Our first day

Today was our first full day in Haiti, and we were finally able to complete a project that started at last year’s annual Reiser Relief “Keep the Wheel Turning” fundraiser in April.   Those who were at last year’s event know that people had an opportunity to purchase water buckets, write messages on them, and in turn, we promised to ship them to Haiti for use by the Haitians.  The buckets WERE shipped, and today our team delivered them to a tent city in Cite Soleil!  We brought our water truck with us, so we were able to fill the new buckets with water and help carry them to many people’s tents.  They were a huge hit, and everybody was so grateful and excited to get them. Unlike here in the sates, access to water can be a daily struggle for the people of Haiti, so it was heartwarming to see that the generosity, love and messages extended by people in Minnesota will now be a crucial daily part of the lives of so many Haitians.  Mesi anpil!

We also made a stop at a local orphanage that is home to many children with special needs.  The orphanage is sorely lacking in the proper facilities to help these children.  Although they are all cleaned, fed, and loved, the wheelchairs aren’t properly equipped to hold up the heads of children that can’t hold the weight of their own heads, children that can’t walk are left to lie on mats on the floor for extended periods of time, and many of them are lacking physical therapy and medical attention for their many needs.  One tiny girl had severe burns that had left parts of her body disfigured.  Without a doubt, all these children’s lives could be improved immensely with the type of medical help that is available in the U.S.  But for us today, besides bringing them a few new toys, all we were able to do was hold them, play with them, and give them the love and attention they crave. 

And this is a day in Haiti.  There are so many things we want to do, but we have to understand that sometimes these things need to happen in small steps.  We may not be able to solve all the shortcomings of a local orphanage overnight, but we did make a tiny difference in the lives of a group of people in a tent city today.   

Dear Jesus, help us to spread your fragrance wherever we go.

Ann

Our first day

Today was our first full day in Haiti, and we were finally able to complete a project that started at last year’s annual Reiser Relief “Keep the Wheel Turning” fundraiser in April.   Those who were at last year’s event know that people had an opportunity to purchase water buckets, write messages on them, and in turn, we promised to ship them to Haiti for use by the Haitians.  The buckets WERE shipped, and today our team delivered them to a tent city in Cite Soleil!  We brought our water truck with us, so we were able to fill the new buckets with water and help carry them to many people’s tents.  They were a huge hit, and everybody was so grateful and excited to get them. Unlike here in the sates, access to water can be a daily struggle for the people of Haiti, so it was heartwarming to see that the generosity, love and messages extended by people in Minnesota will now be a crucial daily part of the lives of so many Haitians.  Mesi anpil!

We also made a stop at a local orphanage that is home to many children with special needs.  The orphanage is sorely lacking in the proper facilities to help these children.  Although they are all cleaned, fed, and loved, the wheelchairs aren’t properly equipped to hold up the heads of children that can’t hold the weight of their own heads, children that can’t walk are left to lie on mats on the floor for extended periods of time, and many of them are lacking physical therapy and medical attention for their many needs.  One tiny girl had severe burns that had left parts of her body disfigured.  Without a doubt, all these children’s lives could be improved immensely with the type of medical help that is available in the U.S.  But for us today, besides bringing them a few new toys, all we were able to do was hold them, play with them, and give them the love and attention they crave. 

And this is a day in Haiti.  There are so many things we want to do, but we have to understand that sometimes these things need to happen in small steps.  We may not be able to solve all the shortcomings of a local orphanage overnight, but we did make a tiny difference in the lives of a group of people in a tent city today.   

Dear Jesus, help us to spread your fragrance wherever we go.

Ann

Legacy

As we wind down our time  in Haiti, I am delighted to watch our team bond together in support and love.  This afternoon we picked up boys from our neighborhood in the tap tap and took them to a nearby field to play soccer.  There were 40 sweaty bodies jammed together in an exceedingly hot space, and the team took it as an opportunity to experience what daily transportation is like for many Haitians and were grateful for the chance of solidarity.  As the whole bunch of us sang worship songs together and praised God in that small space in that moment in time, it was truly a beautiful thing.

