Team Tex-io ~ Day 2 ~ July 23, 2019

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

We visited the Haitian History Museum today and learned about the 4 founding fathers of Haiti - all former slaves who wanted and deserved so much more. I found out that at one time Haiti, then called San Domingo, was one of the richest colonies in the world due to the number of plantations here. It seems ironic that Haiti is now the poorest country in the world. The tour guide who spoke to us was so pleased to share of the greatest times in Haitian history. 

Our "job" today was to play with kids in Cite Soleil! We played soccer, jump rope, parachute and silly faces. It's amazing how some things are the same everywhere - hugs, smiles, tickle fights. A very memorable moment for Amanda was that she was holding a little girl who had a large scar on her face and the other children were making fun of her by pointing and laughing. All of this ceased when Amanda showed her own scar on her hand and there was an immediate bond between the two of them. Acceptance is important in every culture. 

I think it's important to note for anyone that is reading this that we are going through the organization called "Healing Haiti". Their staff and volunteers are changing lives in Haiti, not by giving tons of resources but by empowering Haitians to raise up their own community. I saw a sign at Hope Clinic in Cite Soleil that said something along the lines of "you should help us take care of this clinic because this is a part of your community". What if we all took the same pride in our own communities the way these residents do? 

Jezi renmen eu – Jesus loves you!

Dan, Tiffany, Ed, Amanda, Logan and Candice

Words of the Day – blessed, hope, humble, buccaneer, dirt, hey you, communication 

Team Tex-io ~ Day 1 ~ July 22, 2019

Monday, July 22, 2019

Candice - the Author of this Blog

Team Tex-io = Texas and Ohio ~ Dan & Tiffany Leslie, Amanda & Logan Barton, Ed Janes, Candice Kumor

We’re HERE! We are a small team this time with only 6 but we are “Sinceuwas/Sensuous 6” because we are so tired from our trip to Haiti that we are asking “Since you was up {Sinceuwas} “could you get me some water/jerky/gummy bears?”. It took some of us 2 days to make this trip – leaving Texas Sunday afternoon then arriving in Haiti Monday afternoon, not due to the distance but the delays. What’s important is that we are here – 4 from Texas and 2 from Ohio and we are here to love on and be loved by the Haitian people. We are getting to know each other, familiarizing ourselves with our surroundings and finding our place here. It is a different kind of peace here and we can’t wait to see what God has in store for our relationships with the Haitians. One thing is for sure Haiti is absolutely worth getting up in the middle of the night, sleeping on an airport floor and getting your back cushion stolen by an old lady at the airport (true story). We look forward to what God has in store for us, not what the itinerary says or what our hearts hope to see but what God has planned for each us. We are Team Tex-io!

Team Ohio at Graduation - Logan & Amanda 

Team Texas at Wichita Falls Airport - Tiffany, Dan, Ed, Candice 

Jezi renmen eu – Jesus loves you!

Dan, Tiffany, Ed, Amanda, Logan and Candice

Words of the Day – relationship, happy, peace, “Naked Haitian Baby Butt”, refreshed, amazed, kitty cat shorts

Family Team / Day 7 / 7.21.19

Today was a bitter sweet day, as it is our last full day in Haiti.  Like every other morning, we started our day with a cup of Haitian coffee and a wonderful breakfast.  After breakfast, our team headed to Rendevous Church. The worship consisted of a mix of English, Creole and French worship songs – all of which were full of passion. Rendevous church provides headsets so that the sermon can be translated into English.  Today’s message was on Abraham’s obedience to God – to the point of being willing to sacrifice his own son. It was a challenge to all of us to be obedient to God’s call. 

Our afternoon was spent enjoying the beauty of Haiti.  We ventured to Wahoo Beach resort and enjoyed swimming in the ocean, tried fresh crab, some of the team went snorkeling and some played volleyball.  The day was enjoyed by all.

As we reflect on our week, each team member had a “word (or words) of the week” that were shared during group time.

Leadership/Perspective – without leadership, no great idea can get off the ground.  God brought this team together and it is clear God has had a hand in leading Healing Haiti. God enriched our lives through this experience and has given us a new perspective. ~Shane

Change/Impact/Thankful – On different levels this experience has changed us. From being in a house full of strangers, that are now friends to going into Haiti as a team. We made change.  Impact – I believe we touched people. I believe we loved people. And we had impact.  I feel like my heart has changed and I have been impacted.  Thankful – thankful that we came upon this organization of Healing Haiti.  Their vision is in the right place.  Thankful that we came to Haiti as a family ~Stacey

Creation – because I feel like a different person.  Being with the kids and giving love has made me a different person and I want that to continue after I return home. ~Jaxson

Opened – before I came here I had no experience with a third world country. I had pictures and videos and stuff through technology.  It is so different and now I can really imagine what life is like in a third world country.  I feel like something was missing before and when I came here something was opened up in me. ~Emma

Perspective – There have been so many things with what we’ve done and the change of having no distractions – it is experiencing God in a different way ~Stephen

