Reflections on the First PCOR Haiti Work Trip

The first Haiti work trip from the Presbyterian Church of the Roses was a true blessing for all! Eight people from the Church of the Roses and one from Knox Presbyterian Church came back with a greater sense of the Holy Spirit’s amazing grace and new friends as a result of our work with two children’s homes outside of Port au Prince in the region of Ganthier. We left on March 7^th and returned on the 14^th in good shape. 

Our team consisted of: Pastor Cindy Alloway and her daughter, Kathryn Culver (co-leaders), Pastor Sue Fleenor, David Hansen, Mickey and Don Marshall, Chris and Liz Rhodes, and Brian Smith. In the Hope House home we created an aquaponic garden where they will grow many vegetables to feed the 40+ children they have taken in after the earthquake.  (below see the big tank holding the fish with a blue filter tank and piping that flows the water beneath floating plants in long pools that are located outside the photo).

At the CAD home where there are 90+ children, we planted 72 Moringa trees and taught the children about the precious resource trees are for them and for the world. The moringa tree is edible and contains all the nutrients one needs in a diet. Moringa grows well in arid regions and it is even rich in protein. The children helped us plant the seeds and put chicken-wire fencing around each one to protect them from the goats. We had a creole translator read to the children a Shel Silverstein book, The Giving Tree, to help them understand the precious value of trees.

(illustration from: http://miracletrees.org/moringa_urban_grow.html#growmoringa)

We want to thank everyone who donated to help make this trip possible. The children were so grateful for the backpacks and school supplies! We hope to return again to see how the trees and the children have grown! God calls us to use our many blessings to bless others. The people of Haiti blessed us far beyond what we were able to give to them. They trusted us with their love and took extra special care of our whole team as we worked, prayed, and worshiped with them at the Kwa Kok outdoor church.

God is good! And we learned that many of the children have Psalm 46 memorized to assure them of God’s care for each one of them. We suggest all of us do likewise and memorize the words of this Psalm so we never forget that God is with us no matter how difficult our lives may be. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Bondye beni nou,”

which means, “God Bless You!” in Haitian Creole.

Sharing my Haiti Devotional Guide by Pastor Cindy

Medical Mission Trip - May 3-10^th 2012

This is why we go….

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you do for one of the least of these, you do for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Suggestions for using this devotional:

1.     Make time every day to read through this in the morning and ponder how the scriptures relate to your work throughout the day.

2.     Take time to let the words of God speak to you through these words in print, through reading the whole chapter where these verses are from, and through listening to God’s spirit speaking to you in silent prayer.

3.     Each evening, jot down a few thoughts about something you learned, a person you met, someone you want to remember and pray for at home.

MAY THIS DEVOTIONAL BE A BLESSING  FOR YOU AS YOU SEEK TO SERVE, HEAL, AND BRING HOPE TO THOSE IN NEED….

Here is a prayer of blessing to ponder as you begin your work in Haiti:

May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships so that you may seek truth boldly and love deeply within your heart.

May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really CAN make a difference in this world (Haiti), so that you are able, with God’s grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.

And the blessing of God the Supreme Majesty and our Creator, Jesus Christ the Incarnate Word who is our brother and Savior, and the Holy Spirit, our Advocate and Guide, be with you and remain with you, this day and forever more. Amen

The team who read this devotional daily.

Day One:

Deuteronomy 31:8   The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; he will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

Philippians 4:6 Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

What feelings do you have starting out this trip? Such a beautiful country from the air! The closer to the ground we get the more we can see the tent cities and the impoverished way of striving to survive. Write down at least 3 things you are pondering today. Take note of names of all you will be living with this week.  1. Excited! 2. Feels weird to get upgraded to first class when going on a mission trip to Haiti. 3. Hoping my traveling companion, church member, Yoga instructor, Susan, has a good trip since she is trusting me in this!

Your first day is full of excitement and exhaustion both emotionally and physically. May you rest well this evening and ponder this scripture assurance to give you strength and peace for tomorrow.

Joshua 1:9   Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Loving God, we thank you for our safe travels this day. May I be a blessing to all I meet and may our brothers and sisters in Haiti sense your love through me. Hear my prayer requests this day: for the people we are about to meet at the medical clinics. …………….. Let me listen to your message for me as I pray: trust in me. Be still, be at peace. Amen

Day Two:

Psalm 34:1  I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.

Now that you are settled in your new home for the week, what have you learned about Haitian people already? They make wonderful chicken, beans, & rice, the fruit is amazing! And they have beautiful smiles! Our guides/shepherds are taking great care of us. Riding in a TapTap is fun! This country is struggling to deal with an overwhelming problem of poverty and lack of basic needs being met. Yet, there is much hope and the people we meet are so grateful we have come to see them and their beautiful country. They deserve much respect for their strength and for their hospitality to strangers.

What are your goals for this week besides learning cross-cultural healthcare skills? Learning all I can about the differences and similarities between Haiti people  and the Dominicans that I know so well from previous trips.

