Monday: Day 5
Matt went with the construction team again in Merger, working on building Ms. Bonita's home.
I went back to Boutilier with our team. We were teaching a women's health class and mat making. We were able to educate the women on their menstrual cycle and some other facts about the woman's body. Our nursing students that went with us that taught this session did a great job.
-hike up the 200 steps to the church
The first half of the morning was spent teaching the women a skill, mat making. They can making anything using this crocheting technique with plastic "walmart bags." They can make mats to sleep on, and/or bags to carry their items around. When the women started arriving that morning, I immediately spotted a baby and went over to the mom with my hands out offering to hold her baby. She was wearing a beautiful "wedding" dress, like what we would put our girls in to be a flower girl. That poor baby was so hot. She eventually fell asleep. One part of our team was upstairs teaching and helping the women with mat making and the other part of the team went downstairs with the children teaching them Bible stories and playing games. Well I had this precious sleeping baby in my arms and really wanted to watch the women upstairs. So I went up and sat on a "pew" and held this sweet sleeping baby.
-mat making
When our leader that was teaching the mat making noticed my baby was sleeping, she asked me to lay out our sample mat and lay her down because we had another baby with her mama that needed to be held. The baby was keeping her from working.
Well, she fell asleep too.
Then they handed me a boy... he fell asleep.
And then another girl.
So, at one point I had one in my lap and three on the floor.
Be still my heart.
-call me the baby whisperer :)
-she was SO CUTE and LOVED the camera
When we got back to the Guest House, shortly after the construction team walked in. I was warned, "Megan, when you see your husband, don't laugh. He's been working hard and ripped his pants." LOL
HILARIOUS. He bent down to take a picture with some of the local little girls that were singing to them while they worked and ripped his shorts. :) LOVE this man :) He had some help from some ladies and they duct taped his pants together! LOL
After dinner every night, the kids have a Bible study where they sing songs and learn a Bible story. We are invited to go in with them. Here are some pictures from that night's group time.
-the kids love sitting in everyone's lap. It was sweet seeing our boys loving on the baby boys.
-this boy stole Matt's heart. They sat together every night.
-This sweet young lady is gorgeous. She has a beautiful heart for the Lord and the children. Such a servant. She dreams of going to college in America then going back to Haiti to own her own orphanage.
Tuesday: Day 6
I decided I wanted to work construction so I joined Matt and the construction team.
-sweet Kaylee was already tired and we had not even started yet.
-the view from Ms. Bonita's home
-construction site where her home will be
-fencing around her home
-lunch and rest time.
FIND SOME SHADE!!
-most of our team
-the bags of concrete we started with
-the "hill" we climbed
-this man... wow! We called him "beast". Notice all of us Americans whooped on the side of the hill soaking up every last bit of shade that was left
We were hauling made buckets of concrete up the very steep hill that is made of loose gravel and rocks. Hardest laboring day of my life. I fell twice and was really hoping to have a gash in my knee that would leave a scar to have a cool story, but I didn't even have a scratch. Boo.
When we left that day, most of the foundation was ready for team 2 to come in and build the actual house. Here is the finished product.
Wednesday: Day 7
We all went as 1 team to (I have no idea how to spell it) Quicroft. Here we did what we call "emersion". We divided up into 6 teams I believe and each group went to 2 different homes. We were to just life life with them for this short period of time.
-this is the cattle truck we rode in up the mountains
all crammed in
-im sitting in the floor somewhere.
-when I looked up, this was my view, ha!
The first house we went to, they taught us to wash clothes. It's all about the scrub, the angle of the scrub, and if you make the right "squeak" noise. Matt was the 3rd to wash and they all began talking. Our interpreter said they were saying he was the best :) Then, Bethany, one of our students washed and the said she was number 1.
We washed some of their clothes, swept their floors, and just visited with them. We each got to tell our story and what the Lord has done in our lives. When I went to tell my story with infertility, they said they would pray for me. Made me tear up knowing I have Haitian sisters in Christ praying for my child.
Here is a picture of the family from the first house. We don't know who exactly lived here.
-praying for this woman and her family
Then we went to our second home. We washed clothes again. They showed us around their home. They were very proud of what they had. Here are some pictures from our visit with them. Breath taking views.
-their home
-view from their door
-sweet sweet people
We headed back to the church and played games with the kids until all the groups had arrived.
When it was time to go, I heard someone holler that a woman's shoes were breaking in half. I was honored to put my shoes on her feet.
-she kissed my face :)
-these women brought their mats that they had learned to make on our church's last trip!
We left this village and went to the market to shop and buy some local goodies.
Other pictures from Day 7
It was beautiful! The cattle truck was a little scary but the perfect vehicle for breathtaking views.
-Matt met a friend playing the guitar and then they both realized they were bald. EVERYONE laughed when they both took off their hats at the same time. :)
When we got back to the guest house, we knew it was our last night with these precious children. It was so hard hugging them knowing we would not see them again. Especially my sweet baby D.
Lots of tears were shed that night. My heart.
Thursday: Day 8
Well, its' time to head home. Although we didn't want to leave our new friends and family, we were ready to go home. It was such a great week and we were so blessed to be able to go.
-Team 1, FamILY
-Dr. Bernard and his sweet wife
-they have a beautiful ministry and heart for the Lord and their country
-saying goodbye.
We miss you, Haiti. We can't wait to see you again one day!
When we landed in Houston and got in the car with mom, she nicely told us how bad we stunk and needed a shower :) No smell like Haiti. <3
Isaiah 52:7, "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
Oh... and remember the water well that was broken and the people had not had any clean water to drink in months? And we gathered around and PRAYED asking the Lord to provide water for these people. Check this out :)
Exactly ONE WEEK later, the water was FLOWING. Thank you Jesus for hearing our cries and answering quickly!
God has a beautiful plan for the people of Haiti. I CAN.NOT.WAIT. to go back!
