And More to Come...

More Pictures

Below are some of the pictures from our most recent trip to Cite Soleil in 2011. Some are of the men working with us. Others are of us coloring with the children. We all started off on our knees and it was quiet. Within five minutes if was chaos. We are so grateful for what God did on the trip. We were able to leave murals in Cite Soleil, employee local people, vision for the future, and enjoy HAITI. Thank you all for your support.

More Pictures from Haiti Trip 2011

Home Tomorrow..

We are back to Port-au-Prince. We were able to head up North and see old friends and visit. Enjoyed the time with the people. Caitlin was able to paint a little and I was able to play soccer with the children. It was good to see everyone. We had about three days there and then we are back in Port-au-Prince and head to the states tomorrow. The neatest part of the trip up North was the moto ride to Passe Cataboise. We got to Port-au-Paix at dusk and there were a couple of our friends waiting for us. A blessing seeing as it would have been hard to find a ride that late. Our moto ride in the light quickly turned to darkness. I felt like we were in a planetarium. So marvelous to just look up and see the sky. One could see for miles and miles, infinite stars. Ten miles took us about two hours. The roads have gotten worse, more holes, more mud, more rocks. About an hour into our drive we hear, “My Kate, My Kate.” It was our Haitian brother who came to find us. So neat…he heard we were coming and came to find us. After that our friends decided the road ahead was bad and we were going to take another way. Before you know it we were zipping through fields, cornfields, it was amazing. Just darkness except our moto lights and the fires burning in the distance. It was a moment where I felt great thankfulness for this opportunity to be intertwined in God’s work in Haiti and Haiti’s people.

The trip back was the complete opposite. Woke up this morning at 3 am and took a moto at 4. This moto was not the best moto ever. Stopped four times, had to fix “pieces” of the moto. At one point I was holding a piece of the moto that looked pretty important, but hey, it drove. After the third time the bike “broke” we slipped in the mud and the bike went down, this is about where I almost lost it, but wait….we are not done. Next we hit the river, loaded ourselves and the bike into a “rowboat,” leaking much water and got pushed across the river in the darkness of the morning….but we made it, thank you Jesus. It was an ordeal and I might have lost it a couple hundred times, but we are safe and sound in Port-au-Prince enjoying quiet, soda, and rest. Back to the states tomorrow.

Grateful for the time up North. It allowed us to have some meetings and dream for the future of the camp and children that we sponsor for school. Neat to see God moving.

Thank you all for your prayers, notes, and support. When we get home I am going to load more pictures of our adventures. Internet has been too slow to upload much. But we just wanted to say thank you for everything. Photos to come…

Last Day in Cite Soleil, 5 Murals Done!

Today was an amazing day. This morning we got to visit St. Joseph’s Home in Port-au-Prince. It is a home that was built 25 years ago for boys off the streets. So neat to be there, hear the vision, meet the boys, and hear about the journey they have walked through. A man gave us a tour, 26 now, came to the home at 6 as a restavek. (In Creole it means, “stay with” it is child slavery) He spoke about his journey to St. Joseph’s and his journey and upbringing at the home. He spoke passionately about giving back to his people, his fellow brothers, the home, and the director of the program. He told us about when the earthquake hit he was on the roof of a 7 story building that came crashing down. He was able to jump onto a tree, which saved his life because he did not go down with the rubble. Following that story he said, “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.” He really challenged me today. It was a blessing to hear his story, but see the power of Christ in his life, the strength of the human spirit, and the power of prayer. I left encouraged and feeling grateful for the opportunity to walk in and out of the home.

I asked him how the home got started and he told me that is started 25 years ago with a man named Michael who had a calling to start a home for street boys. He moved to Haiti with 1,000.00 and started with just five boys living in a home with him. 25 years later they run a home for street boys, a school for the disabled, a bakery/coffee house that employees mothers, and a school. So neat to see the fruit of labor and the Lord’s blessings. It was also encouraging as Caitlin and I have felt the calling of starting a home for street boys. It was a beautiful gift to be able to walk through the home today and meet some of the men that grew up at the home, look at their artwork, hear their stories, and see how this home and family brought life and joy into their lives.

Headed into Cite Soleil and spent the morning finishing the last three murals. My sister knows how to work it out. She busted out three of the five murals today. I was amazed by her spirit and gift today. She kept a smile up to the last minute. We even got to paint the outside of a man’s house, why not? Hahaha.

I got to play a little soccer today, enjoyed it until the ball bounced into the canal of sludge sewer. I watched the children descend into the canal to retrieve the ball with their feet. The blanc (me) almost lost my breakfast. I could not stop laughing. I wanted to tell the kids to leave the ball, but they just kept at it. By the end of the mission we had three children in the canal trying to get the ball. They finally got it out and it was covered in sludge. That is when I took my half time break and never returned. No thank you, I like soccer, but not that much. I could foresee myself being in a position to head the ball or take a ball to the face…nope.

