Hey zanmi! (that’s friend in Creole :D)

Today we went to one of the homes for disabled children which is not in my comfort zone at all. However, once I got past all of the things that made me uncomfortable I was able to just focus on the kids and trying to make them smile. My favorite part was when we took the kids in wheelchairs and wheeled them under the parachute. Their faces just lit up.

We also went to the school/home for deaf children and I had known some English sign language so I communicated as much as I could. We brought out the whiteboards and the teenagers started to teach me sign language and it was amazing to learn and watch and communicate with these kids. They loved teaching me and I loved learning.

I fell even more in love with Haiti this past week and I can’t wait to come back. This week the Lord has taught me that I need to spend more time just loving on the people who are dear to me and still loving on the people who don’t love me. I just wish I could bring everyone I know to Haiti so they could experience the amazing culture, people, and sights I have fell in love with.

Caitlin Shell

Hello Friends,

Today we had the great opportunity to visit two orphanages. The first orphanage was for deaf children. Having both the language barrier of Creole to English and speech to sign language it was challenging to communicate with the kids. However, we made it work with white boards and a few words in sign language. We played sports, played on the playground, and just had a fun time at the orphanage for the deaf children. It was amazing to see God work through the language barriers we faced today.

The second orphanage we visited was an orphanage for kids with special needs. Caring for children with special needs in Haiti is a challenge because they take so much time and attention from the parents, which is why a lot of them end up in orphanages. The kids with special needs were filled with so much love and joy. We played with bubbles and soccer balls and the kids just loved it. My favorite part was sitting with the cutest little girl who wanted to blow bubbles so bad but she could not blow. She would hold the bubbles up to my mouth and I would blow them for her and her face lit up with the purest smile I have ever seen. Today I saw even more of God’s love and grace from all the children we visited.

-Moranda Beckman

Today I played soccer with a boy in a wheelchair – he was quite good.  

Our team visited an orphanage that takes in children with special needs in Haiti.  My new friend’s legs would not support standing or walking and one of his ankles would not bend, but he could trap and kick a ball better than most.  He did not speak, either by choice or bad luck, but we communicated no problem with looks and glances.  We started with a small ball because of course I underestimated him.  But it was clear quickly he was bored with my plan and wanted to move up to a real soccer ball.  And he did not want me to kick it right to him, he preferred a change – I loved it! When he could not reach the ball with his feet while scooting around in his chair, he would simply slide down in his chair to extend his reach.  It was inspiring to watch and a joy participate.

We are so quick to judge and rank in the US by appearance and assumption, myself included.  Today I am thankful God again reminded me he is the creator and sustainer of all we see and do.  And his gifts are often given to those we would not expect.  Look around this week for hidden and unexpected gifts. 

Craig Beckman

Beckman - Sat morning post

Wow is all I can say !! Watching our family and our team grow in faith while on this trip. My favorite part would be water truck day, Cite Soleil is the size of Abq (500k population). Its hard to imagine that there is no running water and  the people have to have every drop of water  delivered by truck. We spent 2 days delivering water there 3 stops per day, with a 3000 gallons of  water per load 500-600 @ 5 gallon buckets we helped deliver to every hut we could. It was by far the hardest job  I ever loved. The sweetest words we hear are "HEY YOU!!" the little kids scream as they come running out to greet you. They love to be held and loved on and my sons were amazing with kids and hauling 5 gallon buckets. What a Blessing to be here and our God. 

Mike McClain

On Friday, several of us visited the Home for Sick and Dying Children.  It was the most tender, humbling and heart-wrenching day of this trip for me.  My two oldest sons, Ryan and Alec, were part of the group that went also.  Watching those 17 year old boys love on the tiniest, weakest babies was amazing and I fought tears the entire time.  Many of the “mamas and papas” of these sweet children came during the short visiting hours that were allowed.  It was precious to watch the babies light up as much as they could when they saw their parents. 

