Wednesday, Oct. 26 - Our Last Day

Yes, it was 1 week ago today that we spent our last day in Haiti before we travelled home.  And, yes, it has taken this long to write about it - my apologies.  Sometimes it takes time to process what we've experienced and learned.  Each time we go, we "taste" different parts of Haiti and we "digest" it in new ways.

Last Wednesday, our morning began with a farewell breakfast with Fr. Alexis.  Jeff and Ben had arrived prior to this from Tom's house.  They had spent the night trying to help him fix his truck.  Although the task was unable to be completed, they did gain an understanding on what was wrong with it - a blessing!

After saying good-bye to our friends, we travelled to Port-au-Prince with Jean Rony and arrived at our Guest House in about 3 hours.  We unloaded our bags and headed to Mother Theresa's Home for Malnourished Babies to spend the day there. 

This was a very emotional day for everyone.  We felt that it was a bit contradictory - bittersweet you can say.  It was sad seeing all of the undernourished children, but very fulfilling giving them our love and attention.  We saw God in each of these little one's eyes, reaching out to us to be touched.  We saw hope in the mothers that came to nurse their babies and care for them.  We saw selflessness and dedication in the Sisters of Charity that very joyfully care for these beautiful children of God every single day and night.  We saw reminders of our Creator everywhere, even in the pictures of our Savior that lined the walls of the rooms.  The children were so eager for our attention.  So eager to sit on our laps.  Are we that eager to seek out our Heavenly Father?  To yearn to sit on His lap?  To give Him our complete trust as these young ones trusted us?  There was no fear in their eyes.  When they saw us, they just reached out.  What are our fears in life?  Can we put them aside and too, reach out to the One Who is Love Himself?  We have to try.  We yearn to be filled with His love.  We were created by Him, so we can only be fulfilled with Him.  Let's stretch out our own arms and welcome Jesus into our hearts and let Him consume our lives.  Then we will smile like those little children that smiled up at us when we picked them up.  Happy and loved!!!

God bless!!

On our way home!

Contemplation by Ben

Tuesday

Today was our last day in Verrettes and Liancourt. We leave tomorrow morning for Port au Prince to work in Mother Theresa's Home For Malnourished Babies. We would like to thank everyone here for all their love and hospitality. We were welcomed with open arms wherever we went!!!

We were able to work in the tree nursery again this morning. Again, our Haitian friends taught us the gift of singing while you work. Our guys were also able to help Tom (FIAI's director) with towing and fixing the program's new truck. Hopefully it will be running soon!!

Giving out water filters and food packages in the mountain village of Veelo was also a highlight. We gave out some hats to the boys and hair ties to the girls also in this area. As always, it's such a joy to see the smiles on their faces.

One special part of today was going back to the home of Rosilyn where she and her daughter and neighbor made placemats and baskets for us. They were so incredibly happy to have some work to do. We bought all the ones they had made!! Rosilyn has 8 children to support and her neighbor has 6. It was like a party at her house from the excitement!!!

We had some joyous occasions but also some challenges today. Our friend, Echo's, prayer today stood our hair on end. This young man who has down syndrome was so in tune with his Creator and Father that you could literally feel the presence of the Holy Spirit all around us. It was a beautiful expression of love.

We saw God in the people all around us today. In the beautiful way Echo showed his care for our friend, in the smiles on the children's faces, in the eyes of the women who worked tirelessly to make our baskets and placemats, in Jean-Rony who cared for us, in Tom and his wife Fecilta as she lovingly passed out food in her village, in our friend, Obines, who selflessly helped us find our way, in Fr. Alexis and his staff who so joyfully cook and serve us with beautiful smiles. Oh, we could go on forever!!! We love everyone here and will miss our friends deeply. Au revoir beautiful faces of Haiti.

Ben in mountains

Monday, October 24

First, we apologize for a delay in this and the last post appearing on the blog. Unfortunately we have not had internet or cellular service in this part of Haiti because of the overcast skies.

Yesterday, we had the privilege of going to church with Fr. Alexis twice! We were just amazed at how universal praising and worshipping God is! You can adore Him in any language with people of any culture!

We also visited the health clinic in Liancourt that needs help with funding to finish the construction. The dedication and vision of Vania, the nurse who has given her life savings to this dream of hers to help her people is so incredibly inspiring! We felt blessed to be a part of it!

Our Sunday evening concluded with a very festive time playing games with our friends!

On Monday we awoke to children playing in the school yard. Such joy in these little faces so eager to touch our white skin. Their giggles and laughs would melt anyone's heart.

We then headed to Faith in Action's tree nursery to help with planting fruit trees. It was humbling working beside the Haitians. They were not affected by the heat as we were. We were grateful for their joyous singing to help our task go quickly. We are meeting so many friends and making so many relationships!

After lunch we headed up into the mountains to one of our favorite places - Te Rouge! Here we colored with the children and the adults! We were so surprised that so many of the older people wanted to color with us. The feeling up there was one of unity with each other. We were all joined in playing and singing. ALL of the people joined together. It was awesome to see the elderly women dancing and getting into the festivities.

What an amazing place!!! We were taken aback when one of the women didn't know who she was when shown the picture on the camera that we had just taken of her. But the joy in their simple lives touched us more than anything! Again we realize how much we have and how little they have. But who really has more?

God bless!

Te Rouge - in the mountains

Planting trees - Monday

We planted 300 pummelo trees (like grapefruit).  They figure that 1/3 will survive and will bring in about $140 worth of fruit per year.  This should bring in about $14,000 income annually from the trees we planted for the people in the mountains of Haiti.  It will take 5-7 years until full production.

Delay in posts

Good morning!  Just if you are wondering why there haven't been any posts, we have not had cell phone service for the last few days and very limited internet.

Working in tree nursery

Saturday.

