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Mission Trip to Haiti June 19 – July 4, 2007
| On June 19, 2007, we boarded flight for Haiti, in great anticipation and a little insecurity in not knowing exactly what was ahead. As you know our destination: God's Littlest Angels (GLA) Orphanage in Petionville, Haiti. (www.glahaiti.org). GLA is an independent, non-denominational ministry founded to care for premature, malnourished, and abandoned children in Haiti. GLA is a faith mission relying on God to provide funding and other needs through churches and donors throughout North America and Europe. The GLA orphanage is location in the Kenscoff Mountains above Port-au-Prince. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with approximately 80% of the population living in poverty and 54% in abject poverty. (CIA World Factbook) Our team consisted of Darlene Hergert, Christine Tupper, Kim Crickmay, Barb Dixon and Rev. Regula Brandle. |
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We had decided in January to volunteer at the orphanage on a short term (two-week) mission after attending a GLA fund-raiser (dinner and silent auction) in the fall of 2006. Many hours were spent communicating with the orphanage and preparing for the trip. It was eventually decided that what was most needed was a week long vacation bible school (VBS) for the older children and individual child care with the infants for the rest of the time. In addition Kim Crickmay, a St. Albert Chiropractor, provided chiropractic health care to staff, missionaries, and children.
When we arrived we were given the names of our children and a short description of the types of individual play therapy required. Our arrival over-lapped with another group of volunteers from Renaissance Church in Edmonton. Their helpful advice was encouraging and informative. We quickly bonded with our own little “angels” and were blessed spending time with them, on average about one hour every day with each child.
During the first week of our stay, our Mission Trip Leader, Regula, had to leave us to fly to Switzerland as her father was seriously ill and not expected to live. Even though she felt torn about going and we were going to miss her, God was good and provided for her and for us. At the orphanage there were four terrific young female volunteers who stepped in to assist us with the VBS. After reorganizing roles and responsibilities and with the help of these volunteers, we were able to provide the program, explaining to the children how very much God loves and cares for them. We have been told that the children are still singing the songs they learned. I think all the team would agree that the experience of watching God provide for us in so many ways was what impacted us the most.
If you would like to hear more about our experiences in Haiti, we will be giving a presentation at the 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. Services at St. Paul's Anglican Church in Edmonton on September 23, 2007. A more detailed presentation will take place after a luncheon following the 10:30 service. Also, GLA Canada will be holding a fundraiser (silent auction and dinner) in Edmonton, Saturday evening November 3, 2007 at Ellerslie Baptist Church. The goal of the fundraiser is to obtain financial support for the building of the new orphanage. If you are interested in attending any of these events, please contact Rev. Regula Brandle at the St. Paul's church office (455-0771).