The team departed Petit Goave Saturday morning...bright and early at 5:30am in hopes of missing any potential roadblocks or demonstrations. There were none and we arrived safely at the Petionville guesthouse. After unloading the van and short naps, we headed out to Papillon for a little shopping and lunch. Papillon employs local women as artisans who make beads, pottery and other items. This enables women to feed, clothe, and educate their children. We feasted on pizza and frozen drinks like pink lemonade! We then headed up into the hills to the Overlook and enjoyed ice cream and the amazing view of the city.

Sunday morning we attended church on the Methodist campus. After a quick snack it was off to the airport for our flight to Atlanta then KC. We have had an amazing week, made new friends, worked hard with our CHE friends and strengthen old friendships.

We will be back in 2020! Won’t you join us?

Author of Today's Post is Bob

For our last full day in the field, we traveled up the rocky mountain road to Sous Pinot, the same road we took even farther the day before to Hyacinthe. We were pleased to encounter new school buildings and were able to use its classrooms.  We presented to a class of 37 men and women, with the help of Mitch our excellent interpreter from Haiti, information on how to successfully form and grow a small business enterprise. Our discussion began around generating income and profit through proper pricing, promotion product improvements and place/location. The discussion also included resources for funding, the importance of understanding customer expectations , proper borrowing principles and brainstorming possible product and service categories. The group expressed appreciation for the knowledge and ideas we shared. Their participation and attention was impressive. I’m optimistic that many will make good use of the business information we shared in all three villages this week.

Today we traveled to Hyacinthe, a small community in the mountains outside of Petit Goave. The hour and a half drive up the rocky mountain road was an adventure in itself. Lucky for us we had two great, experienced drivers who got us there safely.

As we arrived, community and EKS members were setting up for a ceremony to celebrate the opening of a treated water station. This kiosk will provide clean, treated water for the community for a nominal fee. It is only the second facility of its kind in the area. Healing Waters will train community members to work in the station and teach others how to maintain the station. There will also be teaching for the community on the health benefits of clean water. It was a blessing to be part of the ceremony and to be there to represent COR. Water is life, and knowing that our church was involved in this gift brings me great joy.

After the ceremony, Jill and Mary Beth lead community members in a Bible study while Lisa entertained the children through music.

Angee (my translator), Cribe (an EKS leader) and I got our classroom set up and welcomed 5 matrons (midwives) from the area. For the next 2+ hours we talked about newborn and postpartum maternal care. We discussed best practices and the modifications that must be made due to lack of supplies, support and training. We finished the afternoon by gifting each of them with kits filled with supplies that they can use for their next delivery. These matrons are truly a blessing to their community. They don’t get paid and they buy their own supplies unless they are able to get them from a “local” clinic. They consider what they do to be a service to the community.

After the training, we returned home and had to say goodbye to our friend and translator, Rodny. He had to leave in order to go on his own mission trip to Cuba, his first time out of the country. We were able to pray over him and send him on his way.

Tonight we will do our devotions and then pack up for tomorrow which will be our last day in the field. This week has gone by so fast. I can’t believe tomorrow is already Friday!

Today’s blog is focused on a Bible study on the Good Samaritan and a preventative lesson on hypertension.

We woke this morning to beautiful blue sky after a stormy night. The group loaded our supplies and made the short trip to the community of Tapion. Julie and Angee headed off to teach the matrons (traditional birth attendants), Bob, Kip, and Mitch had a lively group eager to learn about small business, Lisa and Rodny entertained the children with signing, dancing and a game of musical chairs.

Jill and Mary Beth, along with Joseph our translator and Joizin the Principle of CHE,  set up their room in a circle, the Community Health Evangelism way, so that everyone can see each other and no one person stands to “lecture”. Talking about the story of the Good Samaritan, we were humbled by the stories we heard from the group as they have been a Good Samaritan in their community. From caring for the children of a hospitalized neighbor, providing food to those who have none, or a young man who gave a pair of his shoes to another so that he could attend school. These people live out the meaning of helping and caring for your neighbor. We learned much from them today.

We ended our session on a lesson on hypertension which is very prevalent in Haiti. After taking the participants blood pressures, Joizin lead a discussion on ways to help lower their blood pressure without medication.

We had a great group of participants, good discussions, and made new friends.

Author of Today's Post is Lisa

Our third day in Haiti was a very busy one.  We arrived in Fondoux, a small town outside Petit Goave.  We had a community of Haitians waiting, eager to spend time with us.  
I was greeted by a sea of shy beautiful faces, children, who were waiting to see what was in my bags!  I started them out with a rousing song, sung in parts to see which group could out sing the other!  It was quite the success!  
I taught them a few new songs including ‘Kum Bah Ya and ‘Deep and Wide’ with my talented and gifted translator and friend, Rodny. I also had a wonderfully talented CHE Leader as a partner, Frantzy, and with his guitar and the rhythm instruments I had brought we had a wonderful day of sharing music together. At the end of the day we made crosses out of multi colored yarn and sticks while singing ‘ Jesus loves the little children.. all the children of the world... red and yellow, black and white... it seemed like the perfect ending to a God - filled day!