Yes! The roosters took the night off from trying to keep us awake. We found out why as soon as we got to town. Today is "market day" in Verrettes. That means the the village market is packed with venders from all over, selling their goods. From fruit and vegetables to list of raw meat and fish to grains and breads to radios and sunglasses to clothes and shoes. Everything you can imagine including, yes - a whole street lined with live chickens and roosters for sale!  It was quite an experience!  We actually did find a few things to purchase. We then were able to meet with a group of men from the US that has a new way to provide clean water for impoverished countries. They gave us a lot of information to think about. While half of the group was on a mission to fix the truck we were having trouble with, the other half had the opportunity to visit a young man's home that is falling down. Sr. Judy from Verrettes told us of this boy's need for a home and food since his mother had deserted him and his brother and sister.  The only dream he has is to stay in school and become an engineer some day. We were very moved by his story of dedication and survival!! When it was time to return to Fr. Alexis' home, we took an exciting ride in our first tap-tap, public transportation in Haiti. We met many new friends on the truck and and many awesome conversations. In creole, of course! We ended our evening with an energetic game of Jenga with Fr. Alexis' staff. I don't know what was more fun - playing the game or watching their faces when the tower fell!! The memories we are making will no doubt last forever! Today we were very impressed to meet many people from the US that spend their lives helping people in Haiti. We felt like we could connect with them. We are also grateful that little Ryan, Tom's son, was running around and feeling better. He has been sick for awhile. There were 2 funerals that we witnessed these past two days and that made us think of our lives as gifts. That we wake up every morning and take life for granted sometimes. We remember to be grateful for the gift of life. When we were finished reflecting on our day, we defined our day by the fact that everyone is just as important as the next person is to our Heavenly Father. He loves the little naked boy in the corner of the field just as much as he loves anyone else on this earth and we think that is awesome! Good night and bless!! Team October

Saturday, Oct. 22

Our friend Echo!

One of our best friends in Haiti!!!

Friday, October 21

Our first full day in Haiti has come to an end. We are all bunked down for the night. We don't know how long we will be able to sleep before the routine of rooster crowing and dogs barking begins. Last night it was about 12:30 am and lasted until... Hopefully tonight will be a little quieter.

We had a very eye opening day today. After Mass at 6am and a wonderful breakfast by Maude, Fr. Alexis' cook, we arrived at Faith in Action's home base to meet up with our much loved Haitian friends. They were very excited to see us and to meet the new team members!

We ventured out to the tree nursery to help with maintenance on the plants and then to have a lesson in basket making. How skilled our instructor was and how clumsy we felt. We all decided not to quit our day jobs!!

After lunch and some singing and dancing with our friend Echo, we headed to the village of Doublet and the home of Rosalyn, Team June's house project. She welcomed us with open arms!! We had a great time there visiting and talking about the place mats she and her daughters are going to weave for us. Then we visited a garden that two families run. They were proud to show us all the work they had done and how they care for their plants. After a walk through the river, we headed back, refreshed but tired.

Even though today was still a bit overwhelming for a few of us, we were able to see God in the people and experiences around us. Many of us commented that we saw the face of God in the children we saw today. To look into their eyes was like looking into Love itself. Their longing and yearning to be loved was not at all frightening but beautiful. Our friend Echo showed us how to be so joyful and how to give love so freely! We also saw God in eachother, just being together in this group, sharing experiences together. We have the utmost admiration Tom, Faith in Action's faithful leader, and for his commitment to the people of Haiti. We were struck by how many material things we depend on and how little they depend on. We saw how excited they became just to have a simple task to complete and we pondered about our own lives. When we drove up a mountain we were in awe at the view of the village below and were amazed at how, even though we were very high above, we could hear so many sounds of the people below. This made us wonder... is this what God sees and hears when he looks down so lovingly upon His people? We are all "tucked under his arm" and love it!!!

Good night and God bless!

The boys

We are hanging out at the baptist mission house. The boys are not as interested in basket making. I don't know why?

Basket making

Learning how to make baskets!

Last night

Well we are all exhausted and tucked in for the night...well at least the women are. The guys are still up with Fr. Alexis. Jeff is reminiscing and Ben talking about life and religion and faith. It's hard to come to a place like this and not question your what your own life is all about.

Karen, being her first time here, had those overwhelming feelings that we all have whether it be our first or our fifth time witnessing poverty that far outshadows any we have ever seen before. Terri was as struck that so many people have nothing to do except exist as she was on her last visit. I'm excited that tomorrow they will have the opportunity to feel the joy that emanates from these simple people.

It's so wonderful that we have so many friends here to make our experience so special! Jean Rony and Fr. Alexis and his staff were so welcoming to us that we all quickly felt like we became part of their family.

Can't wait until tomorrow!!

Sent from my iPhone

Finally here!

Wow! It's hot!

At the airport

> Ben and Karen anxiously waiting to board the plane.
>

Today's the day!!!

Well, it's 12:18 am and we are leaving this morning.  Just finished checking us all in online.  We depart from Detroit at 7 am and arrive in Port au Prince at 12:30 Haitian time.  (1 hour behind Michigan right now.)  Then we have about a 3 hour drive up into the central plateau.  Jeff will be excited that the road is much improved from the last time he traveled it in 2001.  You had to have a strong stomach back then! and it took about another hour or so!  Well, we will check in as soon as we can.  Bon soir!

Friends

Can't wait to see our friends again!!

Team October leaving for Detroit tomorrow evening! Then we fly out at 7am Thursday morning!!! Please keep us in your prayers :)

"SPLASH DRIVE" final update

Haiti "SPLASH DRIVE" final update!!

WOW!! Thanks to all of your support we are taking

71 water filters

to the people in remote mountain villages in central Haiti next week!

Because of your generous hearts,

over 2100 people will now have "clean and safe" water!!

You guys did this in just 2 weeks!! - Amazing!!

May God's blessings shower down upon you!!!

PRAYER WARRIORS NEEDED!!!

As is our custom, we ask for people to pray for us while we are in Haiti.

Please respond back if you would honor us by being one of our "prayer warriors" and commit to pray for our "Team October" from Oct. 20-27.

Your first name will be listed here on our blog.

Thank you so much for your blessings!

SPLASH Drive Update!!!

Wah hoo!!

The "Splash" Drive is up to 55 water filters we will be bringing to Haiti next week!!!

Guys... that is CLEAN, SAFE water for over 275 Haitian families!!!!!

There is still time! Facebook "Hands for Haiti" by Wednesday and I'll count you in!

Then just pop a check in the mail to:

Hands for Haiti, 7421 W. Blue Rd., Lake City, MI 49651

Morning prayers...

So as it goes, our hearts sometimes grow weary.  But we are not perfect human beings and that is what happens.  What do we do?  We need to look to Jesus, to His word, to His example, to His servants around us - to however we can get ahold of His love and faithfulness in us!  Sometimes its hard to find in this world, but it is always there.  HE is always there!

I never doubt that God is calling our Hands for Haiti family to serve in ways that sometimes seem far-reaching.  Sometimes, though, I think, "Can we really do all this?"  I always feel bad for asking people to dig deep in their pockets to come up with donations for this and that.  For water filters, for hand-made baskets, for our new upcoming Health Clinic Project, for sponsoring young people to go on our trips, etc.

