These are just my rambling thoughts, insights, memories, frustrations, praises,---the defragging of my mind. Just a way to share my ups and downs, sillies and weepies, hopes and dreams with those who care to read about them.

Monday, August 2, 2010

My Haiti Photo Journal

I went on a mission trip to Haiti with our church the first part of July. It was an awesome trip--I was blessed far more than I could possibly bless others. The Haitian people are incredible--so resilient, hard working, persevering, and joyful. I love the people of Haiti. It was very hot and humid; we ate rice and beans for nearly every meal and it was delicious; water was often in short supply so we took "bucket" showers (meaning you had a bucket of cold water and a cup and that was how you bathed)...but it felt oh so good and I was thankful. We stayed in a beautiful three story house high on the side of a hill overlooking Port au Prince. It was so lovely and comfortable and the views were incredible. But we left around 7:30 am and returned home after 9pm so we had little time to relish in that comfort. Most of our time was spent on the streets of Carre Four, an area of Port au Prince where we were doing street evangelism and our pastor was holding a Pastor's leadership conference at a Haitian church for 100 pastors. Then each night there was a church service we attended.
I will explain more with the photos below. I forgot how blogger works so you need to scroll to the bottom and work your way up for them to be in chronological order (somewhat).
Evangelism was easy as the people are so open and when you speak to one a crowd gathers and they all listen. I learned to never make a superficial decision based on a person's demeanor as to whether they will receive the gospel message. I was humbled many times. The toughest, meanest, most stoic people were transformed before my eyes when they truly listened to the gospel being presented, received Jesus, and were born again. Their whole countenace changed--they glowed. It was so amazing and humbling. It is not the messenger....it is the good news message that does the transforming. Jesus scooping them up in his net of love.
The church services were held in this big tent in the middle of what was once a street of a neighborhood but due to the earthquake it was full of rubble with only a footpath to get through. The service lasted 3 hours or more and there was much loud praise and worship. The Haitians truly worship with all their heart and soul. So beautiful. It was great to see the people that we witnessed to come to the services.
We visited some of the orphanages were there are kids we are trying to get freed to come to the US for adoption. The orphanges are sad--not much at all for them--few toys and not lots of interaction with people. The kids just hung all over us. Such cute kids with such big smiles.
I will explain the rest through the photos. (Remember to start from the bottom and work up)


Saw this shirt on a girl at Miami airport. She was from England and had been on mission trip to Guatemala. A great mission t-shirt.
This was home that one of our interpreters was building. Very nice by Haitian standards.

I love this scene of woman in old boat.






Our last day we did some sight-seeing along the coast and ate LOBSTER at a fancy resort.




They fill those tap-taps to the limit.


These are houses that Habitat for Humanity are building.



We are in rural area where horses and donkeys are the mode of transportation.
Doesn't she have a pretty smile?

Bill and some little ones.

She wanted this pose for my camera. A cute little girl.

We visited this rural orphanage where we are suppossed to be getting 20 kids from to bring to the US. Lots of kids all ages here and they were so excited to see us. That is Roz they are climbing all over.

Rivers are used for swimming, bathing, washing clothes, watering livestock, and sadly for drinking water, too.

This is view of Mission of Hope, a huge complex that has a clinic and a big hospital that was much used after earthquake. Clinic still sees about 100 people a day. It also has a school and orphanage and dorms for mission teams to stay in.

This is one of the big buildings that collapsed.


More earthquake destruction.

This was the President's palace in Port au Prince.

There is earthquake destruction everywhere in downtown Port au Prince and many tent cities.
But, life is pretty much back to normal with many people put to work in clean-up crews. Bill was amazed at all that had been accomplished in the past two months.

On our last day Bill took us downtown to where the worst damage occurred.


That is a truck full of bags of little bags of cold water. That is how it is sold on the street--you drink water from a bag.



Just a photo of me taken off our balconey at the house.

See that little bit of blue in the background? That is the tent for the church service at night. This is what it is like to walk down the street now.
The street where the Haitian church is that we were working with.

These are the kids of the Haitian pastor. They were great kids--so polite and helpful.

This is our interpretor, Wilford, and his family.

Our pastor and Pastor Tony.


That is our pastor's wife, Rosemary, who held a women's conference one day. The Haitian women loved it and asked lots of tough questions. 60 women attended.



market place

scenes taken from the car as we passed the market


They call the UN the United Nothing as they can do nothing unless they are fired upon so they really are not much help or protection. Though they do drive around looking real tough.

Red Cross trucks

A Tap-tap---like a Haitian taxi cab only they pile on as many people as possible


Pastor Rodney helps Haitian woman draw water from the church cistern.

This is man we prayed for who wanted out of Voodoo and wanted Jesus. He dug up all his voodoo objects from around his home and burned them.


At the Pastor's Conference

more street scenes

Look at those men pulling that heavy load.

more market scenes--the clothing aisle


street scenes


This house was right across from ours and was destroyed by earthquake, yet ours untouched.
Tent city as seen from balconey of our house.


gardens outside the house

This is the little balconey where we had devotions each morning. So pretty.

What it looks like when you walk in front door of house (which is on the third floor)





This is the best picture I could get of front of house.



view from balconey of road to house

View of Port au Prince from house.



a tap tap

busses are really decorated...and named.

home of our interpretor, Wilford.

a tent city




Martine
These were taken at the special needs orphange.



I am always amazed at how the women carry stuff on their heads. One woman that I witnessed to in the street had 6 boxes of eggs balanced on her head and each box held 12 dozen eggs. It was so incredible.



























































Friday, July 30, 2010

Our new puppy











This is Lulu, our newest family member. She is 5 months old--a shelter dog--who was waiting just for us. We are both smitten as she has a great personality. The cats, on the other hand, are pretty disgusted that we would consider rocking their peaceful world. Cats no longer rule in the Barlow home.....