Safe Arrival!

The team has arrived safely in Haiti! All of our luggage arrived! Praise God!

After an hour and a half long van ride up the winding mountain road plugged with traffic we made it to the Thirst No More House. It is a beautiful house but it is extremely packed. There are 38 people staying in the house, including two other teams, one from Virginia and one from Arkansas. It’s hard to walk around in the bedrooms without stepping on someone’s bed or luggage.

We had a delicious dinner of chili and then we had an orientation. There’s no water left at the house, so we were all promised that we’d be first in line for showers tomorrow. We received our assignments for tomorrow; we will be working in three teams. The medical team includes Kelley and Amanda. The construction team includes Jean, Greg, Russell, and Sage. Lastly, Cathy, Tonya, and Norlande will be visiting an orphanage where they provide lunch for the children. They will also be giving the children a bath, possibly the first one they have received in their lifetime! Rolande is in high demand with her fellow Haitians and will be assisting Trinity Broadcasting Network secure the release of houses from the government.

After our orientation, we have unloaded our ten trunks full of donations for the orphanage and food for our team. The first team departs at 6:30 a.m. and all teams will have left by 8:00 a.m. We will all be tired and sticky tonight, but we’re praising God for bringing us here to be used by Him!

Thank you for your prayers. Please pray that the water holds out for the many volunteers here. Pray also that the Lord prepares our hearts for what we will encounter on our various missions tomorrow.

More Pre-Trip Thoughts

When Norlande left Haiti to move to the US, she never wanted to forget her beautiful country. After the earthquake hit, she had cousins living with her family here. She was grateful for the opportunity to help them. Upon hearing of this opportunity to go to Haiti she felt such a surge in her spirit she knew it was God pushing her. She is excited as this will be her first mission trip! Norlande looks forward to helping her fellow Haitians, especially the children. She is sure God will use her and that she will grow as a Christian. Norlande's mother Rolande will also be traveling with the team.

Pre-Trip Thoughts

Today I picked up a diabetic blood sugar testing machine for someone in Haiti. I packed 3 pairs of tennis shoes for 3 little boys who live in Haiti and who will be attending school in the fall. Breath of Life Clinic here in Katy donated many medical supplies and as I packed two large black trunks it sure seemed like a lot of band aids and baby formula. I am fully prepared to arrive in Haiti and feel like I should have brought so much more. How do you pack for a trip like this?

Darby and I passed out paper bags in my neighborhood this week with a note asking kids to share their clothes and shoes with kids in Haiti. I was blessed when I returned home today and saw that 5 paper bags were already on my front porch.

What a gift that 3 of our GF teammates are from Haiti! Almost a 1/3 of our team are Haitians. I believe they will be true leaders on our trip. Hopefully we will be able to meet their families while we are in the Port-au-Prince area. I pray we will.

I’m honored to be leading this team from Grace Fellowship. Lord, use us for your glory. Help our team to walk in unity. Help us to hear and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. All for your glory.

Kelley Kerr

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“Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land” Proverbs 25:25

When we think about missions we often think about the excitement of traveling into a distant land. It is far away and unfamiliar to us. It is new experiences…the people, language, culture, sights, smells, food…the list can go on and on. But for the many orphans we will visit, it is the US that is the distant land! In their minds, it is unbelievable that people who live in the distant land of America would come all the way to Haiti just to visit them! Many times they do not understand their precious value to God the Father and His love for them. In some cases, they are seen as cursed or unlucky, a problem more than an opportunity, and a burden instead of a joy. These are the things the enemy wants orphans to believe. Many have that seed of doubt planted in their minds that they are without value to anyone. But, when you visit them in person…that starts to change! When you tell a child you are there just to visit them, to become their friend and learn more about them, it means the world to them! It is like “cold water to a weary soul.” We can go to Haiti and be that water. God can use our lives to bring comfort and love into the life on an orphan. Please come with us. Join this team. Be a part of this adventure. Commit to praying for us and the children we will encounter every day while in Haiti!

Tonya Mowrer

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With only 3 days before we depart, I am filled with excitement. What an extra blessing GOD has given me to be able to share this awesome trip with Sage. Having spent most of the day driving in Austin yesterday, I was channel surfing on the radio and on five separate occasions, I stumbled on a Christian radio program all speaking on the Book of Revelations. The common theme among the programs, was The Second Coming and will you be ready for His return. The timing of this trip to Haiti and hearing these programs confirmed what God had been speaking to me. Get off the sidelines and get into the game before it’s too late. Make a difference today. I thank GOD for this awesome opportunity.

Russ Reekwald

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