Good day, greatful for completing all the murals, thankful for our safety, thankful for the many blessings that people poured on us, thankful for the opportunity to know Haiti’s people and children. Leaving encouraged and blessed and ready for God to expand our borders. One, two, three…go!

A Nap

This was my favorite part of the day. This little girl falling asleep in my arms. She was crying and slowly wandered over to me, arms extended, and tears falling. As soon as the arms went up I was hers. She nuzzled right into my chest and within ten minutes she was out. She stayed with me for about two hours. I could have been happy doing just that today. In those moments life seems to fade away. Her little nap refreshed me today.

Besides napping, we were able to complete the third mural today. Two more to go. Nothing like pushing it to the last minute. We finished the one in Cite Soleil today. Got to orchestra a color time with children. More like a free for all. This picture was of the children before all chaos broke out. I told them they had to kneel and not make noise. It worked for the first ten minutes. Lets just say that the twenty minutes following was not something I wanted to take a picture of. Played some soccer, practiced some Creole, and enjoyed the city with the people.

We have one more day in Cite Soleil and then we head up North. Looking forward to seeing friends up that way. We head out Friday and come back to Port-au-Prince on Tuesday. God has been so good to us. We had another great meeting this morning. We were able to vision and think about the future for Making Roots and Haiti. Exciting, seems impossible, but I know that God loves the impossible. So here we go….

Get it done! Two more days, Three More Murals...

Another amazing day, thank you Jesus. The morning started off with a meeting. During this meeting Caitlin and I got to unfold our vision and dreams for our involvement in Haiti. It infused me with energy. Caitlin and I spoke about how our hearts desires and calling is to start a home for street children, specifically boys. During this time we got to share that with one of the local leaders we have been working with. It was neat to share that conversation and dream together for Cite Soleil’s people and specifically children. It is a beautiful gift to be able to vision for Haiti. We have had the prayer that we could be more involved in Cite Soleil and specifically in the children’s lives. Been a blessing to begin to unfold that and look deeper into that vision. Had a moment today where I felt like God was saying, “Leah come back to Haiti.” Feel so alive in the streets of Haiti. This place and the people continue to amaze me and encourage me.

Worked our way into Cite Soleil and cranked it out today. As Caitlin would say, “Slinging paint.” That is exactly what we did today. Caitlin threw up a drawing and we came in with the colors. She moved to the next wall and threw up the drawing and we came behind her to add colors. She moved on to the next wall and threw up the sketch and we came along and threw up the colors. We are tired. Anyone want to come to Haiti to give a foot massage? We started three more murals and hope to be done by this Thursday. That will be five completed murals. It is coming along. Continues to be fun to talk with the people, learned Creole, and be laughed at. Today I got laughed at because I was trying to say, “Take a break,” in the foreigner way. They taught me the Haitian slang way. So they continue to mock me by saying it the foreigner way..hahah, makes me laugh. We have a good team of men pouring their effort and hearts into helping us.

Today we able to finish the second of five murals. (see below) The graffiti artist, Ado, came in to finish the sky and font. Was so neat to watch him add his skill to the mural. Been neat to share the joy of art with him. He is coming again tomorrow to help with the third mural. Tomorrow we go at it again. Caitlin and I are fried. Shoulders are burned, noses are peeling, feet are tired, but we are still smiling. The children have been laughter and joy to be around. Today I decided to sit down and chat with them. Before I knew it I had about four children crawling on me. Two playing with my hair. One scratching my back and two picking the paint off my legs. I left Cite Soleil feeling pretty grungy, but leaving with a smile. Good day.

Continue to pray for time with the people. Pray that we get all the murals done. Pray for fruitful conversation in our meetings. Pray for vision. Pray for change and redemption in Haiti. Today as I walked to the mural I walked alongside the sewer system and was full of a deep sadness as this is life for so many. Children playing but three feet from the sewer. As the stench filled my nose I could not help but think about all the “what ifs.” So many beautiful people with so many beautiful dreams and hopes. So many beautiful talents and gifts that will never be know. So many beautiful children whose minds will never know the beauty of education. But then I rounded the corner to find our crew and our dear friend’s beautiful smile and I was so encouraged to see HOPE and their joy. It is present, the HOPE, and it is contagious. Pray that hope and faith continue to be present in Cite Soleil. Pray for the people and the elections that are coming up in March. Pray for Caitlin and I as we continue our day sin Cite Soleil. Pray for safety. Pray for strength and endurance.