Monday

Each morning we start with a group devotional and then eat breakfast together.  The food is a delicious combination of American and Haitian dishes:  scrambled eggs-US style and scrambled eggs-Haitian style (with a delicious tomato/onion sauce), bananas, warmed rolls, and even peanut butter!  Lunch is enormous:  Haitian rice and beans, chicken, calzones-Haitian style (stuffed with egg and onion) and the most delicious fruit salad:  apples, pineapple, mango, bananas, and watermelon. As for the work, everyone chose jobs:  Phil, Dan, and I started installing tile in the Orphanage School, Justin, Maddie, Andrew, Jack,David, and Jim were painting in the girl's orphanage, Kristen and Stefanie were sewing curtains for the girl's orphanage, Sue and Shirley were sorting clothes needed for the flood victims, and Doyle and Dan were working on wood shop projects with Haitian teenagers.  The big news is that Pastor Mike Harbert arrived in the afternoon!  It was soooooo hot, by the way, and all everyone does is drink water and say how happy they are!  How much they are loving being here together!  What a team!

One of the highlights for the afternoon was helping with the feeding program.  About 120 kids (both boys and girls; ages around 3-11) came in and enjoyed playtime to kick off the afternoon.  Our team members especially loved this part, joining in for basketball, soccer, coloring and even just carrying some of the smaller kids around.  Sitting down, next, for a worship and teaching time, the kids sang together and heard the entire gospel story.  Hearing them sing praises (all in Creole) and say all together "Mesi Jesus!" (Thank you Jesus!) and "Benit soit l'Eternel!" (Blessed be the Eternal God!) was so powerful.  Then, with a white board, the school principal Ivans taught an interactive lesson all about Jesus dying on the cross, being in the tomb for three days and being resurrected, giving us hope through His shed blood!  Afterwards, the kids ate a nutritious plate of rice, beans, and vegetables before heading out.  Not knowing if this meal might be the only one the kids eat today is a humbling thought that again makes us realize how very much we have in the States.  Also, serving these kids, giving them food and water, is serving Jesus.  They're so precious, unique and beautiful.  It's a privilege, in this simple way, to build God's kingdom.  Stefanie