Homeless women and children come to Lifeline for food

We’ve all seen the pictures of what a tin shack or a mud hut looks like here in Haiti. It’s an awful living situation that breaks out hearts. In Arcahaie there’s a group of people living in much worse conditions. Today four women and their children came to Lifeline pleading with us to bring them food.

We had been to this location before to give them food but today they came to us with a sense of urgency. They live in an abandoned building. There are over a hundred people who live all together there on the dirt floor. They don’t even have their own tent or their own space. I guess you could call it their homeless shelter.

It’s full of women, children and a few men. As we handed out the rice and beans, many people didn’t even have a plate or a container to store the food in. We saw many women holding out their skirts for the food. One precious little boy even scooped up the rice he could get off the floor.
It was distressing to see people in such a desperate condition. Praise God we found them. By God’s grace we will continue to feed these people who are in such a great need. Keep them in your prayers!

Lifeline Graduation

It was a wonderful time in Haiti today! We had our first Graduation Ceremony at Lifeline with 42 Kindergartners and 22 Sixth graders.
Parents and Godparents came to share in this extremely important time. The students performed with National Anthem, poetry, songs and dance.
It was a beautiful sight knowing that the students have successful completed another year of their education. Congratulations was certainly in order for the day for all of the hard earned efforts of the students!

7 months since the quake

Seven months ago today the catastrophic earthquake shook the nation of Haiti. Driving through the streets of Port-au-Prince you would think it just happened a few weeks ago. There is still devastation everywhere you turn your eye.
Millions are living in tent cities waiting for help. They need us. Let's not forget how our hearts broke for this amazing country as we watched it on the news and read about it in the newspaper. Continue to pray for hope. Pray for people to move out of the tent cities. Pray for an end to this ongoing crisis. Just like the graffiti on a wall in Port-au-Prince says, Haiti still needs help!

Sewing Class

Mission Lifeline educates sewing students through the process of a Trade School. Each student has the opportunity to learn how to sew and in accomplishing this goal the students make various items in which the mission sells at a very reasonable price so the students are able to hold an account to save money to purchase a sewing machine. On July 30th 2010, nine students graduated from this program.

Marie Bibianne Marcellus did just that, and on graduating she found a sewing machine that she was able to purchase for $100 U.S. I went with her and we looked at the machine and found it to be in excellent condition and finalized the sale.
It was a wonderful day for this young lady that will now be able to support her family. Just one more way, with the Lord's divine help that Lifeline is able to make a difference.

End of a Trip, Beginning of a Journey

When we began this journey none of us knew what we were getting into; we were scared of the language barriers and being outsiders in an unfamiliar place. However, we did know that we would be helping so many people...and we have. This week has been a life changing experience. We have clothed, fed, and cared for many Haitians in La Digue and surrounding villages. None of us will ever forget how appreciative they have been. Many of us have made lifelong connections with the children and plan to support them to ensure that they are fed and all their basic needs are met. It was amazing to be able to meet the children and select one to sponsor. We all hope to be able to come back and see how our help has made a difference in their lives.

If anyone is interested in making a difference in a child's life, it only takes twenty dollars a month...or five trips to Starbucks, a trip to Walmart, or seeing a movie. For more information go to http://www.childrenslifeline.com

Brittany Johnson and Megan Neal

Things we take for Granted

Along with this trip came many unexpected donations and blessings from those around us. Much to our surprise, those blessings didn't stop- even at the Bluegrass Airport. While there, a fellow traveler noticed our group and donated $100 with the stipulation "Do good in Haiti". Both shocked and overwhelmed by the generosity of this complete stranger, the money was stored safely away until the right opportunity presented itself. It didn't take long to discover where it was needed. In the village we all met a 15 year old young man who had been kicked out of his home at a young age after his mother passed away. His father, wishing to start a new life with another woman, told him he needed to get out of the house because they wanted to go on with their lives without him. Having no where else to go, this young man fashioned for himself a small shelter built from mud, stone and sugarcane. The dwelling was so small that many of us have doghouses of larger size and he had to squat while sleeping because it wasn't big enough for him to stretch out. Children's International Lifeline learned of his plight and decided to lend a helping hand by building him a cinder block house with a metal roof. He was incredibly gracious, but told them that he was praying for a mattress. After we heard this story, we decided that we could be the answer to his prayer. We purchased for him a foam mattress in Port au Prince with the donation from the traveler and delivered it to his house along with some other gifts. He was overjoyed and so thankful for this gesture. It was so rewarding to see not only our good deeds in action, but the end result. Also, it was brought to our attention as we were purchasing this mattress, that the oldest man in the village, who is 91 years old, has been sleeping on a bed made of cardboard and concrete. Our group decided to purchase a second mattress for this man and it was delivered to him last night. As soon as the mattress was placed in his home, he laid down on the mattress, which was still wrapped in plastic, and began laughing. He was overflowing with joy for his new bed. Our group returned a little later to provide bedding to the man, and he was still lying on his mattress. The only time he arose from the bed was to allow us to put the blankets onto the bed, and then he immediately lay back down, laughing the whole time. It really puts things into perspective, how things we take for granted are luxuries for the kind people of this village.

Joseph Caldwell and Destiny Fife

Port-au-Prince

Prior to our trip we all had an image of what we thought Port Au Prince would be like since the January earthquake. Images of complete devastation and chaos with no ability to function adequately were portrayed in the media and also were a part of some of our imaginations until we arrived. Upon arrival the devastation became so much more real. Despite a seven month span that has passed, it looks like the earthquake had just happened recently due to the lack of progress of made in cleaning up the tremendous amount of rubble and debris that are scattered and piled throughout the city. The President's mansion even still remained a heap of rubble with no signs of attempts at cleaning up. Buildings remain collapsed, stories upon stories piled together, with the possibility of victims buried beneath. Regardless of the destruction and devastation in Port Au Prince, the people have not given up living or hope. Throughout the streets many people are seen selling goods, trying to make a living, and trying to make the best out of what they have experienced. The media has left, however much more assistance and help are needed in order to rebuild Haiti.

Brittany Kellum, Kristin Burchett, and Chris French