We're Back...

Our team arrived back in the U.S. on Saturday...but the U.S. was one thing, all the way home was another. After a very long travel delay on Saturday that resulted in sitting for three hours on the tarmac in Dallas and us missing our flight from LA to Sacramento that night, we got a few precious hours of sleep at a hotel near LAX (and the first "real" showers in a week) before waking up early Sunday for our flight back to Sacramento.

Our team at LAX around midnight, waiting to get re-booked for the next day and to get to a hotel for what was left of the night - Emily was D.O.N.E.

Most of us went directly to church after we landed...we were a little out of it and some of us were wearing less-than-clean clothes, but it was great to see people and to share a little bit about the trip.  Over the past couple of days we have all been recuperating and working on processing through all that we saw, learned and experienced.

This Sunday at church we'll be sharing even more about the trip, complete with photos, video and stories from all of our team members. We would love to have you come join us - 10:30am at Discovery High School located 3401 Fong Ranch Road. Sacramento, CA 95834.

Updated: A House for Ismel

Editor's Note/Update: After we returned to the U.S. the Child Hope team in Haiti sent us a few more photos of Ismel's house, which is now basically done! Here are a couple of photos...thank you again to those of you who made this home for Ismel a reality by supporting our trip!

The house from the front - it is significant that the house is made of wood, which will withstand a future earthquake much better than the cement and cinder block homes so prevalent in Haiti.

The house from the side.

Original Post Below: 

Ismel is getting a house thanks to so many of you who invested your resources in this team and into Haiti.

Chuck on his way to the lumber yard to pick up the house (the walls, etc. are pre- cut and partly assembled).

In addition to building a home for Ismel, this building project also is putting a group of Haitian men to work for several days - a blessing in a country where a job is difficult to come by.

Haitian workers loading the house onto the truck for transport to the building site. 

Ismel has been living in a USAID tent along with three other family members since the earthquake struck more than 17 months ago. In the video below, Pastor Dave talks with Ismel while she sits under the roof of her current home about the house being built for her and about the many people who came together to make building it a reality.

After visiting with Ismel some members of our team helped the laborers out with the construction and leveling of the area.

Erick and Dave shoveling as part of the effort to level the area for the house. Eventually concrete will be poured to make the floor of the house.

 

Rob, Chuck, Andrea, Erick and Dave helping to hold up the walls while they are nailed together.

Before we left the site three of the four walls of the house had been joined, while much work remains to be done over the next few days, the project is well underway.

Our entire team poses for a photo with Ismel.

Before we left, we prayed with Ismel and asked God to bless her, her family and her new home. She was so grateful to us - and everyone who donated to make this possible - she thanked us over and over again. It was clear just from meeting Ismel for a few minutes that she is a loving and humble woman and that the simple act of giving her a new home meant much to her and her family.

Ismel thanks our team.

We also want to thank all of you who have supported this trip with prayer and financial resources. From the building of Ismel's home, to supplies for Maison de Lumiere, to getting our entire team to Haiti safely, none of this would have been possible with out you. When you hear and see Ismel thanking us, she is is thanking you too. 

More blog posts coming later today, now it's off to the Feeding Program.

The Ravine

Over the past couple of days our team has had the opportunity to venture beyond the walls of the orphanage and out into parts of the surrounding community where we have seen extreme poverty. It has been very eye opening and heartbreaking to witness this firsthand.

Yesterday a couple of members of our team had the opportunity to go visit the area near Maison de Lumiere called "The Ravine." Many of the kids in the Feeding Program live in this neighborhood.

On the way over to the Ravine we stopped by a little store to buy some candy and crackers to hand out to the kids and their parents.

The store we stopped at on the way - Ivans is picking out the candy.

When we arrived at the Ravine a bunch of the kids were playing in the dirt, using mud and sticks to build houses. At first you think this is inventive of the kids, but then when you think about it further and consider the fact that this is all these kids have to play with it is a very sobering moment. There are no toys. We have noticed that the kids all around get creative with trash, making all kinds of toys out of old bottles, string, caps, whatever they can find.

The kids building very intricate houses out of sticks and mud that they mixed up on the plate in the photo.

When we first entered the area we started to hand out candy to the kids who were so appreciative and excited. In general, we don't hand anything out to folks on the street (this is for a lot of reasons), so it was very special to be able to do this for the kids in the Ravine.

Erick handing out candy to the kids (he made a good move by asking them to line up right after this picture was taken).

After playing with the kids for a while, they led us up into the area where their houses are located. Specifically we were going to see Mona, the mom of kids who are in the Feeding Program, with whom Pastor Dave had connected with last time he was in Haiti (right after the earthquake). At that time Dave had helped the family secure a tarp because the houses you see in the picture below had all fallen and slid down the ravine as a result of the earthquake (here's a link to his blog from a few nights ago about this family). He was encouraged to see how much rebuilding had taken place since last time he visited.

The outer edge of the Ravine homes - we walked up the hill and down a narrow path to get to the entrances of the homes inside the area.

As we entered the community with a bunch of kids on our arms and all around we found ourselves on the small ally below where many of the parents were hanging out in front of their homes. The kids led us over to Mona's home which was just off the ally. 

Mona welcomed us with open arms, she was so gracious to show us her home and invite us in so we could pray with her and her kids. 

Mona and Pastor Dave in the middle, surrounded by the kids (the two little girls in white are Mona's daughters).

After we visited Mona we went over to the church in the Ravine to check out the progress on its rebuilding (it collapsed in the earthquake). 

The inside of the church which has been rebuilt and will soon have new pews.

We left the Ravine to head over to the Feeding Program and a bunch of the kids came with us - a very common occurrence in Haiti, especially since the kids who go to school (many do not because their parents do not have the means to send them) were out for Flag Day.

Pastor Dave and Dawnelle walk back to Maison de Lumiere with the kids.

Our trip to the Ravine, to some other areas and in Haiti in general has given us all a lot to think through and process. How do you best help in a situation like this? What to do long-term solutions look like? How do we partner with families and these communities to get these kids into school, fed, and clothed, while also empowering their parents and improving their economic situation? None of these questions are easily answered, and sometimes our gut responses to seeing poverty can actually be more harmful than helpful. Our entire team is working to process our emotions and thoughts about all of this and committed to seeking out a way to do something on a long-term basis to really serve and partner with these kids, their families and their community.