Back from sharing another trip-this time to Joplin Missouri. Certainly felt inqdequate to do enough for a very devestated city. Team accomplished more than most could imagine, and yet our hearts hurt with these people. God bless America!

Hello, all!

It's only been like 4 days now that I've been back in the States, but I miss Haiti terribly already! I definitely left part of my heart down there! After talking with Lydia on her return from Haiti the first time, back in November, I couldn't comprehend how anyone could fall so much in love with a country and people like she did in so short a time. However, after going there myself and experiencing what I experienced...I know exactly how she and others felt after leaving that wonderful place! I miss the smells, noises, sights, and sounds...but most of all I miss the many incredible people that I had the privilege of meeting while I was down there. Lord willing I hope to go back very soon! A huge "thank you" to all of you for your prayers...having so many of you lifting us up daily in prayer was a huge encouragement and blessing! Praise the Lord for all He was able to do through us!

~Matt

Here are a few more photos from our trip...

Who would have guessed that our trusty (lol) old bus would get us part way up a steep hill! Man that was quite the ride...

Making charcoal. It was neat to see how this was done using charcoal ash, water, and flour!

Some finished pieces of charcoal placed on a metal sheet to dry.

Chillaxin at Michel's school!

This little guy came over to see us everytime we visited Michel's school! He was adorable! Miss him a ton!

We have returned!
Just a wee tiny bit off schedule, according to Haitian time, we have indeed returned.
Leaving behind beautiful weather and scenery, palm trees, and people we love twenty four
hours ago, we have arrived to our home state.
Little things like not being able to fuel a plane can sure throw things off schedule!
Actually, after hearing of over 100 flights cancelled in Miami, we are very grateful to have
been able to move out of the airport.
Divine appointments were prayed for and certainly part of the delay.
One day we might know more as we can step back and see a bigger and clearer picture.
For now, many may be asleep or heading to work.
In short order we hope to have new photos posted to prove we were not just laying on the
beach the entire time.
It was a great blessing to be with the team and to share a piece of something very life
changing together.
Lori

Haiti - Day... I can't keep track anymore.

Hello loved ones and faithful blog followers. I don't have much time, but I will try and update you on what has been happening in Haiti for the last day or so.

To be completely honest I haven't been reading the blog myself, and this is only the second time I have posted, so I am very sorry if I repeat information that you already have. ;)

Yesterday was yet another fantastic day in Haiti. We're at the water project now and have been completing several jobs around the site that needed to be done. We had a task assigning meeting the first day we got here and delegated jobs. After morning prayer with the staff, team devotions, and breakfast, we were ready to divide and conquer. Lydia and I cleaned the Rolling's van which had been the target of a vicious arson attack 2 years ago. They finally got it back from the repair yard and needed it scrubbed out from top to bottom. Thanks to our upbringing of diligent cleaning, Lydia and I rose to the challenge and the van looks great. It was such a joy to be able to be a blessing to people who devote so much to others by doing something as simple as cleaning their van. While we cleaned the van, Luanne and Ellen cleaned a storage room which needed new organization. They did a wonderful job and you can now see what it all in there again! The boys worked in the work yard painting filters and loading them onto the truck for a delivery. Boy are we glad to have them all here. The completely filters weigh 160 pounds each and they load the truck with 34 of them for each delivery!!! I may like to think that I am strong but that is way beyond my abilities to load even one 160lb filter. I truly believe that this is one of the reasons that God assembled our team to have 4 young strong guys. We would not have been able to many of the things we have this trip without them. Thank you Matt, Tim, Ben and Jake for your willingness to share your muscles with the people of Haiti!!

We worked until noon and then had a lunch break. After lunch we loaded into a Tap-Tap (Yey! Finally!) and headed to Michel's school. Lori did a dental clinic for several teachers there and the rest of us scattered around doing various things. It was kind of a hodge-podge day but it was wonderful nonetheless. Tim flew kites and had one soring high until he offered for me to take it and it took a nosedive within 45 seconds. Opps. :/ Sorry Tim! Needless to say, I abandoned the kite flying station after that. We took on some home improvement projects at Michel's house as well. Ben and Jerry were building shelves and Caleb, Jake, Mallorie, Elizabeth, and I were priming his exterior walls for paint.

