An update :)

I realize that my last few posts have been more on the pensive, reflective side so I decided I ought to do a good, old fashioned, informative update today.

Port-au-Prince: Tent cities, orphanages and construction.

It is easy to see how the capital could have once been a prosperous city, but now, even a year after the earthquake, it is defined by piles of rubble and tents. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed during the earthquake and even more were left completely homeless, their simple houses reduced to a pile of rubble. The only solution found by the Haitian government and aid organizations was to bring in tents to house these families until proper homes could be rebuilt for them. This was only ever meant to be a temporary solution but now these tents have become a permanent part of the landscape. Parks, plazas and soccer fields have become the permanent residence of a huge chunk of the city’s population. These tent cities have some of the worst living conditions imaginable: families crammed into a tent (usually nothing more than a tarp tied over some wooden poles), sleeping on the ground, with no running water or electricity, and certainly no bathrooms. Disease is rampant, the children’s bellies swollen with parasites, and starvation is real. Our team visited several different tent cities throughout our time in Port-au-Prince, doing dome evangelism, but mostly spending time with the kids there. These children have it the worst: most are either neglected or abused by their parents, many don’t have clothes or shoes and all of them are hungry and thirsty. But their eyes light up when they see us coming. We usually spent a few hours in the tent cities per week, performing skits, telling Bible stories or just playing with them or holding them. Their parents look on as we offer these children unconditional love and attempt to give them the only thing that truly lasts in this world: Jesus’s love.

We also took part in a few construction projects with the YWAM base that was hosting us. They purchased a large plot of land an hour outside the city and have the goal of building a hundred houses out there. So we spent a few days digging foundations, mixing cement and laying the groundwork for two duplexes. I had never done much physical labor before so this was definitely challenging for me, but so rewarding! We also helped build several bunkbeds for the base as they will be hosting up to 50 students in June for the first ever discipleship training school in Port-au-Prince. As a result, I have pretty much perfected the art of using the circular sander (I’m not sure if that’s what it’s called… But it’s circular and it sands so...). I loved learning to work with wood- now Jesus and I have one more thing in common :)

Every week during our time in Port-au-Prince, we visited the Canaan Orphanage. Though, I’m not sure “orphanage” is even an accurate term to describe it, seeing as how it brings to mind images of a simple building with rows of bunkbeds where children patiently wait to be adopted. Canaan Orphanage is nothing more than a plot of land, slightly smaller than a soccer field, surrounded by a few strands of barbed wire tied to some wooden posts, with a handful of makeshift tents on dispersed throughout it. At best, it looks like a mediocre campsite, but it is in fact home to over 30 orphans. Many them had parents die during the earthquake. It is run by one of the most amazing, spirit-filled women I have ever met, a middle-aged Haitian woman named Odelaine. She has no way to provide for these children; they trust God every day for food to eat, but what is truly amazing is that God has always been faithful! Every time we would visit these kids, they had grown and gained weight. One time, they even had new clothes! God taught me so much through these kids, but more than anything, He showed me that He truly does stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves, and He takes care of the orphans and widows. Our times at Canaan were some of the best times of this outreach for me.

On Thursday, April 28th, we left Port-au-Prince and took a bus a few hours up the coast to the smaller town of Gonaives where we will be for the remainder of our time in Haiti. We are staying at a YWAM base here and will be working with the base director, Pastor Mola in his ministry. We will be doing street evangelism, and we will be visiting orphanages, schools, hospitals and various villages nearby.

Thank you Jesus: For healing my teammates who were under the weather and for keeping us all in good health since; for the amazing hospitality we've received at both bases so far (surprisingly delicious food, comfortable beds, mosquito netting!);  for safe travels around the country!
Please Pray: For God’s continued hand of guidance over our team, that the Spirit would lead us to the people that God has prepared for us to minister to; for good sleep (there is a lot of noise at night here and a church service down the street at 4 in the morning that makes it sleep tough!); for continued good health and bonding in our team.

Thanks for sticking with me and my team on this adventure!