Bill Hailey, on behalf of Team Haiti 2011
Day 2…Saturday, 2 Apr 11
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, God had an amazing message for us. It echoed over and over and over again. It was that one person can really make a difference. It started off with a devotional about the reformation in which one man struck the spark (John Wycliffe), one man kindled the flame (John Huss), and one man dared to brandish the torch of truth (Martin Luther). The three men led a religious revolution from the 1300s to 1500s and made a tremendous difference in what matters most to us – our understanding of God, the Bible, and salvation.
While at New Life Childrens Home and Guest House, we met with Miriam, who is an amazing woman of God. Miriam gave us a tour of the place, which is by far one of the best I have ever experienced. I say that because it is somewhat sustainable in that it has a large garden, septic system, water treatment system, a small tilapia fish raising operation, lots of various animals, a nice plot of land, and a guest house which raises some money to run the orphanage. Even so, there are still some very present and pressing needs: The orphanage is home to about 90 + kids, some of which have special needs. You can certainly feel the love in that place the moment you arrive. Miriam shared with us how God used the love in her heart for the people of Haiti and turned something so small into something so amazing. God provided miracle after miracle which eventually became the New Life Childrens Home and Guest House in Port Au Prince. Miriam knew that she could not accomplish the task alone but that in Christ all things are possible.
We left Port Au Prince, today, and headed for Bohoc (pronounced BOUGH-hock). We traveled on route 40 along the smoothest road on which I have ever ridden in Haiti. We got to see the huge Péligre dam and power plant on the Artibonite River, which is on the outskirts of Mirabelle. After reaching and passing through the town of Hinche, the road conditions changed into what I have most often encountered (rough, rocky, and bumpy). It was quite fun, though, and we eventually arrived in Bohoc and met with many of the leaders of the village. After spending some time getting to know one another we left for the guest house to unwind, eat some manje (food), and get a good night’s sleep.
Again thanks to all of you for your love, prayers, and support.
In Christ,
Bill Hailey, on behalf of Team Haiti 2011
Day 3…Sunday, 3 Apr 11
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, was another amazing day that God provided for us. We started off the day with breakfast followed by devotions led by Ethan Mikhail, the youngest person on our team. He set our day off to great start by sharing God’s word with us and by sharing what was on his heart. God is doing some wonderful things in this young man’s life. He is DEFINITELY someone to watch!
We visited the Eglise De Frere (Church of Brothers) in Bohoc this morning. It is one of 11 churches in this community, and we were blessed to have been there. Although the service was in Haitian Creole, the Holy Spirit was with us, and we were (most definitely!) all one body in Christ. We also had the special privilege of celebrating communion with our Haitian brothers and sisters. We discovered that this church community, and probably many Haitian churches, uses a portion of the service to resolve any issues between members of the community. During the service, a husband and wife reconciled with each other in front of the church. Additionally, two friends, who had, it would seem, been fighting for some time, reconciled as well. What a privilege it was for all of us to behold such a practice.
After a quick lunch, some of us played a short game of football in the hot sun with another missions team from Buckhead/Northpointe Church in Atlanta Georgia. We are sharing the guest house with this team and are enjoying their fellowship. Even though they, too, are working in the area, each team has different assignments.
In the afternoon, we met with the community leaders of Bohoc. We learned so many things in this meeting. First and foremost we discovered that the leadership of this community is dedicated to serving Jesus Christ. Many if not all of them serve as pastors and/or leaders within their churches. They are also strongly devoted to the betterment of their community and their families. They shared the problems that they face and the vision of what they want their community to become. It was a very emotional experience for everyone in the room. We were so inspired by the love that they possess and the opportunities that they desire for the youth of their community. Dave described them as all being like Nehemiah (“Comforter”), who brought comfort to his people, the children of Israel, in encouraging and leading them to rebuild the wall of protection and security that once surrounded Jerusalem. Dave concluded by saying that he felt God had so definitely raised up these leaders in Bohoc to provide love, comfort, and leadership to their people as they all together work to rebuild their lives (and Haiti) and to create a community devoted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We look forward to watching God change this community, and we feel so very blessed to be able to be a part of what is happening.
After the meeting, we went to a community soccer game where we watched a little bit of soccer, but spent far more time playing with kids and sharing ourselves with the people God placed in our path. It was time well spent.
After supper, we held our nightly debriefing. Many of us shared the things that touched our heart the most. We also opened some of the letters that our awesome prayer warriors created for us. Tears of joy leaked from our eyes as we read them. They were both much needed and appreciated.
Again thanks to all of you for your love, prayers, and support.
