11 July 2011

June 22 - Our Return Home








Waiting for plane to arrive in Port au Prince.



Oh so tired!





Passing the time at Miami airport waiting for plane.



Beautiful sunset from the plane.
 We packed up early and headed to the airport in Port au Prince.  We were all sad to leave but yet ready to return to our loved ones at home.  Everyone was very tired.  Once we hit the airport in Port au Prince and made it through security and customs in Haiti and found the waiting area, we all collapsed into our chairs.  Some of us even slept while we waited for the plane.  When we got to Miami, getting through all the security check points and customs was terrible!  We thought Haiti was bad but Miami, it took us two hours!  We found our gate area and we all hit Wendy's!  Hamburgers, fries, salads, frosties tasted good to all.  Our flights were uneventful and most of us slept on the plane.  When we arrived at Detroit Metro late in the evening, around 11:00 p.m., it was in the low 70's.  We were all freezing!  It was so funny!  We were so use to 100 degree temperatures!   Now we are home, processing all we experienced, trying to be faithful to share the many ways we saw God working, sharing about the many needs we saw, and searching God how we move forward in serving Him in all we do....whether in Michigan, or somewhere else He may lead. 

"Your overseas trip is over.  It was only a first step.  Remember how frightening is was to take that step of faith?  Consider the impact in your life.  You wouldn't have missed it.  The second step of your journey begins as you choose to obey, grow, and get to know God as a friend, a loving Father, and most importantly as LORD.  To grow significantly, you will need to exercise discipline.  It will take some effort on your part.  The choice is up to you.  Don't allow yourself to fall into old patterns and routines.  As you grow and mature, you will be able to understand God's will for you much more clearly.  The Word of God is the key to unlocking God's plan for your life.  Don't misplace your key - choose to read and meditate on scripture as you continue to spend quality time in His Word."  From the devotional Coming Home, written by Howard and Bonnie Lisech.

"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful." Joshua 1:8

June 21 - Last Day at Lifeline

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matt. 6:33








Working on the fish craft.





The children enjoyed putting the flannel pieces on the board and creating the creation picture.






Yummy dinner!





Unwinding and lots of laughter!



Colleen and her babe, Ramon.




Enjoying the water.....


Beautiful sunset!


The Michigan team with Salvador and Landon.

The Cross on the hill at Lifeline.
Our last day at Lifeline was as full as all the other days.  We had a great breakfast and time of worship, devotions, and prayer at Prayer Rock.  Then most of the team headed to the classrooms of the Mission's school which is located on the compound.  Part of the team went to different classes and began the craft project with the class.  The other team visited other classrooms and gave the Creation lesson.  Then we would trade.  We covered four different classes which took us about four hours to do.  We spent time in between the classes and after the classes playing with the school children out on break on the playground.  What a fun time had by all! They especially loved the face painting. We would have liked to have done that all day long.  After a late lunch, we packed up and headed to a beach down the road.  Donald wanted to host the team for an afternoon at a beautiful beach so they would have a time to unwind before heading home.  The facility was very nice, the views beautiful, the Caribbean water gorgeous, the snorkeling fun, and the food delicious.  When we got back from the beach, we had a time of prayer at the top of the hill at the Cross.  We saw an incredible display of cloud to cloud lightning.  Reminded the team of God's power and creativity.  A wonderful ending to an incredible adventure with our Heavenly Father and Lifeline.  Thank You Father for all the ways we saw You working.  Thank You for doing a work in our own hearts.  Thank You for teaching us how to see other people through Your eyes and have compassion for them.  Thank You for inviting us to join in Your work.  Thank You Father...

June 20 - Centre Loving Hands Orphanage

Stevenson with Rob inside the church.




The girls shared a beautiful dance with the children.



We set up a "Walmart" inside the church.  The children had a fun time picking out shoes and clothes.


Oliver enjoying a few of his goodies.


Savinica enjoying some of her goodies.



Painting the kitchen at Centre Loving Hands.


Painting outside the Rhode Island Room.



Fun and games!




Centre Loving Hands current school building.


Cooling off a bit in the shade.


Babies from the goats that the fall 2010 team purchases for the orphanage.

Tito, Centre's newest resident.  He is just a sweet little man!

Tito and Cassandra are buddies.

