FBCS Acteens Healing Haiti Day 6

I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.
                                                   Matthew 25:35

As usual this morning as it has all week, this verse came to  my mind.  We loaded up the "tap tap" headed for The Home for the Sick and Dying adults, which is a faith based ministry. It was about a 45 minute drive through the city streets of Port-au-Prince. This always promises to be an adventure in its self and it didn't disappoint this time.  We arrived to the simple blue building of that was really a blessing. I felt a sense of peace and comfort when we walked in.  There were patients in rooms on cots as well as wondering around the building.   We left the guys in our team downstairs with the male patients and we journeyed up the stairs to the female ward.  A staff member  told us what we needed to do, and pointed us toward a room full of young girls who were there and had health issues.  We immediately started loving on little girls and started pampering them.  We painted nails and did a little foot/hand massage too. The little girls seemed to enjoy it.  Many of our team got their nails done too.  The little girls loved painting our nails as well.  Most of the girls looked fairly healthy. Laurie had on that looked about 9 on her lap and she really looked ill.  He stomach was hurting her and looked to be distended. You could tell by her eyes that she didn't feel good. Laurie gently rocked her in her lap and she dozed off to sleep. While we had "spa day" with the girls, Emmanuel, our translator, played the acustic guitar and we sang some songs of encouragement. Emmanuel is a very talented musician and could play anything we wanted to sing.  Some of the girls even sang with us.  We got all the girls "dolled up" and it was time for them to have lunch so we said our goodbyes and headed down stairs.  The guys had been seeing to the male patients downstairs, and after some lotion on the arms and legs of some patients sitting in the hallway, we made our way back to the tap tap.  It was a wonderful experience.  The patients appreciated us coming I think, and it was wonderful to make them feel better just by something as simple as a foot massage or having their nails done. 

After returning to the cottege for a change of clothing  and a  snack we take off for Juno's orphanage.  We arrive and the children are outside.  We got out of the tap tap and there were children waiting to take our hands. We give lots of hugs. 
This was the sweetest bunch of children. The Acteens did their "Joy in my Heart" dance and the kids loved it when they invited them to join in for a second round of the song. The Acteen did a great job with their puppets in the Noah's Arc skit.  Next Laurie shared the salvation story with them.  They all listened attentively until she was finished.  
Our fun stations were next.  We did marble art, ballon figures, and paper bag puppets, as well as a little soccer with the older kids.  They had a ball; the joy on their faces was priceless.  The last thing we did was an edible artwork. We gave them a blue napkin, a graham cracker, some pretzel sticks, animal crackers, and fruit loops.  They made great looking Noah's Arc pictures with the goodies we gave them, and had a delish snack after they finished.  We had a wonderful time with the children at Juno's.  They were all so courteous and well mannered.  We all would have liked to have stayed a little longer, but it was time to head back to the guest house. We all left in great spirits after getting lots of love from the sweet children of God.

It has been a busy, tiring, life changing, amazing week.  One I will remember for the rest of my life.  My perspective has changed on some many things.  I don't think I can ever forget the faces I have seen in Haiti this week, I hope I never do.  I want to remember them and pray for them, knowing that nothing is too hard for my God.  Who knows, one of these fine, young men that are being raised in the Godly home of Grace Village, Isaiah's, Shalom's, or Juno's orphanage, just might be the leader in training for Haiti in the future.  If so, I will thank God for allowing me to share in a very small part of their journey. ~ Penne Swearingen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                  

           

FBCS Acteens Healing Haiti Day 5

FBCS Acteens Healing Haiti Day 5!!

 Friday, July 18, 2014.  On this day I walked with the members of our Acteen Haiti Mission team to the homes of several elderly Haitian individuals. We delivered a hot Haitian meal purchased at the market and a gift  bag with healthy snacks. In addition we left the ladies with a stuffed animal and the men with a new cap. I would like to see the mental image, you as readers of this blog, have of the sentences above. The word home, for most people I know, congers up a scene of one's comfortable, cozy house or apartment with furniture, appliances, several rooms, and much more. Perhaps a grassy yard with a walkway to the front door. As I walked through winding, rocky rubble pathways to the one room dwellings, some made of wood-frames and tarp - some of concrete block - I was once again reminded of the difference between the poor in the USA and the poor here in Haiti. At most I would call these homes a shelter, never-the-less, these were their homes. We were there to not just leave food, but to touch each person to meet a physical and spiritual need. What a special moment as I was able to kneel beside Anna Katherine as we washed Marie's feet and apply lotion to her feet and legs and then to sing with her and pray for her. This was the scene as went from home to home-taking turns washing feet and praying. Each of the elderly people expressed joy and thankfulness as we ministered to them.  During our visits  there were children who would appear and we offered hugs, lotion, and some love to them by polishing there fingernails or playing simple games.  
We journeyed on to Isaiah's Orphanage where 16 sweet children introduced themselves to us and told us their ages- and we in turn did the same..however, I believe there was some "fudging" on some ages coming from certain. members of our team! Our Acteens did a wonderful job singing " I've Got the Joy" by Go Fish...then including the kids in an encore of it. There was a puppet skit about Noah's Ark and once again the kids were back on stage with a puppet in their hands. This was followed by a group of stations we call " Circus for Christ" including a God's Story cube to explain the plan of salvation on a child's level; a Salvation Doll & bracelet station, face painting, balloon animals, marble art. The children seemed to enjoy the time spent with them and we pray that the message of Christ permeates their lives.
But boy, did we get hot at that time of the day. Thankful for the men from our team who went to the market to find us some nice cold drinks and another water bottle. Our last ministry stop of the day was Shalom's Orphanage where 12 precious children were being cared for. We shared gift bags and prayed over these children and the adults caring for them. It was a day packed full of ministry, prayer, and some personal sacrifice, as the heat was a bit tougher this day. We talked about the sacrifice Jesus made, and I spoke the question outloud- " I wonder if this was the same climate and heat that Jesus was in when He endured the walk to Calvary carrying that cross?"
Our last stop of the day, before returning to the guest house, was at Pizza Amore, where we rested, shared fellowship, and ate pizza. A pleasant breeze kept us comfortable and the mango tree that the patio was built around, kept me ducking for cover while it dropped several mangoes on the tin roof. 
I am so blessed to watch our Magnificent Seven Acteens take initiative and not be afraid to step out of their comfort zone to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  God is teaching us so many lessons as we try our best to serve others and  DO HIS WORD in Haiti. Blessings from Haiti !  ~Blogged by Laurie Vines  

