Video: Not Your Average Day at the Beach

The beach trip was one of the best parts of our week in Haiti. Our goal was to pack the kids into a bus and give them an experience they will never forget. Little did we realize that it would be just as meaningful and exciting for us. These children know very little about life beyond their run-down building and small plot of dusty land. On this day, however, with their brand new swim suits and the biggest of smiles, they would see that life can be far bigger and better than anything they've known before.

Moving forward, our hope is to continue to provide for these children in such a way that this kind of day is one of many rather than once in a lifetime. For more information about how you can help make this possible, visit The Espwa Foundation website.

A beautiful summer day, two full meals, warm water, scenic landscape... sure beats sitting in the shade of a few trees all day.

See another video: A Birthday to Remember
See more pics of the beach: A Day at the Beach

Music by Slow Machete, a project by Joe Shaffer that supports Haitian ministries (available on iTunes).

Reflection: Emily Sobeck

            Bonsoir! This year I was extremely excited to return to Cap Haitian. I was curious if the girls would remember me, if they would like the stuff I brought them, and if we could pick up where we left off. When the truck pulled in and I jumped off, I was immediately greeted by several of the girls and my heart was immediately warmed by their embraces. They remembered me. J When I left Haiti last year I felt as though I could say I “knew” some kids in Haiti, leaving this year I can honestly say I have friends of the heart at EBAC. We were able to move past the “getting to know you phase” and spend time joking, playing games, dancing, and catching up. It was as if I never left. I couldn’t remember all the details that the girls remembered. For example, one girl wanted to play a Haitian card game with me in the same spot we played last year! The students at EBAC have a special spot in my heart. <3

            As many of our team members shared earlier this week, we were able to serve at a much needier orphanage – Peace and Joy. I can honestly say, aside from marrying the best guy in the world, that taking those kids to the beach was one of the best experiences of my life. The belly laughs, salt water gags, smiles, and death grip they had on our arms and backs when each wave came crashing down will be something I will never forget. Rocking precious Berlin to sleep and holding her as she drifted off melted my heart, as I figured she probably has never been physically rocked to sleep like most babies in America are every night. There is plenty of progress needed to be made at Peace and Joy, but I know the Lord used us to be his hands and feet this week and ridiculously bless those kiddos.

            One of the most “unique” parts to this trip was the crazy horseback ride we did to get to the citadel- 2 hours up and 2 hours down. Sketchy saddles, malnourished horses with no horseshoes, rocky and steep pathway, and lots of Haitians running alongside of us will be an experience I (and my bottom) will never forget. Conversations on Thursday night typically started with, “My butt hurts,” “I have a rash on my legs from those horses,” “I feel like I was hit by a car,” and “I don’t think I can move my neck.” It was a beautiful ride for the eyes….but a rough ride for the tooshie. ;-)

            As we set out to depart tomorrow I am grateful for the opportunity I had to serve, and I am reminded of the importance to keep EBAC, Peace & Joy, and the full time missionaries here in Haiti in my prayers. I am also challenged to continue to support these places and individuals while back in America. There is so much that can be done from home, but yet our busy lives and materialism often push the things that are really important in life aside. The kids and adults I shared the past week with have encouraged, uplifted, and inspired my heart, and I can only pray that I was able to provide a glimpse of the abounding love the Lord has for each and every one of them.

Reflection: Keaton Linberg

Being that this was my third trip to Haiti, I thought that I had a pretty good idea of what the country is like.  I was wrong.  From staying at EBAC enough I had come to realize that orphanages were often the “Taj Mahal” of Haiti.  Unlike people living in the streets, being an orphanage kid meant that you would get fed everyday and have a roof to sleep under every night.  Apparently though, this is not true.  Peace and Joy showed me a new type of poverty.  At this orphanage you are lucky to get a meal everyday and even if they get a shipment of food it doesn’t mean that the leaders will feed the children.  The children spend their days sitting in a circle underneath a tree.  I’m sure that the days we were able to entertain these kids are something that they will remember and dream about for a long time.

This new view of poverty smacked me in the face even harder when a few of us “blancs” made a trip into the city for rice and beans.  Riding on the back of the truck through the streets gives you a pretty good feel of what the city is like.  Or at least this is what I thought until I put my feet on the ground and walked through the streets of a crowded inner-city market.  Only four of us Americans yet we drew the attention of hundreds of Haitians solely because they knew we had money that they didn’t.  There are no words that can truly describe an experience like that. 

All of this gave me a new view of the poverty and need in this country while also making me cherish my friendships with the Haitians at EBAC even more.  While I do feel that I am in Haiti to serve and help out as much as I can… I now feel like I’m also here to visit and reconnect with friends, just as any of us would do with long distance friends that live in the states.

Reflection: Samantha Romito

We have now been here 7 days; I have had an amazing time and learned so much.  When I first arrived I saw poverty and an opposite way of life compared to the standards we are used to.  The trash and smell is something that is un-comprehensible.  Most buildings are not finished and the market is shacks on the side of the road.  There is so much need. 

We had the pleasure of staying EBAC and understanding how well they have it (for Haiti standards) and hanging out with the kids.   They just want to build a lasting relationship and have someone love them, even if it’s only a week at a time. I got to know Tamara, she is 17 and in 6^th grade.  She came to EBAC a couple years ago because her father passed away.  Her mother is not able to provide for her so she had to come.  It is interesting talking to her about her future, and the Haitian way of life.  She takes care of many other children and is very mature.  We talk a lot about the similarities of life, and had many laughs.  It is truly humbling for me to see people to have so little yet be so fulfilled. 

