Haiti Mission Trip, Days 5 & 6: The Beginnings of Goodbye

The first of the goodbyes

Previous days in our recent mission trip to Haiti to build the new House of Abraham home for children and to serve in Jacmel:

Days 1 & 2
Day 3
Day 4

Day 5: Friday, November 2

This was a day when we experienced God’s strength that is so gloriously beyond our own.  Thursday night was the hottest night while we were in Haiti, and the power went out twice during the night.  Sleep was at times difficult because of the heat anyway, but when the power went off, the numerous fans went simultaneously silent, and the heat was an instant wake-up call.  Still, we rose early and loaded the truck for our 45-minute drive to the work site.  We had the promise of a shorter work day, as we did not pack food for lunch.

We arrived at the work site to find walls that were not only more numerous but taller.  We mixed and carried more concrete; then, around noon, our work day appeared to be coming to a close.  That’s when the truck full of interior block arrived.  We mustered the strength to unload the truck and then carry the blocks to the room where they would be used.  We decided that we would make another trip up the mountain on Saturday to see the progress that the other workers – our new Haitian friends – had made rather than saying our goodbyes to them on this day.

Interior "walls" arriving

Two cultures collide . . .  in worship

The afternoon provided an extended time of play with the kids and preparation for a discipleship group that would take place later that afternoon.  Dwayne, Fenel, Jacob, and I spent part of the afternoon worshiping and practicing songs together.  I don’t know that we ever got very polished on the songs, but I do know that it was a sweet time of worship.

High up in the mountains outside Jacmel, here’s how this particular discipleship program worked:  we  (the House of Abraham kids along with our team) climbed up and up and up the mountain in the back of the big truck, finally coming to a stop at the beginning of a path.  Then, we hiked about three-quarters of a mile or so until we came to a little stick structure that at one time had a canvas covering; it was now in tatters.  Several rows of seats that were basically stumps with large sticks laid across them made up the seating area.  Kids began to show up seemingly out of nowhere, and they continued to file in as we began to sing.  Eventually, there were over 60 kids plus our team plus several other adults. 

We sang together, and several kids sang individually.  We led “You Are My All in All” in English, and then they sang it in Creole.  Marsha and Val led a Bible story, and Jean-Jean taught the kids from that story.  Afterward, we played with them for a short time, but with rain threatening, we loaded up and headed back to the HoA.  This group meets together like this every Friday, and kids are growing in their relationship with Christ while having fellowship with one another. 

Day 6: Saturday, November 3

Souvenir shop

We began Saturday by doing a little souvenir shopping.  There are very few places to buy souvenirs in Jacmel.  We bought most of ours from a few tables set up in a beautiful little beach cove.  I have been on enough mission trips to know that souvenir shopping usually means that the trip is rapidly coming to an end. 












 The goodbyes began that afternoon as we went up to the work site to see the progress on the new HoA and say goodbye to our new friends.  There were hugs all around and many words of appreciation for one another.  We waved until we went down the other side of the driveway and out of sight.  We all hope to see photos of a completed building for the kids and workers to move into in the very near future. 

The new House of Abraham as we left it

Saturday afternoon brought coloring with the kids.  Many of these were signed by the kids and sent home with us or signed by us to be kept by the kids.  We also began the process of having all the kids sign our Isle Go T-shirts.  Little David and Saintemene just doodled, but some of the other kids were quick to write their names for them so that we would know who those “signatures” belonged to.

Jean-Jean: house parent, discipler, colorer

Richardson getting a kick out of showing off my Isle Go shirt with all the kids' signatures

We knew that we had another full day in Jacmel, but we also experienced the beginnings of goodbye.  I know that most of us weren’t ready for that.  There's not much you can do about that ache of coming separation, even if the separation is only for a little while.

There was, however, church in Haiti still to experience.  We turned in early to prepare for the 6 a.m. service.  That’s not a type.  6 o’clock in the morning!  More on that tomorrow.

Pray for provision for the new House of Abraham.  When we left a week ago today, much remained to be done, and finances were running low.  In addition, the lease on their current house expires this week.  God is the Father to the fatherless, and He owns all the resources on earth (and earth itself).  Why wouldn’t He provide if we ask?  Please join me in asking.

Thanks for reading.

4theVoiceless,
Al