As I held one tiny, sick and very lethargic baby girl and her dad arrived to hold her, I loved knowing that he saw her being held and treasured.  When she reached out her arms to him, it was overwhelming.  I didn’t count the number of babies and toddlers but there must have been at least 60.  The staff and volunteers were amazing and kept things running smoothly, but there are only so many arms to hold them.  We held and fed all that we could, and as hard as it was, we had to put them back in their cribs and say good-bye when our time was up.  We have 10 teenagers with us on this trip and every one of them has been amazingly flexible, humble and giving of themselves.  I have no doubt that this experience will have a lasting impact on us all.  I am thankful to Sarah for reminding me that as a family, it is great to show our sons – this is who we are meant to be.

Tracey McClain

Beckman Team - Thursday

Hello. Here we are at day four. After seeing the pictures that Jamie, Caitlin, and Briana brought back and the stories they told, I was still not very prepared mentally for what we would be experiencing. I have been amazed at the beauty of the culture and still saddened by the immense poverty. We have had a lot of experiences already, even just in the short time we’ve been here; from serving water to the impoverished in Cite Soleil, to washing the feet of the elders in Titanyen, visiting the Hope Village Orphanage and the mass grave memorial. It’s been very eye opening to see people living in such poverty but finding happiness in the simplest of things. Some of them seem happier than many of the people we see every day in America who have so much.

This is just another example that ‘things’ don’t bring happiness. When providing water in Cite Soliel, the kids find so much joy in just being held. We have been able to visit several separate locations that Healing Haiti has helped start businesses that are giving jobs to Haitians to support their community. We have heard so many stories of people who have been blessed buy the opportunity to have a job and begin to financially support their family.

Apparent Project was founded because so many parents were having to give up their kids for adoption just because they couldn’t afford to keep them. Apparent Project gives them a job and provides day care so they can work and keep their family together. God is doing amazing things through people here in Haiti. It has been great to share this experience with Caitlin (who says everyday how much she loves Haiti and the people here), as well as make some new friends (some Haitian & and some of my American team members). Most of all, I’m so thankful for the blessings in my life don’t want to take any of it for granted.

-          Michael  Shell

I was supposed to go to Haiti last year but God had different plans. I was so excited to go but unfortunately my passport did not come in in time for us to leave. I am here now and I absolutely love it! Today was the second day of water truck and it was so much different than the first day. We went to new spots so they didn’t expect us to help them or hold their children; it was so amazing to watch their faces light up when we offered to help them. We also went to Apparent Project (www.apparentproject.org ) and got to see all of the amazing things that they are doing for the parents and children of Haiti. I have grown such an amazing love for this country and its people. They are so trusting and kind in all situations and I think that it is something that I need to learn from them and apply to my own life. I’m very excited to see what else I learn and that I can take back home. These people have gained a huge place in my heart and I can’t wait to keep coming back many times.

-Madison Munger

Team Beckman - Day 3 Grace Village & More

This morning I woke up and was already very sore and exhausted because of the day before, but I was very ready to see what God had in store for us today. Today the plan was to go see a few of the sites that the foundation has developed and are currently running now. A big part of what Healing Haiti is working on is job creation. Whether that is farmers, bakers, doctors, and just about anything else, they are creating sustainable jobs for Haitians. Many of the places we went to today were focused around this idea. We started off by seeing newly purchased farm land in Haiti that will soon be used to employ many people. This land is still unsure of its purpose in what it will grow but, from what I saw, it looks to be a very great idea to help a lot of Haitians. Hearing of some of the possibilities and potential got me very excited for the future. It will be interesting to maybe come back one day and see what has become of it as well as much of the other stuff I saw today.