Visiting Peace and Joy is when reality hit me in the face.  I realized the children do not have the basic necessities of life.  They are not guaranteed food every day.  The youngest did not know how to use a toilet when we were at the beach and the oldest girls are not provided with woman necessities.  These children are just so hungry for relationships, love, and fun.  One little boy, Rolex, just wanted me to kick the ball with him all the time.  He was just so happy to have someone spend some time with him and kick the ball the way he wanted to.   I was honored to be able to share the love of Jesus with the children.  Our team only started the help they will need.  I was so saddened when our truck pulled away from them yesterday.  They did not want us to leave and some of the littlest ones cried.  All I could think about was about what their future may not be.  It is great to know that we will pray for them and know it is in the Lords hands that they will be provided for. 

The more time I spend here the more I see their way of life.  Our last ride down the road I saw people not poverty.  The lord has moved my heart and opened my eyes to have compassion for the people of Haiti.  I am so thankful for the time I was able to spend here! 

Reflection: Emma Volk

            The week is coming to an end much more quickly than I expected. When I take the time to sit back and think about everything the team has done this week, I still have trouble believing that I am actually here serving both the Lord and these beautiful kids. I have been pushed so far out of my comfort zone down here, but I could not be more thankful the opportunity. These kids, every day, make me fall in love with them more and more.

            One moment that stood out to me this week was when we went to the IDADEE orphanage. I spent my time trying to get the little boy in the corner to play with the other kids and eventually pull a smile out of his lips. At one point, some people walked up the hill to the Joshua House which houses mission teams like us when they come to visit. It was still being built, but I was taken aback to see that the house (with its marble floors and leather couches) was nicer than the orphanage the kids were staying in down the hill. It seemed like the money put into that one house for people not in need could have built two EBAC orphanages.

            Peace and Joy was a whole other experience in itself. I still do not know how to process the conditions those kids are living in. The whole team was so happy to give them that day at the beach, but knowing that they hadn’t eaten again since then showed us the reality of their condition. Dropping off enough food for them for the next week gave both us and them a little hope that they won’t be suffering like this for much longer.

            EBAC is really making me feel at home. These children feel like my brothers and sisters. I was intimidated at first by the all the children I only had a week to get to know, but they make being with and loving them so easy. The closer we get to leaving and saying goodbye, the less I want to go. I wish I could explain the sensation of helping and hanging out with these kids, but to truly understand, you would just have to come down here and see for yourself. I am pouring my heart out to these children in hopes that I can do as much for them as they are doing for me. Thank you for your prayers during this trip.

Reflection: Meghan Poljak

            My journey this week has been life changing to say the least. Some of the first things that struck me upon arriving to Haiti was the overwhelming smells and the vivid views of the Haitian streets. There are really no words that can capture this amazing experience, but I am going to try and reflect on what I believe to be the most intense part of the week.
            When they told us that we were going to spend time with the kids at the Peace & Joy orphanage, I was nervous because they did not speak English, and we were only going to spend time with them for a few days. (It is different because we see the EBAC kids everyday.) My anxiousness soon disappeared as I stepped off the truck and Wilda came running over to me. We spent the whole day together, not speaking, just enjoying the activities that the older EBAC students planned and celebrating their birthday. It was crazy to see what excitement they had over something as little as ice cubes. The next day we returned to Peace & Joy to take the children swimming for the first time in their lives. I was so taken aback when Wilda recognized me after just one day together. The only time she let go of my hand was to eat the two meals that they received at the beach. At first all of the kids were scared of the water, especially after the salt water got into their eyes, but once they got their floaties on and jumped through the waves, there was no separating them from the ocean. I’ve never heard more giggles in my life than when we would twirl and lift the smaller kids over the oncoming waves. It was so hard saying goodbye that day; you have to think about all the other days when we won’t be there. Keep the children from Peace & Joy orphanage in your thoughts and prayers.

Reflection: Morgan Rubosky

Even though we have been in Haiti for six days, it is still unreal to me that we are here.  I had hoped but never actually thought that I would get to go on a mission trip here.  There is something about being here that will be hard to explain when I get back to Pittsburgh on Saturday.

On our way to EBAC last Saturday, I was expecting to have a hard time getting to know people because I am not the most outgoing person.  As we pulled into the orphanage, kids followed the taptap until it stopped because they were so excited that we were here.  That is when I really started getting nervous about talking to people.  As we got out of the truck, the EBAC kids were all over the returning Americans.  It was incredible to see how the relationships lasted since last year.

Not long after we put our luggage in the apartment, I started talking to a seventeen-year-old girl named Roselene.  She began by asking me my name and how old I am.  Throughout the past few days, she told me about her life here at EBAC and her life before she got here.  She started living here when she was four because her parents had too many children to care for.  From that point on, she was taken care of and fed by the orphanage. 

Coming into this week, I had no idea how the orphanage worked or who is really in charge.  I was surprised to hear that once the orphans turn a certain age, they become “parents” to the younger children.  Roselene once had someone taking care of her and once she turned thirteen, she started caring for herself and another child.  She does almost everything for him.  It blew my mind that this orphanage can run without Kathy and Alice having to do much at all.

So back to Roselene.  She is such a sweet person and I can relate to her so much because we are so close in age.  It has been great getting to know her and to be able to form a relationship with her.  I definitely plan on writing letters to Roselene so that I can keep up the communication with her and hopefully get to see her again next summer.