DAY 2 Mission Trip Jan 2014

Day 2 the journey continued.

This was a very big day for our group. We needed ALL the sheets washed and ALL the clothes washed in boiling water. There were women there that did all the wash. Our group gathered all the sheets and clothing and put them in bags for the washers. Then we put vinyl mattress covers on all the beds.

By this time…the kids were done with school. We colored pictures for their sponsors back home and took lots of pictures. We also started treating for ringworm, this took some organization as we again needed to figure out dosing for each child and then the children will need to continue on medication for the next two to three weeks.  They were so happy to again get their spoon full of applesauce!

Next was a shower for each of the kids and each received their brand new red t-shirts that say, “ Jezi Renmen Nou”…which means Jesus Loves Us! The girls also got new pillow case dresses from St. John’s Lutheran Church in May City, Iowa…BIG HIT!!

Lastly we played games, the children sang BEAUTIFUL songs about Jesus…again a few tears came back.

We discovered one little girl with a very bad infection in her hand. As the children were singing, I spotted her crying and holding her hand. We started a course of antibiotics after seeing the very bad infection, put on antibiotic ointment and a gauze bandage and gave her a dose of ibuprofen. A hug and a kiss after that seemed to make things a lot better!

We are now back at our hotel and ready to eat supper.

Tomorrow will bring another busy day, Jamie and Peggy doing nursing lectures at the school of nursing and Tammy, Jessica and Casey will be doing VBS crafts and playing games.

We are loving the children, Bastian family and the beautiful view of the ocean.

DAY 1 Mission Trip Jan 2014

Day 1: We arrived in Haiti Sunday afternoon. Our whole group felt blessed to be here and that we were all here together for a greater purpose. As night fell, we drove through Port-au-Prince, where poverty filled the streets. We stopped to pray on the edge of Port-au-Prince to ask for blessings on this journey. As we drove to Jacmel, we must admit the curvy road gave us all some nausea and nervous moments. But then we saw the beautiful lights of Jacmel in the distance and grew excited to arrive in Jacmel. But it was a long journey! Our group had the benefit of coming during Carnival, which we learned is a pre-Mardi Gras type party. As we drove into the town square in Jacmel huge crowds of people dancing and running through the streets stopped our van. It was quite a sight to see and we wish we had pictures to share, but we were so fascinated by the crowds running and dancing through the streets, no one thought to grab a camera. Our guides Franz & Bobby were also amazed, and just in case, locked the van doors as our van was in the middle of a crowd. Our first day at La Concorde was a wonderful and fulfilling experience for all of us. As we pulled into the orphanage and saw the kids, tears filled our eyes. We loved meeting all of the children, who were so welcoming and glad to see us. Jamie was able to meet with Franz and mama and the local builder to come to a consensus on future building plans.

Tammy, Jessica, Casey & Peggy got a tour and got to meet quite few children along the way, who were only too happy to have Jessica & Casey carry them from building to building. The girls and boys dorms were so colorful and inviting. Tammy, Jessica and the girls spent time making bracelets while Jamie & Peggy went to the local hospital to meet with the OR charge nurse and discuss plans to meet the nursing students and present on their topics of choice. Miss LaHat was gracious and invited Jamie & Peggy to speak for 4 hours on Wednesday on heart attack, heart emergencies, and CPR.

The other big thing that happened was we treated all the children and adults for a very itchy skin condition—scabies. It was a lot of work to get all the children lined up, weigh each one, figured what they need and given them a spoon full of applesauce. Some kids needed the pill crushed, and others did not. But they were all very polite and cooperative to get the treatment

Day 1: We arrived in Haiti Sunday afternoon. Our whole group felt blessed to be here and that we were all here together for a greater purpose. As night fell, we drove through Port-au-Prince, where poverty filled the streets. We stopped to pray on the edge of Port-au-Prince to ask for blessings on this journey. As we drove to Jacmel, we must admit the curvy road gave us all some nausea and nervous moments. But then we saw the beautiful lights of Jacmel in the distance and grew excited to arrive in Jacmel. But it was a long journey! Our group had the benefit of coming during Carnival, which we learned is a pre-Mardi Gras type party. As we drove into the town square in Jacmel huge crowds of people dancing and running through the streets stopped our van. It was quite a sight to see and we wish we had pictures to share, but we were so fascinated by the crowds running and dancing through the streets, no one thought to grab a camera. Our guides Franz & Bobby were also amazed, and just in case, locked the van doors as our van was in the middle of a crowd. Our first day at La Concorde was a wonderful and fulfilling experience for all of us. As we pulled into the orphanage and saw the kids, tears filled our eyes. We loved meeting all of the children, who were so welcoming and glad to see us. Jamie was able to meet with Franz and mama and the local builder to come to a consensus on future building plans.

