Reflections on Haiti

By: Shane Gilles
It’s hard to put poverty into words. It has a distinct feel, a distinct smell, and a very distinct emotional tug. It exists in some form in every nation on Earth. However, its prevalence is stronger in the nation of Haiti than I have ever experienced.

As our team crossed the border from the Dominican Republic into Haiti, the sheer devastation of a people trapped in poverty by a corrupt government was overwhelming. Many of us looked out the window of our bus, jaws dropped, speechless. We instantly realized why we were there. The devastation I am speaking of has nothing to do with the earthquake. It is how these people live on a day-to-day basis, from generation to generation. It was a difficult first impression.

Cap-Haitien
Our goal for the week was to build temporary housing to provide quality shelter for 50 orphans plus their caretakers. The project took place in the city of Cap-Haitien, 60 miles north of Port-Au-Prince. The big city was no better off than the devastated border town we passed through. The streets are flowing with open sewage run off, nearly impassable with giant pot holes, and drivers that should probably not be driving. The town seems overly crowded. Children are running around without shoes, without shirts, or without any clothing at all. But worst of all, was the garbage. Cap-Haitien has no formal sanitation services. The people simply throw any garbage wherever they so choose – and it has obviously been this way for years. It seems hopeless.

I paint a very grim and dark picture for you. However, there is a glimmer of light among the Haitian people – and that is the next generation. We arrived at the property where we built the housing and it sits on a lush, several acre plot with breathtaking mountain views. A missionary family lives on the property and run a school (also located on the property) for 40 orphaned children living in Cap-Haitien. As our team worked hard under the hot sun each day, we were able to interact with some of the children as their curiosity brought them over to our work sites. It was in these kids that we saw hope. These children have significantly different lives than many of the other children in town. For whatever reason, God chose these kids. Not just to be orphans, but to be on a very specific path that may one day change their nation. The simplest things in life are not always known to people in other parts of the world. Cleaning up after yourself, making your bed, brushing your teeth and helping others in need are just some of the things these kids are learning. How else with the cycle be broken?

Kids Alive International takes a very unique approach with these kids. Once each orphan enters the ministry, they are placed into a home with up to 9 other children. A married Christian couple parent the home and these kids instantly become part of a family. The goal is not to have the children adopted out of the country. The goal is to actually keep them in the residential homes as they grow and develop into healthy, responsible adults that desire to stay in their community and make an impact on others. This model will be continued with the new orphans that will dwell in the housing we built.

Construction
Haiti is hot. Very hot. The sun bears down all day with very few breaks. However, we had a task at hand, and were determined to see it through. The goal was to build 9 large tent structures – 8 for dwelling and 1 for storage. In order to raise these tents, we needed to build decks for them to rest on. We also had another team laying cinder block on a house foundation that had already been laid. This is where the shower and toilet facilities will be. The last team built a large lean-to off the existing school. This will be a multi-purpose area and provide a place for shade during the day. Due to all the travel, we ended up only having 5 full days for construction, however we were able to accomplish everything we set out to do. God is good.

Conclusion
My sincere gratitude goes to you for your support in this endeavor. The orphans from Port-Au-Prince will now have a safe place to live while they wait for the permanent structures to be built – and you will forever be a part of that. This generation will be fighting an uphill battle to change their nation, but they will be equipped and trained to keep up the good fight. They have hope for the future.

Please keep Haiti in your prayers. The earthquake devastated more then a bunch of buildings, it cut to the very heart of an already hurting people.

Exploring Haiti

By: Shane Gilles
Yesterday our team finally had a chance to leave the property, go to church, and visit some of the residential homes. We saw the three local homes here in Cap-Haitien and got a real feel of how huge the hearts are of each house parent. The homes already consist of around 10 kids each and the house parents say they are ready to care for the displaced orphans from Port-Au-Prince. The need is so huge. Of course these kids have a shot at a decent future, but I cannot imagine caring for even my four children in a home with no electricity, where armed robbery is a common occurrence, and in a land with a corrupt government.

Nevertheless, the Lord has blessed these homes. The house parents and the children welcome you with open arms into their homes, smile and greet you with a firm hand shake, and LOVE to have their pictures taken. They may not always appear happy in some of the photos below but, as they explained, it is because it is not customary for a Haitian to show their teeth for a photograph.

