Photos

Sorry it took so long but here are some photos.

Album 1

Album 2

Fini

Well, we are getting ready to head to the Jacmel airport (like a little garage with a long driveway....it's adorable...) to head out to Port au Prince, and then Miami, and then home. We didn't get a chance to post last night because we didn't have access to the internet, but what an amazing day. An amazing week. 

Our team did a fantastic job, and it's hard to describe the feeling of knowing we came to do and be what we had been planning for months. 

There are so many stories to tell, so many indelible images in our hearts and minds....I can't wait to see what Crosspointe's further involvement will do long term. Whatever that looks like, it will be nothing less than changing and saving lives.

A few more...

Ouch

Ouch...So riding on top of the car was cool for the first two days and now it kind of hurts.  

We accomplished a lot today.  We had our second day of construction where the guys served as mules for the professionals.  We hauled the cement and lifted up the cinder blocks to build the final walls for the first floor of the school.  We learned that this building will serve more than just a school.  It will also serve as a community building and a church.  It is great that we could help build such an important part in this community. 

The women in the group completed another successful day of teaching to the local children.  They taught about Love yesterday and Kindness today.  We were not there but from all of the laughing and singing I would say it was a success.  

Overall it was a great day.  Can't wait until tomorrow. 

Kevin

Thursday

Sorry everybody... didn't post last night because we passed out in our beds before I got to it.

We're getting ready to head out in 15 minutes, but I can tell you briefly that yesterday was pretty amazing. Basin Bleu is remarkably beautiful, and the people are so wonderful. VBS went off very well, and we were reminded that laughter and fun are universal. Even with the language barrier, we all knew at the end of the day that God is good ("Bondye se bon!") and laughing heals. We got a lot of work done on the school building as well. it's amazing what these people can do with very little resources...wow.

We'll post some pics later today, and recap our experience in the mountains as well as church tonight.

Steve

Contact!

We're here, safe and sound.

The trip from Raleigh, thru Miami to Port au Prince couldn't have been smoother- and it's an amazing thing to start the morning in the richest area in our hemisphere, and be in the absolute poorest by lunch.

Upon arriving and being blasted in the face with hot, tropical air and the totally different culture, we did what anyone would do just moments into a third world country; we went to Dominoes. And it can be said without hesitation that the Dominoes is better here than in the States. Go figure.

The 10 of us and Danny took a bus from Port au Prince through the rural areas, over the mountains to Jacmel. It took about 2.5 hours and was a truly eye-opening trip. To see poverty stacked on top of poverty and utter desperation lived out under dirty tarps makes you want to get out and just start helping. Doing what, I have no idea...but driving by, staring out the window at their everyday reality, is humbling.

Once at the home, the hugs, jumprope, futbol, dancing, singing and games began. Man I love this place. But, after singing a few worship songs and praying together, we decided to check into our rooms and call it a night. We're just wiped.

We'll get up in the morning and head to Basin Bleu to work on the school building being erected in a very detached, rural area, as well as offer a vacation Bible School for the area kids. We can't wait to see what's in store.

Steve

It's Time - We're off to Haiti!!

Well the time has finally arrived!! In just over 30 hrs we will be on our way to Haiti! I can't believe the months have flown by so quickly. Our group as been busily preparing for the trip over the last couple of weeks, including gathering for an authentic Haitian meal, shopping for supplies to bring to the Haitian Children's Home, packing/weighing the 20 military duffle bags with the supplies (all our personal items we will be carrying on), and sitting together as a group, visualizing step by step our trip. We've even learned some Creole (language that is spoken in Haiti).

You may have heard about the unrest that occurred in April. Much of that has died down. While there is always risk in going to a 3rd world country with that kind of government, we are very comfortable that we will be perfectly safe. The people that we will be working with will meet us as soon as we land in Port au Prince, the capital. After going through customs, we will be taking a bus to Jacmel, in the southern part of the country. Although the trip is approx only 25 miles or so, it should be about a 2.5-3 hour trip. Although I have heard this is a rough trip (i.e.take your Dramamine), I am very much looking forward to the trip through the country to really "see" Haiti - the good and the bad.

Wednesday evening will be spent getting to know the kids at the home (approx. 22 of them), Thurs & Fri will be divided up for the guys and girls. Guys will be working on building a school down there and the girls will be going to a remote area to do a vacation bible school for kids who have never experience anything like that. There will be singing, playing, crafts and of course GOD. That will be so exciting and challenging as I'm sure none of these kids will know any English so all will have to be communicated through interpreters and of course just simple LOVE.

Saturday will be spending more time with the kids and going to the beach, more specifically, the land that the Children's home will be purchasing in the near future to build new homes with new "parents" so children won't be turned away when they come for help.

It is hard to describe the feelings that have been building in me the last week. I have been ready to go for days now - honestly not being able to or wanting to do anything else. Prime example: today I spent the day, picking the kids up from school early to spend the afternoon with them. We went shopping, came home, they helped me prep for dinner, we watched a movie, made Kelsey and her friend up with TONS of make up as tonight was picture night for their dance class. Just 10 minutes ago I went to take my contacts out and came to discover I only put ONE in today. No wonder I was having a hard time reading the computer screen, seeing the TV and felt dizzy in TJ Maxx - What a DORK!!

Our bags are packed and we anxiously awaiting our 3:45 am pick up on Wed to leave (thank you Anne).

Watch our progress and days happenings on our blog: http://haiti2008.blogspot.com/. It's wonderful to know that the people who have supported us and love us can be with us daily by going to the blog. Please keep up the prayers. Pay that we make a difference and that we are safe.

With much love,

Karen and Anthony

Packing

We had fun packing up for the trip...

Last Meeting

Last night was our final meeting and we are ready to go! We visualized our trip and talked about being a family unit while we are in Haiti. We have the benefit of knowing each other prior to departure. I think this will help us be more successful as a team and help make more of an impact on the community.

Sunday is our packing party where we will be stuffing 20 military size bags to bring down to the HCH. We are going to shove our stuff into our carry- on baggage and bring supplies in our checked baggage. Since there is virtually no postal service we are serving as UPS. It is going to be quite a scene to see us travel into Port au Prince.

Lastly, we are trying to learn Kreyol before we get there. Have some fun learning with us here.

Haiti Big Ask

Steve, our group leader, let us know that we will be going to see the land that the HCH is hoping to acquire to build more homes in Haiti. When we are down there, "We will be walking this land while we are down there, seeing it, dreaming about it, praying over it and documenting it on film to upload that night (perhaps YouTube, but not sure) so Crosspointe can watch it together the following Sunday morning as we are heading back."

Below is a link to a post from Jonathan Bow's blog about the land that the HCH is getting closer and closer to obtaining.

http://www.jonathanbow.com/carry_the_light/2008/04/haiti-big-ask.html

There's A Lion In The Street

On Sunday Jonathan Bow delivered a great message that spoke to Emily and I and our decision to go on this trip. It is called, "There's a Lion In the Street." Check it out...

Getting Close

It is May and reality is setting in that we are leaving soon. The other night we had a great group meeting discussing our biggest fears and what we are looking forward to. Now that the time for us to leave is getting closer we are all starting to focus more on the trip. I will try to summarize our conversation.

We are looking forward to working together as a team to make some difference in the lives of the children at the HCH. We are looking to grow together around serving others. We want to learn more about Haiti, its people, and the children at HCH. We hope that our short time time there will open our eyes and hearts more to the needs of this world.