November 14, 2011
A team four just returned from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Marv & Cathy DeVisser and Wayne & Dottie Miller (both couples from Spring Arbor), were there for 10 days. Marv is the director of Haiti's Goat Project and spent most of the week traveling the country to touch base with recipients of goats. Wayne is leader of Men of Faith in Action, a ministry for men of all ages who have an interest in helping others, sharing, praying and studying God's word together. Each week they discuss present and future ministry opportunities for community members in need. Wayne spent time with area pastors explaining how MOFIA works and benefits families in the area while growing a bond between men and strengthening their walk with Christ. A former children's ministry pastor, Dottie taught present and student pastors at the Bible Institute how to build a fruitful children's ministry. She preached at Parc Chretian FM Church and area pastors asked for her sermon notes to be translated into Creole so that they could preach the importance of children's ministry to their churches!
Hopefully...pictures coming soon!
October 5, 2011
A team of 7 from across the U.S. returned from Haiti on September 26, 2011 after a productive time. Four prefab homes were completed. The last two were constructed primarily by Haitians with the U.S. team teaching, supervising and aiding. The U.S. team came home comfortable that the Haitian workers could complete the last 4 homes. It was a week of good weather, good fellowship, good connections and good times for happy, new homeowners!
Reflections on my February 2011 Mission Trip to Haiti
by Jessica Beemer, August 2011
It has been 6 months since my last mission trip to Haiti. It was an amazing trip. While I was there, I saw the results of the earthquake that occurred on January 12, 2010. They had made good progress in cleaning up rubble, but I could still see homes and buildings that were completely destroyed. In particular, a four story building I stayed at in 2009 had collapsed and is now an empty lot. I saw several large piles of rubble. I saw many tent cities where lots of people live together because they have no where else to live. I can't imagine my family living in a tent for as long as they have. I saw Haitians who worked hard but many only got one meal a day, if that. I saw kids who just hung out all day with nothing to do because they couldn't afford to go to the school just down the road. I saw kids that would go up to the windows of cars to ask for money. I saw a nation that was hurting.
But I also saw a people who, despite their circumstances, were joyful. I saw their faces light up when I said "bonjour" or "bonswa" to them. I saw a family who was extremely excited and happy just because some of us went to visit them. The great-grandma kept saying "God bless you!" The grandma had a huge smile on her face the whole time, and the mother (of 3 and pregnant) said this after we gave her a blanket for her baby: "We have nothing to give you." We told them that they had already given us something: joy. Another time a friend and I gave some clothes and toys to a family and even though we couldn't speak with each other, we still were able to have a great time. The mom kept laughing and smiling and she let us hold her baby. I also got to see a Haitian church service, and even though I couldn't understand anything, it was still very cool to see them worshipping Jezi (Jesus). I saw these Haitian people, who live in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere give, after their normal offering, an offering for the poor.
As I reflect on these things it makes me think,"What do I have to complain about?" I have everything I need and yet I still complain and find things to be unhappy about. I am blessed abundantly but I still find myself griping. Here is my challenge to you and myself: Learn to be happy and content with what you have and not complain as much about what you don't have. If the people of Haiti can be happy with a little then we should try to be happy with a lot!
Greffin Church and School Project Nearing Completion
February 2010
Praise God for the work that has been done at the Greffin FM Church and School! Severely damaged by the earthquake, this church and school have risen from the rubble! Many teams and individuals have helped with this large project under the very able direction of Canadians Ian and Alice Van Norman. this complex now includes a repaired and enlarged church, primary school classrooms, secondary school classrooms, a kitchen and cafeteria - even a basketball court! The Greffin Complex borders a large resettlement community and has many outreach opportunities. For example, the well on the property is positioned so that it can be accessed not only by the school, but also by their neighbors in the camp. The basketball court also will play a role in outreach. Thank you to all involved in this project!
Friday we got the call we were waiting on. The container had been released and brought to the Christian Aid Ministries Center for distribution. Over 1200 boxes of fortified rice were waiting to be sent to the superintendent's storage depots. From there they would be taken to the schools and served as part of the lunches over the next weeks before school is out for the summer. We delivered the rice to the West and South Districts, then the Lower and Upper Artibonites and North Districts. The guys worked hard and by the end of Monday, we had completed the work. The workers were happy to have work, the pastors were happy to get the food for their kids, the cooks were happy to have more food to prepare and the kids were happy to help unload what would be their lunches in the next weeks!
Cholera is making a comeback. This a.m. I talked with Superintendent Charite and he said there had been 30 deaths in a village near Dessalines. Two weeks ago we took 200 Sawyer water filters to Dessalines for the pastor to distribute to his churches. We pray God will use these to prevent more deaths.
A banker was murdered during a robbery in the
neighborhood where we live at Vivy Mitchell. Please pray for the family
and for those who committed the crime. We seek God's protection and pray
for all those who serve Him are part of His Kingdom.
A church in Port-au-Prince with a weekly attendance of 2,000+
It was nearly completed prior to the 2010 earthquake. Repairs have been made since the earthquake and restrooms (8 stalls) were built in February 2011 by the Spring Arbor, MI team.
Bennett Tony Elementary School rebuilt
Greffin Church and School Project Nearing Completion
Praise God for the work that has been done at
the Greffin FM Church and School! Severely damaged by the earthquake,
this church and school have risen from the rubble! Many teams and
individuals have helped with this large project under the very able
direction of Canadians Ian and Alice Van Norman. this complex now
includes a repaired and enlarged church, primary school classrooms,
secondary school classrooms, a kitchen and cafeteria - even a basketball
court! The Greffin Complex borders a large resettlement community and
has many outreach opportunities. For example, the well on the property
is positioned so that it can be accessed not only by the school, but
also by their neighbors in the camp. The basketball court also will play
a role in outreach. Thank you to all involved in this project!
This picture was taken in February 10 - midway through the project.