Haiti Trip 2010

Dear Friends of Voice of Compassion (VOC),
I have just recently returned from a trip to Haiti to work with the Haiti Christian Ministry Center (HCMC) whose founder is Lavaud Cheristin.  There were seven others also on this great adventure.  I have been to Haiti many times, but because of the recent earthquake this trip was unique.  We accessed Haiti through the Dominican Republic and we were unsure how we would get to Port-au-Prince.  GOD blessed us so many times during this trip, the first of which was a man at the Santa Domingo Airport.  It turned out, this man was a pilot and helped us get a plane so we were able to fly from the Domican Republic to Port-au-Prince Haiti.  This saved us one day of travel, thus we were able to see much destruction in Port-au-Prince (PAP) and hear the stories of Lavaud and his family...

Lavaud took us to his print shop where he was entering at the time of the earthquake.  He had been dropped off that day because his truck was at the repair shop.  Lavaud said, “GOD threw me out of the print shop into the street”, his whole building collapsed.  Lavaud said, “I went crazy.”  His brother Guesly and his sister Liddie were in the print shop. He thought everyone would be dead. Miraculously, both of them emerged unharmed from the destroyed shop.  Everything around this area was down.  Eventually Lavaud said he picked up his sister Liddie because she could not walk; she was in shock.  He put her over his shoulder and started to walk home.  He said at this time he thought Muriel his wife and his four girls might be dead.  He prayed and prayed and about an hour later he saw the back of his house still standing and he thanked the LORD for their lives being spared.  Some of Lavaud’s brothers and sisters had houses in PAP.  They all were destroyed.

I will also tell you about Lavaud’s brother Ramon.  We heard his story on our travels back to the Dominican.  Ramon is a teacher in PAP.  He was teaching when the earthquake hit.  His school collapsed and 35 students of his died.  He and 20 students escaped.  When he went to his house it was destroyed.  His 5 month old baby girl, and only child, died instantly and his wife was pinned under some rubble.  They freed her and I believe she sustained some injury but is ok.  Ramon also had a hardware store which was destroyed.  So he lost his baby, his home, his job, and his business.  My heart aches for him, yet this man says it was GOD’s will.  I tell you their story because I think this story is the same for thousands who live in the PAP area.

After we left PAP we were able to check in on a ministry called Convoy of Hope.  We at VOC use this ministry to ship things to Lavaud.  It was good to meet the people and see that end of things.  We left for Hinche and arrived there late on a Tuesday night.  We had only one breakdown (flat tire) on the way. 

For the rest of the week we did many things. The three nurses that were part of the group did medical work with various medical clinics in Hinche.  I was not really involved with this, but the three nurses, Becky Duff, Sara Cass, and Keri Livermore were excited about all they were able to see and do.  The five remaining in the group were myself, my sister Margie Vander Heiden, my daughter Tracy Guzman, my dear friend Lynn Snyder and the Pastor of Amherst Bible Church, Derek Nett.  Pastor Derek preached three nights at church plus Sunday morning.  Lavaud had asked him to teach about earthquakes and relate it to GOD’s word.  He did an excellent job.  I learned so much from him.  He covered history, science, and biblical teaching all in one.  Derek also went to the prison in Hinche and was able to give out New Testaments to 20 inmates.  He spent time with Lavaud and was a blessing to all of us for many reasons.

The rest of us ladies worked through the week with a women’s group from Lavaud’s church doing baking, crafting, and updating the VOC Student Sponsorship Program.  It was great fun for all.  We also visited and did music and art projects in an orphanage, a feeding center, and spent much of our time having fun with whoever was around the school and church building.  We tried to bring encouragement and joy.  This year Lavaud was able to cement the courtyard around the school.  They now can play volleyball (which they did with great gusto).  Even I got to play a few games which started about 6:30 in the morning.  The school now blesses around 1,000 students but Lavaud believes that number will grow with people coming from PAP. 

While I was in Hinche I saw some of Lavaud’s relief work.  One night about 10:00 p.m. he said “Come here and I will show you how I do it.”  Two men came and in an area underneath shelves in the kitchen area of the third floor, they took (2) 100 pound sacks of rice and beans or some other kind of grain and carried them down two steep flights of stairs.  They loaded them into Lavaud’s truck and drove off in the darkness.  This will be divided between 4 families.  Lavaud says he does the relief work sort of under cover because if people knew, everyone in the whole city would show up and he can only help so many.  He is helping many.  I asked him if he knew how many and  he said probably more than 150.  Sometimes he gives people money, this is also done discreetly.  All week long I watched Lavaud give. 

We discovered on this trip that many people in Hinche have five or six extra people in their homes from PAP.  I believe Lavaud is helping to feed and care for the extra people, with the funds he receives from VOC and other ministries.

Lavaud has many projects; garden, chicken, goats, and a banana grove.  These projects are helping people to work and sustain themselves.

Our trip back was also adventurous.  We had two truck breakdowns and one night in a $10.00 hotel (we all slept on top of the sheets, also cold showers, no toilet seat).  It was great fun and a faith walk.  On the second breakdown of Lavauds truck, GOD provided a bus that took us the rest of the way to the airport for $10.00. Lavaud’s brother stayed and fixed the truck so Lavaud was not left stranded.

So ends this trip but I want you to know, watching Lavaud and his family live out their faith so encouraged me.  All the things that went wrong (many more than I mentioned) never seemed to bother them.  They just trusted the LORD for everything.  We can all learn from them.  So friends of VOC, I want you to know that any money you have sent, or will send, is surely a good investment in GOD’s kingdom.  Thank you for all your support and continued support in the Haiti Ministry.

P.S.  Things I observed & learned on my many trips to Haiti…
1-   The people, although they’re mostly poor are generally happy, minus the voodoo of course.
2-   Never travel to Haiti without rope.  It can tie up, tie down, and fix many problems.  If not in need to fix something it can also be used for fun like… jumping rope and doing the limbo (which we did on this trip).
3-   Duct tape is also a must for the same reasons but I haven’t found anyway to have fun with it.
4-   Leave your watch at home.
5-   Patience, Patience, Patience.
6-   Things are sure to go wrong, that’s why you need numbers 2, 3, 4 & 5.
7-   If you are going to Haiti, go directly to Haiti, do not go though the Domican Republic. If you should violate this rule, may GOD be as good and gracious to you as he was to us.
8-   An American truck for five fits at least 20 people in Haiti, maybe one more.
9-   When in Haiti and working with Lavaud and people around him, life will be better and richer and you will know why so many people do go and work with him.  His love for GOD and his people is endless.
10-  Port-au-Prince and all of Haiti need prayer, prayer, and more prayer.  We must not forget this nation.  Let us all continue to bring all of Haiti to the throne room of GOD – to obtain mercy.

GOD’s Blessing to All,
Amber Birling
VOC Treasurer

Isaiah 40:31 ~ Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.