(continued from prior - we are on limited time and I'm not sure when it runs out)
Our journey finally brought us to the center of a small ..clearing where there were several dwellings where people lived. The children all gathered around us and we sang a few songs with them. I then sat down on the ground and told them the story of Daniel and the lions den. The kids also sang a Creole song for us and were doing a sort of dance where they would kick their feet in and out. One of the highlights for me was when on of the older men in the village (looked to be about 60 -70 ) who was on crutches came out on his crutches and was doing his best to dance along with the children. The smile on his face was infectious. Such joy with so little makes me re-evalute my priorties.
I'll close for now and try to give others a chance to add their thoughts.
Love to you all,
Christy-
Showing posts with label Day 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Day 2. Show all posts
Monday, June 28, 2010
VBS in the villaage
Greetings from Haiti,
Again today was a hard but amazing day. Filling those holes using only the wheelbarrows, shovels, and hands required strength and stamina that only God could provide (especially this 37 year old mama). I was so proud to be working with the group I was working with because no one stopped except for the necessary water breaks and kept plugging on.
Afterwards, a group of us went with a translator into the village to conduct a VBS with the kids. Several of our youth, Katie, Nelson, Jacob, Lorin, and Courtney along with Rick, Colby, and myself followed our intrepreter along a path that lead us through banana groves, over streams, deeper into (what seemed to me) the jungle. Kids joined us all along the way as we were walking. It seemed that each child that joined us picked a person to be "their" person. Ti Ti Bobby chose me. As we walked along I asked his name, and he asked mine and we both kept repeating the other's name. The experience was almost surreal. I looked down at the small hand in mine and at the surroundings around me and almost couldn't believe I was really here.
Again today was a hard but amazing day. Filling those holes using only the wheelbarrows, shovels, and hands required strength and stamina that only God could provide (especially this 37 year old mama). I was so proud to be working with the group I was working with because no one stopped except for the necessary water breaks and kept plugging on.
Afterwards, a group of us went with a translator into the village to conduct a VBS with the kids. Several of our youth, Katie, Nelson, Jacob, Lorin, and Courtney along with Rick, Colby, and myself followed our intrepreter along a path that lead us through banana groves, over streams, deeper into (what seemed to me) the jungle. Kids joined us all along the way as we were walking. It seemed that each child that joined us picked a person to be "their" person. Ti Ti Bobby chose me. As we walked along I asked his name, and he asked mine and we both kept repeating the other's name. The experience was almost surreal. I looked down at the small hand in mine and at the surroundings around me and almost couldn't believe I was really here.
28 July
(Posted by Kirk McCauley)
Greetings friends at Wall Highway,
Thanks so much for meeting up for the Left Behind Dinner and pulling off the Skype session. There were lots of tears and homesickness on our end, but it was so worth it to see you guys. It's hard to describe how excited everyone was on this end to watch the rachety freeze-frame pictures for a glimpse at our loved ones.
Today was a great day. God gave us awesome weather, perfect for the work we had to do today. As Courtney and Stephanie mentioned, we are building a small 5 room house for a "family" of 12 Hatians. The house is being built on a slope, and has a beatiful view all the way down to the ocean miles away. The stone walls of the foundation were already built, so our objective today was to clear out some mud that had washed over the footings, and fill in the foundation with rock. The 22 of us worked very hard along side 4 of the teenage Hatian children that will live in the house. We completed the job in about 3 hours, although it seemed like 6 (and would have taken us 15 minutes with a "Bobcat"). May not sound like a long time, but 3 hours in the hot sun shovelling rock really wears you out.
I was really encouraged by how much we were able to do today with limited tools and skills. Thankfully God provided shade nearby, and a stiff breeze, which made the work bearable. Tomorrow we lay rebar, and pour a slab. Pray that we exceed our capability. Also, we will be feeding some Haitians at a dump, and the youth will be leading VBS.
Of note, parents and friends, you can be proud of the youth on our trip. There have been absolutely no complaints (from the youth, adults however... ). Nelson and Katie have been leading the worship at night. Crenshaw was an ox, pushing heavy wheelbarrows of rock up hill without any breaks (borderline nuts). Today, Sarah, Tara, Amanda, and Lorin entertained the kids at the job site, with genuine care and tenderness. Jacob helped lead the VBS team in the afternoon in the village nearby, Source Matles (Soo-SMAHLTESS). Courtney really connected with one of the girls in the orphanage with playing all kinds of different derivatives of the "hand slapping" game, and other things that I can only inadequately describe as "patty cake".
We miss you guys and really appreciate the emails, texts, and notes you wrote in advance.
