Many Blessings - Settling In

Well, it has almost been two weeks since Bill and I arrived in Haiti.  As usual, we have been blessed in abundance by the children, resources and more opportunities God has placed in our path.  We are settling in at New Life, Bill's "honey do" list is getting longer and longer and I served the Sunday night supper so the cooks could go home and enjoy what was left of their Sunday with their family.

God has managed to connect us up this week with Water Mission International and we were able to meet and plan out next steps for well drilling in the Pestel area  They are committed to returning with Bill to collect information with the local people of the area to determine next places for drilling.  They also believe water is available in the area and will do everything in their power to make it happen!

Last week we were also able to get food to four orphanages that New Life supports that had run out of food.  This could not have been possible without the help of all who donated for feedings.  Yesterday, a team of eight girls from New Life and three montons visited one of these orphanages to help cook, clean and do laundry for the day.  These girls were the hands and feet of Jesus.  They came back to tell us that the children there had no food before we were able to help them out.  The children were sleeping on dirty floors and some were sleeping on a piece of cardboard being used as a mattress.  Some had no clothes and most clothes that the kids were wearing were dirty.  The older girls shared their experience of the day with all the children of New Life and it was a vivid reminder to them that they need to be thanking God everyday for the blessings He has given them.

Bill and I have gotten to be the hands and feet of Jesus many times this week as well, thanks to our one and only Father!  He has had me running the guesthouse and greeting many new friends and Bill has taken charge of transportation of all vehicles here.  He has given us both a chance to spend much needed time catching up and loving on the children and allowed us time to reunited with our longtime friends Rene, Frantzy and Fedner.  Both of us and mission teams staying here have gotten a chance to do much spring cleaning, readying New Life to be fully booked, 75+, for the month of June.  What a blessing that will be!

Today ended with slip and slide time for all the kids and handicap, meeting the new mate of "Tom" our big lonely Turkey, worship led by a mission team staying with us and all the girls at New Life wishing Miriam and myself a Happy Mothers Day!  I guess we are settling in!  We ask for your continued prayers.  Many blessings on your week ahead.

Bill and Renee Plaza

Clean Water Mission--Filters Delivered

Haiti Clean Water Project

Here is an update on the water filtration systems/clean water project in the Haitian village of Macochan. 

First let me just say WOW!  What an awesome experience we have had so far this last week (and year). 

Secondly, thank you to everyone who was involved in making this vision become a reality. One of our team members, Rene Plaza, recognized a need over a year ago when traveling to this mountain village who at the time was suffering from a Cholera outbreak due to contaminated lake water--the villages only water supply. Rene recognized the problem, researched the solution, and set out on a mission to provide clean water to these people. One year later our team delivered in home water filtration systems to 155 families covering the entire village and providing a means for each family to have clean water. Praise God for His blessings, favor, and provision along the way.

Last week Sunday we arrived in Port au Prince Haiti. On Monday we left for the mountains with a large truck (Haitian tap tap), a pickup truck, and two other four wheel drive vehicles, loaded with supplies and 24 people. We drove for 11 hours over some very rocky uneven roads to arrive at our base camp (the village of Jolie Gilbert). The men slept in the church building the women in various buildings and homes. The team consisted of three doctors, five nurses, a helicopter pilot (who met us there with a chopper from Samaritan Air), and a bunch of others with various backgrounds--everyone with a loving mission heart. 

We held a medical clinic in the village of Macochon on Wednesday and my guess is that we saw everyone from the village and a few from surrounding villages as well. Malnutrition, worms, fungus, scabies, a few serious wounds, one demon possession, several pregnancies, and a few other things as well. It was good for us to meet the villagers and get a feel for the village before we delivered the water filters. 

There was a lot of preparation work done in the village many months prior to our arrival. Seven village leaders had been identified and were given information on the filtration systems and villagers were informed that we would be coming and what we trying to do for them. The village homes were each numbered in paint 1-155 so we could identify each home and each resident. A list of homes and residents was made so we could make sure each home had a filter.

On Thursday morning we drove the large truck as far as we could and began shuttling the water buckets and filters via the four wheel drive vehicles up to the village. There we matched the two 5 gallon buckets and all the appropriate component parts and divided the village people by residence/bucket number. Seven groups of 25 were trained on assembly and use of the water filtration system with the village leaders, a translator, and one of our team members doing the presentation. Sounds easy? Didn’t go quite as planned and we needed to help each family assemble their bucket system. They were appreciative of our help to get it assembled correctly. By the time the distribution and assembly was finished it was time to leave the village.