Ponder the following verses and consider the importance of keeping your focus on how Jesus would respond to all you meet -- including your house-mates.

Psalm 145:18,19  You, LORD, are near to all who call upon you, to all who call upon you in truth. You satisfy the desire of those who fear you; you hear their cry and save them.

My faith helped me today when: I was hot and tired and wanted the last patient to come through the clinic faster. Prayed that we can see all who showed up and we did.

I will always remember: The little boy,  I gave my FFP visor to so he would keep the scalp bandages in place.

Dear God, keep my spirits up as we deal with the heat and pressures of helping those who have little or no access to healthcare. Help me understand the desperate situations I see and seek to make a difference however I am able. Remind me that a smile and loving attention goes a long way in giving hope. Help me to pray when I need your strength to endure. Amen

Journal notes: Thankful for healthcare in the US and for a place to sleep that doesn't have chickens and dogs making noises all night long. There is something we miss in the US when we no longer live our lives outdoors  simply being with people all day, and spending time in a village where they all know each other.

Day Three

Jeremiah 32:41  I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in the land with all my heart and soul.

God created each of us to feel “good” when we help others. It is a blessing to be a blessing and physiologically the brain and circulation are improved by helping others. How did you feel today after giving of yourself? Thankful to be on the giving end. It takes great humility to be on the receiving end. What would you like to remember about this day? Worship under a "Tree of Life" felt closer to God and each other. Visited a hand pumping water well like used in the olden times in the US. They are so thankful to have clean water! We take it for granted. What are you thankful for? The sermon about "Self-care: love your neighbor as yourself." Who that you have met and on your team do you want to lift up to God in prayer? All who are shepherding us. Today we went into downtown Port au Prince and they were very careful to stay close to us. But no problems. We even bought some handmade keepsakes from Haiti at a market.

Romans 5:1   Now that we have been put right with God through faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Where did you find peace for your soul today? When we worshipped under the tree. Looking up into its gorgeous branches while listening to the singing of the people was heavenly! Did others help you with this? Yes, our Pastor Valentin, his wife and kids and  the whole community of Kwa Kok.

Almighty God, help us to focus on what we can do and not be overwhelmed by the great need here that seems impossible to heal. Give me good hope that you are working through me in obvious and mysterious ways. Help me to trust that I am where I am supposed to be doing your work to bring grace and love to all. Help me love as you love us. Amen

Journal notes: It is sad to see the ruins from the earthquake two years later still crumbling down....

Day Four

Romans 8:37  No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!

By this time on the trip you may be feeling tired of being in a group. If you live alone and typically can control your environment and schedule this kind of trip can be especially hard. How do you cope with the hardships of mission work? By now I am sleeping well because I am used to the bed and the sounds. Having less water in the shower makes showering take longer. But it reminds us how precious water to wash with is! Looking for things to be thankful for.....Not hard to find!

How do you deal with the temptations to judge others and devalue personal relationships when you are tired? Go away from the group for a little quiet time.

How does a focus on the way Jesus coped with stress help you cope? Yes, he prayed and had no fear. What de-stressing method do you use? Prayer, yoga, journaling, meditation, talking with a friend? All of the above....

Psalm 32:6  So all your loyal people should pray to you in times of need; when a great flood of trouble comes rushing in, it will not reach them.

Everlasting Creator and Sustainer, help me cope with the fatigue that is setting in. Make me an instrument of your peace and strengthen my ability to be empathic towards others. Give me your comfort when I am sad, give me your wisdom when I am discerning the right decision to make and give me your peace that surpasses all understanding even in the midst of chaos. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen

Journal Notes: Learning some Creole! Bondje beni ou means God Bless you! Assisted a nurse at the Haitian Christian Mission Bandage up an accident victim who had a huge gash in his forehead. I admire this nurse very much and her ability to care for whatever comes into the clinic with no anxiety about it. Nurse Genines was so brave and peaceful while stitching up a terrible wound. She and I also worked together to help a young woman journalist from the US who came in with a concussion after being in a car accident.

Day Five

Ephesians 5:8   You yourselves used to be in the darkness, but since you have become the Lord's people, you are in the light. So you must live like people who belong to the light.

The trip is coming to a close very soon. Before you know it you will be saying your goodbyes! What do you want to say or do for your new friends before you leave them? How do you want them to remember you? How will you remember them?

How have you been changed? Found I have an affinity for Haiti. I love the people and the countryside beauty.  What new understanding or “light” has been shown to you or on you that has helped you serve well during this time in Haiti? I have come to have more hope in human resilience after seeing the women carry so much weight on their heads and necks and the general perseverance of the people is so admirable! They show you how people can survive with very few resources and still have joy and care for others.

Loving Lord, you are the way, the truth, and the life. Thank you for shepherding us on our trip; for sustaining us and comforting us as we seek to be your hands and hearts of love. Show me how to use these remaining days to shine your light of care and love upon those most in need. Teach me what I am still to learn while I am here among your children in Haiti. Enlighten my mind to ways I may begin to share this experience when I return to the US. May I be an inspiration so others will care and want to help here in the future. With a heart full of thanks and praise, Amen.

