forever blessed

As I came to work in haiti, oh how I have been surprised to find that I have not been doing nearly as much work on her as God has been doing on me. This is my first missions trip, this is my first time leaving my country, this is the most I have cried in a week span in my life! It's really hard to put into words the range of emotions I have felt.  The second day here we went out into a tent city to do some hand outs. I was overwhelmed by the poverty, just crushed. When we arrived back at the compound I was so discouraged by what I saw I regretted even coming, but after one of our incredible 3 hour debriefing sessions I had a change of heart. The next day we went out was an experience I will never forget. Giving out candies to the children - all I was giving them was a single fizz candy, but what they gave back to me was just so much more than I ever imagined. thier smiles and laughter in such poverty, they had nothing at all, and yet they seemed to have almost nothing to complain about. God has been showing me his love through these children and I will be forever blessed by this experience!

Trav!s L!v!ngston

Miracles on Haiti Street

So we had to make a decision on Thursday morning as we ran out of materials for the wall.  We could buy more supplies for the wall with our extra monies or keep it all for food for the people.  As a team we finally made the decision that if we don't get the wall done the medical team would not be able to come.  We decided that we would trust God to double the money we had left and leave it in His hands.  So we had a solid price for the rice and when we went to pick it up on Saturday we saw God double our blessing and He saved us 1500 US dollars.  Wow it was incredible!!!!  We saved a lot of money bought 100, 55lb bags and are now able to help 2 communities with what God blessed us with.  God is so good.  Thank you for your prayers everyone.
posted by Sharon

Church and rice!

This morning some of us went to a sister church (Tapion) of Haiti Arise.  This came from providing a children's ministry in their community.  This morning the pastor asked the people to raise their hand if they accepted Christ after the earthquake.  The majority of the people raised their hands.  Some of the children recited memory verses.  David prayed for the people and gave them a blessing from Canada.  It was a service that is so hard to describe.  Even though it is in another language, the Spirit of God spoke to each of us there.  This service started at 7:30 in the morning.  We had to leave at 9:00 because we were to attend the service back at the campus at Haiti Arise. 

The service at Haiti Arise contrasted the other in a few ways.  There were more people at Haiti Arise,  we had to walk up mountain terrain to get the Tapion church, music at one, accapulla at the other.  Both were fabulous.  Jean gave a good message at the Haiti Arise church.  At this church they started with prayer at 8:00 and the service at 9:00.  It was finished at 11:00.

In the afternoon we went back to the sister church to hand out rice.  The sacs held 8 bags and each bag held about 8 lbs each.  We had planned for 200 but over 400 showed up.  We will be taking some back next sunday to the church for the families that did not receive any.

To get the rice there, it was stacked in a smaller taptap and on the roof of the van.  So some of the guys rode on top of the van.  They liked it so much that they rode both ways. 

Market, Rice and Beach

Today has been a full day.  We started off by going to the market.  I have never been in a market like that before.  There was a plot of land that all the stalls were set up in.  There was a small aisle to walk through.  It was very interesting,  We seen pigs getting cut up, fish salted and fresh fish, chicken sitting on the ground, live chicken (they bind there legs together so they can't walk), candy, fruit, hygiene stuff, belts, sunglasses, hats, sugar cane, and a variety of other stuff.  We had the opportunity to go to a bakery and see how they make the buns that we eat.  All I will say is it is not that hygenic.  It was interesting.  This afternoon we bagged the rice for the rice feeding tomorrow.  We had a bit of fun. After we finished that we drove to the beach and had a wonderful swim in the ocean.  Refreshing.

One of the families that we visited, gave food and prayed for.

From Wade's Journal Friday March 19th 11:30

   We (Jean, Sharon, and I) just met some of the world's poorest people.  We went into the area(tent city) on the other side of our compound and found a God sent person to lead us to those with the greatest need.  Words will never tell. 
   Always remember the blind old lady sitting on the ground doing her laundry.  She was taking care of 10 people.  They lived in a tiny shack.  We gave her food and she prayed a prayer of praise and thanks.  It was like God was right beside her.  It was the best and hardest thing I have ever done.  They were also thankful. 
   Never forget the lady and her son.  They knelt before us and asked us to lay hands on their heads and pray for them.  We gave them food and we prayed. 
   Life can  never be the same.  This makes what we saw in Sir Lanka and Guatamaula seem like 5 star hotels.  Our guide said that 200 years ago - 1803 - Haiti chose to build itself on the blood of swine - VooDoo.
  So many smiles with so little to smile about.
  A mixture of emotions so intense and so opposite.  Impossible to reconcile - don't even try.
  Our guide -sent from Jesus - told us that God will bless us for what we have doen.  He already has.  I think I can feel myself healing.  I have met God in Haiti - as I prayed before I left.
  The tent cities of Haiti - the new low and poorest of the poor pray and love Jesus

Mark informed us this morning that there was a tremor last night.  Most of us slept through it.  

One of the houses in the neighborhood.  This is a common occurrence.

Working on the wall.  David and Aaron are in the front.  At this time there was a lull in the work.  They are filling the wheelbarrows with cement and pushing them down the path you can see on the right of the little tree, out back past the men working in the background.  Did I mention it is hot here.  The guys have done an awesome job.

The team in Regina airport.  We met up with Aaron in Port au Prince.  |In order from left to right: Wade, Jean, Eric, Vernon, Sharon, Travis, James, David, Beth.

These two are the same age.