At night we spend time together as a group processing and re-living our day.  One team member commented tonight that our experience this week is unique, God managed, and will never be exactly the same for anyone else who comes to Haiti.  I can't wait to see how they will continue to grow and serve now that Haiti has so deeply touched their hearts and settled deep into their minds. 

Our team loves to sing and we've perfected quite a few songs over the week; some with lyrics bent to fit our experiences in Haiti.  We start each morning enthusiastically practicing our repertoire in the tap tap.  Today when we visited an orphanage the children performed welcoming songs for us.  What a fantastic turn of events when we told the children that we had also prepared songs for them.  The smiles on their faces were priceless.

We also visited a mass grave site today where tens of thousands of Haitians were buried en masse after the devastating 2010 earthquake.   It was a time to reflect on the horrific loss of life that day, but also to marvel at how far Haiti has come since that tragic day.

Nearly two years ago I delivered a eulogy at Fr. Reiser's funeral.  Tonight I shared that eulogy with this team.  They are helping all of us carry on his legacy of servitude, kindness, keeping a positive attitude, and loving our Lord.  I am deeply touched by their willingness to keep this excellent legacy alive.

Peace,

Joyce

Day with Elderly

A day filled with touching moments.  We headed north to Titanyen to purchase food for some elderly people who have no one to take care of them.  The average life expectancy in Haiti is just 52, and these men and women have outlived their own children.  They may have a grandchild or two to help out, but they are pretty much on their own.  We sang with and prayed for these elders and checked up on their general well-being.  We rubbed lotion into arms and legs that had seen many years of hard and strenuout work.  Most of these precious men and women ae living in little more than shacks which were hastily contructed after the 2010 earthquake.  Their wants are so basic: a solid floor, roof leaks repaired, a bed.  And yet their joy seems to know no bounds.

Truly beautiful souls.

Patty Munson



Amazing, beautiful and exhausting day "doing nothing."  I felt uncomfortable coming to spend a week in Haiti without a project or activity.  It was hard to imagine what purpose we would serve.  Seeing the joy and laughter of the children we played with at Grace Village, and witnessing the soft spoken prayer and singing from the elderly we delivered food to directly from the street market was truly amazing and blessed me beyond belief.

Watching my son, Nick, and experiencing this through him has been so awesome.  He is truly in his element and jumps right in to hold, or play with kids and paint fingernails of the elderly ladies we visit.  Can't wait to see where this experience leads him in the future.

Sandy Zarembinski




Just when I think that my blessings are more than enough, God's love splashes even more into my overfilled cup.  Today we made a brief stop to drop off supplies, and once again were surrounded by school age children....from there we entered the market, not alone, to purchase food and drink for the elderly.

The rest of the day I was able to yet again be filled with life, from the 1 month old baby I held, cradled and soothed, to the prayers and blessings of a 104 year old woman named Marie!  No one can deny the love and strength that is among those in this country...despite the poverty, and conditions...I can't even describe what I have seen...God is alive and here with his people...how can I deny His presence when I know a Haitian woman, whom I have met just once praying for me...and the rest of our amazing team...God is so good, He's so Good!  Thank you for the love and support that you are all sending us!

Christine Davis

Empathy

I believe that we all have a God-given instinct for empathy. Having empathy allows us to feel what others feel. Having empathy allows us to care for others as if we were caring for ourselves. Being in Haiti has awakened empathy I didn't even know I had.  I know that when I get back to the States, I will be a more empathetic person because of Haiti. Haiti has changed me - it has transformed me into a better person. That is the blessing of Haiti. As we serve the lost and forgotten people of Haiti, we are also giving ourselves a great gift - the opportunity to become better Christians and better people. Back home, there are people in our midst who are suffering and need our help. By seeing what we've seen in Haiti, I believe that we will be more willing to help those who need it. I am so glad I went on this mission trip!! I would encourage anyone to come down here for a week and see what God has in store for you. 

My word of the day: Empathy.