Journal notes: I am so thankful I trusted the Spirit's lead to come to Haiti and to bring my friend Susan to teach Yoga to the graduate nurses as a self-care method - and to teach the patients in our medical clinics while they waited to be seen. All has been a true blessing and it has all gone very well!

Day Six
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." —John 10:10

The work of a nurse often brings holistic life in a way that no other profession is able. We are taught to look at the whole person, not just their disease. Nurses are skilled at enhancing the body, mind, and spiritual functioning of their patients. Psychological/spiritual healing and physical healing happen in concert with one another. How have you observed the power of your gifts and talents for healing at work here in Haiti? Where did you (by the grace of God) make a difference in another’s life?

How have you been changed/healed, made more whole, as a result of coming on this trip? I can see that I too have the resilience to go on mission trips to Haiti and it can be safe and inspiring at the same time! I will be back and in the meantime I have many new friends to pray for and remember.

             "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." — Ephesians 2:8,9

Eternal and Loving God, our rock and our salvation. We thank you for all we have experienced together and individually here in Haiti. We thank you for the wonderful family of Valentin who took such good care of us this past week. We thank you for the leadership of Carrie and all who shepherded this flock. And we thank you for the friendships we have made and the memorable times we have shared together. May I say my farewells in a way that honors my new friends with a sense of hope and joy.  Give me the words that express my heartfelt thanks and love. According to your will, bring me back to this place or elsewhere so that I can continue serving those in need with the additional skills I have attained during this trip. Amen

Journal notes: Leaving for the US today because I have to go back to finish some papers for my Doctorate in Ministry in Science and Theology. I can share this experience on my blog.

Day Seven

2^nd Corinthians 9: 12-15: "This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, people will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift!"

Thanks be to God for you and for your willing spirit and loving soul. May you feel God’s grace surround you and may the angels carry you home safely as they sing, “Well done good and faithful servant!”

I feel blessed to have met some of the Haitian people who have survived many more challenges than my life will ever have to deal with. I am so soft and lazy compared to the people of Haiti who possess much courage as they tackle the challenges of each new day. We were One when we smiled at one another, and in church we held hands and sang together as old friends do. I am glad to have had this chance to meet more of our global family and honored to serve them with the few skills I brought with me.

Why I am inspired to go to Haiti on a medical mission trip…..

(I was asked by another blog to write about why I am inspired to go to Haiti. Here is my article.)

Once I held little scrawny Alberto in my arms, I could never forget him. He was a ten month old baby boy wearing just a raggedy red t-shirt. I was in love the minute he smiled up at me with his big brown eyes. After his brother let me hold him for about 30 minutes, Alberto tried to hold onto my neck when it was time for us to depart. It broke my heart when he kept reaching for me as his brother carried him home while my team returned to our transportation to take us to our mission team housing at the end of that first day. 

I met little Alberto in a bateye called Algodon in the Dominican Republic while on a mission trip with the Foundation for Peace. (See: www.foundationforpeace.org) Our team came from the US to work in partnership with their local church, and to build a clean water system for the whole community. The bateyes are a village of shacks created to house the Haitian migrant workers who are willing to work in the Dominican Republic sugar cane plantations. There are rats and snakes in these sugar cane fields and the work is extremely difficult for very low pay.

Alberto was being cared for by his six year old brother because his parents worked in the sugar cane field from sunrise to sunset. Most of the workers we met had no gloves or shoes, so they suffered much while doing this type of slave-like labor cutting down sugar cane by hand with machetes.

After a week of working together with their local church and making many friends the water was flowing through the filtering system. There was great celebration when there was clean water for all. These people had been barely surviving on the stagnant water in the irrigation canals. Now, instead of water that was brown and green with many contaminants, they had clean pure tasting water. The people told us that first day that they didn’t know water could look so clear!

I fell in love with little Alberto and his family and friends that week a few years ago. I continue to feel the nudging of the Holy Spirit to seek more ways to share the blessings and talents I have received during my comfortable life in the US.

We are all members of one global family and I look forward to meeting more of my global family in Haiti. I will be traveling with student nurses from the University of Pennsylvania under the leadership of their professor, Carrie Steele. I offered to help shepherd this group of student nurses as they work in a health clinic providing free healthcare to new mothers and babies in a town called Fond Parisien outside of Port au Prince. I am a psychiatric nurse therapist and a Presbyterian pastor so I will help to guide the students and provide healthcare teaching and pastoral counseling. A friend from church (see www.pcmorristown.org), Susan Perry, a Yoga Master, has offered to join us to teach Yoga.  She plans to teach the new Haitian mothers simple Yoga techniques to benefit their health and will help the student nurses learn Yoga to de-stress after working all day in the clinic. Please keep us all in your prayers! Our team will be in Haiti from May 3-10^th.