And as always, the Lord answers!  In flipping through the Bible this morning, this is what popped out:

"Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest,

if we do not give up."    Galatians 6:9

So I ask all of you that will read this to apply it to your own lives.  We DO reap what we sow.  And I know so many of you that are such wonderful, beautiful people.  Do not give up when you feel like you don't know what to do next.  Do not give up being joyful even when you don't feel like it.  Do not give up letting Christ's light shine through you!  Because IT definately shines, oh yes!

Thank you for being our friends and our family!!  and have a very blessed day with plenty of sowing all around you!!  God Bless!!!

Joyfully,
Debbi

Water Filter "SPLASH" Drive for Haiti!

We are having a 2 week push to see how many water filters we can bring!

We had such a success distributing water filters last May, that we are going to do it AGAIN!!

These water filters will be given to Haitians who live in remote areas in the mountains

and do not have access to clean water.

Sawyer Water Filters

One water filter for

$40

= equals =

Clean water for 6 families in Haiti for up to 15 yrs.!

That’s amazing!

Our expiration date is October 14!!

You can give donations to anyone on

“Team October”

Or you can mail it to:

Hands for Haiti,

7421 W. Blue Rd., Lake City MI 49651.

Don’t forget to put “water filter”

on the check!!!!!!

Absolutely ANY amount is perfectly fine!

A little bit goes a long way!!

Help the people in Haiti have fresh water... just like we do :)

Meet "Team October"

Meet our Team October!!

Debbi Gischia – first time to Haiti was in 2001 with husband, Jeff. Have been on Team February 2010, Team June 2010, Team May 2011 and now Team October 2011. Also planning for future Team March 2012.

Jeff Gischia – last time in Haiti was in 2001 with Debbi.  Son, Jake was on Team February 2010 and son, Daniel was on Team June 2010 and Team May 2011.  Anxiously awaiting this October trip!!  Also planning on future Team March 2012.

Terri Raffaele – was on Team June 2010 with her husband and two sons (one who also was on Team May 2011) and excited about going back!!

Ben Brugger – friend of Jake who was on Team February 2010 and Adam from Team May 2011. This will be first time to Haiti and is really looking forward to it!!

Karen Alberts – friend on Debbi’s mom. Was interested in Team June 2010, but was unable to go. Now is looking forward to making this dream come true in October!!

"Team October"

Tomorrow is the deadline to sign up for "Team October!" 

There is still room to go if you are interested!! 

Dates: October 20-27, 2011

Love this Reflection for today...

HEALING THE MIND


Jesus "stood over her and addressed Himself to the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them." —Luke 4:39

Jesus heals the sick not only from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, schizophrenia, arthritis, etc., but also heals for evangelization and ministry. In today's Gospel reading, Jesus healed Simon's mother-in-law from a fever and for immediate service (Lk 4:39). However, many sick people, like healthy people, are not that interested in evangelization and ministry. They just want to get better and leave it at that. They are probably willing to do a few good deeds, but don't see themselves witnessing for Jesus in public. Furthermore, they don't want to get so involved in ministry that their lifestyle would have to change. Many Christian sick people want to live not much differently than non-Christian sick people do.

This presents a problem. Jesus calls His followers to a radically different way of life. He wants our priorities to be evangelization and ministry, since those are His priorities. Because He loves us and His people so much, Jesus wants us to get up immediately and wait on His people (Lk 4:39). He calls us to seek first His kingdom and everything else will be given to us (Mt 6:33). Healing is not only changing the condition of our bodies, but primarily changing our minds to be in accord with Jesus.

Prayer: Father, give me the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16).

** taken from One Bread, One Body daily reflection. Presentation Ministries.

HELP get the word out!!!

Please HELP us get the word out about the Haiti Health Clinic Dinner and Story!!!

We would like as many people as possible to attend this dinner. 

Fr. Alexis from Haiti is leaving and to hear his story is like you are there!  He will share first-hand the situation regarding health care in his village and surrounding communities. 

So SPREAD THE WORD!!!  Help be our ambassadors!!

Tuesday, August 30th @ 7:30 p.m.

St. Ann's Parish Hall

800 W. 13th St.

Cadillac, MI

Please RSVP if you can come:  either comment on this post, email us at HandsForHaitiTeam@gmail.com or call and leave us a message at 231-839-2919.



Haiti Health Clinic Dinner

Come and listen to our story about an inspiring nurse, a dedicated priest and a group of friends with a vision of helping one village in rural Haiti have the gift of much-needed basic health care. Come and journey with us into God's gospel message, lived by these wonderful people in Haiti!

Tuesday evening, August 30th
 at 7:30 p.m.

St. Ann's Parish Hall
800 W. 13th St.

Cadillac, Michigan

We invite you to come and just listen.  Let us share with you our experiences.  We have an awesome project that we would love to tell you about!!

Come for some Haitian food, some Haitian stories, some Haitian photos and some Haitian dreams.

Bring your families, your neighbors, your friends, your co-workers!

** drop us a note if you think you might join us.  If you don't know, you are always welcome to just drop in, too.  You will be warmly welcomed in Haitian hospitality!!

God Bless!!

A strong conviction...

“Lord,” I pray earnestly, “ please show me what you need for me to do in Haiti. Please lead me and I will follow You! I am struggling with lack of direction. Please, dear Lord, guide me! I am feeling lost!”

I pray this prayer almost daily lately. I have been torn between the requests of a priest to help fundraise for the completion of a health clinic and the desires to “do something more, something more hands on.”

The first 8 years Jeff and I have worked with Haiti, we have helped raised funds to build a school, build a convent for the sisters who run the school, build a well, build latrines, build the second story on the school, build an additional school in the country, help pay teacher bonuses, help pay tuition for students, and help with improvements on the main church building. All this time, following God’s lead and answering His call with our group, Hope for Haiti, but wanting more of a connection with the individual people of this country that we have fallen in love with.

For the last two years, we have done just that. We have started Hands for Haiti and have helped build shelters in Port-au-Prince after the earthquake, distributed school supplies to earthquake refugee students, built a home for a refugee family in Verrettes, helped distribute fruit trees to poor Haitian families in the mountains and brought 100 water filters to families that cannot get clean water. Now our next trip is planned for October and I am faced with the question of what are we going to do next? What is the need?

On our last trip, Fr. Alexis showed us an unfinished health clinic that he is helping work on. The nurse that is heading up the project has given everything she has and then some to this dream of hers and she is out of money. So the clinic sits unoccupied and waits for some miraculous way for funding. Enter, Debbi and Jeff, and Hands for Haiti. Fr. Alexis has asked us to help with this project. But here’s the catch – the help they need is in the form of funding, not in the form of manpower.

