Day 6

Our final day has come to an end. This morning we made one last trip up the mountain to say goodbye to our brothers and sisters in Chadarac before returning to the New Life Orphanage in Port-au-Prince. Thank you all for your support and prayers. We look forward to sharing our incredible experience with you!

Day 5

What a full day! Our first stop was the coffee nursery where we weeded a thousand + saplings. Since we made such quick work of it we decided to go to the top of the mountain. It was market day in Guayavier. Fascinating experience! We then went back to Chadarac and spent the afternoon playing with the children. We started with a couple of dozen kids until Robert walked around with music blaring from his portable speakers. He was like the pied piper! Be sure you check out the video's below for a taste of today's activities.

Day 4

The team is well. Our primary focus today was working alongside the men of Chadirac to fill a huge hole near the water project.  It was originally dug to house the cistern, but the plan changed as it often does in Haiti! We also had an opportunity to begin a photo directory of the residents with names, faces so we can pray for them as a church by name in the future. On breaks the team amused the children with games, songs and their mad athletic skills (See Gene below). The relational bridge is being crossed, each day we make progress moving deeper intot the hearts of the people. Today we laughed together, sweated together, played together and worked together. It was a good day! 



Day 3

 After a heavy rain last night we delayed our trip to Chadirac by about an hour to allow for the ground (mud) to dry a bit. Today's hike to church was still a bit harried but everyone made it in one piece. After the service it was determined it was too muddy for home visits so we came back to the hotel for a little heat and relaxation.





Day 2

Day two took us up the mountain to reunite with the people of Chadirac. The leadership in the community welcomed us warmly and the trust level had clearly risen since our last visit. Phase 1 of the clean water project was complete demostrating tangible progress in the partnership. It is so exciting to see a plan come together! Especially a plan that brings life and hope to a community! Our time with the children was special today as we reunited with many friends from last year. Our final stop after leaving the mountain was Frankie's (our interpreter) house in St. Marc. He operates an orphanage out of his home and feeds 40 children each day. All are well on the team ready to worship with the community bright and early in the morning!

Day 1

It's 5am Friday the 13th and we are off to the airport. We arrive in Port-au-Prince to a mildly chaotic airport then spot our dear friend, interpreter and guide Frankie. We spend our first night at the New Life guest house and orphanage where we spent time with the children and babies. What a wonderful experience for all of us!

Final Day on the Ground

Today was our final day on the ground in Chadirac. The team got an early start this morning to get our work in before Emily brought the rains.  We moved coffee plants from the nursery and planted them throughout the community. The men of Chadirac dug the holes and the children lined up to help us carry the plants. We were told by the elders of the community that we were a very special group and it was a symbolic day for the community. Today was the first day that coffee seedlings had been moved from the nursery to be planted in the community. Good stuff and a wonderful way to close our trip and bid our new friends farewell until we return again.

We came off the mountain, drove an hour and a half to Port au Prince, closed our eyes and trusted Philip, our driver, to get us where we needed to be.  The road rules appear to be nonexistent, making the drive through the city quite an adventure.  We stopped at a restaurant in Port au Prince and decided to experience the “local cuisine”, pizza and burgers…go figure!

The team is resting, decompressing and playing cards now at the New Life Guest House/Orphanage. The storm is moving inland tonight as the winds pick up. As of now our flight tomorrow has not been affected.  Looking forward to seeing you all!  Blessings from the Tapestry Team!

Day 5

We arrived in Chadirac this morning to a gentle breeze and cloudy skies. The break from the heat was welcomed by all. We worked in the coffee nursery the first part of the day, removing weeds and moss from the seedlings.  We then walked to our third church of the week and the children gathered once again to spend the day with us. Gene told a stirring rendition of the Abraham and Issaac story, finishing with the reminder that God would provide for them as they trusted Him. Amy did an excellent job of organizing an educational time for the kids.  We broke into four different stations, each with a different educational focus to help the children learn basic English words as requested by the community leaders. We used flash cards for animals, colors and numbers in the groups while Jeff continued to help the kids weave their crosses as a craft.  The children were hungry for knowledge, attentive and responsive to each team member.  90% of the children of Chadirac do not have access to even the most basic education.  Their desire for it was evident today. Amy and Jennifer then taught them to sing Jesus Loves Me in English and they sang their hearts out for us! Then it was off to the "courtyard" for a quick lesson in the Chicken Dance and the Macarena. Honestly, I've never seen Teresa move like that! The kids had a blast and laughed their heads off at the lack of rhythm among the guys on the team with the exception of Jake. Diane and Jennifer continued to love on the kids and deepen relationships already formed.  Tom led the way again today, keeping track of Tropical Storm Emily coming our way tomorrow.  It appears from the latest forecast that the storm should not effect our departure on Thursday.  Continue to pray for us as the rains come and spend our final morning with the people of Chadirac.  Grace and peace to you all and blessings from the Tapestry Team.