In Christ,
Bill Hailey, on behalf of Team Haiti 2011
Day 4…Monday, 4 Apr 11
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today we started with a Devotional led by Leah & Ramsay MacMillan. They reminded us that we are called to be faithful, to love God, and to love others and that God is at work and ALWAYS doing more than we know.
In the morning, we worked alongside our Haitian brothers and sisters on the foundation for the new church building @ Eglise De Frere (Church of Brothers) in Bohoc. While moving blocks and stones, we discovered five tarantulas. We also discovered truth in the old saying “many hands make light work.” This small investment of our time is already showing a big profit in that we have shown our brothers and sisters that we believe in what they are doing for the kingdom of heaven and that we are with them in this endeavor. We have learned to never underestimate the power of encouragement.
We also visited the market in Bohoc, where produce, animals, and supplies are available for purchase or trade. The market occurs each Monday and is located in town just off the roadway. Although it is a busy and congested area—and is not a place for the claustrophobic or for those who possess a strong compassion for animals, it serves an important function for the Haitian people and is something to be respected.
After lunch, we visited the Matthew 28 Orphanage, and some of us taught language skills to the kids, while others painted faces, performed animal impersonations, sang number & abc songs, played hopscotch, and played keep away ball (from Dave) with the kids. Afterwards we went to a community field and played a super-sized version of the game “kick the can” with many kids. Although it was difficult to organize, due to the number of players (nearly 200 adults & kids), it was a great event and one that we won’t ever forget.
After super and our evening debriefing, we each opened more letters from our faithful and awesome prayer partners. The letters have been so personally meaningful to all of us. It is really a great thing to know that many back at home are thinking of and praying for us.
Again thanks to all of you for your love, prayers, and support.
In Christ,
Bill Hailey, on behalf of Team Haiti 2011
Day 5…Tuesday, 5 Apr 11
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, we started with a devotional led by Allison Adler, who shared with us 1 Corinthians 13: the real meaning of love. This resonated in our hearts throughout the day. Stacey Williams, our U.S. 410 Bridge staff member provided us also with a “Hands and Feet of Jesus” team activity, which involved choosing a body part and focusing on how we could use that part of the body during the day to serve Christ. The intent would be to share our experiences later during our evening debrief.
In the morning we worked on a road widening project with our Haitian brothers and sisters. We used Haitian chain saws (machetes!) to chop up cactus hedgerows. We also used rakes and pickaxes to prepare the road bed. We worked in unison to the help of live music provided by the Haitians. It was quite a memorable event and one that is sure to be talked about for a long time. This road will provide someone in the community with vehicle access to their home and garden so that, eventually, crops can be harvested and exported to neighboring homes and villages. This project deepened our understanding of the need to create micro-enterprises and how this community takes care of its own.
Afterward, we toured a local garden with a man named Saul, who is local agricultural extension agent. We were quite impressed with his knowledge and wisdom and with the methods used to cultivate and irrigate the many different crops they grow.
After lunch, we visited the United Christians International (UCI) complex and met with Kristie and Johnjon Mompremier. Kristie shared an amazing testimony with us of how God redeemed the property (formerly a place of voodoo worship) into a church, a childrens school, a pastoral training center, a feeding center for malnourished children, an agricultural center, which included a huge garden and tree nursery for reforestation projects, and a place where Haitians can make cassava bread, which is made from the native cassava plant. Krisitie and Johnjon are preparing to build a university in Bohoc that will offer bachelors degrees in Agriculture, Education, and Pastoral Leadership. Words cannot describe the many ways this couple is meeting needs within the community and making an impact for Christ’s kingdom.
After our UCI visit, we took a quick trip to the souvenir market and then returned to the guest house where we hung out and played with the kids in the neighborhood. We can’t wait for you to hear the stories about all the kids we encountered on this trip. They have touched our hearts in so many ways.
After super, we held our evening debrief and shared how we used our bodies to be the hands, feet, ears, and heart of Christ. We also used the time to share what was on our hearts.
Again, thanks to all of you for your love, prayers, and support.
In Christ,
Bill Hailey, on behalf of Team Haiti 2011
Day 6…Wed, 6 Apr 11
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, we started with a devotional led by Joslyn Wiley. She shared with us about having a cultivated sense of courage. We can all relate to Moses’ “Who Am I?” speech (see Exodus 3:7 -22) and the Lord’s firm and compassionate response. At some point, all of us doubt our ability (and worthiness) to accomplish what God has purposed for our lives. It’s good to know that we don’t have to be perfect or have all the answers as our God IS and our God DOES. Ramsey also shared with us Ephesians 6:10-20, in which Paul instructs us to put on the full armor of God. This was to prepare us for what awaited us next.