I have had the privilege of fundraising for eight years and really wanted a break from that and now would like the privilege of just using my hands in Haiti. So, dear Lord, what would you have me do? My heart is feeling torn. I see the hope in Fr. Alexis’ eyes when he asks about the clinic, but is this what I want to do?

Here comes the conviction… my prayer, “Lord, please show me what you need for me to do in Haiti. Please lead me and I will follow You! I am struggling with lack of direction. Please, dear Lord, guide me! I am feeling lost!”

Does God always call us to do what WE want to do? What WE feel comfortable doing? No, He calls us to do HIS will! He knows our gifts and our talents! My mother always said to me when I felt exceptionally challenged, “God won’t give you, what you can’t handle.” You just need to trust and rely on HIM! I have prayed this prayer so many times and all the while God is showing me, telling me what His people need. A HEALTH CLINIC! And I have been too blind to see it. Too concerned about what I want to do to see what God wants me to do! So, through many tears and asking God for forgiveness for my desires of self-fulfillment, I have committed to see this health clinic through. When we go to Haiti in October, we will be visiting the health clinic under construction and also visiting other Haitian families and possibly doing a little ‘hands on helping’ but we will become part of the dream of one local nurse to serve her brothers and sisters. We are now also her brothers and sisters.  Let the family circle of Christ grow wider this October!!

Joyfully for Haiti!!

Debbi Gischia

Watch the blog this upcoming week!!

Hello all our faithful followers and all our new followers!!  Continue to watch this blog site this upcoming week.  New photos of "Team May" will be posted all week as well as videos. 

We will also be posting information about our Hands for Haiti – 3rd Group Mission Trip!!!

We are now forming

“Team October”

Thursday, October 20-27, 2011

meeting date - to be announced!

If you are interested in joining us, or just want information to see what our trips are about,

please email us at handsforhaititeam@gmail.com.

God bless and thank you so much for all your prayers!!!!!  We are very blessed from them!!!!

Yes, we are back in Michigan!

Well, we have been back for 2 weeks now and finally getting back to normal.  Between kidney stones the last night in Haiti, 40 people camping at our house for Memorial Weekend, graduation and our upcoming open house for Bekah, I have been trying to play catch up and haven't had time to post - I apologize terribly!!  As for the rest of our team, I think that we all have needed some time to digest the wonderful experience that we all had. 

Hopefully, all the blog posting while we were gone, gave you a taste for what we experienced and accomplished.  This will be a trip that will stay in our hearts forever!!  As promised, I will update the blog with pictures and videos - but probably after this Saturday.  Please keep checking back to look for these!!

Until then, God bless and enjoy the summer!!!
Debbi

Yeah! Last day in Verrettes continued #2 - last one

Continued 2

Coming back down the mountain was just as exciting as going up!  We all now have a new appreciation of what a pick up truck can do!  Now off to visit a "buck" goat who fathers many other goats in the animal husbandry program. This particular goat is from Africa and has had 200 offspring in the last year!!! His species adapts well to this climate and produces a more hearty breed. At this moment it started to rain - so down the mountain we scurried!  Back to our truck to quickly make our way back to Tom's home while getting pelted with a much needed rain. Schmitty was very happy to see the rain come after our help earlier with planting the fruit trees in the mountains. They really need the rain for the trees to survive and the people are so incredibly hopeful. 
What fun we had back at our home base watching the downpour and the quickly running "river" that once was the road. Our friends all together under one roof, singing, talking, learning about eachother, watching our new friend Echo dance, and just an awesome sense of comeraderie. We are all working for the same purpose all loving the same people all worshiping the same God. How fulfilling our day was!!  We closed our day with Fr. Alexis joining our group discussion after supper. Tonight we shared all that we have learned over the week and everyone contributed wonderful insights. We have been so incredibly blessed even sometimes beyond words. But this experience has been engraved into our hearts, never to leave. We have become better people from of it and we will be challenged now because of it.  We believe in the goodness and love of the Haitian people and will keep them close to us always. 
Amen!  

Continued from last day in Verrettes

...last day in Verrettes...continued #1

Our trip would not have been complete without experiencing the sights and smells of the market in town. This was definately worth the walk, seeing women so carefully displaying their prized goods to sell and help support their family. Fruits and vegetables, rice and grains, spices, ingredients and who can forget all the fresh meat of every kind (complete with pig and chicken feet) just waiting for the needy shopper. With so many vendors, who do you choose to buy from? It would be difficult I would think. As we were following Limone, Tom's daughter, we were trying to take it all in. Christie was both friend and foe with her camera. Some were very eager for their livelihood to be documented and others not so much. Either way, we both respected and appreciated their contribution to their community.

After another fantastic lunch of Haitian macaroni and cheese cooked by Tom's beautiful wife, Fecilta, we were off to pick up more fruit trees to take up the mountain to the small community of Tewoug. Here we were able to immerse ourselves in the planting event, everyone in the community and on our team supporting one another. The whole exchange culminating with lots of joyful singing, dancing, game playing, and laughter among the children and young people. A wondrful highlight for Chase was passing out the soccer and tennis balls and seeing how much joy just a simple gesture like that can bring. One of the coolest things was seeing a couple of the boys that Chase had given tshirts to last June when we were in the same area. They were still wearing the shirts!!!
...to be continued again

*** I'm so sorry. I'm having trouble posting blogs from my phone lately. You will need to go to blog to find better posts.

Our last day in Verettes and Liancourt

Sorry. Post was disessembled. Read this one.

Our last day in Verettes and Liancourt. 
I think today was our busiest day yet. It was filled so many sights/ sounds/smells, joy/laughter/singing, heat/sun/rain, emotions/experiences and lessons that we could probably write a book but we'll try to keep it under a page!!
Our day began with stopping for a very short but exciting visit to the preschool next to the church. The happiness and excitement on these beautiful smiling faces so eager to welcome and touch us was both envigorating and contagious!!! We left here ready for our adventures of the day. 
When we arrived at Tom's (Faith in Action's headquarters) there were already people there from the mountains to get their water filters. Our brave boys set out to the roof to embark on the much needed task of clearing away the unruly foliage blocking the front porch. Daniel commented on how he felt really good to have helped Tom and his family out after they so willing devote their lives to helping the poor. 
Our next experience was to witness the unbelievable determination of three mountain women who, at the end of the day, were Fran's heroes!  These women had walked 5 hours down the mountain to listen attentively to learn how to use the water filters. Then they carried their buckets (with filters attached) to the tree nursery where they were given about 15 fruit trees to carry back in their buckets. We watched as they very carefully placed each small tree so it wouldn't damage another before they hoisted their filled bucket onto their heads to start the 5 hour trek back UP the mountain they had come down this morning. Not a single complaint about the scalding sun today or the lack of water to drink on their journey. Just gratitude and diligence and joy. Yes, Fran's admiration of these women was felt by all!!
... to be continued

Beach yesterday - Church today - Trees, water filters and goats tomorrow!!!!