Kirk
Greetings friends at Wall Highway,
Thanks so much for meeting up for the Left Behind Dinner and pulling off the Skype session. There were lots of tears and homesickness on our end, but it was so worth it to see you guys. It's hard to describe how excited everyone was on this end to watch the rachety freeze-frame pictures for a glimpse at our loved ones.
Today was a great day. God gave us awesome weather, perfect for the work we had to do today. As Courtney and Stephanie mentioned, we are building a small 5 room house for a "family" of 12 Hatians. The house is being built on a slope, and has a beatiful view all the way down to the ocean miles away. The stone walls of the foundation were already built, so our objective today was to clear out some mud that had washed over the footings, and fill in the foundation with rock. The 22 of us worked very hard along side 4 of the teenage Hatian children that will live in the house. We completed the job in about 3 hours, although it seemed like 6 (and would have taken us 15 minutes with a "Bobcat"). May not sound like a long time, but 3 hours in the hot sun shovelling rock really wears you out.
I was really encouraged by how much we were able to do today with limited tools and skills. Thankfully God provided shade nearby, and a stiff breeze, which made the work bearable. Tomorrow we lay rebar, and pour a slab. Pray that we exceed our capability. Also, we will be feeding some Haitians at a dump, and the youth will be leading VBS.
Of note, parents and friends, you can be proud of the youth on our trip. There have been absolutely no complaints (from the youth, adults however... ). Nelson and Katie have been leading the worship at night. Crenshaw was an ox, pushing heavy wheelbarrows of rock up hill without any breaks (borderline nuts). Today, Sarah, Tara, Amanda, and Lorin entertained the kids at the job site, with genuine care and tenderness. Jacob helped lead the VBS team in the afternoon in the village nearby, Source Matles (Soo-SMAHLTESS). Courtney really connected with one of the girls in the orphanage with playing all kinds of different derivatives of the "hand slapping" game, and other things that I can only inadequately describe as "patty cake".
We miss you guys and really appreciate the emails, texts, and notes you wrote in advance.
Kirk
VBS
(Posted by Coutney Page)
Today, after we did the whole construction thing, some of us (including me) went to do a VBS. So this entire thing was very very unprepared, but God provided for us. It was in one of the villages and it was amazing! All the kids were just so ecstatic that we were there. I loved it! The kids just radiate so much life it's really cool. We sang and dance. God was there. His presence was tangable in the children. I am blessed.
Courtney Page
Today, after we did the whole construction thing, some of us (including me) went to do a VBS. So this entire thing was very very unprepared, but God provided for us. It was in one of the villages and it was amazing! All the kids were just so ecstatic that we were there. I loved it! The kids just radiate so much life it's really cool. We sang and dance. God was there. His presence was tangable in the children. I am blessed.
Courtney Page
Laying the Foundation
(Posted by Stephanie Newman)
Today was our first day of construction. I can honestly say that everyone did awesome. We all worked well as a team and got the work done.
Thank God it wasn't super hot where we were. It was hot and sunny but there was shade and a nice breeze.
After we got done filling the foundation we were building, some of the group went out to the village to do VBS with the kids. There were so many Haitian kids who came out and watched us work. Some helped. It was neat to spend time with them. Got lots of pictures.
We got to meet the lady whose house we are building. She works here at the mission. She was so thankful. She lost her house in the earthquake and has 12 people living with her. Right now they are living in a tent.
Keep praying that God reveals himself through us and our actions.
Stephanie Newman
Today was our first day of construction. I can honestly say that everyone did awesome. We all worked well as a team and got the work done.
Thank God it wasn't super hot where we were. It was hot and sunny but there was shade and a nice breeze.
After we got done filling the foundation we were building, some of the group went out to the village to do VBS with the kids. There were so many Haitian kids who came out and watched us work. Some helped. It was neat to spend time with them. Got lots of pictures.
We got to meet the lady whose house we are building. She works here at the mission. She was so thankful. She lost her house in the earthquake and has 12 people living with her. Right now they are living in a tent.
Keep praying that God reveals himself through us and our actions.
Stephanie Newman
"Village" Bible School
(Posted by Katie Goldsmith)
I was one of the people who went and did a VBS. I thought it would be at Mission of Hope but instead it was around villages.
We had a translator with us who helped but we walked to each area and kids followed us everywhere. They asked for everything we had on us. They were cute they wanted to look at our pictures and check out our glasses.
We are all so, so, so tired. Please pray for our health and endurance. We can't wait to share more. :)
Katie Goldsmith
I was one of the people who went and did a VBS. I thought it would be at Mission of Hope but instead it was around villages.
We had a translator with us who helped but we walked to each area and kids followed us everywhere. They asked for everything we had on us. They were cute they wanted to look at our pictures and check out our glasses.
We are all so, so, so tired. Please pray for our health and endurance. We can't wait to share more. :)
Katie Goldsmith
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