Day 4 Photo's

Day 4 Church in the Woods

The team is healthy and well in every way. Today's project was to assist a local church in Chadirac to expand their facility. We began the day's journey with a beautiful, but slippery, 30 minute hike to the church. Upon arrival the team divided; one group to carry rocks for the foundation and another to spend time with the children. Gene received the "Barney Rubble Award" for carrying the largest rock while Jake, Tom and Jeff made the most roundtrips. It was extremely hot today so cudos to the team for standing up under the sun. We definitely got a workout today. We had over 100 children come to the church today to be with us! Many adults and children worked alongside us.

The ladies broke out the nail polish today and created a spa for the girls in the church. They loved it! Tom, Caleb and Diane each told awesome bible stories to the kids...Jonah and whale, David and Goliath, Daniel in the Lions Den. They told them how much God loves them and cares for every detail of their lives. Amy broke out the parachute game and had a big time with the kids in front of the church. The children sang for us before we left and followed after us the entire hike out, holding our hands and helping us up the hills and through the mud. Another God day in Chadirac! Keep praying as we press on! Blessings to all! A bientot!

Day 4 - Hike to Service Project

Day 3 - Chadirac Church Service and Coffee Nursery

Bonswa! Day three is under our belt and it was quite day! The team is well and the day could not have gone better. We made huge relational strides in the community. We worshipped this morning with the people of Chadirac and enjoyed our time in the church. We continued to make home visits to introduce ourselves and spend time with the people.  They are a beautiful and gracious people welcoming us into their lives and teaching us how they live.  We thrashed beans, learned to wash clothes by hand and much about the crops they grow in the community.  Amy pulled out the big bag of tricks and they were a huge hit with the kids and adults...footballs, frisbees, paddle ball, etc.  Huge fun and efffective at bridging the gap.  Jeff was a magnet for the children teaching them to braid laniard crosses.  Caleb's ball in the cup game wash a smashing hit and Jake came alive when he ran into some kids who spoke spanish.  Teresa, Jennifer, Diane and Amy washed clothes for a family and held the most precious babies on earth all afternoon. Gene and I got well aquainted in jump seat of the SUV all day.  The entire team were the hands and feet of Jesus today as they encouraged and loved on the people of Chadirac.  It was a beautiful thing to watch!

We left the community midday and came off the mountain to one of our guide's homes (Bernard).  He is an agronomist who supervises the coffee nursery and production.  His wife prepared a wonderful lunch of Haitian cuisine for us and we visited with his family before returning to the hotel.  It was a long, hot, productive day! God was present every step of the way.  Our team is amazing; a microcasm of the Body of Christ, using different gifts to accomplish God's purpose and encouraging one another every step of the way! We're off to bed to do it again tomorrow.  Blessings to all!

Days 1 and 2

Greetings to all our loved ones and all who are supporting and praying for the team.  We arrived safely in Port au Prince yesterday and it has been a whirlwind of sights, sounds and moving experiences these last 24 hours.  We spent last night at the New Life Guest House in Port au Prince. After a wonderful dinner we spent the evening with the children in the orphanage there.  The experience was beyond words. Many of the children were handicapped and all had suffered great loss.  There are 130 children there of every age. They were extremely affectionate and just loved having us with them. They sang praise songs with a Spirit we've never experienced before...authentic and thankful for the God who loves and cares for them.  We will return to New Life on our final night to see them again. They gave to us so much more than we could have ever given to them.

This morning we drove two hours to our hotel in St. Marc and immediately departed for Chadirac, our focal community.  We were given a tour of the coffee nursery and spent time getting to know the people of the community.  Chadirac is a remote mountain community, the views are stunning and the land beautiful.  Our afternoon was spent with several families and leaders in the community making introductions and earning their trust.  They welcomed us into their homes and were genuinely receptive. We learned much about the people we hope to work alongside in the years to come. We definitely need to learn more Creole! The communication gap is wide but Jesus has narrowed the gap considerably! We have a great translator, Franky and when he is not around we depend on Jeff Davis to "wing" it and get us through. We are at the hotel this evening about to eat dinner.  The power throughout Haiti is on and off intermittently as is the air conditioning.  It is very hot! Everyone is well physically, emotionally and spiritually. The team sends their love!  You're prayers sustain us as we find ourselves in places and situations well beyond our comfort zone.  We are safe and trusting in the Lord to go before us with each step.

Mission Team Youth Members

The two teen members of the Haiti mission team, Caleb & Jake, are off to Bigstuf camp today!

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Check back often for updates and photo's of our team's mission trip to Haiti.