Yesterday, we had some time to cool off at the beach, then to St. Marc to buy buckets for the water filters!!

Today, Sunday, we were blessed to first attend Mass at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish in the center of Liancourt and then to the chapel in Hatte Belanger.  We were able to really interract with the people at the chapel and passed out protractors and compasses to the school children there.  We also presented the water filters that are going to be used at the school that is located in the chapel.  Fr. Alexis was able to instruct the people on how to use them.  He also explained to them that just because the water may look "clear" it is not necessarily "clean."  These 5 filters that we left there will provide "clean" water for 331 students!!!!!

The people were very friendly and excited about everything we brought, but I think the loadest applause was for the SOCCER BALLS!!!  To think sometimes what small things you can do that bring great smiles!!

Schmitty's exlamation on the ride home, "Wow, I feel fulfilled!!" said it all for us today.

Love to you all,
Team May

Yeah!! Pictures are up!!

Many blessings today!!

Wow, we can’t believe it’s our third day in Haiti already!!! We are being blessed much more than we even anticipated! After another fantastic breakfast from Maude, Fr. Alexis’ cook, we were off to the first tree nursery in Verrettes. We worked and counted there before we went on to the 2nd tree nursery. There are hundreds of fruits just waiting to be planted. Unfortunately, we have been unable to distribute the trees to the farmers because the rains have not come yet. The ground is too dry and the trees will just die. We are hoping to do this in a couple of days though as it has started to rain in the mountains! Pray for more rain!!!

We have had such awesome experiences today and many highlights we would like to share. Gosh, there were so many – where to start? Well, I’ll start with one that is dear to my (Debbi’s) heart. Today we had the special opportunity to visit the home that “Team June” built last year. It was a very emotional moment when we crossed that river again and pulled up to the site where we spent so much time and energy building, learning, communicating and playing with our Haitian brothers and sisters. It brought back many memories for Daniel and Chase and myself. Chase commented on seeing all the work we did last year paid off and Daniel said it was cool to see where we played games with the kids and where he laid his first cement block. To see the house that was just bricks and mortar when we left, now a family home was an experience almost inexpressible. It was also extremely touching when Rosalyn, the mother, invited us in to show us her daughter’s handiwork in weaving mats. She was so proud of her surroundings and their talents that she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face the whole time we were there!!

After this, we journeyed down the trail to the children’s nursery and then even further down to take a rest and wade in the river. The children are so happy playing in the water, sometimes it’s contagious!!! After this we had the privilege (and we all feel it’s really a privilege) to visit some individual gardens that are supporting families. The excitement we saw in the man that so proudly showed us his “table tree nursery” is something that makes your heart leap with its own excitement! Did we mention that the joy that exudes from these people is contagious?!?!?! We are continually making friends everywhere we go!!! We found this at the soda pop and ice factory we visited. We were amazed that some very ingenious engineers and business men came back to their homeland to start this profitable business, providing jobs for fellow Haitians.

We also noticed that the kids at the clinic we visited were “just itching” to try and communicate with us and show us the English phrases that they had learned at school. Again – excited to be our friends!! Let’s talk about this clinic we visited today. Such inspiration to see this nurse who has put her life savings into building a clinic for the people in the Liancourt area. It was her dream and now she is almost seeing it come true. She just needs the finishing touches: doors, windows, generator, wall and fence to see her dream of serving her brothers and sisters come true. She will be out of funds after the roof is put on, but has hope that one day her clinic will open.

We can’t forget our tour of the famous Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Des Chapelle. This is the main hospital for miles and a very noted one where doctors and nurses come from all over the world to serve the people of the Artibonite Valley in Haiti. For some of us, the hospital was more primitive than we thought it was going to be. Christie commented that, “it’s amazing what they can do with the little they have.” Again, we were sizing up our perception of the world around us and how different it now is. We closed our night by talking about how we are continually learning about the Haitian culture and how to respect it by accepting it. “We serve and therefore are served, we love and also are loved, we are opening our hands to the many Hands of Haiti.”

Our love to you all!!
Team May

Good morning! Yesterday we were exhausted and didn't get a chance to post. "Eskize mwen." Sorry in Creole.

Thursday, our first full day in Haiti. What is the meaning of being a servant? Does it mean doing physical labor for someone or does it mean putting yourself out there to help someone else? We found that our role as servants on this day was very simple. Just to show interest in another's work and that we care sometimes is all it takes to bring loads of encouragement to a Haitian farmer who is working hard to provide for his family. We had the priviledge of visiting many Haitian gardens in the mountains and also their homes. They were so happy and welcoming and willing to share their lives with us. This experience has made us look at things from a different perspective and respect and appreciate our own lives. We also have noticed the opportunity not only to learn from the Haitian people but also from eachother in our group. We learned alot about joy from our new friend "Echo" and the utmost trust he has in everyone. We also learned this country and these beautiful people have unleashed in us a desire to think of them first and how we can use our gifts and talents to help make life a little easier for them. But from their perspective and not ours. What are the true necessities in life? We are beginning to answer these questions.

God bless you and your families! We appreciate all of you!!!

...continued first day.
What a blessing he and his staff are to us!! They had a fantastic meal waiting for the hungry travellers. After a tour of their home, some refreshing showers and great conversation, we are tucked in for the night. Tomorrow begins our new adventure in this mountaneous country filled with beautiful people bursting with love of neighbor, taking care of each other. Hopefully we will be able to take part in this exchange and witness firsthand acting on the scripture, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
God bless and sweet dreams!!
Team May

Our first day in Haiti - Flag Day.
Today is Flag Day in Haiti-a national holiday. It is the celebration of the day in 1806 (I think) when the Haitian leaders all met to redesign the country's flag after they won their independence from the French. The schools are closed and there are many festivals. In fact, we had the priveledge of having to pull to the side of the road as the new President of Haiti and his entourage passed by. It was very exciting. We felt like we were somehow drawn into this piece of their history. Because of all the extra commotion on the streets, it took us an extra hour to reach our destination - the home of our wonderful friend, Fr. Alexis. ... to be continued

Good morning! Well we were up early and to the airport. Now waiting to get in the plane to Miami. Then on to Haiti where Fr. Alexis will be waiting for us. We should arrive in Port au Prince at 1:05 (2:05 Michigan time). Then we have about a 3 hour ride on rough terrain to our destination in Liancourt. Daniel, Chase and Debbi are anxious to see how the earthquake clean up is coming since they were there last June. Stay tuned!!

