Building Dreams: Haiti Edition – Day 1

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Church? Check.
Two water wells? Check.
School? Let’s build a school!

God is already here. Persistently moving. Using His children to aid in His master plan.

Operation: Hope continues to build in Haiti. We are about to start another great adventure. The groundwork has been established. The people of Zoranje are a part of our family. And we keep moving forward with what God has put in our hearts.

For most this is their first missions trip. For others it is their first time in Haiti. And for a handful of the group, this is familiar territory.

Teams from New Life Church (NLC) in CT, Latin America Bible Institute (LABI) in Texas, University of Valley Forge (UVF) in Pennsylvania and The Bridge Church (TBC) from Oklahoma are ready to work for the glory of God.

Four different teams from four different states are here for one common goal. To build dreams. The school that we plant next to the church will educate over 500 children.

Today was travel day for Team NewLife, the LABI Crew and UVF United. A delayed flight for Team NewLife out of JFK landed them in Port-Au-Prince right around the same time as the LABI Crew and UVF United.

It was a mini reunion in the customs line, as Pastor Andy and Lorna with UVF United in tow made their presence known and then Gil and the LABI Crew appearing not far behind.

Richard, our missionary and his crew were probably relieved to take only one trek to the airport to pick up everyone. We crammed our bags and our bodies in the good old cattle car (oh memories!) and in a colorful mini bus.

Taking in the surroundings as we rode to the guesthouse, nerves and excitement took over. The “veterans” picked out familiar landmarks along the way. While the “newbies” let everything sink in. It’s a whole different world here.

Richard and his wife Kelly had left nametags and presents on each of the beds. With 38 people staying here, it was a frenzy of a scavenger hunt trying to figure out which bed we would be crashing at the end of each day.

Out on the infamous patio, we had our first team meeting. Richard welcomed us and gave us some guesthouse rules, including loving on the hired help! Pastor Andy spoke about how God has already blessed us in being here. We are each here to be a part of God’s long-term plan.

We should have no problem loving on the women who cook our meals because let us tell you… A-MA-ZING! There are no words to describe how delicious and flavorful dinner was. It will be something we all look forward to at the end of a long, toiling day working with the blocks.

After dinner, it was a relaxing night on the patio, hanging out in different groups. It is always so exciting to meet new people and get to know them. We already know one thing about each other… that we all love Jesus and strive to shine His Light.

Tomorrow is church day up in Zoranje. We are looking forward to hearing the sweet melody of the church praising our one true God! It will be a chance to scope out the “work site” and the beautiful surrounding mountain filled scenery.

We ask that you pray for us; for strength and safety to power through each workday. Pray for the people of Zoranje, that they see Him through the love that we readily give to them.

Let’s build a school!