On Sunday we all headed out to church for the Service. Normally, it lasts for over 4 to 5 hours and this week was different because it was election day in Haiti and they were dismissed early in order to go vote. So it was ‘only’ 2 and a half hour long… I spent the first half hour balling my eyes out (not sure why… maybe the energy in the church, filled with people of faith and kids feeling sorry for me crying and offering me to hold my hand to console me… maybe the fact that the whole community was there, walking for miles from the mountain in their best outfit, dressed to the T and signing loud with their hands up in the air… trusting that someone was watching over them and that everything would be good…)

As we listened to Rebecca’s voice, translating the passionate preaching of Pastor Luke, I got transported into a universe of hugging and snuggling, with Jasmine sleeping on my laps, holding me so tight I was afraid to move, my leg asleep and hurting, my dress soak and wet as it was soooo hot but still, not wanting to move to avoid awaking this little soul in such a comfortable hugging deep sleep. Pastor Luke was talking about being part of a body. Referring to the community as the whole body and each member of the community was playing a huge role in making sure all worked perfectly together. No part of the body is more important than another. Even the little toes have a role, even the parts of the body inside that we can’t see are crucial. And when one part doesn’t work or function right, the whole body is affected. No part should think they will do it all, they should be thinking:  » how can I contribute? »

The message sat well with me. In fact, I have been thinking about times I often thought I could make a difference when in fact I am just one part of the solution. It is a collaboration effort. This whole trip to Haiti for us, a group of six, is in fact the result of hundreds of people who contributed and supported us so that we could come here with money to spend buying supplies, food, furniture, solar panels, construction material, etc. Our group of six is bringing over $50,000 to better the orphanage on different projects and mostly food for the communities surrounding and supported by Heart to Heart Haiti.
A lot of people ask us how we spent the money that we raised. We paid for the shipping $12,000 for Manna Pack cases over 7,000 boxes containing meals for over 750,000 meals. Just at the orphanage, they go through 8 cases per day – 2 breakfast – 6 for lunch. We will be fixing the roof of the school $2500 US over primary area classrooms. We will pay for a new kitchen $5600 + $2000 new stove + new kitchen cabinets and concrete countertop (you can see the foundation of the kitchen on the picture on the left, we just started to dig…). We bought 12 new tires $3000 for the Daihatsu. We spent a day at the beach, with the kids. There is still left remaining $$$ for: goats, sheep metal, restoring the garden, farmers seeds coconut, mango, banana seedlane, new roof on school in Lavange, 6 other churches fouchet bouva, grande savande, tedaboeuf, new order of Mana Pack by dec. 15th new order, west of Haiti, people that got hit by Hurricane for Mission of Hope will send some Manna Pack, security for solar satellite panels, security is needed, building the walls higher, more blocks and they will cement and install razor wires on top of 6 foot walls, pay for uniforms for security with official Heart to Heart logo on it. Lots and lots of blessings to come. We did not spent the whole money ourselves but the projects are started and the organization is hiring locals to physically do the labor work which is a double blessing as the money spent stays in the country.