Mission Trip to Haiti
Why do we take an annual trip to Haiti?
After my first trip to Haiti in March of 2014 I decided there is so much need and so much more we can do. After seeing a teenage boy and his brother living alone in a Haitian home, which is more like a woodshed, I cried for most of the night. So many in Haiti have no running water, no electricity, no toilet and cook what little food they have over charcoal. We have so much in the U.S. and they have so little. Are we going to sit back and watch or do something?
I have decided we are going to do what we can. Annually, we have a group from Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran church go to Haiti to support the ministry of the Lutheran church of Haiti. We share Jesus with the children through VBS programs, we help with their children’s feeding program, we visit and support the ministry to the elderly and so much more. Anything we do is a huge blessing to those in Haiti who are our brothers and sisters. Join us in our support of the ministry of the Lutheran church of Haiti.
Pastor Chad
After my first trip to Haiti in March of 2014 I decided there is so much need and so much more we can do. After seeing a teenage boy and his brother living alone in a Haitian home, which is more like a woodshed, I cried for most of the night. So many in Haiti have no running water, no electricity, no toilet and cook what little food they have over charcoal. We have so much in the U.S. and they have so little. Are we going to sit back and watch or do something?
I have decided we are going to do what we can. Annually, we have a group from Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran church go to Haiti to support the ministry of the Lutheran church of Haiti. We share Jesus with the children through VBS programs, we help with their children’s feeding program, we visit and support the ministry to the elderly and so much more. Anything we do is a huge blessing to those in Haiti who are our brothers and sisters. Join us in our support of the ministry of the Lutheran church of Haiti.
Pastor Chad
2020 Haiti Trip Overview |
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With thanks and praise to God and as a result of the fervent prayers from our SHLC “prayer warriors” at home, the Haiti mission team has returned home and passed a fourteen-day quarantine period!
The story of the 2020 Haiti trip began well over a year ago. Our largest group ever had been assembled and planning had been going on for months. John Hansel had identified the basic need of underwear for prisoners and the congregation surprised us with their overwhelming response of over 900 pairs of underwear to be distributed to both adults and children. We had already collected supplies for VBS programs, hygiene items and a suitcase full of clothing from the “Dress A Girl” chapter in Appleton. These supplies were ready and waiting to make the trip to Haiti. This all changed a few weeks before our planned departure date. Protests and problems in Haiti prompted the U.S. State Department to change their recommendation to “do not travel”. The trip was cancelled with the hope we could go at a later date. In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9
Earlier this year, we were all surprised by an offer from Mark and Jackie Rychel, founders of Ministry in Mission based in Ohio, to accompany them on a mission trip. Shepherd of the Hills has coordinated with Ministry in Mission, who is supported by the LCMS, for our previous trips. They told us that the situation had changed for the better and they felt the time was right to return to Haiti. This organization has worked to establish a guest house in the city of Jacmel where mission teams stay. Ministry in Mission has built an orphanage and the Jacmel Lutheran Home for the Elderly. They also provide two meals per week through a feeding program for hungry children in the poorest area of Jacmel. John, Laurie and Brad Hansel, and Tom and Patty Kautz accepted their invitation. We did have concerns but we decided to take a leap of faith and “fly on Holy Spirit Airways” as Jackie Rychel referred to it.
Our SHLC family showed support for Haiti through a free-will offering. This offering went to support the cost of the children’s feeding program in Beaudouin, prisoner supplies, elderly care packages and logistics costs. In addition, Laurie Hansel led a Haitian metal art pre-sale and gathered orders to purchase in Haiti. We were so thankful for the response with all proceeds going directly to the Haitians that made and coordinated the art for us.
Days before our departure date, the U.S. government again changed travel recommendations to do not travel due to changing conditions in Haiti. Jackie had told us that she relied on her sources in Haiti to determine whether to go or not to go and she checked with them shortly before the trip date. We decided to leave it up to her sources and when she got the go ahead, we made the trip. Ironically, we perceived civil unrest as the primary issue. COVID 19 had not yet been labeled a pandemic….
