A Little Bit of Hava in our Life

Today was a good day despite a few obstacles during our journey to Respire. (See last week’s blog to learn more about Respire.) On our way to Respire, we had trouble with our transportation. All of us unloaded, eager for fresh air only to realize we had a flat tire: Hava to the rescue. Our teammate from Chicago stepped in and helped to change the tire. She is always very eager to help whenever she can. After our flat tire, we made it to our destination, Respire. It was encouraging to see God working through Megan and Josh. The view was gorgeous; we got to visit the school that is located on a mountain top overlooking the ocean. We prayed over land that they want to purchase in order to expand the school. The land is currently being used for voodoo worship.  In addition to the school, Respire is setting up a recycling station through the government.  Respire is doing great things to help Haiti.

After Respire, we headed back to New Life. Along the way we encountered another obstacle: the Port Au Prince Police. It seems they collect routine taxes on vehicles at will so we were pulled over for another hour because things needed to be sorted out. While we waited in the tap-tap (Haitian Taxi), we had an unwelcomed visitor approach us. It made the majority of the people in the tap-tap feel uncomfortable but Hava came to the rescue again. She helped to diffuse the situation a little by using her quick thinking, Bosnian language and good humor. Hava has been a constant source of sunshine in gray moments of our trip. She has been the humor we needed to get through tough emotions and is constantly bringing us joy. She is our ‘God Moment,’ everyday. God’s timing brought Rene, our driver, back just when we needed him most. We soon made it back to New Life, where we were all happy to have the opportunity to see the orphan girls again. Tonight, Maria and Hannah were able to share part of their life story to the kids and some were emotionally touched. The purpose was to encourage the kids and help them understand that God always wants the best for them.

The team is hoping to play a game of soccer with the girls from the orphanage tomorrow afternoon. We have planned to go to another tent city or orphanage in the morning and then connect with the girls. The girls are eager to play soccer with us but it will be bittersweet knowing we will soon depart. None of us are ready to say goodbye. Haiti has touched our lives in so many ways.  

Fell in Love in a Hopeless Place by Hannah

Yes, I know I stole a line from a Rihanna song, but tonight it fits. Every night we get together and we talk about God sightings from the day. Not going to lie, I was dreading tonight’s devotional time. For me today was filled with hard emotions, emotions I did not know what to do with or how to deal with. We started the day hopping into the back of an open tap-tap and driving to Village of Hope. It was really cool to see a different side of Haiti. We traveled to a more rural area with mountains on either side of us and the Dominican Republic across the lake from us. It was breathtaking. It always amazes me the juxtaposition of the beauty of Haiti in the scenery including the people and the ugliness of poverty, disease and corruption. We got to see the completed Medical Clinic and tour the school. The medical clinic is gorgeous with its clean white walls and bright green trim. You could just feel the energy of what God was going to do with that place just walking through it. I saw a first grade classroom and it made me very grateful for my own classroom and the resources that I have available for my students. I found that there are some similarities between what teachers in Haiti deal with and what I have dealt with in my own career; students whose only meal is the one that they receive at school, having to be creative with what resources you do have, dealing with state testing, etc. 

From there we went to Little Children of Jesus -an orphanage for people with disabilities. I will never cease to be amazed by how freely people with disabilities love and accept others making them the happiest people I have ever encountered. Their joy is truly contagious. We were privileged to be able to play soccer with some of the staff and kids. The only way I can explain that moment is one of pure joy. Staff and children both laughing and running around with the biggest smiles you have ever seen, just to be able to kick a little ball around. As we have seen time and time again, that little ball crosses cultural, ability, economic, and gender divides to connect us all. A favorite moment of ours was when Lavita, an 8 year old girl we brought from New Life, reached out her hand to a young woman with severe disabilities and how that young woman grabbed her in a hug. Lavita showed such compassion and love for that woman she is an example for us all.

