by kevintemerson
20. June 2012 19:30
by Trent Lehman
The Dots In Blue Water (dibw) team has landed in Haiti! It was a relatively calm trip from SA to Detroit to Ft. Lauderdale for a 10 hour layover and then off to Haiti. One student got sick in Florida but was able to get enough fluids, medicine, and healing during our layover to make the trip. The flight into Haiti was smooth as we were welcomed by Nehemiah Vision Ministries (NVM) and the hustle and bustle of Port Au Prince.
Our bus trip to the Nehemiah compound was adventurous as is every bus trip in Haiti. It was neat for me to see NVM for the first time. I could hear and see the excitement the members of our team that was here last year as they told stories about the buildings and were impressed with the growth and changes in the site. After a brief introduction to our dorm, restrooms, and dinner hall – with lunch by ‘Mercy Chefs’ (a culinary ministry) – we started working. Our team with other teams that are at the compound began sanding and painting storage bins and trestles for maintenance purposes at NVM. At about 4 pm, we stopped working and were able to shower and clean up which felt better than usual after our long journey and afternoon of hard work.
At 5 pm, we received the full orientation from the site manager, Brandon, hearing the whole version of how NVM got started, the work they are doing, and the future missions that are in process. Nehemiah Vision Ministries is impressive! I encourage you to read about all they do on their website. What I was struck with, is how the focus is on training the Haitians of how to make a living on their own, developing infrastructure, and training their friends and family to do the same. As the saying goes, "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish, feed him for a lifetime." This is what NVM is doing. This ministry is literally changing and saving lives, both physically and spiritually, through this process. They/we cannot fix all the problems at once but we can influence our immediate world and the people God puts in our path. The people we help can then be encouraged and empowered to do the same to others thus multiplying the effect.
After orientation, we had a nice supper and were able to socialize, play games, and meet and talk with the other teams that are on campus with us. Other teams that are here with us are The Crossing from Quincy, IL, and Grace Community and Genesis Church from Noblesville, IN. We concluded the night with a rooftop time of sharing with the group from Quincy on top of the administrative building on campus. It was an emotional and fun time of sharing as each person expressed why they were on this trip what they felt God’s purposes are for them. Ultimately, the goal is ‘changed lives’ which is already starting to happen!