Tammy, Jessica, Casey & Peggy got a tour and got to meet quite few children along the way, who were only too happy to have Jessica & Casey carry them from building to building. The girls and boys dorms were so colorful and inviting. Tammy, Jessica and the girls spent time making bracelets while Jamie & Peggy went to the local hospital to meet with the OR charge nurse and discuss plans to meet the nursing students and present on their topics of choice. Miss LaHat was gracious and invited Jamie & Peggy to speak for 4 hours on Wednesday on heart attack, heart emergencies, and CPR.

The other big thing that happened was we treated all the children and adults for a very itchy skin condition—scabies. It was a lot of work to get all the children lined up, weigh each one, figured what they need and given them a spoon full of applesauce. Some kids needed the pill crushed, and others did not. But they were all very polite and cooperative to get the treatment.

Day 2 the journey continued.

This was a very big day for our group. We needed ALL the sheets washed and ALL the clothes washed in boiling water. There were women there that did all the wash. Our group gathered all the sheets and clothing and put them in bags for the washers. Then we put vinyl mattress covers on all the beds.

By this time…the kids were done with school. We colored pictures for their sponsors back home and took lots of pictures. We also started treating for ringworm, this took some organization as we again needed to figure out dosing for each child and then the children will need to continue on medication for the next two to three weeks.  They were so happy to again get their spoon full of applesauce!

Next was a shower for each of the kids and each received their brand new red t-shirts that say, “ Jezi Renmen Nou”…which means Jesus Loves Us! The girls also got new pillow case dresses from St. John’s Lutheran Church in May City, Iowa…BIG HIT!! Lastly we played games, the children sang BEAUTIFUL songs about Jesus…again a few tears came back.

We discovered one little girl with a very bad infection in her hand. As the children were singing, I spotted her crying and holding her hand. We started a course of antibiotics after seeing the very bad infection, put on antibiotic ointment and a gauze bandage and gave her a dose of ibuprofen. A hug and a kiss after that seemed to make things a lot better!

We are now back at our hotel and ready to eat supper.

Tomorrow will bring another busy day, Jamie and Peggy doing nursing lectures at the school of nursing and Tammy, Jessica and Casey will be doing VBS crafts and playing games. We are loving the children, Bastian family and the beautiful view of the ocean.

The Rest of the Story

Greetings,  I thought that since we have just been using the blog to post the exciting information from mission trips it would be good to hear about the daily work to keep the project moving forward. Not too glamorous but important.
Communication is the main focus. Communicating from Haiti to US, from Facilitator to Board, from Committees to Board, from organization to anyone who will listen!  There are phone calls, Letters, E-mails, Texts messages, Facebook, web page and of course conversation and meetings.
The logistics at times can be frustrating.  Not to mention a different language, culture and conversations with accents. But then you can take a deep breath and smile. Some how that is communicated through all types of modern day media. And it works. The good works shine even in the not glamorous work. And it keeps you going!  Journeying on with a glorious smile!

Reflections

The return to the US was uneventful except for the thoughts that are clashing in your mind. When you first arrive in Haiti you take a deep breath and quickly adapt to what is, actually every time you go this process is faster to occur. But the returning to the US seems to become more complicated. Leaving the children at the orphanage was not as difficult because the conditions of these children's lives have greatly improved. (The exception would be Lauren who fell in love with a very wonderful but malnurished 2 year old.) But the knowledge that education is necessary both for the sustainablity of La Concorde to be independent and that the future of all of the world children is education, makes you realize the work is far from done. You also realize with all the luxury of our lives, that we each have a reponsiblity to keep working.
The greatest work to be done is relationship and gratitude. The relationship of each person that is a part of this project is key. There are so many who have contributed in so many ways. There is no measure it is the whole that makes so much happen. Just as Christians learn the body has many parts, but all of its parts form one body. We move forward as one body helping another body. Empowering others to be independent and whole. The relationship and trust with our partners in country is a great gift to be cared for well.
The gratitude is the realization that the plan for each of us so greater then any of us.  So again I jump back in, work, wrestling meets, basketball practices, farm animals, 4-H, meals, college applications, friends, book clubs and all, BUT will continue to work with those clashing thoughts and work on! Looking forward to relationships in 2014!