You are probably wondering with all of this joy going around how could I have those hard emotions I mentioned in the beginning. Well, this is where it starts. Our next stop was Marie’s orphanage. I had stayed with Marie and worked with her girls 2 years ago with a group from my church. I was so excited to see some of the girls that I had made connections with that I almost couldn’t wait. When we got there, my heart broke more than it ever has in all my time in Haiti. Girls that used to run and jump into our arms with smiles and laughter were stand-offish, their faces hardened and their eyes blank with flashes of hurt and anger. My first reaction was anger. What happened to these girls to make them this way and what could I do to protect them? I felt as though I had failed them in some way. When you go on a short term mission trip you have to be careful. Saying goodbye and going home is hard on you, but harder on those you leave behind. If you are going to form a bond with someone, you better be prepared to follow through with it. Through circumstances that we could not control, Impact for Jesus has had to step back from Marie’s orphanage and just like in any other situation the ones who suffer the most are the children. They have had their hearts broken more times in their young lives than any one should ever have to encounter. Please pray for these girls that God will protect their hearts and that someday they will be able to run without reservation into the arms of those that love them with smiles on their faces and eyes clear looking toward the future.

In Haiti girls don’t play soccer, and that’s that. They might kick a ball around but when the boys come out to play, they are kicked off the field. You can only imagine how well that sat with 5 strong American women. For some of us, it was the first encounter with being discriminated against, for others it hit close to home after a life of fighting against the gender roles placed on them. Regardless of our backgrounds, we are on a mission to be an example for the girls for what they can accomplish and what they can achieve in the future and the confidence to dream.

At times, it feels like we are fighting a losing battle and it feels hopeless to continue. We have all fallen love with Haiti and it breaks our hearts that there isn’t more that we can do. I have struggled with not fully understanding why God has placed me here and the role He has for me. I have struggled with fitting all the pieces together of how God is working and understanding the cultural differences and the even the differences among all of the Americans here working to serve Haiti. I am only a small piece to the puzzle and sometimes it is hard not being able to see the big picture. What I do know is that God is continuing to change my heart and has given me a love for the people of Haiti that grows every day. As He teaches me every day to trust Him I will continue to take advantage of every opportunity He gives me as He directs my path.

As I sign off the sun is rising, we are getting ready for a new day. (No mom I did not pull an all-nighter, yes I did procrastinate.) I feel like I am back in college putting off writing a paper, setting the alarm extra early to wake up and finish it with coffee at hand. Let’s be honest I just wanted to feel young again like Lizzie and Marissa J. It is a new day, a day filled with hope and the chance to spread God’s love.  

Forget Me Not by Maria Robles

Today we had a great feat on our hands… not to forget our items for today’s journey.  This morning we forgot a few items: the sandwiches we had prepared the night before for the feeding, the chips we were going to hand-out and other sundry items. However, after having to go back twice, we were able to stay on track to encounter today’s new adventure. 

As we arrived, I could feel myself becoming nervous and anxious because I did not know what to expect. I kept reflecting back to last year’s feeding and how overwhelmed I felt.  I hoped that what were able to pack today would be enough to help feed the 50 children and families in this tent village. As the tap tap (our Haitian taxi) pulled up on the gravel road, I could see that we had not packed what would not be enough for everybody in this village. My heart shattered as I carried the items up the gravel path into this small compact room in the middle of this tent village. This room currently held about 200 people. I could not break down now, I told myself; I needed to keep it together.

We got into the room and I can see so many beautiful smiling faces eager to welcome us. I felt fortunate that they were giving us the opportunity to be in their company. As I headed to the back room of this small compact room, I decided that we should halve the 100 sandwiches as well as halve the amount of chips in order to distribute some to everybody present. I can feel myself getting nervous as we started to distribute the food. I felt hopeless and frustrated at the same time because we did not pack as much as we could for the people we came to help. I hung out in the back room as I help distribute piles of sandwiches and baggies of chips. I felt like I could have done more; we could have done more. I realized that we should have been more prepared.


