(Posted by Tom Parker)
Hey All,
God is amazing and is continuing to surprise us all by his grace and power! Today we talked in our group and did not get to talk about our book (Radical by David Platt), but we did discuss God's Word and a question. The question was, "Why did God allow you to be born in America instead of Haiti?" That's a tough question to ponder, and that's just what they are doing for the next couple of days.
It was really good to see the group mingle and love on kids and adults! You can tell the children are really enjoying their love from them. I was able to see Pomposh, whom I have not seen in 8 years. He saw me today and came and asked if it was me and I was surpirsed he remembered me, but that is just what they do, they remember people they care about! Time is almost gone, so see ya tomorrow!
Tom Parker
BTW I love you Bryce, Karissa and Christian. Take care of your mommy and be nice to her and dnt break anything! See in a few days! I love you sweets!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Haiti :)
(Posted by Katie Goldsmith)
Oh my goodness I am having so much fun here in Haiti :D I have made so many friends and will be so sad to leave. My Dad sister and I have made friends with twoboys Ricardo and Sneider. THey are so nice and it will be so hard leaving them. They call Sarah and me their sisters :) The kids are so amazing and make me smile and our translaters are awesome :D cant wait to share everything with everyone :) I love you guys. Bon Swa!
Katie Goldsmith ^^,
Oh my goodness I am having so much fun here in Haiti :D I have made so many friends and will be so sad to leave. My Dad sister and I have made friends with twoboys Ricardo and Sneider. THey are so nice and it will be so hard leaving them. They call Sarah and me their sisters :) The kids are so amazing and make me smile and our translaters are awesome :D cant wait to share everything with everyone :) I love you guys. Bon Swa!
Katie Goldsmith ^^,
Andy's June 30th Blog
(Posted by Andy Ysalgue)
Not sure where to start. There has been so much to process. The week has been amazing thus far. We have bonded with the children of Source Matles. It is a small village where we are helping to build a home. Today, I gave the children coloring books and crayons. They absolutely loved it. It was awesome to look at their faces as I handed it to them. They sat around the majority of the day coloring. Of course, I did not have enough for all the children in the village, so I had them share the books and crayons. They had no issues with this. They were happy just to be coloring Mickey Mouse or Strawberry Shortcake.
We have seen many poor and hungry people. The Haitians we have had contact with have nothing (material wise), yet they continue to have smiles on their faces. These kids have the most radiant smiles I have even seen. I often find myself thinking, "What can you possibly be smiling about? You have no shorts or underwears on, a ripped t-shirt, and broken shoes." Although the pain, hunger, and suffering is evident everywhere you go in Haiti, you would never know based on the people's attitudes.
Back home, when things get tough or don't go as I think they should, I often think "God, what have I done to deserve this?" The real question should be, "God, what did I do to deserve being born in the United States rather than a place like Haiti?" We often take things for granted. Things such as cold water, air conditioning, electricity, washer machines, nice schools, food, warm showers (indoors)......... I will tell you one thing, this trip has changed my life and I thank God for this experience. I miss my family tremendously and I look forward to sharing my experiences with them when I get home. I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. Love you all.
Not sure where to start. There has been so much to process. The week has been amazing thus far. We have bonded with the children of Source Matles. It is a small village where we are helping to build a home. Today, I gave the children coloring books and crayons. They absolutely loved it. It was awesome to look at their faces as I handed it to them. They sat around the majority of the day coloring. Of course, I did not have enough for all the children in the village, so I had them share the books and crayons. They had no issues with this. They were happy just to be coloring Mickey Mouse or Strawberry Shortcake.
We have seen many poor and hungry people. The Haitians we have had contact with have nothing (material wise), yet they continue to have smiles on their faces. These kids have the most radiant smiles I have even seen. I often find myself thinking, "What can you possibly be smiling about? You have no shorts or underwears on, a ripped t-shirt, and broken shoes." Although the pain, hunger, and suffering is evident everywhere you go in Haiti, you would never know based on the people's attitudes.
Back home, when things get tough or don't go as I think they should, I often think "God, what have I done to deserve this?" The real question should be, "God, what did I do to deserve being born in the United States rather than a place like Haiti?" We often take things for granted. Things such as cold water, air conditioning, electricity, washer machines, nice schools, food, warm showers (indoors)......... I will tell you one thing, this trip has changed my life and I thank God for this experience. I miss my family tremendously and I look forward to sharing my experiences with them when I get home. I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. Love you all.
