Divided Team Returns From Haiti
Division on a team isn’t always bad. This Greenwich, CT team ended up divided because there was so much to do and their team was gifted with so many various talents. They split into smaller teams to accomplish more on their short-term trip to Haiti.
Some of the team chose to work in an orphanage that an American and Canadian couple established two years prior to the earthquake. There were thirty orphans living with the couple in a large house, but the house was severely damaged in the earthquake. Fortunately, no one was injured, but their lovely home is no longer safe to live in. Like many others, they located a field where they were given permission to pitch tents for temporary housing. The team from Stanwich Congregational Church helped build and paint a new structure for 15 young girls. While some of them were building, the others played with and took care of the 43 children who now live there.
Grateful children
The children were very grateful to move into their new home. However, even after the team’s work, the living space remains over-crowded, leaving the children prone to lice and scabies. The team left knowing there are still many needs, including a long-term teacher for the children.
Grateful homeowners
The team worked on other building projects, too. Fortunately, all of the men were experienced builders and a couple of the women were handy, too. They worked hard and finished 50 Samaritan’s Purse homes in one week.
Samaritan’s Purse has donated thousands of simple 12’ x 12’ pressure-treated wooden structures, designed to last about 12-24 months and built to withstand a Category 2 hurricane. David Uttley, former missionary to Haiti, described the structures in this Samaritan’s Purse video.
The Haitians were taught how to build the wooden structures, then volunteer groups used expensive drills to install the tin roofs. The outside walls are wrapped in blue tarp to protect them from water and then the steel footings are placed into each corner to keep the structure from toppling in the wind. On the inside, the structure includes a queen-sized bed frame along with three shelves to be used as beds or storage. After the roofs were screwed on, the team found the homeowners and prayed with them, hand-in-hand. The prayer time was very moving because the Haitians were very grateful to move from their tents into their simple homes.
Grateful patients
Part of the team included two Haitian nurses, women who had not been back to Haiti since they had left as teenagers. After hearing about the devastation, they were determined to go "home" and offered their skills. The nurses spoke Creole, and they were very happy to help out in many interesting cases. One day they travelled with a mobile unit to another town to assist the dozens of people who showed up for care. The hospital that they worked in was a series of connected air-conditioned tents.
Grateful team members
Divided, yes, but unified in working hard to accomplish building, playing, providing, nurturing and loving the Haitians that they went to serve. You, too, can send a divided team to Haiti and you may reap the benefits of uniting hearts in serving those who need help!
To find out how you or someone you know can serve in Haiti, please contact us at haititeams@efca.org.