We came back and were treated to hamburgers for supper!! Ah! They were so good. Those of you that know me know that for some reason when I am here, the one food I miss is a cheeseburger. It was delicious. We ended the night with some music and dancing. Michel was playing some Latin guitar songs and Wendy and Evans were teaching the girls how to Compa, a Haitian salsa inspired dance. It was so much fun! What a great time to unwind as a team and enjoy the beauty of God creation as the sun set and the waves crashed on the shore behind us. It will be so hard to leave this place.

Well that is the update on the team yesterday. For me personally, the highlight of my day was hanging out with a very special little girl I met. Her name is Michlee and the first day I met her, she grabbed on to my hand and didn't let go. She looked up at me with her huge chocolate brown eyes and flashed me a smile that revealed the wide gap between her two front teeth. Even the coldest of hearts would melt. After I spent some time with her on the soccer field on Friday, she took me to see her mother. I told her mother that she had a beautiful daughter and she thanked me. Then she began to tell me something in creole that I didn't understand. I found Michel and found out that she was asking me to take her daughter as my own daughter. Ugh. My heart just sank to the floor. Lower than I think it has ever fallen. I would take this little precious girl in a heartbeat but the world doesn't work that way. Please don't think badly of this mom, because I don't think that this request came from a lack of love for her daughter but rather out of her extreme abundance of love for her. She knows that I could provide her with a better life, and even if that means she must be separated from her, it would be worth it. Please join me in prayer for this little family. My heart will forever be bonded to them.

I've talked too long again and need to get back to work. Thank you all for following us and continuing to hold us up in prayer. We will be home soon and cannot wait to see you all again.

Much love from Haiti!!

Chelsea

We missed a day of blogging because we're staying at a new sight and the internet connection is limited. We're now staying at a missionary family's home in Haiti, Christ, Leslie, and three year old Olivia. We're staying in their home, which is conviently and beautifully located right on the ocean. Yesterday we dropped three of our girls off at the airport, Rachel, Carrie, and Annie. They had to go home early for school, and the rest of our team came to our new location.

When we got here yesterday we were greeted with a beautiful Haitian meal. The food was to die for, and we were all overly grateful for their hospitality and a full stomach. We started working right away, painting water filters that the missionaries distribute. Their mission is called Clean Water for Haiti. They have hired Haitian workers to sort the sand, make the cement, fill the molds, and assemble these filters which bring clean and fresh water to Haitians all over the country. Their mission is truly making an impact on this society. It is humbling to be a part of it.

Yesterday afternoon we had some time to cool down in the water (which is covered in seaweed and rocks, no sea urchins PTL) and relaxed over good conversation, music, laughter, prayer, and more amazing food. The ladies also threw a surprise baby shower for Leslie, who is six months pregnant with a baby boy. The party was a real blast, including lots of presents, decorations, food, pictures, games, prayer, and laughter. It was good to be able to love her and bless her after all of the hard work she does day in and day out for the Lord and for the people in Haiti.

Today we all woke up before the sun was up and started working around the compound. Some of us are cleaning the vans, washing the cars, painting the filters, cleaning out the storage room, doing a medical and dental clinic, and babysitting Olivia :) This afternoon we plan to go back to Michel's school.

We love you all! Thank you for your constant prayers. We need them!

xoxo Mallorie and Elizabeth (and Olivia)

This Sabbath day ends completely different than we had planned at all.
So glad that the words of Jeremiah echo in my mind....the plans He has for us
are surely better than mine.
With news of some unrest near the original place of worship this morning we
walked to a very nearby church and had a special time there.
This was followed by a fun filled day with the kids at Sue's place. Quite a lot
of laughter and song and crafts. Then-for the first time ever-movie night!
Incredible outdoor viewing of something about meatballs from the sky. Popcorn
and a sheet on the wall and all the kids had a lap to sit upon. It is something to
think this is probably a once in a lifetime experience for them.
(Thanks Jerry and Sharon)
We send a special birthday greeting to Logan and to have Michel call him was
a gift from Haiti.
All in all, we are just knitting together in a special way. We are feeling God in
a real closeness that does not always come through with the busyness of life in the states.
We are aware that for this moment we can give joy and hope to many who have not
felt God's embrace in flesh before. To be here with such a group is humbling. All
praise to Him!
Tomorrow we wake early to say some goodbyes to three of the group. We will drive
to the airport at six am ( and I am the wakeup committee). From there we will head
north to the water project. So much left to do. Can't wait to see how many ways the bags
deliver loaves and fishes and the opportunities that come our way.
Thanks again for sharing this journey.
Lori