I left with a hole in my heart because I was not convinced that everyone understood what they were told. We were scheduled for a much needed medical clinic in another village the next day but we felt that a day of followup was very important, so three of us (Bill Plaza, Shawn Mazza, and I) decided that we would go back to Macochan. The vehicles were needed for the clinic so the plan was for the helicopter pilot to fly us in, drop us off, and return to the chopper launch site (mountain soccer field) in less that 12 minutes which was all of the airtime/gas he could spare and still make it back to Port au Prince with the doctors and seriously ill children. He felt this could be done in 9 minutes from start up to shut down. That night, John, the chopper pilot recalculated the air time and felt he was cutting things too close and we would need to find another way to the village. Finally our American brains kicked in and we decided we could walk! This turned out to be the best idea yet as it probably took us 20 minutes to climb the mountain that separated our base camp from the village. We knew it could be done because we had seen some of the same people at our base camp that we saw in the village--they could do it--why did we need vehicles or helicopters? Bill had found one of the village leaders at our base camp and he agreed to take us up the trail to the village. It was fairly steep in some areas, and I am old, and out of shape, but even then we made it in 20 minutes. We were amazed at how close the village was and wondered if we would ever endure the hour long vehicle ride over rocks again.

This turned out to be one of the best days for us as were able to meet one on one with the villagers in their homes and go over with them the proper use of the system. With the help of a village leader and a translator we answered any questions and made sure everyone was set up correctly. It was a very peaceful day in a very peaceful village. Villagers were going about their daily lives tending to their needs--getting water from the lake (about a 20-30 minute hike down the mountain, separating beans and grains from the chaff, drying coffee beans for sale in the market, working the “fields” with machetes and hoes, doing laundry, etc. Many smiles on peoples faces and we felt as though everyone was appreciative of our efforts. There will be follow up by other teams throughout the year to see how things progress and where we can do a better job for the next village.

It was a year long project to provide clean water to a village in need--orchestrated by God--and all honor and glory goes to Him. He inspired the heart of one woman and through her He touched the hearts of hundreds of others and provided a way to share the blessing of clean water that we take for granted every day with a village who’s lives depend on it. God is so good! 

Postcard from Hannah

Days like today give me hope.  Marissa, Jim, and I got the opportunity to go to the beach with the kids and the other American groups staying here at New Life. I was at this beach 2 1/2 years ago when I first came to Haiti. I never thought I would get to see it again. It is one of my top favorite places on earth to be, just behind Lambeau Field.  It was a day filled with laughter, squeals of delight, and lots of splashing. I also got to experience my first jellyfish sting. Unfortunately, Marissa had just gone to the bathroom so she couldn't help me out, but what a friend to offer! But even a sting couldn't ruin the day, it was too perfect. Breathtaking views, awesome food, and the best company I could have asked for.  Getting to see the pure joy on the kids' faces was priceless.

I played mom to a little girl today. I held her in the water, helped her learn to kick and swim, she would go off with her friends and then come back to check that I was still there. We sat on my towel and she went through my bag of stuff and claimed it as her own. We went looking for rocks and she sat on my lap and quietly played when she was ready for some alone time away from all of the kids in the water.  I changed her, held her while she slept, tucked her in at night. For at least one day she had a 'mom.'  Our group came to Haiti this week to be 'parents' to these kids. To try and fill in the gaps they have of being on their own. Love on them, correct them when they are wrong, pick them up when they fall, laugh with them, but most of all help them realize they are loved and worthy of love.

Today, it was mission accomplished.

A Message from Maria

It is our fourth night here in Haiti. I am already dreading the day that we leave. I had the opportunity to spend most of my days here at New Life spending more time with the children. I played soccer with Hannah, Marissa, Jeremy, Vanessa, Wisbens, Gibons, Charles, and a few rotating subs, especially for me since today I feel like I am fighting off a cold/ sinus infection. It felt great to just spend time with the children. I feel that during my last few trips, I was visiting New Life in passing. I was here but not here. I was busy trying to do so many things outside of New Life and not spending enough quality time with the children here. I feel like I learned a lot more about the children these past few days with just spending more time with them.

