Day 6

What a great way to end the week!  We have served a total of 15 to 16,000 children throughout this week!

At the party today, we served 5000 children.  The children seemed to really enjoy the puppet show, and they loved the toys and meal they received.  Just like the other parties, there was an invitation to accept Christ and many children raised their hands.  Praise God! 

Here are a few thoughts and highlights from the team about this amazing week:

Jackie ~ "This was the best life experience I have had, and I plan to return next year."

Melissa ~ "Working with Bishop and Madame Jeune as they practice true religion caring for the orphans and widows has been an amazing experience."

Tammy ~ "I have compassion for these people.  They have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat." ~ Mark 8:2(NIV)

Kila ~ "Haiti is always a most humbling experience; it keeps me grounded and always increases my faith.  I look forward to next year."

Muriel ~ "It was a pleasure seeing my Haitian daughter, Christina, grow so much since I've last seen her."

Nancy ~ "I enjoyed spending the week with the women of the church listening to them sing and learning Creole."

Rachel ~ "It has been a blessing to see so many children respond to the Gospel and see Christ as part of their family."

The Miller's ~ "We have been so blessed by this opportunity to serve Jesus and the Haitian people with the Grace International team and are amazed at God's mighty work and power in the land of Haiti."

Luis ~ "I am amazed to see what people can achieve in such a short period of time when they have a purpose and are focused on God and doing His work."

Mike ~ "Haiti was wonderful, and I was so moved by the children.  Seeing them open their presents was an humbling experience."

Vickie ~ "I really enjoyed spending time with all the kids, holding them, loving on them, praying over them and seeing so many of them respond to the Gospel.  It was phenomenal."

Chris Fewox (team leader) ~ "This was a great week of ministry.  We were able to minister to more kids than we ever have before.  It was a tiring week but very rewarding."

THE HAITI TEAM

Days 4 & 5

Day 4

The party at Lamentin was truly a historic event.  The Lamentin compound is where we're staying.  On the compound is a Girls' Home, a school, a clinic, and a hospital which is currently under construction.  Pastor Stan, Sr. surprised Bishop and Madame Jeune at the party.  Pastor Stan, Sr. is the senior pastor from Word of Life church in Miami, Florida.  Word of Life helps to fund and assist with the Christmas parties here in Haiti.  They have been working with the Jeune's for many years including the Christmas parties that began 17 years ago.  It was a blessing to witness this event. We served around 5000 children at today's party and as always, the children offered their gratitude. 

Vicki ~ “You really felt God moving with the kids as the message was given, and so many children stood up to receive Jesus Christ.

Day 5
What an eventful day! The team split up today to accomplish a few tasks and came back together to take a tour of the Boys' Home at Waney.   

Luis and Vicki went to the Sunshine Home (a small orphanage of 45 children), a few team members stayed behind to finish packing, and the remainder of the team went to the detention center to host a party.  

Luis and Vicki had an amazing time at the Sunshine Home.  It is being run by Madame Jeune’s mother and is assisted by Paulette and Ingrid from Miami.  

Luis ~ “It’s amazing to see these children so happy and well taken care of. They were so appreciative."  







Luis’ highlight of the event was meeting a little boy named King King who had only been in the orphanage for three months.  And a highlight of the day for Rachel was seeing a young girl who remembered her from her first trip to Haiti in 2009.

The remainder of the team traveled to the detention center where they hosted a party for 700 boys.  

Todd from Forward Edge ~ “Every gift from the gospel presentation, to the food, to the Christmas gifts they received was a gift from from the Lord because every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord."

Lastly, we all went to the Boys' Home which is also run by the Jeune's.  We spent time with the boys and gave them their gift bags.  During our visit, we were given a tour.  We were able to see where the boys stay, the house Bishop and Madame used to reside in, the former and current church, as well as, the Widows' Home.  The former sanctuary was damaged by the earthquake and church is now held under a tent outside. The widows' home is for women who are widowed and have nowhere to go.  Some of these women also help with the boys at the boys' home.  

The Jeune’s are doing exactly what we are asked to do - care for the orphans and widows.

The teams currently on site in Haiti:
RFA team, Miami team, & the Forward Edge team from the Solid Rock Church in Oregon

Day 3

Today went so well.  We hosted two parties and served around 6000 children!  The puppet show went well, the kids were excited, and many of them came to Christ.  The looks on the children's faces when they received their toys were priceless.  The children also ate a delicious meal of rice, chicken, and corn on the cob.  Barbie dolls, trucks, cars, and toy cell phones were the toys the children received.

  

Katy said, "I was almost in tears as I watched a young girl's face glow from receiving her gift bag."  Rachel, who has visited Haiti before, also enjoyed watching the joy and excitement on the children's faces.

Part of the team stayed behind to pack bags for the next day and enjoyed moments with the elder ladies.  Those women sang praises to the Lord in Creole, laughed with us and taught us new words.  We were so appreciative of their hard work and servants' hearts.

THE HAITI TEAM

Days 1 & 2

Day 1

We have arrived!  Haiti is beautiful, and the team is excited. Many of our team members are traveling for the first time and are eager to get started.

  

We piled in the van and headed for the compound; there was much to see along the way. The tent cities are disappearing but the country itself looks the same; there is much more to be done.

For our team members who are visiting Haiti for the first time, it has been a culture shock. 

Josh (age 12), who is traveling to Haiti for the first time stated, “It was breathtaking.  We have so much, like everything, when they have almost nothing."  

Vicki, who has traveled to Haiti before said, “I enjoyed the reactions of those who have traveled to Haiti for the first time.  After you have traveled to Haiti a few times, you aren’t shocked, but it is so important not to grow numb."

Upon our arrival at the compound, we were greeted with smiles and a delicious lunch. With our first party beginning Wednesday, we knew we had to hit the ground running.  Some of us prepared badges and bags, worked the assembly line packing gifts, as well as, played with the girls at the Girl’s Home. 

We concluded our day with devotion, and today’s devotion truly resonated with each of us. Pastor Chris read Philippians 2:1-5; it was a strong reminder of why we are here.

"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also the interests of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 2:1-5

Day 2

 "Veet Veet!"  This was the phrase of the day and will more than likely be the phrase of the week.  

Our Christmas parties begin tomorrow, with an estimated 6,000 kids.  Everyone was busy packing bags of gifts and practicing for the puppet show.

The children will be receiving awesome gifts this year such as helicopters, police cars, and Barbie dolls.  The team was excited and worked tirelessly.

We are developing new friendships and enjoying fellowship with one another.

Tomorrow is going to be a great day.  Keep us in your prayers as we minister to the children.

THE HAITI TEAM