Our trip to Haiti began very early on Monday and we arrived at a very hectic Port-au-Prince airport about 2:30PM. We found our team leaders, Charlie and Kristine at the exit of the airport and they took us to our transportation called a "tap-tap". We familiarized ourselves with the guest house and turned in early after a long day of travel.
This morning, we started with a team breakfast and then got our instructions for the day. Today was our water truck day. We all took the tap-tap (mini transport truck) to an area where a 3500 gallon water truck is filled and then followed the water truck to a spot in Cite Soleil. As soon as the tap-tap pulled in, children surrounded it! As we exited the back of the tap-tap, children--some VERY small--were holding up their arms to be picked up and held. How do you choose which child to pick up when there are 40 or 50 at your feet wanting to be held? We then proceeded to the back of the water truck where a few of the team members helped attach the hose to the back of the water truck. A line was forming behind the truck by the time some of us had gotten there. The Haitian people that live in Cite Soleil bring their 5-gallon buckets or other receptacles to fill with potable water. Sometimes the truck will get to each neighborhood only every 3 days or so. You might imagine how valuable clean water would be if you only had access to every 3 days. We watched as people would load these 40-pound buckets onto the top of their head, balance them, and then proceed back to their home /shacks. Sometimes, tiny little children were responsible for moving these big things! At one of our stops, we were permitted to assist in carrying buckets towards the people's homes, but were advised not to go alone and not to go out of sight of the water truck.
With 3 - 5 of our team holding and assisting with the hose, that left the remainder of us time with the neighborhood children. Most children wanted to be held, hugged, cuddled, etc! It was nothing to pick up one child and have another one holding onto your other arm. Of course I will pick you up! I will also have one on piggy-back! Now, that is a lot of arms and legs wrapped around you. Lots of the ladies got their hair petted by the children, especially long hair, curly hair and blond hair. One of our ladies even had a child braid one section of her hair that had come free from her ponytail. Two children were seen to fall asleep while being held by one of our team members. The children enjoyed holding our hands and dancing or doing hand-clapping games. At one stop, we even had the chicken dance, the hokey-pokey and "heads, shoulders, knees and toes" going!
During our evening meeting, we all were asked to give one word that came to our mind about today, and why that word had meaning to us today. Tony started us off with "speechless". Megan followed with "overwhelmed", Renee with "taken," team-leader Charlie with "witness," team-leader Kristine with "eyes," Kelsey with "surreal," Joy with "energized," Kendra with "naive," Kristie with "thankful," Doug with "fulfilled," Adam with "blessed," Roanna with "joy," Lucas with "extreme," Jay with "innocent," and Tonya with "reality." Next time you see one of our team members, ask us about our word and what was the meaning behind our word.
Tomorrow we're getting ready to have some different experiences with an orphanage, hospital, school and wound clinic on the slate for various team members.
We covet your prayers for our health, protection but mostly for our ministry to the people of Haiti!
Written by: Joy
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