Christmas in Haiti

The Wilkerson Family had the privilege of spending Christmas week at the LOVE Takes Root Haiti project at La Concorde Orphanage. This Christmas Journey was an amazing experience.  Not only did sixteen of our family land in the same place,the same week, but then we were able to share with our extended Haitian family the birth of Jesus.  A little different from the commercial bombardment of our US departure. The first day in Haiti was spent meeting and greeting along with all the update with new facility. The joy of hugs and hellos.  The second day was setting up all the gift bags for each child to receive something on Christmas and planning and setting up a Christmas party at La Concorde. This sounds like it would be simple BUT I thought organizing and making Christmas equal for 9 children took a lot of energy try 50 children! With the help through the heat of the day we came through. Then it was the day of the party. We showered, did hair and dressed each child in a new sweat suit donated by Ron and Nancy Quincy. Wow they looked great! A stage was built, chairs rented and many children from the neighborhood were invited. The children preformed wonderful songs including Jingle Bells. The excitement was in the air. Each child was called by name to receive a bag of new dress, soccer shirt, soccer ball, soccer shoes, legos, a blanket and candy.  Thanks to the Rubino family, the Howe family and all the sponsors. Also a thank you to Janis Strickland for a donation along with the sponsors for a feast!  We had a long table of chicken, prickly, lasagne, and cake! The dining hall was chaos with gift bags everywhere. Each child opened their sponsors cards, which most of them were signing cards, please imagine. They love the sponsor letters and pictures. The visiting children also received a gift of pen, crayons and candy. The music continued the candy was all gone and the night had become dark. A huge surprise was when the Bastiens called for Rick and Barb, they had a very large wrapped gift. We opened it confused and it was a hand drawing of  us at our daughters wedding. Yes they went on facebook and found a photo to have a Haitian paint for us. Overwhelmed would explain the moment. The joy on their faces of giving a grand gift was truly the best Christmas present ever. Upon taking a dark tap tap ride home,  we all fell into a hot sticky bed and quickly fell asleep. It was a Holy day filled with peace,love and joy!

A Trip of Faith

Life is back to normal, hustle and bustle no time to rest, no time to love a child who needs a hug that day. This was not the case a week ago for 9 individuals who traveled to a new world and met the most amazing people, many of whom weren't over 3 1/2 feet tall. Faith Lutheran Church's mission team spent 5 days at the Love Takes Root orphanage building a Sukup house and growing in God's love along side the 40+ children. Here is our story.... Day one. We arrived in Port Au Prince on Tuesday and made our way through the winding road over the mountain and into Jacmel (only two of us got car sick). We first went to the orphanage and were greeted with the most amazing singing. The warmth we felt from the moment we entered the lunch room was immediate. The children are amazing and so strong in faith already. Day two. Up and at 'em and ready to begin our building of the Sukop house, which was to be used for food storage at the orphanage only to discover...NO bolts. God had a plan and today it was for our group to talk about and share Him with these children. (We did get the materials of the Sukup house moved to the location we were going to build it). We did VBS with the children as well as put some needed slip guards in the shower areas and put some door knobs in the doors. We played with sidewalk chalk too! Now we were no longer strangers we were friends and children in Christ. What a day! Day three. No bolts so more VBS and play time with the children. More door knobs went in as well. Joan was busy doing some basic medical needs for the children and Theone was busy taking more pictures of these beautiful children. They posed so cute we all got a chuckle from this. Day four. Bolts are here! So the work of the Sukop house began. It was over cast this day so we were blessed to work in the shade instead of the full blast of the sun. We met the contractor Dave, who was a Saint to our building crew. We hired 5 of his workers to help us with our project. They were amazing young men who worked very hard with us that day. We finished nearly 85-90% of the building that day. As we winded down our day and took a minute to rest the children all gathered around our sweaty messes and shared Gods love with us. Kathy, Joan and Theone also did more VBS with the children this day. We also took out the parachute and played with the children....so many many smiles and laughs I think my cheeks still hurt from this day! Day five. Our last day at the orphanage. We were again blessed with Ed and Dave to help finish the Sukop building. We finished fairly early this day so we were again able to do more VBS with the children. A few of our group also attended the church service at the Orphanage...Pastor Lee was able to give an amazing message to the children too. This was a hard day for our Faith group. We needed to look into those big brown eyes and say goodbye. It was amazing how in five days they had touched everyone of our hearts. Our sons, Connor and Reid grew so much in their faith this week I can't begin to even explain. Many hugs and tears were shed this day. Faith Lutheran's mission group went to an orphanage in Haiti to share the love of God and spread the word of Jesus to children who don't have the access to this like we do and we came back more filled with the spirit ourselves! Al said it best...we entered a country with so much need we thought we could never do enough and left an orphanage feeling that Yes we can make a difference. Thank you Rick and Barb for allowing our group to experience this awesome trip. It has forever changed our lives and we hope it has impacted a little bit of those children's lives. Until our next adventure to La Concorde....God Bless!