After packing up and saying our goodbyes to our brothers and sisters at the guest house, we stopped on the way out of town to visit a cave which is believed to be used for many wicked purposes, one of which being voodoo worship. The cave has a large main room, along with a narrow tunnel connected to smaller rooms, which leads to a second exit. The cave is very out-of-the-way, very dark, contains many bats, and is filled with the guano that they excrete. It makes one wonder why anyone would subject themselves to such darkness and filth. We know that the evil one seduces with cunning deceptiveness the promises of power, healing, success, and fulfillment of desires in this life. The imitator also promises freedom yet enslaves his captors to depravity. Job 24: 13-17 reads…
“There are those who rebel against the light, who do not know its ways or stay in its paths. When daylight is gone, the murderer rises up and kills the poor and needy; in the night he steals forth like a thief. The eye of the adulterer watches for dusk; he thinks, ‘No eye will see me,’ and he keeps his face concealed. In the dark, men break into houses, but by day they shut themselves in; they want nothing to do with the light. For all of them, deep darkness is their morning; they make friends with the terrors of darkness.”
The good news for us is that Christ has already won the victory. One day, He will reveal the deep things of darkness and bring the engulfing shadows into the light.
After the cave visit, we left Bohoc for the New Life Childrens home and Guest House in Port Au Prince. After the long and sometimes bumpy ride, we arrived at the childrens home and quickly discovered some anxious little faces waiting to play with us. We used the rest of our afternoon to either play w/the kids or rest or both.
After super, we held our evening debrief, and Dave shared with us 1 Chronicles 16, Genesis 2:18, Nehemiah 6, and Philippians 2:13. Dave challenged us to pray that we would have an overwhelming desire to do God’s will and to be an apprentice of Jesus. He also gave us a list of questions to ask ourselves over the next few weeks. These questions are to help us to remember and begin to live-out the life God has purposed for each of us. One question in particular was, “If you found out that you only had 24 hours left to live, how would you live differently?” I encourage each of you ask yourself the same.
In closing, we would like to share with you a story from Allison Adler, about our encounter with a little girl:
Tuesday afternoon, after coming back from our day in Bohoc, we played with the local children as was our usual late afternoon activity. We painted some of the girls’ nails. One little girl had an open wound on her finger. According to some of our group members, the finger had gotten worse over the past two days. Tara, our 410 leader was notified, knowing that the best way to handle the situation was for the local community to become involved in her care. Tara looked at the little girl’s finger, who was able to walk, but not really old enough to talk. Once Tara figured out the best way to handle the situation, the little girl was nowhere to be found. None of the other children seemed to know her name or where she lived. I was incredibly concerned that her wound may be infected and that the infection would spread. The infant mortality rate in Haiti is quite high, and this was my fear in the back of my mind. I prayed throughout the evening and into the next morning that the little girl would return. At 0530 in the morning, the kids are usually starting to come out and play. This Wednesday morning, there were not many, as they didn’t have school that day. After breakfast, I again said a prayer that the little girl would return. No more than 10 minutes later, I hear my name being called as the little girl has returned. She is back with her mother, who runs a little stand near the Haiti Outreach Center where we stayed. She let us know that the little girl had shut her finger in a door. I cleaned the wound with some antiseptic spray, put some triple antibiotic spray on it, and covered it with a gauze bandage. The mother just kept saying mesi mesi (thank you thank you) over and over. The mother was to bring the little girl by the following morning so this little bit of care could be completed again by another 410 team. If the wound worsens, the little girl will be taken to a local clinic, where she will receive more extensive care that will be paid for through 410 donations that have been made. This simple act of cleaning a wound and covering it to protect it from dirt and germs may be so important to the health of this little girl.
Again thanks to all of you for your love, prayers, and support.
In Christ,
Bill Hailey, on behalf of Team Haiti 2011
Day 7…Thursday, 7 Apr 11
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, we started with a devotional led by Robert Caylor. He shared with us the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), and he reminded us that God has given each of us different skills and resources and that we need to use those things to serve Christ and to help others. Robert also pointed out that we need to share with others the important lessons learned and experiences gained from our trip.
After packing up and saying our goodbyes to our brothers and sisters at the childrens home, we left for the Airport in Port Au Prince. Once we finished completing the long series of security measures, we grabbed a quick snack and boarded our plane enroute to Miami. Once in Miami, we went through customs and more security checks. After grabbing a bite to eat at the airport, we held our final evening debrief at Gate 12. During our debrief we shared our “lessons learned” from our experiences in Bohoc and Port Au Prince. Shortly thereafter we boarded our last plane headed for RDU International.
At 10:15p, we arrived in North Carolina to be greeted by our awesome/faithful friends and family. Although, we have returned from our trip to Haiti, our mission is far from over.
Again thanks to all of you for your love, prayers, and support.
In Christ,
Bill Hailey, on behalf of Team Haiti 2011
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