Pictures: A Day at the Beach

Words cannot describe how amazing it was to take these children to the beach

But, these pictures might get us started...

Pictures by "Jason Wavle Creatives"

Reflection: Addie Lindberg

What I experienced today was life changing: the absolute best way to spend my sweet sixteen.  It is something I will never forget. I received so much love, and for lack of a better term, everyone around me made me feel like the “coolest” person on earth.

The best part about today, though, was the smiles that our team was able to put on the faces of the children at Peace and Joy.  The kids rarely venture out farther than just down the street, but today, we took them on an hour road trip to the beach.  Pure bliss shined through each child, and our team as well, the moment everyone stepped into the ocean.  As if that wasn’t enough, we also fed them two great meals that they, for sure, did not take for granted.

So much love was passed between everyone, including the children at EBAC.  I was given drawings, cards, and plenty of hugs to help celebrate my birthday. But the best gift of all was spending the day with the most heart-felt people, in Haiti.

P.S. Mom: Emily loved on me and gave me a hug.

Reflection: Bonnie Collier

     On this journey to Haiti we are experiencing a new adventure. We are branching out working to help other orphanages besides the one at EBAC. When Chris told us about our new adventure with the children at Peace & Joy Orphanage I was nervous and excited at the same time. The kids at EBAC most of them can at least speak a little bit of English so they can understand when you are speaking to them but the kids at Peace and Joy do not know English at all. I was worried about the communication barrier between the children and I. I thought it would be akward to try and work with the children and not be able to talk with them. However when we arrived it was easy to communicate with them. They were happy to see us and wanted to play with us and talk to us and I expected them to be shy and scared. 

     The kids at Peace & Joy have it way worse than the ones at EBAC orphanage. I thought that the way the kids live at EBAC was sad and unfortunate but I soon came to realize through this experience that the children at Peace and Joy are so much worse off. It is very sad that that I can go back to the United States and live the life that I do while these children are stuck in this country with little hope at a promising future with a job. I want to help the children at both orphanages as much as I can while I am here but I think that they help me more than I help them. They help me to understand that hope exists everywhere in the world. Hope for a better life and a life where you are closer to God than any other physical person. They teach me how to become a better Christian and how to become stronger in my own faith journey.

Reflection: Tim Comer

     After entering Jerusalem for the Passover Jesus was approached by two of his disciples who were approached by a few Greeks who wanted to meet Jesus.  Jesus responded to His disciples that His time has come to be glorified.  Jesus then went on and instructed about love.  The message interpretation in John 12 reads “but if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it real and eternal”.  That line hit me really hard,  “Reckless in your love”.

     I like to think that is the approach we took as we served at Peace & Joy Orphanage Monday, and again on Tuesday when we took them all (25) to the beach for the very first time in their life.  What a great experience it was as we hit the beach; the kids were so excited they could barely contain themselves.  They hung to us tightly (none of them could swim) as they entered the water.  They screamed with laughter, as the waves would crash in with us holding them.

     It’s not the easiest, cheapest or for that matter the safest thing to come to Haiti and pour out your love on the poorest of the poor.  To some it may not make sense to take 17 people all the way to Haiti.  To go through the expense, planning and energy to give these kids the greatest day of their life may seem reckless.

     However as Mary poured the oil onto Jesus feet and wiped it with her hair,  taking a team to Haiti to love on, feed, clothe and yes give a day of fun could be looked at as the reckless love Jesus calls us to show.