In an earlier post I explained how rough the town of Cap-Haitien is. It is really difficult to get many ground photos because the natives do not take kindly to us white folks coming in and taking photographs. In fact, they take great offense. So, to be respectful, I greatly limited my camera use. After church yesterday some of our team members went to the roof of the church and I was able to grab some shots. You will see dirty, crowded streets and evidence of true poverty. This is downtown! I do not even know if the streets could possibly be in any worse condition. We ride in the back of trucks to get places and the ride is so bumpy that your body hurts afterward. There are no rules of the road, no lanes, no traffic lights, nor stop signs. If you think your vehicle can squeeze through, go for it. If not, then lay on the horn.

After church and visiting the homes, we came back to the property and put in a few hours of work to prep for today, our last day of work. Then we were able to go to a restaurant for dinner – a much needed break and time of fellowship.

This will be my last update until I return to the states.

Rebuilding Haiti Continues

by Shane Gilles

I just realized that I have explained very little about our surroundings and what exactly takes place here in Haiti with Kids Alive.

The property we are staying on is a few acres and consists of a missionary house, a school house, and the foundation of a new house with nothing more than a concrete slab and the start of some drain pipes. This property was purchased several years ago by Kids Alive and after the missionary home was built, fell into a land dispute. Kids Alive has done everything correct, but laws and money work very differently in this country than what we are used to. Because the land dispute is not completely settled (and the earthquake may postpone hearings even further) the missionaries have not wanted to build more permanent structures than necessary (hence the unfinished house).

Each Kids Alive ministry center consists of multiple homes with up to 10 (sometimes more) orphaned children, plus their “parents”. Here in Cap-Haitien, these families are living in small rented homes and will be moving into the temporary housing when we are finished building. However, our efforts are paving the way for an even bigger goal and that is to bring in up to 150 displaced orphans from the Port-Au-Prince area. These kids will have access to clean water, a solid diet, safety, and love. Some of these orphans have never experienced even one of those.

The school on the property has 48 students. They have been very curious as to all the work we are doing and keep trying to get closer and closer to us as the days go on. All the students in the school are orphans that live in the Kids Alive residential homes, plus several others. Every week, all of the families get together at the school for an evening of worship. We had the privilege of attending on Thursday night and it was one of the sweetest moments of worship I have had in a long time… and most of it was in Creole!

Our work continues to be very progressive. The lean-to – which is now the multi-purpose room – is complete. Several of the tents are up and the block work on the unfinished house (to close in shower stalls) is steadily rising. Our team is tired, but we also have high spirits and becoming close friends.

Hope you enjoy the pics!

First Team to Haiti after the Earthquake

From Shane Gilles:
Our team was blessed with the opportunity to check 4 bags (50 lbs each) and not ONE bag was lost in transit. Unbelievable. Other than one flight being slightly delayed (Miami to Santiago, Dominican Republic) travel was so smooth and without a hitch. Kids Alive has been incredible to work with. Not only were we placed in a very nice house our first night, but the entire staff has been so accommodating and loving. It is very evident that these people love and cherish the ones they serve. Before leaving the DR we had the opportunity to visit Kids Alive sites (a school and orphan residential homes). This give us an up-close chance to witness the amazing work they do and what’s in store for the Haitian children.

Our final leg of the trip was a 5 hour bus ride from Santiago to Cap-Haitien, Haiti. This gave us great chance to check out the country side and catch up on some needed sleep. There is a stark difference between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The DR – though impoverished and definitely third-world – has a level of poverty that did not seem near as extreme as what I witnessed in immediately crossing the border to Haiti.

While we waited at the border gate, several Haitian children climbed semi-trailer containers that we were parked next to just to see inside our bus. They banged on the windows and made obvious pleas for food and drink… and “Dollars, Dollars”. As we drove further into Haiti, I noticed garbage all over the ground… and lots of it. It was if the border town had been built directly on a landfill. Also, I noticed children running around shoeless, barely clothed, or not even clothed at all. Many of the homes were comprised of tied together sticks with a mud compound holding them together to form the walls.

When you look up and into the horizon you cannot miss the beauty of God’s creation – lush mountains, huge palm trees, and a breathtaking sky. And then I was quickly reminded of something. I looked back into the faces of the Haitian residents along the side of the road and remembered the these people are even more treasured than the land they live on. Not only does our Great God know how many hairs are on their heads, but He also knew them before they were even conceived. And these are the people that I now have the privilege to serve.

