This blog is a communication vehicle for Tapestry Community Church's field mission teams in Haiti. Tapestry is partnering with the 410 Bridge to serve the community of Chadirac. Our 2012 team will be on the ground in Port-au-Prince July 13th. Your support of the team to this point is greatly appreciated and your continued prayer support is invaluable. Blessings!

Phil Rikard
Pastor
Tapestry Community Church

Saturday, July 30

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.

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