Haiti (Days 1-3)

Friday~ November 28th, 2014

Bags are packed, and Elijah and Caden are beyond excited to leave the country for their very first time. 

 Haiti....Here we come!!  Elijah checking to see if our plane is on time and what gate we are departing from.

 Jetway was freezing cold in Chicago.  Temps were in the teens.

 The check in lady told us to inform the pilots that it was the boys first time flying....and so we did.  The pilots let them in the cockpit and even sit in their seats.  Pretty cool for them.

 The boys had an eye full as we drove four hours from Port Au Prince to Les Cayes Haiti.  I had previously told them about the poverty of this country, but I am certain my explanation of it didn't do justice as they sat in silence as they peered out the window.

  On Saturday, we went to Simone Orphanage to visit the kids and show our boys where it was that Nick and I's first trip to Haiti was and where we came all week doing different jobs.  We played a bit with the kids and then passed out some candy to the orphans.  So precious.  One of my favorite things was the fact that I got to see one of the girls that was a baby when we first went and she was still there and so grown up.  When she arrived several years ago she was malnurished and in a sad state.  Thankfully to this day she is thriving and growing and looks so happy.  Poor picture below but she is the second girl on the right side of the picture.

 After the orphanage we went with Jan, Val, Derek, Joel, Tess, Dan, Sophia, Adam, Alisha and Brent to these amazing falls.  It was so beautiful to see this in the midst of poverty.

 We hiked right up to the falls and walked right behind them.  So neat!!!

 On Sunday we crammed into this van.  There were 19 of us in this one vehicle!!  We headed to a church in Les Cayes where literally 100's of poor children come to worship and receive mana packs from a missionary family that lives in Haiti to support this mission and arrange this service for these children.

 Here we are shaking 200+ childrens hands as they enter the "church" (which is pictured below).  Many of these children were half dressed and poor.  I was extremely overwhelmed as tears streamed down my face to see the number of kids come to not only get mana packs(rice packs to take home to help feed them) but also to learn about Jesus our Savior.  Listening to these kids and watching some of them praise his name put me to shame.  No, I couldn't understand what they were saying, but the look on their faces as they closed their eyes and held up their hands in praise was a tear jerker for me. To watch them play a game, win and then receive a new outfit as their prize was pricesless.  Some kids came out with their new clothes on as proud as ever and then there were a few that were so bashful and hid their faces as they walked past all the other kids.  Here at this church, if they misbehave they are sent out and do not get to go home with a mana pack thus keeping this 200+ crowd of children under control.

 This little boy really took a liking to Elijah.  He pretty much sat here the whole church service.

 After church on Sunday we all went to Rainbow beach.  Ahhhh such beauty.  Great waves and we all got to ride them in.  So fun!!

TO BE CONTINUED: