Friends and family just wanted you all to know we are healthy and happy and making a difference. Worked at the orpphanage today and fell in love with the children. Started to build dormitories. The situation is desperate here, overwhelmed yesterday by the devastation and poverty, we are meant to be here. YES it is Hot and humid but the joy we felt at church yesterday was incredible.
Here's some things the team now appreciates: ice,, showers, clean underwear, paved roads, ac, cold drinks, being able to put tp in toilet, starbucks, family, no goats, quiet nights, electricity, trash pickup, fruit and veggies, beds, earthquake safe homes, ice cream, an;ything frozesn, not smelling like bug spray, home depot, puppies you can pet, our overall good fortune.
We may miss these things but willing to give them all up to make a difference!!!
- Jilane
We briefly toured Port au Prince yesterday and honestly, there are no words to describe the devastation. Although we will try to tell you stories, show you pictures and video, there is no duplicating this experience. To see the how little has been done to clean up the damage, it makes you truly grateful that God chose us to live where we live. That by no doing of our own, we have been blessed to live where we do. Thank God for that and pray for those that have not been given what we have. It gives new understanding to the scripture that says, to those that have been given much, much is demanded. If you have electricity and a functional bathroom….. you have been given much by comparison. I am grateful to live where we live, and honestly can’t wait to get back there! See you soon and God Bless!
- Kyle
from Rob Ippolito....
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned in yesterdays email I wasn't going to send daily updates...I've changed my mind.
Today was as expected and surprising all at the same time. I must admit right at the top my sweet little "broker" hands got a good lesson in hard work today....holy mama!
We arrived at the orphanage at 7:30 (5:30 San Diego time) and went to work. We broke into three teams each provided a specific task. One team was charged with moving the rubble from the former church and building a road and the other filling in a partially constructed slab which will someday be used as a clinic. The 3rd group played Extreme Makeover outfitting each boy and girl with a new outfit...when each child was dressed they walked out of the building and “walked the catwalk” to loud applause...the kids were beaming.
Our construction leaders went looking for materials at 8:00 and did not return until noon...things move extremely slow in Haiti...no supplies nor access to them...therefore no progress.
Fortunately we're Americans and standing around doesn't cut it so we decided to build the road regardless...oh forgot to mention we had one wheel barrow and twenty hammers and the road will stretch roughly 200 yards long and be the width of a car. By noon we, along with seven Haitian boys stretched the road fifty yards...take that Home Depot! This will provide trucks with goods the ability to access the home without their trucks getting stuck in the mud...if you wondering how we moved the rubble…we grabbed a rock and walked it over to the new road location, grabbed a hammer and broke down the rocks...if I hit one rock I hit a 1000...my hands are killing me, but it is absolutely for the best.
After lunch the kids were dismissed from school and the first day of Vacation Bible School began.
It was unbelievable...the kids are so joyful and thankful to be loved and cared for. They love the crafts, activities on the makeshift recreation field, and listening to (and singing with) Kyle as he plays his guitar...he's the new Justin Beiber of Haiti. Also, Jean Lousi (boy with MS) is amazingly at the center of all activities. The high school kids from our team are really delivering...they are pouring into these children and in return receiving adoration...what a life lesson at 15...no better way to see Christ's love then to watch the children...it's so obvious.
I am working on the new housing with three of our team members and six Haitian boys...they are extremely hard working and love to laugh...amazing while not knowing when your next meal is coming from...they make the day bearable.
We hit a snag in building the shelter which is frustrating...we are hoping to have the kids out of the tents and into the house by Thursday...pray for wisdom...there are limited supplies in Haiti.
Things to pray for:
-Energy...its flipping “Africa hot” with crazy humidity
-Safety...lot of hammers flying around with limited supervision
-Wisdom with Construction
-The members of the orphanage (men and women) see Christ in our actions as clearly as we see it in their joyful spirits.
Night under the stars #4 in front of us...I hope somebody feeds that flipping Rooster to that flipping dog!
Rob & Chrissy
Rob wrote as update on Tuesday night...
ReplyDeleteAfrica Hot vs. Cool Caribbean Breeze…or…Did I hear some puppies wrestling last night?
We woke this morning after a good night sleep under the stars to some real HAITI HEAT! My friend Woody swears he heard a dog fight at 3:00 a.m. You know, I knew I saw Michael Vick yesterday.
While already sweating, we headed over to the orphanage at 7:00 a.m. to begin some good old fashion manual labor. The prior evening we passed the hat and raised enough money to cover the cost to bring a new transformer to the orphanage. Now they are able to activate their well. When the message was delivered to Pastor Bob, you saw Faith embodied...he knew God would deliver.
We split into two teams: one to move rubble into the partially filled slab and the other team focused on the building of the children’s housing.
I worked on the housing team and busted out my IPOD speakers to spice up the day. You'd thought I invented the wheel as the boys stood in marvel. We danced to Bob Marley and Wyclef Jean...I know not necessarily Christian chart toppers but we were able to relate.
The heat was unbearable by 10:00 a.m. and you could see it in some of our eyes...I hit a wall at noon and shut it down for a good hour...this is freaking hard and I reek.
Vacation Bible School was in full motion again at 1:30 and the kids were more fired up than ever. They can't get enough of someone just playing soccer or duck-duck goose with them...a little attention could last a lifetime.
Kyle rocked the guitar, Jill and Jilane threw a mean VBS party and overall God was present even in a place so desperate, depressed and distraught.
Construction was in a desperate place until about 2:00, at which time our construction leaders found (hopefully) a solution. We have a long way to go and finishing what we started seems unlikely, but almost expected by Haitian standards. Please pray for progress.
At 3:30 the heat subsided and we got our first taste of the rainy season as it poured for a good 30 minutes and revitalized the team. We were all soaked and cool; no worries!
Last thoughts:
I drove back to the house in a small sedan rather than on the bus. Interestingly enough the perspective from the street level was incredibly depressing. If you tell me there is a worse place on earth I'll have a hard time believing you. I still am asking WHY to so many questions.
Amidst the depressed state, front and center there are signs of Christ. Each and every cab says "Merci Jesus" or a Bible verse across the front; and you never saw people so well dressed for Sunday church. Each morning the house next to the one we are staying at starts church at 5:30....Not sure what to make of it, but it deserves thought.
Lastly, learned today that appreciation and perspective is learned not innate. We're definitely learning.
Pray for:
Health (many are ill);
Progress with projects;
Maintaining a sense of anticipation that God will continue to transform us or others through us,
Energy...this is hard.
Alright it’s off to the Michael Vick night of dog fighting...I got the brown dog.
Rob & Chrissy