Headed back to Lifeline.  PJ and Amanda are tired!  So is everyone else.
Today we headed to Centre Loving Hands Orphanage.  It was about a two hour trip, one way.  The team was able to see many smaller cities and villages as we traveled there and back.  Centre Loving Hands Orphanage is a special, little orphanage with 14 special children residing in it.  This is the place the Cornerstone Fall Haiti Team spent their week ministering at.  Ashley's Orphans is currently in the middle of a building project there.  They are blessing Centre with a new two story school building and a new two story orphanage residence that will have it's own security wall around it.  It will take about 1-2 years to complete this project.  Children's Lifeline has graciously agreed to take the responsibility of collecting and distributing the financial donations that come in monthly for Centre.  They also have added them to their feeding program which helps offset Centre's budget which is still well below where it needs to be.  This team brought many donated items for this particular orphanage including shoes, clothing, toys, school supplies, crafts, and toiletries.  Twenty six suitcases to be exact!  Cornerstone teams, a group of people from Rhode Island, and those that work with Ashley's Orphans are the only ones that provide the much needed items for this orphanage at this time. We unpacked all the donations in the church and set up a mini store.  The children and staff that live and work at Centre were invited to come in and chose what they needed, try on shoes, etc.  It went well for awhile and the children were thrilled with all they received.  The staff was especially overwhelmed with what they were given.  Most supplies usually go directly to the children.  The adult staff were very thankful for the new shoes they chose.  Two of the men moved to tears.  Then it started to get a little crazy as school children began to find their way in.  We quickly had to ask everyone to leave the building and gather what was left and locked it in Pastor Renald's office.  Pastor and Osner told us they would keep most of the supplies left secured until they were needed by the orphanage.  They are good and faithful men.  Then most of the team moved onto the painting project for Centre.  A beautiful Caribbean blue paint had been purchased and the team was able to paint the inside of the kitchen (a small, cinder block room with one charcoal burner), a storage room, the outside of the gather building and the inside of the gathering room.  Even some of the cock roaches were treated with a blue coat of paint! By accident of course; but now they too are colorful!  Other team members played and visited with the children.  The team made two large baskets of peanut butter sandwiches which were handed out to everyone on the grounds.  The children at Centre always enjoy this treat as does the school children and adults.  Melinda, Lize, Emily L. and Sara gave a beautiful dance presentation to the song Orphans of God.  They performed the dance in the church.  Many children and adults joined in watching the presentation.  They did a wonderful job and glorified God in the dance!  They played the song again and invited some of the girls from the orphanage and school to join them.  They giggled and danced away!  Mrs. Loubser joined in this and led the way for the girls.  It was a very special time.  While the rest of the team visited and played some more with the children, Rob, Jay and Dave headed into the nearby town to purchase some hardware so the doors of the orphanage could be locked at night.  The rest of the team packed up and headed back to the Mission.  Rob and Jay returned to the Mission in another vehicle.  Another two hours bus ride.  Some of us slept on the way back!  We had another wonderful dinner and time of devotion and worship at Prayer Rock.  The teens spent some time with Salvador, who gave them a teaching.  He encouraged the teens to love and respect their parents, talked with them about what they've learned in Haiti, and encouraged them in their love and service to God.  Salvador shared that God has chosen to place him in Haiti.  He doesn't know why, but that is where God has put him.  Salvador shared how he needs to love and serve God in all he does: eating, sleeping, working, caring for his family, etc.  He shared that God has placed the teens in Michigan, not Haiti.  He encouraged them not to compare living conditions or question God on it.  But instead, to go to where God has placed them and love and serve Him with all that they are.  In their eating, sleeping, working, schooling, etc.  It was a blessing to have this shared with the teens by a Godly Haitian man, and not just a team leader or parent.  Salvador was born and raised in Port au Prince.  He's been married for 6 years and has a 5 year old son.  He had a good job in Port au Prince at a hospital and had a good home.  After the eartquake, all he had was destroyed and there is not way it can be rebuilt.  Even the hospital.  He and his family had to move to La Digue and now lives with his wife's family.  He hopes to be able to provide a home of their own someday for his family.  He is learning English and how to be a staff host to team's that come visit Children's Lifeline.  He's very thankful for the job.  After the teens visit with Salvador, the teens decided to play a game of soccer.  One injury occured.  A broken toe.  Thankfully, we had a nurse on the team and the Mission had crutches.  The patient was well cared for.
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." I Tim. 4:12