Hello Friends!
Today is September 28 which means I only have 2 days left in Haiti! Month one of my race is almost over. Where did the time go?! So much has happened since my last blog. I’ll give you guys the quick run down!
I’m currently serving as our squad’s finance coordinator. We haven’t had access to an ATM since we arrived in Haiti and we needed to get some cash. So, myself and one of my squad mates took a trip into Port au Prince with our ministry host, Elizabeth. This was a trip to the bank like none I have ever experienced! We had a police escort along with another Haitian security guard from Mission of Hope. It was about an hour drive into the city from the MOH campus. We drove past some CRAZY stuff….including a traffic jam caused by cattle. We were in the back of the Land Rover and at times I was holding onto the seat for dear life I and had to close my eyes! It’s crazy enough plowing through the streets in a giant bus but we felt so small in the SUV. Once we arrived at the bank and got out of the car we walk up to the front of the well guarded bank. We had our bags searched and we’re then aloud to enter. Then hello USD to goude (the Haitian currency) conversions. It was a small nightmare trying to work it all out but, we did it and made it home safely!
I had my first battle with over seas sickness. I’ll spare you all the details but I will say that it’s really humbling to be sick as a dog away from home and not have access to the things you usually do when you are sick. For me, I was dying for a bathtub. My go to when I don’t feel well. But, I survived!
We’ve been doing all kinds of different ministry work. A lot of painting, more pavers, putting on “kids clubs” in the afternoons for the children in the villages, picking up garbage! We also spend a lot of time out in the villages just meeting people; building relationships and loving the people right where they are at and praying with people. We sing songs and dance with them! It’s amazing the joy that they have even in their hardship.
Mission of Hope does so much for the surrounding communities. Their goal is that the people of Haiti would be indigenously mobilized. That they would rely first on God, and then themselves and their community to provide for their needs. MOH wants the local people to see that MOH is not where their hope should lie; it is in Him! So, with these principles as the foundation for their ministry MOH is impacting the surrounding villages in such amazing ways. Each village has a “Village Champion”. The village champion is a native Haitian from that village that has been recommended and gone through a pretty intense interview process and then training from MOH. As a village champion this person works as the go between for the people of the village and MOH. They live in the village and so they know the people and the needs and they let MOH know how they can help. This way MOH isn’t the savior. If there is a family that needs food, the village champion can let MOH know and they will work out how the family will be provided for and it all comes through the village champion. Education plays a huge role in their ministry. There are thousands of sponsored students attending School with MOH. 80% is covered by the sponsorship program and the students are responsible for coming up with the other 20%. The idea is that they will place more value in something they are playing a role in paying for. They receive uniforms and books, a hot meal daily and a Christ centered education. MOH wants to raise up future community leaders, doctors, teachers, nurses, engineers, and overall good citizens who will help build a positive future for Haiti.
I wanted to shout out to a few people on here!
Aunt Dawn: thank you so much for the care package you sent me right before I left. The sunscreen stick lives in my day pack and those packing cubes are saving my messy life!
Katie Kaiser: I wear the clothes you got me more than anything else! Thanks so much for all of your help.
Mom: Thank you for filling in all my blanks and helping me get all the last minute things I forgot! I’ve needed it all!
Grandma Armstrong: I’ve been going over our verses we memorized!
Ramiro: Thank you so much for the letters. When I opened the Haiti letter it made my day!
Smash and Sports: When I have a hot second of wifi your messages always make me smile!
Raze: FACETIME!
MH: I took your advice and am wearing sunscreen daily! We don’t want wrinkles 😉
Grandma Kaiser: Thank you so much for the encouraging emails!