House – In our first world civilization we live in our own house and we are isolated from others, even in our churches.  This was an opportunity to see God’s true light as we really got out of our house.  You see the beauty in community and how happy the Haitians are.  This trip brought us out of our house and into God’s house. I feel like I have been opened to God’s house. ~Wade

Change/Action – Change because we all had our preparation meetings over the computer and didn’t know each other very well.  We have changed that we now know each other better.  We have changed in not hesitating to jump in.  No one hesitated on their action the entire week.  I have figured out the action that I need to do when I get home. ~Mark

Mission – God/Jesus brought us here and it was our mission to come to Haiti.  We completed our mission.  We made someone’s day by putting a smile on their face.  ~Sawyer

Grateful/Direction – grateful for the opportunity to be here with this team, grateful that the opportunity presented itself 7 years ago which has brought us to today.  Grateful that Haiti has changed me, grateful to have the opportunity to see what God has to teach me.  Direction – questioning where do we (our family) go from here ~Trent

Reset/Vision – Each time I return to Haiti I am shown the importance of hitting the reset button.  Haiti teaches me that the simplest things are the most important in life and that getting caught up in the busyness of life can be a distraction from God’s vision for your life. ~Marcia

Relationship – the things that I will remember are the relationships that I made – our team, kids on water truck day, elder visits, etc.  These are the things I will end up remembering years from now. ~Genna

Impact – Although it may be a little difference overall, it was a big impact for the people we served in Haiti.  The visits made their day and when you think of Healing Haiti teams visiting multiple times a year, the impact added together is big.  ~Colton

Grateful – I am just grateful to have been on this trip and in Haiti this last week. ~Rylee

Family Team / Day 6 / 7.20.19

Today we did water truck day at the beginning and end of our day, and spent time with area elders of Cite Soleil at Hope Church in between.

The first water truck stop was stop #17 which was in the heart of the poorest place.  The place was packed to the brim with Haitians with water jugs. The kids were climbing up everyone’s back to get on their shoulders and sit. They had the biggest smiles and laughed endlessly. As the buckets were filling up, we would help carry them back to their houses and say Merci which is thank you. I met a girl named Sabrina who was 16 years old and had to get 4 full buckets of water for her family, which consisted of her mom and super young sister and brother.  Our 2^nd stop (after spending time with the elders) was to “4 Coffins” which was a little further down the street from stop 17. It was also very hectic with many people and most of them were young kids who wanted to be picked up and held. But the other half was young adult females getting water with kids who were too small to pick up the water so we had to step in and pick up the water and bring them to their house. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the first water stop, we went to Hope church for the elder visit.  Approximately 30 elders from Cite Solei, near Hope Church, were there waiting for us. We decided to do a Spa Day for them so we had 7 people washing feet, then we would lotion their feet after they dried.  We would rotate every elder in until everyone’s feet were washed.  The remaining people polished ladies’ nails if they chose and we took polaroid photos of everyone.  Many of whom haven’t seen themselves or had a picture of themselves in years, if ever. After every elder was done with their feet washing, nails and picture, they were given a meal along with water and juice.

 

 

 

 

 

After we got back from Hope Church, we were able go outsides the gates of the guesthouse to play soccer, draw with sidewalk chalk, and jump rope. We were outside for maybe 1-2 hours and had a blast. The local neighborhood kids were really good at playing soccer.

~Jaxson and Colton

Family Team / Day 5 / 7.19.19

Today was another amazing day. We started with a 5 am wake up! Our team plus the team in the other guesthouse loaded into the tap tap at 6 am and headed for ‘Church on the Rock’. Wow! It was filled with such an energy for God! The beautiful Haitians would walk and pray aloud, some would dance, others raise their hands up. What a unique experience. We feel so blessed to have been able to make that happen. After early morning church, we walked back to the Guesthouse to eat breakfast and prepare for the day.

We hopped into the tap tap and headed to Titanyen for a visit to Grace Village and do a few Elder visits. Titanyen is sparsely populated compared to Cite Soleil. Grace Village is such a blessing to this community; to Haiti. As we drove up the hill, it was beautiful, overwhelming and joyful to experience. After meeting some of the staff and a few of the families that live there, we headed to visit the Elders.

During the Elder visits, we had the opportunity to love and pray over them in a way that touched us so deeply. Each of us were able to wash the feet of these beautiful elders (such an example of being the hands & feet of Jesus!) Some even got nails painted! One received a back massage. We wished we could have stayed and pampered them all day. As we were washing feet, painting nails and talking with the Elders, Katie from Grace Village joined us for some worship with her guitar.  This experience filled hearts in a big way.

 We ended the day by visiting Fleri Bakery + Restaurant for some amazing pizza and mango crème brule. Fleri is a part of Grace Village and operated by Haitians. Another example of Grace Village blessing Titanyen!

As we sit and reflect on another amazing and impactful day of serving, we are reminded that God is good. While our intentions are serving the Haitians, they have in turn, served us. We are so thankful for this team, who have embraced the uncomfortable and loved on the beautiful Haitians without hesitation.

~Shane and Stacey