30 June
(Posted by Kirk McCauley)
Hello everyone,
I appologize for the small number of blog posts, but we have been very, very occupied working on the house for Madame Mamoon. We worked from 8am to 430pm and got about half way through pouring the foundation. This involved a delay while our engineer gathered up the materials to frame up the slab, but once we got going, we worked all day. This involved mixing the concrete in a small portable mixer and moving it uphill by wheelbarrow load to the house. The morning was very hot, with almost no breeze, and it really sapped our strength, but after a brief lunch break, a storm blew over and brought cloud cover and a cool breeze.
A core group of 5 haiti teen boys really ran the show, under the supervision of the engineer. They are incredible, with a tremendous work ethic and attitude. Rob Goldsmith has really bonded with Ricardo, one of the teens (a friend of the Mamoon family) and we joke that he plans to bring him home. I really think he would if he could. Everytime I've told the boys my name, they laugh, and today I found out why. Kirk is prounouced the same way they say the word for Rooster. So I became known as "Big Chicken". Tom is "Big Boss", and both Rob and Rick have been called "Papa", because many of the children see these guys as father figures. Andy is "50 cent". Katie is called "Candy" either for pronunciation reasons, or because of the candy.
Most of the men haven't been able to interact with the little kids (too busy working). The youth and ladies have been flowing back and forth between working on the house, interacting with the children, and witnessing in the nearby village. We continue to be blessed with everything we need and the ability to get the work done.
Thanks for your prayers and keeping things together at home. Hey to my kids: Andrew, Abby, and Anna! I'll have a little gift for you. I love you Tiffany!
Hello everyone,
I appologize for the small number of blog posts, but we have been very, very occupied working on the house for Madame Mamoon. We worked from 8am to 430pm and got about half way through pouring the foundation. This involved a delay while our engineer gathered up the materials to frame up the slab, but once we got going, we worked all day. This involved mixing the concrete in a small portable mixer and moving it uphill by wheelbarrow load to the house. The morning was very hot, with almost no breeze, and it really sapped our strength, but after a brief lunch break, a storm blew over and brought cloud cover and a cool breeze.
A core group of 5 haiti teen boys really ran the show, under the supervision of the engineer. They are incredible, with a tremendous work ethic and attitude. Rob Goldsmith has really bonded with Ricardo, one of the teens (a friend of the Mamoon family) and we joke that he plans to bring him home. I really think he would if he could. Everytime I've told the boys my name, they laugh, and today I found out why. Kirk is prounouced the same way they say the word for Rooster. So I became known as "Big Chicken". Tom is "Big Boss", and both Rob and Rick have been called "Papa", because many of the children see these guys as father figures. Andy is "50 cent". Katie is called "Candy" either for pronunciation reasons, or because of the candy.
Most of the men haven't been able to interact with the little kids (too busy working). The youth and ladies have been flowing back and forth between working on the house, interacting with the children, and witnessing in the nearby village. We continue to be blessed with everything we need and the ability to get the work done.
Thanks for your prayers and keeping things together at home. Hey to my kids: Andrew, Abby, and Anna! I'll have a little gift for you. I love you Tiffany!
Source Matla, the Landscape, and a Boy
(Posted by Stephanie Newman)
Well, here we sit in the town of Source Matla. We are laying the foundation of the house we are building. Christy and I managed to sneak away and find a grassy patch, and that is where I am blogging from.
Wow! The guys are working hard mixing and spreading the concrete. There are so many Haitians helping, watching and playing. Someone brought coloring books and the kids are loving those. This land is stunningly beautiful. We are surrounded by sea and mountains. God has been here with us every step of the way. No injuries or illness... just a few tumbles and encounters with thorn bushes. Kirk has managed to fall a least once every day... hehe.
Most of us are having emotions that are hard to describe. We are having the best time and also a very hard time. It's hard to comprehend everything that we are seeing. But it's also so joyful and fulfilling.
Today some of us got to help take a three-year-old little boy to the clinic on the mission. He had never been to the doctor before. He had a large mass on his belly and we were concerned. It cost $5 to send the boy to the clinic. That is 30 Haitian dollars and most Haitians don't make that much money in a day. They are still at the clinic so pray that it's nothing serious.
We are still in need of your prayers. And we feel God working in so many ways.
Stephanie
Monday, June 28, 2010
VBS (Continued)
(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-
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-
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
A Note...
Aunt Elizabeth and Mom, thanks for the awesome comments!! I can't wait toshow you the pictures! We're really enjoying ourselves and love hanging out with the kids! :) Thanks again! We love you!!
Sarah, Katie, and Rob
Sarah, Katie, and Rob
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