I returned to Renmen Foundation orphanage near Port-au-Prince, Haiti on June 23 and stayed until July 4, 2014. I brought two other members of my church with me and we had an amazing time with lots of personal growth. We brought lots of arts and crafts supplies which we used for different activities, as well as lots of hygiene supplies (which the orphanage had requested), thank you to everyone who donated these items. With the help of funds raised by generous donors in Canada and my generous former trip mates in the US, we were able to take the kids out to the beach. We had never heard the kids laugh and squeal with so much joy, as they did that day in the waves. We also gave some money to a young man who used to live in the orphanage and frequently visits, and he bought beautiful rainbow embroidery floss with it and taught the kids how to make elaborate bracelets. We had money left over to donate towards the bus as well. I also got the chance to visit a Toyota dealership and learn more about various bus options and down payments. Towards the end of the trip, when we had bonded more with the older adolescents, we shared our testimonies with them. For me, this trip cemented the fact that the two and a half years between trips was too long to be away and so I hope to return within a year! Check out our video report above to learn more about our trip and hear the kids' beautiful singing voices.
THE DREAM:
THE REALITY:
We had quite a few setbacks on the way to the beach: the engine of the truck over heated so we had to pull over and wait on the side of the road with all the kids as our driver Zacharie poured water on the engine and it steamed. Fortunately the road where we had to stop had a bit of a shoulder with space to wait and was relatively safe and not chaotic. While we waited my feet suddenly were stinging: hundreds of ants were crawling all over them and little Oliver's feet too (I was responsible for him that day) we had to move right onto the busy road to get away from the ants. We also had to stop twice later on to deal with a flat tire, and on the way back it rained, pouring on all the poor exposed kids in the back of the truck in the cage. Unfortunately, the tarp was left behind that day so they were exposed to rain and wind. I was sitting in the cab of the truck and really wanted to get out and offer my place, especially since I don't get as cold as easily as the kids do (but I get hot and sweaty in the heat much easier than they do, some of the older girls often wear jeans and polos on days I'm dripping sweat!) but unfortunately that would mean I'd have to choose only one kid to take my place in the cab, since it would only make room for one spot, and how could I choose?
