Soccer Balls, Motorcycles, and Pillowcases

On August 5th, eighteen of us departed for the country of Haiti. We went with the intention of visiting orphanages and schools, and spending time with our partners on the ground. We had a very diverse group, with ages ranging from 14 to 70! Many of those on the team had never been to Haiti, and some had never been overseas. To say those individuals experienced “new things” is an understatement. From the time you step off the plane to the time you leave the country you are immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells of the island. One of the men on the trip said to me, “I wish I could bottle this smell and take it back to my church.”

The first full day of our trip was spent at two different orphanages, and we had such an amazing time playing with the children. We brought with us bouncy balls, bubbles, footballs, soccer balls, and harmonicas. Between all these items we had a full morning of smiles and laughter from the kids. We also brought with us 100 dresses made from pillowcases to give to the girls at the orphanages. These beautiful girls were so thrilled to receive the dresses that many of them put them on immediately! On top of that, one of the girls on our team had brought along some music and a few choreographed dances that the kids really enjoyed. They learned the moves quickly and the smile on their faces as they jumped around and threw their hands in the air was priceless.

Our second day there was one that the team will not soon forget. We traveled an hour and a half outside the city to reach a community that sits 30 minutes up a mountain. There is a small school on the property that contains four classrooms, an open-air kitchen, a principal’s office, a church, and a chicken coop. This community was established by Pastor Maxeau, our primary partner in Haiti.

When we arrived, there were 150 kids waiting to greet us with smiles and cheers. After we made our introductions we had the chance to feed the kids a meal of our Rice and Beans. Each plate was loaded with the hot ingredients and handed out until every child had eaten their fill. The room was electric! Most of us had participated in a Packathon, but much of the team had never had the chance to hand out the food overseas. I could clearly see the joy in our team members’ faces as they stood before each of these children, and I could also see the lightbulb go off in their minds as they realized that the food they are packing in their churches is truly a life-sustaining work.

That afternoon we said our goodbyes and made our way back down the mountain and into town. However, instead of riding in our vehicles, Pastor Maxeau arranged for 10 motorcycles to be brought to us and several of us got on the backs of the bikes and our Haitian drivers went careening down the mountain! It was one of the most fun/scary things I’ve ever done. We weren’t riding on nicely paved roads either. These were gravel roads that receive very little upkeep! But we made it down safely with hardly a scratch.

With the remainder of our time in Haiti we visited a couple more schools and orphanages, and we were afforded the opportunity to worship at a local church. All in all it was an incredible 5 days, and I witnessed God’s faithful hand on the group as He taught each one of us something different. I was touched to hear from the younger team members as they shared how humbled they were to see the joy in the Haitian children’s eyes. They were moved by the chance they had to play with these children and share with them the love of Christ. I am confident that God will continue to use this experience to teach the eighteen who went on this trip, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say that I can’t wait to get back and do it all again.

– Caleb Fox | Warehouse Manager

On August 12, 2015   /   2015, Ministry