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.

Reflection: Kevin Vinay

     Reality check: Monday the kids have a wonderful birthday party with cake, candles, games, and gifts. Tuesday the kids go to the beach and eat like kings and queens, play in the ocean, relax under coconut trees, and enjoy a day at the resort. Wednesday we visit Peace and Joy Orphanage again and the children are famished - no food in the storeroom and no water to drink.
     Yes, we brought these children joy for a short while (and I mean JOY!), but we quickly realized that if we're going to make a lasting impact there is still much to do. There are various teams of people in the States who are committed to making the lives of the kids at Peace and Joy holistically better in the years to come. However, that proves to be a very long and difficult process. So much of the help that we are trying to give is lost in translation - sometimes literally. But, we help.
     We do what we can now... buying a week's supply of rice, beans, corn, oil, and water to fill their storeroom until their regularly scheduled food arrives. We do what we can when we get home... working with the ESPWA Foundation and other teams who are devoted to adding hope to the orphans' peace and joy (espwa is creole for hope). Pray for these kids - they need it. Pray for those who are attempting to wisely and humbly serve these kids with the love of Jesus Christ - they need it just as much.
     "Organized Religion" doesn't always have the best reputation in the States. Funny: the book of James says that true religion is taking care of the orphans and widows, and living a life of obedience. And in Haiti, it is not always easy for us to be organized. It gives me great joy to be a part of such a tremendous "disorganized religion."

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.