The next place we visited amazed me. Grace Village is a small community put together by Healing Haiti in order to take orphan children and put them in a family setting as well as put them in school and raise them through this small village. Through this village is also many job opportunities for Haitians on top of the care given to the kids. Another place visited by us today was Fleri. It is a bakery started by Healing Haiti to again create jobs. Hearing of the success of this bakery and the restaurant attached with it made me feel very good and amazed. By the way, some of the treats we ate were some of the best I have ever eaten. Our last part of our day was spent visiting four elders. We went to these elders and would wash their feet, bring them food, sing to them and just pray with them. I had the pleasure of washing one of their feet and it will truly be a moment I always remember. The feeling of humility surrounded me and made me very thankful for the life God has given me. God has shown me a lot in Haiti already and we are just through a few days. I am excited for what is still to come. I am having a great time here.

-Jared Knigge

Wow, what a great three days it’s been! So far, the food has been great and the work has been exhausting but rewarding! The water truck yesterday not only made me sore, but it also taught me humility, compassion, endurance, and love. It was by far the most humbling experience I’ve ever had. Today was a much needed physical (but not emotional or spiritual) break. I started the day off right with full breakfast, including eggs, pancakes, and freshly squeezed mango juice. We then took the tap tap to Titanyen, where we first toured Grace Village. It is a school, medical clinic, and orphanage, which was started by Healing Haiti, and is fully staffed by local Haitians.

Next, we did elder visits. This was my favorite thing to do because we delivered food and water to each of the four elders we visited, washed their feet, and we sang and prayed over them. This was so great because it really stripped away my sense of pride as a “wealthy American”, and humbled me. Next, we visited Healing Haiti’s restaurant and bakery “Fleri”. In Creole, fleri means flourish, which is very indicative of the bakery’s progress, and a wonderful example of the job creation and economic empowerment that the organization strives to create. Finally, we stopped at the mass grave, which is a memorial where over 160,000 unidentified victims of the 2015 earthquake are buried. This was a truly surreal experience because I remember seeing this earthquake on the news, and all around me I’ve seen the extreme results, which the people are still struggling to cope with and recover from. Thus far, the trip has been amazing, and I am ecstatic for day two of the water truck tomorrow!

               -Kory Sillivent

A serving and loving heart was required for a day like today.  I never saw myself getting on my hands and knees to wash someone else’s feet just the way Jesus did.  It was a truly magical experience to be able to literally be the hands and feet of our awesome God and to serve in his name bringing to these elders water, a hot meal, and our love and serve them with washing their feet and rubbing lotion on them.  The smile we got from these people and seeing their hardship and trying to make it even just a little better was by far the highlight of my day and I am so glad to be able to meet these awesome women.  Some of these women even had children that they were taking care of in their old age where back in the U.S. it would be the complete opposite when the young is supposed to care for the old.  “Hey You!!!” is a term in which I thought that just on water truck days we would be hearing from the children when they wanted or needed something but whether we see these little kids in passing, playing, or soccer games with or against them it is mainly the only way we have figured out how to communicate with people who don’t know the first thing about the English language and we don’t know the first about Creole, so a LOT of pointing is done to help try to explain on both of our parts.  I can’t wait to see what these next couple of days bring and what we will do and help serve our mighty God.

-          Alec McClain 

Beckman: Water Truck Day

Yesterday was an adventure as itself. We got here around 4:00 and it was hot, humid, and awesome all at the same time. Yesterday was a getting used to period for me because I couldn’t tell if I was wet or dry. We played soccer with some of the neighborhood boys and they were full of joy. Most of them are better with their feet than I am with my hands. Even though most of the kids barely have clothes on and can’t afford a living like we can, they still seem to have joy. Today was water truck day and my view on this world and people has completely changed. We pull up in the tap tap, honk the horn, and then all you hear is the screaming and laughter of little kids running towards you. They all live in torn up shacks made out of sheet metal, wood, and they still have this joy that I haven’t even seen in the USA. I turned into a giant jungle gym for little kids. I was doing hard work carrying buckets for little girls to their houses but I couldn’t stop smiling. I would carry a bucket and then carry 2 little kids back to the water truck, over and over again, and it got better each time. God has shown me compassion, love, joy, and beauty all at the same time. Thank God for this experience and thank God for giving me 6 more days here.

