Greetings from Port-Au-Prince!
Today was our second water truck day. The day began with (as usual) a devotion led by Alicia, and a delicious breakfast. Our first stop was at the Haitian Initiative (H&I), a nonprofit organization founded by Former Galaxy player Tony Sanneh and is connected with Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) based in Minnesota. H&I is a soccer-orientated program that supports the local Haitian youth. We learned that a group of the players gets to travel to Minnesota to play in the USA Cup at the National Sports Center in Blaine, MN. This year will be the first time H&I sends a female team to participate in the USA Cup as well, which is awesome! We got the opportunity to help serve food that was packed at FMSC. Many of us have packed the ''manna packs'' at FMSC before, and it was really cool to be able to distribute the food and see the kids enjoying it!
Our second stop was ''26'' in Cite Soleil to deliver more water. This stop was far less hectic than past stops. Many members of our group enjoyed spending time with the locals (many knew quite a bit of English) and had opportunities to play games with the younger kids. Those of us in the water line appreciated the cooperation of the locals.
''21'' was our last destination in Cite Soleil. This was by far the most chaotic stop we have had this week. Although many of us in the water line were a little jostled and frustrated, it was a unique blessing to witness all of the young children playing in the puddles and connecting with other members of our group. However, the crowds were growing larger and more uncontrolled to the point where our translators determined that the stop was no longer safe. We quickly shut off the water and piled into the tap-tap. We were very grateful for translators and full-time Healing Haiti staff that could determine the safety of a situation and have protected us the entire week.
After our water stops, we took off to a local grocery store called DeliMart. This really was a different experience for all of us: the entire store was air conditioned and well-stocked. We were able to get "papitas," our favorite, which are fried plantains. We all got an assortment of goodies! The check-out process was incredibly interesting because the American-Haitian currency is complex. It was a unique experience for all of us!
Lastly, we were treated for dinner to a delicious pizza place called "Pizza Amour". We had an assortment of pizzas, cokes, and a delightful chocolate cake or key lime pie at the end. This is a pizza parlor founded by American missionaries. It employs local Haitian youth and, to us, they are the best pizza place in Port-Au-Prince. Then we came back to the guesthouse for Russ' devotion on pursuing significance rather than success along with leaving a godly legacy. We are now settling in to enjoy a relaxing night as we listen to the downpour outside. We are all really excited to be attending church at Port-Au-Prince Fellowship Church tomorrow and having a fun day at the beach for our last full day here in Haiti!
Please continue to pray for those that we have served this week: the elders in Titanyen, the families in Cite Soleil, the children at Gertrude's and Home for Sick and Dying Babies/Adults, and the many others that the Lord has brought in our path. Pray for the full-time staff members here at Healing Haiti that they would continue to be the hands and feet of Christ, and pray for our safety as we spend one more full day here and begin our travel back to the US on Monday. Also, pray for us as God shapes and molds our hearts based on our time here in Haiti.
Glwa Pou Bondye (Glory to God)! And Bon Nuit (Good night)!
- Jake and Kendra
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