Sometimes it seems as if the Light of God shines through the people of Haiti. In that sense, they are the sun and we are the moon, reflecting their light off of us onto the world. I hope and pray that we continue to reflect their light well after we get back home. I know everyone in our team has  been permanently transformed into more empathetic people. I believe that the mission of Reiser Relief is much broader than Haiti - through its transformed volunteers, the world will be a better place. I am so impressed by the absolute quality of this organization!! I am confident that Father Reiser would look down on us and be very happy indeed. For he can see the Light of the Haitians reflecting off of us and that is a very good thing!!

-Bill Munson

I'm not afraid

God touches us at unexpected moments in Haiti.  Yesterday we visited the Village of Jesus.  This was Fr. Reiser's first project in Haiti.  It is managed by the Sisters who beautifully care for 40 abandoned elderly women.

One of our team members is a breast cancer survivor, and lost her mother to breast cancer.  Ann was moved to change her shirt yesterday morning and wear pink, the color in the United States that symbolizes the fight against breast cancer.

When we entered The Village of Jesus Ann was drawn to a resident there, Marisol, who is suffering from breast cancer.  Marisol lifted her shirt and revealed the large tumor in her breast to Ann.  Her tumor is on the same side as Ann's tumor was.   Cancer treatment is not an option for Marisol, but she is lovingly cared for by the Sisters and spending her days in a peaceful, clean and God filled environment.

God worked a reverse mission on Ann yesterday.  Ann is still grieving the loss of her mother and recovering from the trauma of being a survivor.  God poured his healing rain on Ann yesterday and she tenderly prayed and spent time with Marisol.  It was a time that allowed her to grieve the effects of breast cancer in her life.

Marisol and Ann

We come to Haiti afraid of many things.  We're afraid of contracting malaria, of getting a sunburn, of getting an upset stomach, of the violence and gangs in Haiti that we hear about in the media.   We may be afraid our efforts are not of value, that through helping we are hurting, that we are taking away from those who need us at home, that our efforts are but a drop in the bucket and do not matter.

This morning we attended worship where we sang "Healing Rain" and repeated the refrain over and over:   "I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid"

Haiti ministers to us.  Haiti heals us.  God is present in a mighty way in Haiti ministering and healing.

I'm not afraid.

Peace,
Joyce

Struggle

Today we made the journey to the Village of Jesus.  Father Reiser helped construct this home for up to 50 elderly women in need and a handful of Sisters many years ago.  There are still reminders of him throughout: a laminated poster on the wall with pictures of the original construction along with Father Reiser; a plaque with his face etched into stone; and a Sister who remembers him and examined Joyce for facial similarities.  It's a humbling feeling knowing that someone who shares the same blood as me helped start something so great.

The women are clean, well fed, comfortable, and have a bed to call their own.  In recent days of this trip, we encountered many people who did not have those luxuries.  Children walking the streets in Cite Soleil completely naked, covered in dirt, bloated bellies from starvation and malnutrition.  Men and women so thin that they look like a skeleton with skin draped over it.  We helped many small children carry buckets that weighed more than they did into their homes.  Inside the homes were a few personal belongings and a mattress on the dirt ground if they were lucky.  The streets were overflowing with garbage and raw sewage.  When I think about what I saw today, and what I saw on the previous days...I really struggle with what I want to pour my effort into.  What am I most passionate about?

Where would these elderly women be if the Village of Jesus didn't exist?  hat can we do to help the people in the slums of Cite Soleil?   

Everyone I meet in Haiti touches my heart, but how can I help them all?  How can I be as great as Father Reiser?  I struggle with this thought. 

On our way to the Village of Jesus there was a man standing in the road near a speed bump.  He was on crutches and had one leg.  He was asking for help from every car that passed.  On our way there, we zoomed right by him.  As we were leaving for the day, one of our Haitian drivers/interpreters grabbed a coca cola.  When we reached that same speed bump 6 hours later on our way home, the one legged man was still there.  The driver grabbed the coke and handed it to him.  He surely helped that man, at least for today.

I guess I have to think of things on small scale, and remember to grab that coca cola for the one Haitian who needs a little hope today.

Kim Maciej