Haiti Trip Update #3

Team with food for orphans

 Cite Soleil

Today we had a wonderful and challenging day! Words are hard to come by to describe today, so I've included a few more pictures. We headed out today to do a party at a school just outside of City Soleil. Our adventure took us down a maze of walled streets and gated neighborhoods.

Once there we met the directors of the school and Rob who heads up the sponsorship program through Heartline. We arrived around 8:30am and planned to start around 9am, or whenever all 50 of the children showed up. We actually started at 10am, but had an amazing time just playing with the kids!

Sequoia and Marissa with the children.

We began the party off the best way possible, with the Gospel! We broke up into 3 groups, the really little kids, the oldest kids and the largest group in the middle. Abby and Victoria teamed up to share the Wordless Book with the middle age group. We had planned on two groups, but Marissa was willing to last minute share the Wordless Book with the little kids. And Kayla and Lance shared with the oldest kids.

The Wordless Book is a summary of the Gospel based on colors, which we were able to make bead bracelets for all the kids that correspond to the lesson. Here is a brief snapshot. Gold reminds us of Heaven where God lives. God created us to be with Him, but the Dark page reminds us of the sins that separate us from God.  Sin is anything we do that displease God. And our sins cannot be worked off by good deeds. But the Red page reminds us that God loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue us from our sins. Paying the price for sin Jesus died and rose again. The Clean page reminds us that if we place our trust in Jesus He forgives our sins and gives us a promised home with Him forever, back to the Gold page, in Heaven. Green reminds us that we need to grow in Christ.

They all had to share through and interpreter (the did a great job!)! 50 kids heard the Gospel there!

Kayla and Victoria with Calipso as their interpreter

Kayla and Victoria with Calipso as their interpreter

Marissa with Carmelo Anthony (yes that's really his name) as an interpreter

Kayla and Lance with Jun as the interpreter, Dan and Sam supporting

 Cite Soleil is a rough place. Frank said he would like to take us in there so we could see what these kids live in, but he said it isn't safe enough for us to visit. The crime, filth and conditions are bad.The children have a great opportunity to escape from that life and learn in a much safer environment. The kids just latched on to us and we loved it!

Spencer and the boys!

 One of the ways the school had been able to get into Cite Soleil is through the cooperation of a leader of a gang. Franz leads a gang in Cite Soleil and he sends his kids to this new program at the school. He provides many open doors to allow children to come and learn, be fed and learn the Scriptures. Franz and his guys were very nice and welcoming, however we pray that the Gospel penetrates his heart and the children so they no longer need the gang life.

I'm with Franz, his guy and his Godson.

We did coloring, crafts, soccer and learned some Haitian games! Then we ate a meal together and sent the kids home. During clean up, we were surprised to see the kids just chucking their Styrofoam plates out the window! We cleaned up as best we could, but in Cite Soleil and other areas of Haiti, they litter everywhere. 

Abby doing face painting

Marissa and Melody looking over the third floor balcony

Soccer anyone?

John's Orphanage

 After leaving Cite Soleil we headed to an orphanage. I called it "John's Orphanage" because it doesn't really have a name. If you could have seen where it was and how we got there, you would question if it was really an orphanage. It's hard for me to write about the poverty and conditions these children live in. There were 20 children being "taken care of" by three men, and recently a woman. I'm not certain of all that goes on there, but there is definitely neglect and mental abuse taking place. The men will lock the kids in their rooms at night, lock the gates and go to their own home to sleep. The kids have no electricity and are in their rooms till the men come back.

John and the two other men seem nice, and we didn't know the details of the orphanage until we left. But Frank keeps going back because it helps guarantee that these kids get food.

Ok, the conditions were bad, but the kids...they were great! They were overjoyed to see us! Immediately they wanted to jump in our arms. I am proud of our team and how they embraced these children. Due to the conditions they lived in, the kids were dirty and stinky, and our team welcomed them into a loving embrace! What a demonstration of the love of Christ!

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." (James 1:27 ESV)


Today we were the hands and feet of Jesus. Pray for these kids in John's Orphanage, that they would feel the loving embrace of the Heavenly Father tonight!

Abby and Kayla did some team teaching through the Wordless Book and we were able to share the Gospel with the kids. Oh and a couple of ducks ran through the room during the lesson. I told the girls, "I have preached the Gospel all over the world, but I've never had ducks run through!"

Below are some pictures from the orphanage. Note the conditions the kids live in. Pray that God would move and provide safety and security for these kids and the millions of others like them around the world!

Soccer in the "yard"

Kayla playing some games

Children gathering for the Wordless Book

Sam getting kids ready for Soccer

Brooke found a forever friend

Marissa provided a loving embrace

Ok so this little girl latched on to Marissa and wouldn't let go. After awhile, Marissa sat down and just cuddled with her. She fell asleep for the better part of two hours. This little girl felt safe, secure and loved! Thank you Marissa!

Melody doing face painting with the kids

Lance and his pal took a break from dancing for a quick pic

Spencer chilling on a tire with this little guy

Kayla and Abby sharing, Calipso translating

Take a look at Calipso! This guy is a gentle giant and a great dude! He is our security guard and translator. When he speaks, those kids listen...everyone listens! Great guy! I hope I'm spelling his name right :)

Prayer Requests


Pray for all the children we encounter. That they might now the love of Christ and we can bring love and hope into their life.

Pray for the orphans. Ask God to move in people's lives to provide support and a home for these kids. Ask God what He might call you to do to impact orphans.

Pray for our team that we let the reality we see impact our lives. Never forgetting the little hands that clung to us tightly or the shed tears as we departed.

Pray for Heartline's discipleship ministries as the men and women who graduate then impact the culture and community for generational changes.

Pray for us tomorrow as we work at the OK center. We will be doing some physical work, painting and moving stuff.