 

 

  

FBCS Acteens Day 4

Day 4
Thanking the Lord Jesus for this day which we have spent in many places that before we came here would be very difficult for people who live in the most blessed nation of the world.  We rose early and had an awesome breakfast prepared by very hard working women and men who work tirelessly to keep our home away from home clean and our clothes clean,(probably cleaner than they have ever been), and to prepare us wonderful food so that we will be strong for our day. 

So, today we started out at Apparent Project.  This is a place where the workers make pottery, jewelry and metal works of art plus many other things out of cereal boxes, bottle caps, tin and various other things that we throw away.  The jewelry is very beautiful.  They make mosaics out plastic, glass and many other things.  This organization allows the workers to afford to feed and keep their children.

Next, we went to Gertrude's orphanage for the disabled. 
This is a home and school for disabled children.  Many with cerebral palsy.  It is a clean and safe place for these children.  We played with the children and then helped feed them.  Our Acteen's did an awesome job there, even though, like the adults at times, it was very uncomfortable.  It made me think of when Jesus told the disciples when they ask,"what are we to do?" Jesus said, "Feed my sheep" or "Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me."



We went to General Hospital.  This consisted of multiple buildings with many very sick people in it.  We gave out our gift bags and water while visiting and praying with many of the sick.  We thought we were done and just about out of supplies when we were led to a little room way in the back with very sick pediatric patients.  Many had severe burns because these people cook over open fires and light with candles or oil lamps so naturally the children have the potential to get burned.  We gave out beanie babies and snacks and played with children and hugged the mothers and prayed with many.  There was a tiny baby there that had been deserted by the baby's mother and another lady took the baby as her own.  The baby weighed about 4 pounds and had severe health issues and she was waiting to have surgery.  We gathered in the building and sang several songs and some of the ladies sang with us.  We were tired before, but filled with joy at leaving and considered this to be the highlight of the day...even a slice of heaven.
The end of our day was our team time discussing word of the day and planning our next day's packing for the orphanages. Two older boys from Grace Village came to our reflection time and translated the Haitian story of salvation books that Laurie had ordered! What a blessing!!

Jesus says, "come unto me ye who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.  My burden is easy".  It is easy when you are doing the things that God has called you to do. 

Thank you Church for sending us here and we have been the hands and feet of Jesus as we have gone.  We love you all and count it a blessing to do God's work. I choose joy!!!

Mary Watson

Day 3: Water truck delivery in Cite Soleil

FBCS Acteens of Sylacauga, Alabama
Day 3

So today was Water Truck day and aside from it being physically/mentally exhausting, everything was gorgeous. The people, the works of love, and especially the kids.
 
The place we went to was Cite Soleil and it was a very poverty stricken type of environment. There were literally houses that were being built together with thin pieces of cardboard and tin cans. Garbage and a swimming pool of sewage filled the tiny roadways and also filled the air with this strong stench that consisted of old food, garbage, and the occasional sewage. Yet, within the midst of all this odor....all this garbage, it was breathtakingly beautiful. These people were happy. I remember seeing this little boy pour a bowl of water over his head and he just had the biggest grin. I think he even danced a tad bit too!

Smiling and waving really is a good technique while you're doing work on the mission field. I just think it is so cool that I can smile at someone; a complete stranger, and they'll actually smile back! That doesn't really happen in America. A good portion of the Haitians living in Cite Soleil have lost hope ever since the earthquake hit in 2010. Living day-by-day in a slum type of environment does not really give any inklings of hope. I think that us going to deliver water really gives these people something to look forward too...something to give them hope.   

 The kids were precious. They were waiting for us outside of the tap-tap and were just begging to be held. We had kids all over us! Whether they were on our back, on our hips, or even dangling by our arms! It was so wonderful to see their faces light up with joy.

I honestly can say that I learned a handful of stuff today just by observing these people and their daily lifestyles. The most important thing I learned today, though, was to be thankful for what I have. After this week, I'll go back home to my two story house which provides running water, a place to sleep, food, and clothes to wear and I'll thank God for it all. I am so eternally grateful for all that God has blessed me with. I'll always keep the Haitians in my prayers and in my heart.
~ACTeens Mallory & Nicole