It’s hard to fathom how a people can become to oppressed, so poor, so hopeless… and then an earthquake hits and strips away even more from these treasured souls.

DON DEFIORE, MSF TEAM MEMBER - Peru - Jan. 2009

My trip to Lima '09
I can't get over the change I have been fortunate enough to witness first hand. Not only on the site of the Day Care Center in Manchay, but this general plot of land in Peru. The first time I saw the site all there was to look at was a lot of dirt and rock, and a couple of brick shells. As I left the site on this past Friday, there were almost 90 children waving goodbye, smiling and practicing their English. A far different picture than years ago.

These children now have a safe place to stay, learn and play while their parents work. A place with food, running water, and a working toilet! These are luxury items to most people who live in this area. During the week I had a chance to work on the orphanage in Pachacamac. Another amazing project that is well under way. I have grown as a person being part of a team from THE MITCHELL SWABACK FOUNDATION who is devoted to making a difference. It has been a pleasure and a life changing experience and I thank you!

Don DeFiore

Mitchell Swaback Foundation - Peru January 2009

PERU 2009
On Saturday morning, January 31st nine carpenters loaded the planes and headed to Lima, Peru. This group of men committed a week towards the construction of the day care center in Manchay and also the new orphanage that MSF is building in Pachacamac. Most of this year's team have made this same trip with MSF and look forward to returning each year.
Arriving in Lima, Peru at 11:30 pm we traveled about 50 minutes to the apartment that we would be living in the next week. Sunday morning we went to church followed by lunch and a visit to both job sites. The new orphanage in Pachacamac will have six new homes built by MSF. Each home will house eight children and a set of parents. Currently four of the houses are underway with the last two to follow. A couple of the men spent the week at this site installing ceramic floors throughout the home. The rest of the men spent the week in Manchay at the Cuna Daycare center which started four years ago. MSF has worked on this site for the last four years. This year we took an empty space that will be used for administration offices and performed the following work: ceramic tile floor, metal stud walls with drywall and taping, installation of five interior doors and three exterior doors, framed walls for cubical and built custom desks in each one. Once again time was short and our unfinished work was stretched to the last hour, but we were able to complete everything we set out to do!
The highlight of the week was when 95 kids performed a little program for us. They made cards for each one of the men and presented them along with a big hugs and smiles! On the front of the card was Matthew 25:40, "And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." One of the men in the group said that moment alone made it all worth being there. These kids have so little, but the Cuna Daycare Center provides hot meals, love and the teaching of Jesus Christ.
Special thanks to Mutual Sales who donated power tools and supplies and Just Rite Acoustics, Inc. for underwriting the entire trip.
Please read the stories from Tyler Foss construction coordinator for both the orphanage and daycare center and Don DeFiore one of the men that represented MSF. Read more about MSF and their work at: www.mitchellswabackfoundation.org

First Christian Reformed Church Team—June 7-15, 2008

For the first time in our 100-year existence, First Christian Reformed Church of Highland, Indiana, sent a mission team out of the country. From June 7-15, 2008, 12 of us from First Church were blessed to join in the wonderful ministry of Kids Alive in Guatemala. It was an experience we will never forget. Although it was our first mission trip abroad it most certainly will not be our last!

We enjoyed helping with various construction projects at The Oasis, the Kids Alive campus in Guatemala. We painted a house, poured a sidewalk, and transplanted sod, as well as doing other plumbing/construction/landscaping projects. Although it was gratifying to "leave our mark" in terms of the physical labor we provided, we counted it a greater blessing to be directly involved in the lives of the children Kids Alive serves. The faces of those little children at the Oasis and in the village of Zapote will forever be etched in our mind. We loved doing Bible lessons and crafts with the children but mostly appreciated the opportunity to connect with them in simple ways–pushing them on the swings, blowing bubbles, jumping rope, doing their nails, playing soccer. Love truly does transcend all language barriers.

Our team was greatly impressed with the Kids Alive organization. We were made to feel welcome, everything was organized well, and the staff all proved to be wonderful ambassadors for Jesus Christ. Thank you, thank you, thank you! We look forward to serving with you again!