Today, I changed multiple diapers, got to carry Caleb and put him to bed, played with the babies making fun car noises with the toys, picked up Rosena after having a tantrum, and kissed Daftka's  ouchie on her head. I feel like these are things that often get overlooked- the reassurance after a fall, talking to the babies while changing them, cradling the babies and helping them nap, and playing and making noises with the toys to expand upon their social and play skills. So many thoughts go through my mind such as; what kinds of educational toys can I get sent over for the babies and the toddlers to expand upon their dramatic play skills, who picks them up after they fall, who carries them when they don't feel well, who tucks them into sleep, etc. Then when I start asking myself these questions, I begin to feel sad and feel like I need to come to Haiti more often so I can do those things.

I am hoping that I can come back next year in July and spend more time with the girls. I feel like my departure this time will be a lot harder to do because I had the opportunity to build stronger relationships. For my new year's goal, I am hoping to come back and spend time with the children at New Life. 

Adventures with Jim

Today I went out into the heart of Haiti with an Irishman and his friend, an American student living in Ireland.  They are both from the same church in Dublin staying with Pastor Lionel and dress up as clowns to entertain children in Haitian orphanages.  We were escorted by two Haitians, one of which attends the Academy of Music in Port Au Prince and his friend who chooses to give of his time to local charitable organizations such as "New Life".  For the Irishmen, the mission was very specific..find the "Irish Embassy", an authentic Irish pub in downtown Port Au Prince and see a few new things.  I, however, had no such direction or agenda.  I was told we were in good hands and everything would be fine.  When a Haitian tells you this, something in his eyes makes you believe it without questioning.  You have to be here to know what I mean.  The "Tap-Tap" ride was bumpy and noisy and the streets were filled with cars, motorbikes, people, wares, dogs, dirt and dust. . to imagine coming home without seeing or being in an auto accident after such an experience speaks to the incredible chaotic ballet of movement in the street.  People shouting and honking, some escalated verbal confrontations without ending in physical violence as this American would have imagined such altercations leading to back home.  We visited the Haitian Museum of History and were regaled with the terribly beautiful message of Haitian strength and endurance under the harshest and most inhumane of treatment first as imported slaves and then having to battle against political corruption through the years to be able to claim this land as their own and no one else's'.  After our informative and air-conditioned break from the hustle and bustle we made our way to the Hotel Oloffson which was constructed before the late 1800's.  There, we took in the history and beauty and had lunch. Our dining experience was rich in taste as well as conversation, the subjects of which ranged from racial inequality to debating how long Justin Bieber's fame would last.   An unplanned swim was enjoyed after dining by all of us except the driver and the Haitian musician, who seemed just as content watching us make fools of ourselves laughing and carrying on.  We saw the sign for the Irish Village which prompted us to get off the Tap-Tap but quickly found out it was quite a hike from where we disembarked.  The walk through the streets was even more exciting than the ride.  We walked by dead poultry lying in the street (which was actually for sale, not just mere road kill) and rubble piles still left over from the infamous earthquake of 2010.  People laughed and smiled as we walked by and the Irishman couldn't help to say "Joie Noel" to everyone he made eye contact with while clapping and singing between greetings.  His enthusiasm and outward expressions of joy and comfort loosened any tension I had by the feeling that one wrong move would knock something or someone over or that I myself would be knocked down.  I kept feeling the gentle hand of our Haitian friends on my shoulder as I tended to lag behind and was reminded just as gently to stay together for our safety.  We made our way to the bar, the Irishmen tried to talk the owner into letting them perform their clown routine and were politely denied.  We came, we saw, we left.  At the end of an amazing day, I am confident in the words of Elson, our Haitian friend.. it doesn't matter where we are from, we are all brothers and sisters and have to watch out for each other.  For two Haitian men to take time out of their lives, where working is the most important key to fleshly survival, and be our own personal guides for the day was truly a blessing.  They knew we wanted to see Haiti and they wanted to make sure we saw it without receiving a scratch or anything worse.  What a testimony to how our Lord has taught us to love and treat one another.  I am forever humbled and honored by my new lifelong friends and their willingness to be by our side in a foreign land with foreign culture, language and attitude.  Joie Noel!