Home from Haiti!

I’m back in the U.S. now. Haiti was amazing to say the least! We really hit the ground running. The 15 days there were full and had no room for any slack. The other team leader, Becca, and I arrived in Haiti a day before the full team. We set up schedules with the Convoy of Hope staff and got things ready for the team. The full team arrived from the airport, dropped off there bags at the mission, and we were off to orphanages. We visited 2-3 schools every day doing education programs with them about common diarrhea which is a very serious problem in Haiti and around the world. We also taught them how to take care of cuts and the other basics of first aid. Then we presented how God can also help heal our cuts and scrapes as well as our spirit We showed how, just like drinking clean water helps our bodies to be hydrated, reading the Bible, praying, and going to church keep our spiritual bodies hydrated. In the schools we measured the kids’ height, weight, and arm circumference for the U.S. Aid the feeding program. After the schools we went to 1-2 orphanages in the afternoon. The same programs happened there as well.

We traveled everywhere in a “people moving” box truck with a Haitian driver. Drivers in Haiti are amazing at their job to say the least. We had two bodyguards that traveled with us as well as two interpreters, and two Haitian Convoy of Hope staff members. The feeding program feeds 6,000 kids a day with food from either “Feed My Starving Children” or “U.S. Aid Breedlove”. Twenty-five schools and ten orphanages are apart of the amazing feeding program Convoy has going on in Haiti. The children are also given food to take home to their families. The professors and staff at the schools and orphanages are also given food. We also had the chance to hike into the Orangers Mountains to reach 4 schools that can only be reached by foot. Many of these schools had never seen white outsiders either! It was amazing to be able to teach them, distribute food, and love them. We also got the chance to have church services in the mountains with the villages. They would call everyone out and we would have service at 9:00 pm. None of the villages have power so church happened by candle light. They sang songs and 2 team members were able to preach with interpreters as well. It was amazing to see how they didn’t have any modern music equipment, sound gear or lights. They just worshiped God with all their hearts. Meeting kids like Christopher or Frederiks or Sara (who I have pictures on the slideshow) who remember your name, jump into your arms, and just want to be loved is something I will never forget.

The “Mission of Hope” where we stayed also has an orphanage that we helped in. One brother and sister, Mishlove and Macinlove (6 and 3 years old), were found by some people in a nearby town in March. They had been living for a month in their house with their mother, who had passed away a month earlier. They didn’t understand she had died, and would go out every day and gather food and fruit and come home. Their mother had been sick for a long time so they thought she was just sick. They were taken in to the orphanage. They wouldn’t speak to anyone at first. Now, when we met them, they jumped into our arms, sang songs, and have a happy life. The orphanage there teaches them English, sends them to school, and teaches them about Jesus.

Haiti is really a place in severe need. Almost the whole country is without power, clean water, jobs, and food. Malnutrition and disease are a real problem. There is hope though. God is doing some amazing things through many amazing people in Haiti. We need to be in constant prayer for these people, and people in need all over the world – asking God how we can help the people in need.

All in all I believe we did what God wanted us to do. We came into the country with the hand of compassion and followed it with the hand of Gods love and salvation. We met amazing people and saw God’s amazing beauty in His people and creation.

If you want to know more stories or have questions, don’t hesitate to email me. I didn’t want to write too long in this summary, but there is a lot more to tell.

Your friend,

Chad

TO SEE A COMPLETE ALBUM OF ALL THE PHOTOS I TOOK IN HAITI – CLICK ON THE ALBUM BELOW.

Haiti '08

4 Responses to “Home from Haiti!”

1. Samuel Hill says:

   May 27, 2008 at 10:24 am

   Dude… I am so proud of you. I hope to be on a team you lead someday!
2. Chelsea says:

   May 27, 2008 at 5:57 pm

   Chad! Your photos are awesome! What a great experience! I am excited to hear your stories about how God is using you to be His hands and feet, loving on His Children… what a beautiful experience!
3. Michael Helm says:

   May 29, 2008 at 8:40 am

   Hi Chad, the Lord told me to start praying for Haiti a while back and now I know why. Bless you for your obedience and faithfulness to Him. I loved the pictures and especially those with you and the children.
4. lady lavern says:

   August 1, 2008 at 8:44 pm

   Hi Chad
   This is event is very speacial. To reach out to thousands of people and show them the love of jesus is wonderful. convoy of hope is coming to miami on sept. 13th 2008 at partners part in miami.please feel free to email me at curleyshouseinc@yahoo.com. I am Lavern Scott and I look forward to hearing from you. be blessed