Prayer Request!!

Probably our last post before we leave~

Hello friends and family. Well, it is now 5 days until our “Team May” leaves for Haiti and time for the most important favor we have to ask of you. Your prayers!

Matthew 18:20 says, "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them." We will be working amongst conditions foreign to most of us going and we will be faced with challenges not many of us have had to deal with. We will be stretching ourselves more than we have ever been stretched. But we will have the experience of “living the Gospel” more than we ever had the opportunity. We will go through some discouragement but come out with enthusiasm. We will feel sadness, and then be overcome with joy. We will use our bodies to serve others, and then be served by them for bodily nourishment. We will use our hearts and souls to love, and see their faces and smiles as they love us back. We wish you all were coming with us, but you still can be an integral part of this mission. Not only are you connected through your donations, but also through your prayers.

We are one body of Christ. 1 Cor. 12:20 says, “But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body.” and continues in verse 26, “all the parts share its joy.” Wow!!! How profound!! All of you share our joy!!! We are privileged to share with you all that we experience on this trip. Please watch our blog so we can share with you! Come and journey with us!! Lets all BE the Gospel TOGETHER!!!

If you would like to be committed to be one of our prayer warriors during the week of May 18-25, please respond back or comment on the blog site so we can add you to our list. One more note – your comments on our blog during our trip are a HUGE source of encouragement to us!! Please don’t hesitate to send us any notes!!

Ready, set, GO!!!

Love, "Team May"
Debbi, Daniel, Christie, Fran, Chase, Adam

Fundraising SUCCESS!!!

A HUGE thank you to everyone that has donated for water filters and that came to our garage sale!!  We have raised $3,171.00 so far!!  We are almost to our goal of 80 water filters.  We only need 5 more!!

This is what YOU are helping us bring to the people of Haiti!!

• 80 water filters!!!!
• 50 compasses/protractors for students
• pens and pencils for students
• 20 back packs for students
• speakers for a church
• soccer balls

WOW!!  You guys are awesome!!!  I hope you keep a watch on our blog and follow us on our trip!!  God bless all of our wonderful family, friends, co-workers, and our family's friends and co-workers, too.  Hopefully we can reach out to as many people here as we do there!! 

We are instruments of Christ.  Spreading the Gospel by BEING the Gospel.  Please pray for us while we are in Haiti!  Your prayers and support are so important to us!  They bring us all together as one family united for a common purpose centered on Christ!!!!!!!!

God bless and keep watching!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First day of garage sale a success!! So far we have raised funds for 52 water filters! Our goal is 80 so we have 28 to go! Remember each water filter only costs $35 and will provide clean water for about 6 families for up to 15 years!!!!

Garage Sale Event!!!

Wow!! 20 days until take-off to my one of my favorite destinations!!!!  Now that the wonderfully blessed Easter celebrations are winding down, I can concentrate more on our task at hand – getting ready for our 2^nd Hands for Haiti Group Mission Trip!! – “Team May” !!!

We are having a

Garage Sale fundraiser!!!!

Thurs and Friday, May 5th and 6th

**Looking for Items to sell for donation**

deliver them to the house by May 4th

**Looking for SHOPPERS to buy**

9 am-6 pm

We are also collecting donations for Sawyer Water Filters to distribute!!!  These cost approx. $35-$45 per filter and each filter will

supply an entire family with "clean" water!!!

Other things we are collecting:

Soccer balls and pumps

child size backpacks

pens & geometric instruments for school kids

As always, you can drop anything including donations off at:

McBain Family Chiropractic Center

The Gischia Family Home

or mail to:

Hands for Haiti

7421 W. Blue Rd.

Lake City, MI  49651

God Bless and remember to pray for our group:

Debbi and Daniel Gischia, Christie Norman, Fran Rabidue, Adam Schmits and Chase Raffaele!!

Countdown for "Team May" and registration for "Team September"

The countdown begins for Team May!!  I spoke with Tom from FIAI in Haiti last night and coordinated the last of our trip details.    We will be there during the high season for planting so much of our time will be spent delivering fruit trees in the mountains.  This is probably one of my favorite things to do when in Haiti.  Just ask anyone from our Team June trip and they will tell you the same.  The people in the mountains have even less then the rest of the population there, but they are so incredibly happy!  Their smiles and laughter are contagious!! The people are so welcoming!!  We will be again volunteering at Mother Theresa's Home for Children at the end of our trip.  This is also a favorite!! 

Fr. Alexis will be hosting us this time so we will be able to spend some time at his schools.  In fact, on Sunday we will be attending Mass at the church that doubles as "my school" in Hatte Belanger.  If you get a chance, ask me about why he calls it "my school."  I would love to tell the story!!  I am so excited to go there because I didn't get a chance the last two trips.  We are going to be collecting some items for the schools.  I should have a small list by next week.

Registration for "Team September" is under way!!  It's only 5 months until our next trip September 28-October 5.  We are looking to fill this team with about 10-15 people as we will be building while we are there.  If you are interested at all, please contact us so we can get you our basic information to look over.  We will have more details for the trip when we get back from the May trip. 

Be praying for God to prepare the hearts of those who will be going on this trip in May and the upcoming trip in September!!!

God bless you all and all of our brothers and sisters in Haiti!!!!!!!!!!!!!

40 Days until "Team May" heads to Haiti!!

Yes, plans are moving forward for our May trip to Haiti! I am very excited for this trip. I’ll have to admit, I was a little discouraged because we only have a small group this time - just 4 of us. But a few weeks ago, when I was pleading in prayer, asking God to tell me whether or not we should continue with this trip, He was amazing!! God answered me so clearly and overwhelmed me with His abounding love and confidence in me that I just have to follow His leading me. (My prayer partners know the story!) So, we may be a small group, but we have a purpose and God has prepared the way for us already! We still have room if anyone wants to jump in – just have to check flight availability.


I am in the process of developing our schedule while we are there and will keep you all posted. Also, while in Haiti, I will be looking at property (just looking) for the site of our dream mission house (who knows when that will come to fruition – but I can’t hurt to look!), and also planning our next project for September of this year. And yes, Jeff will be able to join us for that trip!!!!

Also, look for information of when we will be on the radio again!!! Strong Tower Radio in Cadillac, has requested another interview!!! George Corliss and Jilane Fenner are wonderful people who have developed this radio outreach that has blessed so many people! Check it out at 91.9 FM.

Hands for Haiti!!!!



Debbi

The Countdown Begins!!!

Yes, it is confirmed!!!  Plans are under way for our May trip!  Watch our blog or on Facebook for all our planning progress!!!

