The Haiti Report: Day Four

Team Haiti joined our creole brothers and sisters in Christ in worship this morning.  They expected it to last 2-2.5 hours. Michelle observed, “Right now the children are in Sunday School. Here they are learning a bible verse. First in creole then in English. No craft. No puppets. No games.”

Creole Church in Haiti

A word from the church’s leader, Pastor Tim: “The kingdom of God is like yeast mixed into 60lbs of flour. Matt 13:33. A good word in a country where we work hard for days and hardly make a difference. But our work is the kingdom of God at work in Haiti. It is our prayer that God will use our small work like the yeast to rise and expand and bless Haiti.”

Following church, Team Haiti enjoyed a well earned afternoon off.  They went to the beach, ate lobster and conch,

and bartered for souvenirs.

Team Haiti finished the day reading about Haiti on the roof of the compound where they’ve been staying. Surrounded by tent cities on all sides.

 

The Haiti Report: Day Three

The crew only had a half a day of work today (hooray)! They just finished our tasks and had some free time in the afternoon.

Randall, Greg and Wes completed concrete post forms for one of the rubble homes that has already been built. Sonny and Bill built form cages that will be used for the sides of the rubble homes. They also fixed the leaky roof at “Kay Jenny”.

Means Jenny’s little house. Actually her clinic!

Michelle learned how to purify our drinking water (some 30 gallons).

Jen and Michelle both helped Jenny, the nurse on site, as she was prepping some surplus items for trade with the Cuban hospital.

Tired, and we’re ready for manje (food), the crews headed to lunch. Eyeballs to tail…Michelle ate the tail… Wes tried the eyeball, but had to spit it out.

Thanks for the prayers and well wishes. Team Haiti is really working hard and at the same time enjoying this wonderful opportunity.

The Haiti Report: Day Two

We had a good morning…even if it started with our being awakened by a nanny goat searching for her her kid. Oh and the rooster, who is on Turkey time, was more than annoying. Regardless, Wes’s bag arrived and everyone is excited about working and helping the folks here.

Our group was split up today. Michelle and Jen helped by sorting supplies and arranging the clinic in the morning (they were very happy to get the medicine we brought them).  Jen saw patients in the afternoon.

While Jen was seeing patients, Michelle joined Bill and Sonny  building the wire cages that will be filled with rubble to serve as the walls for the new home going up this week.

Randall, Greg, John (my friend from seminary), and Wes worked on digging a foundation for a porch and building the posts to hold it up. They hope to finish it this evening.

All in all we’re staying hydrated and having a powerful experience here. We are loving the work, the people and each other’s company. What a blessing to be here.

Thanks for your prayers!

the Haiti Team

The Haiti Report: Day One

Well, by all accounts, it appears as though our Cliff Temple crew has arrive in Haiti and are settling in quite well. Even Wes Keyes’ bag, which was missing over night, has turned up.  Sadly, however, it cost him an extra truck ride to fetch it.

3 hours.  Each way.

Time away from hauling rubble, but time I am sure our dear Wes used wisely.

At any rate, Wes seems to have made it to the mountain worksite to start his day with the rest of the gang.

Our fearless group is busy moving rubble on a mountainside.  According to Wes, it is HOT in Haiti.  Michelle reports that it is quite the juxtaposition to be digging through someone’s destroyed home while enjoying the beautiful ocean view.  Its proof positive that devastation knows no boundaries.

Despite the hard physical labor, Michelle is taking time to get to know the kids of Haiti when she can.  On a break she even got to play slaps with Obseson, a neighborhood kid.

Finally, the good women of Haiti fired our gang up some serious fried chicken for lunch.

Looks good.

Keep checking back for updates on Cliff Temple’s Mission Haiti 2011.

Fellowship Baptists, partners making a difference in Haiti one year after quake

Another good article about CBF’s work in Haiti.

What we’ll be doing

On February 22, a group of folks from Cliff Temple will be heading out to Grand Goâve, Haiti (see map below) to “Rebuild with Rubble”.  The rubble that remains from the 2010 earthquake has greatly impeded the rebuilding process in Haiti.  To combat this, some smart engineers somewhere (Greg Evetts maintains an A&M connection) designed a process whereby the cause of the problem, viz. the rubble, can be used as the solution.   This article from the ABP describes the work in more detail:

CBF recycling earthquake rubble to build homes for Haitians

Haiti building trip 2011

Haitian Map