As we finished distributing the last items, all I could think about is: what can we do different for next time, how can we better prepare. I don’t know the answers to these questions but I feel like next time we should over pack and expect to be in the company of more people. After we collected our bags, we headed toward the gravel path back to the tap tap. Many children walked up to me as I headed out asking for more food.  As I held back my tears, I responded with a no and jumped into the tap tap. A crowd of about 60 people followed us back to the vehicle asking us for the soccer ball they had seen from a distance in the back of the tap tap. I knew we did not have enough to go around and felt a rush of emotions, overwhelmed, angry, frustrated and saddened at the turn of events that I could not give anymore; that we did not have more to give. For me, this is an experience that will be left as an indelible imprint that I will carry home with me.

Silent Lightning

The past few nights, the sky has been filled with bright streaks of light. It’s like a quick window of heaven before it disappears. But still no crash or rumble can be heard. It’s crazy how the night sky seems hopeful and strong over a land that is in so much suffering. Today was like the silent lightning with all the exciting activities and love that was shown.

We got the opportunity to join the kids in church service this morning. The whole community seemed to transform as the kids sang and danced to loud worship music. Each kid had their Sunday best and smile on. Pastor Bob gave all of us something to think about, something we all struggle with every moment of everyday, idols. It was a wonderful morning with the children. Most of us were blessed to spend a whole day at New Life again. It has been so fun to be able to invest in the kids’ lives and hang out with all of them.  The afternoon was definitely a party. The kids swarmed the soccer field as we put on several soccer scrimmages and crafts. Everyone one seemed to be involved in one way or another. It was so exciting to just stand back and watch the joy the game gives the kids. It was great to see all of it unite in the mist of chaos. Near dinner, we got a surprise visit from a second orphanage who challenged New Life to a soccer game. Of course no one could pass up the opportunity, so we came out fighting and defended the home field.

My favorite moment of the day was during the first game against the orphanage. Everyone was crowded around the field watching and cheering intensely. In the background of all the excitement, there were five little boys banging wildly on the wooden table singing. They were singing lines of different praise songs. It was like a little band for Jesus. I knew at that moment Jesus had to be smiling because I could not take my eyes off of them. There was so much love and hope in all the banging and singing coming from such small bodies.

Today blew me away just like every day has. I am so excited for tomorrow because we are breaking out of these beautiful walls and serving more children and families! Jesus is so good.

Submitted by Lizzie Bergquist

It's All New Again

The following is written by one of our new short term missionaries. It's always inspiring to see the world through fresh eyes. May you be blessed by Marissa's view.

Today is the end of my first day in Haiti. I feel like words can’t even do justice to the experience I have had so far. The drive from the airport to New Life was a lot to take in. I have seen pictures and heard stories but seeing it in person finally made it real. We drove through an alley way and passed a little girl around the age of four or five sitting on a doorstep all by herself. When she saw us through the back window of the truck she got a big smile on her face and waved to us…and I looked back again at a point down the road where she was barely visible and she was still waving. I wanted so back to jump out of the truck carry her to New Life with me.  I think the image of that sweet little girl waving will stick with me for a long time. The moment I got to New Life, I immediately felt like I was at home. The love I feel for each one of the kids here is overwhelming, and it’s only been one day. We played soccer earlier today and a little boy went flying by me dribbling the ball, I watch him take a shot on goal and then realized he only had one leg. He had a crutch under the opposite arm and was able to play. I was amazed. I also spent a lot of time with the handicapped children, and was touched by the big smile that would come across their faces with just a hug or a touch, or a ride down the sidewalk in their wheelchair. It is so easy to see God working here, and it is so easy to give away his love. I was able to meet the girl that I sponsor, and the girl who my mom sponsors last night and gave them each a little cross necklace, then haven’t taken them off since. I am so grateful that I got the chance to meet each of those girls, and hope to continue my relationship with them. Tonight when we were doing worship songs with the kids, I had a little girl sitting on my lap and we were both singing. At that point, I got completely overwhelmed and couldn’t keep a few tears from falling. I am so thankful I have been given this opportunity and I knew at that moment that this is right where God wants me to be.  I am so excited to see what He has in store for me the rest of the week!