Why are we going to Haiti? - an inspiration...

Gosh, what an inspiration last night that extended into this morning!!! Well, I definitely have to share this you!!

I had a wonderful visit with a wonderful friend last night about our upcoming mission trip to Haiti in May. She was asking many good questions, but one of them is the reason I stayed up last night – deep in thought. “What will we be doing there and why do they need us?” The question came as a result of her conversations with fellow collegues of their experiences on mission. She works in the medical field and when told about the many medical mission trips that people have gone on where they are performing surgeries from sun up to sundown and the lines of people waiting for much needed medical care, she wondered about what she would be doing – distributing fruit trees??? She brought up a very good question that many others may have, so this is basis for my big inspiration.

You know, there are many people who don’t think they are needed on a mission trip. They aren’t doctors or nurses; they don’t have construction or engineering skills. Some people don’t feel like they have any skills to offer. But that’s OK. They are all wrong!! While all those roles mentioned are very important and needed, so is the basic role of simply loving your neighbor and caring for the poor. We do just this with our “Hands for Haiti” mission. As my favorite quote from St. Francis of Assisi says, “Preach the Gospel at all times, use words if necessary.” We are doing just that! The Gospels emphasize LOVING others and SERVING others and taking care of the POOR. And actually, when you go to Haiti, you will see that they will LOVE us and they will SERVE us and you will wonder who’s really POOR? And what is “poor” anyway? Are we poor in our own hearts? You will be touched in a way that you have never been touched before. You experience a kind of Love that you may not have ever experienced before. Be always open!!!

Yes, we will be delivering fruit trees to the poorest in the mountains and we will be visiting people in remote places and we will be immersed in Haitian culture. We will be served and loved as much as we will be serving and loving and the exchange will be beautiful and life changing and humbling.

Let’s go to Haiti together. Holding hands with each other, extending hands to others, receiving hands from new friends and bringing hands back that are changed and renewed with the love of Christ, ready to greet anything God is calling for our lives with JOY!!!

If you can’t come with us on our journeys, please join with us by following our blog site while we are there. You, too, can experience the beauty of Christ’s love in your heart, spilling out over everyone you meet. Follow us and pray for us!!

God bless,  Debbi

Support us through your Lenten Contributions!!

LENT... A time for preparing ourselves for the glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior!! As you know, there are three main parts of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. I pray that you use this season to draw closer to the Lord!! It’s so awesome to see each other’s relationship with Jesus soar to new heights!!! Glory to be to HIM!!!

This is also a time when you are approached by many organizations for almsgiving. Well, I would like to throw another one out there.

HANDS FOR HAITI

 

I know there a lot of organizations asking for people to donate for their Lenten sacrifices. While I don’t intend to sway you from these obligations, they are all good, I am just offering another option. Consider donating to a local mission where you know exactly where your money is going. We take groups to Haiti to help with whatever is needed in the Artibonite Valley region (60 miles north of the capital of Port au Prince). We also offer scholarships to young people you would really love to have the mission experience but just don’t have the resources. These are some of the things that we have done and will continue to do:

 

Accomplishments so far:

• Built shelters in Port au Prince.
• Distributed school supplies to earthquake refugee school kids.
• Built a home for an earthquake refugee family that had lost everything.
• Distributed trees to poor Haitian villages in the mountains.
• Help with the children’s tree nursery.
• Volunteer @ Mother Theresa’s Home for Malnourished Babies

Future/Ongoing projects:

• Building another tree nursery.
• Distributing fruit trees to more villages in the mountains..
• Building latrines in outlying villages.
• Working in the children’s nursery.
• Volunteer @ Mother Theresa’s Home for Malnourished Babies.
• To build a mission house as our home base and be able to employ local Haitians there!!
• … and many others as the needs come up!!

As you know, we are just starting out, but growing steadily!!

 

Please help us bring this experience of spreading the love of Christ to more people like those you see here!!

You can now donate ONLINE through paypal!!!  Just "click" the DONATE button on the side bar!!
Or ~ you can always send donations to Hands for Haiti, 7421 W. Blue Rd., Lake City, MI  49651

God bless and thank you!!!!

Team MAY Mission Trip Details!!

Date:      Wednesday, May 18 – Wednesday, May 25, 2010

                       Leave Tuesday night to stay overnight in Detroit
                       Depart approx. 7 a.m. from Detroit airport, arrive in Haiti approx. 1 p.m.
                       Depart approx. 2 p.m. from Haiti, arrive in Detroit approx. 10 p.m.

 

Cost:      $950 ($500 deposit by March 25, 2011)

Includes:      Airfare, lodging, food and transportation in Haiti for 7 nights.
                     (Does not include any food purchased at airport.)

 

Goal:      To help build a second tree nursery, help distribute fruit trees throughout the
                mountain villages, and assist Fr. Alexis.

 

Need ASAP!!

• Your commitment and enthusiastic desire to serve the people of Haiti!!
• $500/per person to secure flights.
• Passport name and number and date of birth

Please let me know if you are interested!!

 

More details will follow including a group meeting. We are still working on the project itinerary.

 

Another inspiration... who are we and what is our purpose??

I’ve been inspired this morning.

I spoke with a young man that really inspired me this morning. You know, don’t you just love people? I love people!! All kinds of people. You can be inspired by everyone you meet if you let yourself. You can be inspired many different ways, but one of them is to get ideas from talking to people. And that’s what happened to me this morning.

Hands for Haiti – what is that? What are we? WHO are we? What are we about?

These questions have been running through me since this whole mission group began. As many of you already know – we had been involved in doing fundraising for the building of schools in Haiti for 9 years, but always wanted to be involved more “hands on” but the opportunity never really presented itself. When my daughter and I accompanied her class to the Dominican Republic, I saw first hand how these young men and women were affected by the service work they were doing and by the relationships they were building with people like themselves from another culture. This opened up an immense desire to help bring this experience to more than just Bekah’s school kids.

The next step was to head to Haiti ourselves and see what was needed. Jake and I set off in February and brainstormed how to do this. In June of 2010 our first “group mission trip” was under way bearing the name of our newly instituted organization, Hands for Haiti!! During this entire process, the support and encouragement from family and friends was overwhelming and God’s willingness to guide and challenge us was amazing. We have learned so many lessons along the way.

Now, what is next? Where do we go from here? We are planning another trip, but the details haven’t been worked out yet. We have been approached by another organization to partner with, but that hasn’t exactly worked out. I have really been struggling with what are “mission” is. What we are all about. This brings me to my “inspiration” this morning.