Ryan McClain

As a third time goer, water truck day has always been one of the hardest, but most rewarding days for me. What always impacts me the most is the desperation in these children’s eyes for the desire just to be held. It’s such a different need for these kids than kids in America. Kids in America want toys and stuff and the newest iPhone, but the kids here just want to be loved. And that’s why I love water truck day. Because even though it hurts so much to see all these people in such desperation for water and food and love, we are able to give them some of those things. Simply by picking up a child whose arms are extended to you, you’re able to give them 20 minutes of love. My favorite part of Haiti has always been showing God’s love to the kids and the people of this country. Each day I get to embrace Jesus’ philosophy of love is a day I count as a blessing. I am looking forward to continuing to love the beautiful people of Haiti each day we are here.

Dani Beckman

Today was water truck day one of the best days of serving but also one of the hardest. We went into the slums of Haiti the poorest part to bring clean water and just love on and serve these beautiful humans. As we arrived all the cute little kids ran up to the truck excited as ever just to see us and as we stepped out they would hug us jump on us sometimes kiss us it was a little overwhelming but such an awesome experience. Seeing them in their circumstances and seeing how much joy and love and excitement was  in their hearts was nothing less than amazing.
The love I have for these people is indescribable each day I have with them fills me with an abundant amount love and joy. I’m grateful I have an entire week to just spend time with them love on them and most importantly show them Jesus is.

-CHRIS ROLAND                                                                                   

Today was water truck day and I think this will probably be my favorite day of the week. I got to interact with all the kids that are getting water to support their families. My favorite part of today was being able to carry the kids that wanted to be carried because it is a good feeling to hold those kids that are happy even though they live in a place much harder than were we live. It also made me realize that wealth does not equal happiness. Some people that I saw today were probably the happiest people I have ever met in my life and they lived in maybe a hut that hat sticks holding up a roof as a home. These people are probably the most amazing people I have ever met in my life because they were happy with everything that they got unlike people in America are happy with only things that they want. This was a life changing day and I am so happy that this is only the beginning of the week and I get to go and serve more this week. This is a BLESSING.

-Cole McClain

Team 3 day one - arrive safe!!

We arrived safe and sound… bags and all team members made it at the same time!  No delays, no lost bags, no forgotten passports.  My family is on a bit of “sense” overload right now.  The sights and sounds are different for us.  We had our team time tonight and everyone listed his or her “word” for the day.  “Fun,” “merci,” “thankful,” “humbleness” and “safe” were all words people used to describe this first day.  “Smile” is one of the words that I think of.  We played soccer with some of the neighborhood boys, where they beat the Americans handily, hence the title of this post.  They smiled brightly the whole time, as they moved the ball right around and through us. My sons were all smiling brightly themselves, even as we got beat.  We are thankful to be here and can’t wait for what the week will bring.  So glad for the opportunity God has granted us to be here. 

Tracey McClain 

Stop for the One

Today, was our first full-day out in the field, and it was incredible! We began the day with a devotion titled “Stop for the One.” This devotion focused on the need to notice the worth of the person in front of you, and to never forget the power of just being willing to stop for one. It also reminded us that God intentionally places individuals in our paths. Our prayer, our conversation, our smile or lingering act of service for one is extremely valuable to God.

This morning, we spent several hours at the “Home for Sick & Dying Babies.” Although the need was great, we focused our attention on a handful of children who needed our care and love. It is always heart-breaking to see children suffering, but it was comforting to see our team focus on specific individuals and really give everything they had to the one child they were holding.

In the afternoon, we visited Dare’s special needs orphanage. This is always an emotionally challenging and frustrating visit, but God likes to stretch us and take us out of our comfort zone. The kids were great and full of energy and excitement with our visit. We did everything from parachute games to sidewalk chalk to wheelchair races, but the visit was really topped by the singing! It was amazing to watch Hailey sing along side some of the older children. As Hailey said there isn’t a language barrier music can’t overcome J

Tomorrow we have another emotionally charged day with a visit to the “Home for Sick & Dying Adults.” Please keep the prayers and well wishes coming…