I have been thinking long and hard about this and have asked God to show me the direction that we should be going with our mission and this is what I believe God has shown me – at least for now. There are so many mission groups out there – and in Cadillac, too. They are all so wonderful. I have read about many of them and continued to be inspired by those that give of their time and talents to help others. I would like Hands for Haiti to be able to provide a mission trip experience for those that would otherwise not be able to. I would love to be able to raise enough funds to help the cost of young men and women who would never even think they could afford to go on a mission trip to join our teams!
I love the people of Haiti and I love Christ’s teaching about helping the poor and I love to see common everyday people I know working alongside common everyday people I don’t know and together, despite language and culture differences, form relationships. Wow – this is Christ’s love outpouring on a whole lot of people and it is the most awesome beauty one can hope to witness.

No, I don’t have the perfect trip planned yet or by far the perfect organization. But I think God is working in all of us in our journey to get there. I love the quote by St. Francis of Assisi (I quote it often), “Preach the Gospel at all times, use words if necessary.” The most powerful witness we can be is by doing - by "being" the gospel!  Let’s let “Hands for Haiti” help not only the Haitians, but us Americans be able to use our hands to DO what Christ has asked us - to LOVE!!!

I love you all – because you are common everyday people just like me!!!!

Debbi Gischia

YES!!!! We are going back!!!!

Yes, it's true!! We are going back to Haiti!! We have settled on our dates and are beginning our planning. Anyone interested in joining us May 18-25, 2011, please send me an email so I can get you on our list and prepared!! We are still working out the details, but as soon as we have them, they will be posted!!!

You can email us at HandsForHaitiTeam@gmail.com

Facebook anyone???

Good morning!! We are considering giving Hands for Haiti a Facebook page to include blog posts on. Please vote on the poll on the right side of the blog site to give us your opinion.

Video call from Haiti...

Hello on this snowy Sunday afternoon!!! Yes, I just got off the "phone" with my friends in Haiti. Actually, it was my first SKYPE experience!! It was a little bit fuzzy and the conversation was somewhat delayed, but it was free - so it works for us!

Well, we feel like it has been way too long since we have been back in Haiti, so we are in the process of planning another trip very soon!!! Hands for Haiti is at it again!! We originally were looking at April 27-May 4th. There may be some complications with these dates, but we will keep you posted. If this is when we are going, we need to act fast!! We have also planned our 2nd trip of 2011 for Sept. 28-Oct. 5th. This second one will give us a little more time to raise funds for some bigger projects.

While on the video call with Tom from Faith in Action, I got to see how much his little boy, Ryan, is growing. And for all our friends that were praying for baby Ryan - he is doing much better and is healthy!! Tom shared with me their need for more nurseries to grow fruit trees to help the Haitians in the mountains and also about the water filters they have been giving out and the need for more. We are excited to help with these projects!!!

If you are interested in either of these trips, please email me HandsForHaitiTeam@gmail.com.

An Inspirational Contributor!

Well, it’s Friday again and time for me to post. I’m so glad that I made this resolution of “Friday posting.” I have found myself excitedly awaiting my date with the Hands for Haiti blog!!!

People have been asking when are we going to Haiti again and I have also been asking myself this question. It seems like the time has just been going by so quickly. Personally, I have had an ache in my heart to go back there. I can’t help it. I just love to be there!! If I had it my way, I would be in Haiti one week out of every month. But that’s not really possible right now, so I’ll have to settle for a few times a year.

Tonight I sat next to a wonderful woman at my son’s hockey game. She is an inspiration to me and I’m sure to many others also. She has three children. One is finished with college and is working, another is a marine deployed in Afghanistan and the other is handicapped. After her husband passed, she had the challenge of raising her children on her own. As we watched the game, we chatted about all the life lessons we try to teach our children growing up and the value of good, honest hard work. We also talked about how to instill in them the act of not only receiving, but giving of ourselves to others and how important it is for them to be thankful for what they have in life. I think the best way to do this, is live by what we preach.

This wonderful, giving friend, not only takes care of her handicapped son, but also organizes sending shoes and toiletry items to Afghanistan on a regular basis. She doesn’t have much, but what she does have, she shares with others. She religiously sends a check every month to support our mission. Her gift inspires me to persevere through challenges in my own life that prevent me from making this next trip to Haiti. I know that if I trust and persevere like she does, our plans will come to fruition and we will soon be on our way back to our friends in Haiti.

Thank you, Pam, for your belief and faith in us. Your life, simple as you may think that it is, has been a huge inspiration for me and for our small organization. You are a blessing to the Hands for Haiti family and your blessing extends across the ocean to a little village in the mountains on the island of Haiti.

Meet Roseline and her family...

This is what Jean Rony sent about the family who moved into the house,

"This family is living in the house now. They are four people, one lady and her three daughters. The lady's name is Roseline Euguene, age 50. She has 3 daughters whose names are Oseline Derilus, Orathanie Camelo, and Resue Dutervil.
The mother is so thrilled of having a place to stay now with her daughters as she had been sleeping out on a porch of a rice mill since people broke into the thatch hut they had borrowed. She says, sleeping out on a porch had always been a restless night for her. It is even worse for the family when it is market day. Mill schedule starts as early as 3 a.m. on market day.
The family thanked so much the project and whoever contributed to the house to be built. They also said many thanks to the team that came down to help with the construction. "

- Jean Rony

Additional note from Tom at Faith In Action International - "The oldest daughter was very ill when I first saw her. Not sure with what - skin and bones - dehydrated but not sure the cause. Got her to the hospital and she is doing much better. The family had their small thathed hut broken into when no one was home about four months ago. As it was secluded in the middle of a garden of millet (that gets to be 14 feet tall), they moved out to live on the porch of the mill. The mom works in our tree nursery and is helping graft avocadoes this week. The two youngest are in school (paid for by FIAI)."

Happy New Year!!! (a little late)

Hello to all of our faithful Hands for Haiti followers!!!

As you know, today at 4:53 EST marks the time one year ago that the earthquake hit the country of Haiti causing extreme devastation to an already destitute country. Please take a moment of silence today to remember all that died, were injured and lost loved ones.

Our Blog has been updated and we are ready to move forward with more projects. It has been my New Year’s resolution to update the Hands for Haiti blog site every Friday – keep watching. You may get some wonderful planning information or you may get my crazy thoughts for the day – you never know sometimes what goes on in my head so be prepared!!!

Thank you to all who have supported and inspired us throughout this past year! We are truly blessed to have you in our lives and so are the wonderful people of Haiti!!!

Have a blessed new year!!!!


***P.S. Stay tuned for the story on this wonderful family that now has a place to live, thanks to our own Hands for Haiti TEAM JUNE!!!!