May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 This verse was put on our hearts before we left with a devotion theme, “Sometimes Jesus calms the storm, and sometimes He calms our hearts” that was shared during elderly visits as well. We would keep coming back to this as our week progressed.
On Friday March 12, we made the drive to Chicago where we stayed overnight so that we could catch an early flight to Miami. At 3:00 am the next morning we were on our way. We had a connecting flight in Miami where we met up with the Rychels. Upon arrival in Port-au-Prince, we embarked on the three-hour drive over the mountains to the guest house. Sydney greeting us with a “Welcome home!” and hug was a great way to start the week in Jacmel! Once there, we met up with three medical students that were also part of the trip. Steven, Chris and Jacob had arrived three days earlier and had been assisting where needed at Saint Michel Hospital and various clinic locations. Steven is a family friend of the Rychels and had been making trips with them since he was 15 years old.
Saturday started off with supply gathering. On the list: soap and deodorant for the prisoners (to accompany the underwear), snacks for our VBS events, and food for the elderly. Tom had received a Thrivent Action team gift card used to purchase beans, rice, pasta, and cooking oil for the elderly care packages.
Saturday afternoon we went to a kid’s program in Beaudouin where Patty shared a lesson on prayer and we handed out clothing. We also shared a VBS skit and craft at the orphanage. The theme was the story of the ten lepers. The craft was a beaded necklace where beads represented Jesus (a cross), His love for us (a heart), 10 lepers, and a special bead to represent the one who came back to thank Jesus. Then He (Jesus) said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:19
After returning to the guest house we sorted the items from our shopping trip. Food was measured out from bulk bags to individual portions for elderly visits. We also assembled bags with underwear, soap, and deodorant for the prisoners (over 500). There was discussion of wanting to provide the prisoners with a day's worth of food so the team contributed $210 to buy enough beans and rice for this purpose. We also periodically interviewed kids in the sponsorship program and updated their photos.
Sunday morning, we all went to church at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jacmel, which neighbors the guest house. A Haitian church service is something that everyone should experience. The congregation is really passionate while participating in the singing and there are no hymn books or big screen TVs leading the way. You sit close together and can feel the presence of God in the midst of each other. We were invited to stand in front of the congregation to introduce ourselves and received a very warm welcome. Brad dazzled them with his mastery of the Haitian Kreyol language! A service may last two hours but goes by quickly.
That afternoon we took a trip to the beach with the orphans and some of the elder home residents. The elder home and the orphanage are on the same piece of property. Jackie informed us that there was a previous trip to the beach and the elderly residents that went truly enjoyed themselves as they sat at the ocean’s edge and let the water run over them. We observed this first hand. We fed everyone a meal and then the kids played in the water with the younger guys of our team while the elderly residents sat at the edge of the water, enjoying the sand and the water. Smiles of joy and contentment were everywhere.
On Monday morning we took the short walk down to the church that has been under construction for four years. The construction is being built around the present church building. Construction occurs when they have the funds to buy materials. Shepherd of the Hills has been a large part of funding for this church building. On the days we worked, we carried cement blocks and handled buckets of water and mortar for the workers who were building the walls. At the Sunday service it was mentioned that their goal was to have a roof on the new building by the end of the year. The hope was that $50,000 would be raised to get this far on the project.
On Monday afternoon, we visited some elderly in the community. Our visits had a dual purpose. We were delivering a bag of food, read a devotion, and sang a song or two. One of Jackie’s goals for the week was to transition two new residents to the elder home, so some of the visits also served as a way to identify appropriate candidates. Jackie’s team identified a lady who was in need of physical assistance and whose family could no longer take care of her. That afternoon the woman was gently transferred onto a pad in the back of an SUV and transported to the elder home. We also held VBS in a neighboring town of Raymond.
Tuesday’s schedule consisted of construction, another VBS, and more elderly visits. Two of the people we visited were men who were candidates for the last opening in the elder home. We finished that day with the feeding program. Kids that are known to be in need are invited to a meal every Tuesday and Thursday. They bring any container that they can lay their hands on and they receive a portion. On this day we also shared the story of The 10 Lepers, distributed children’s underwear, a snack item, and the VBS craft item to each child in the program. The underwear generated the most excitement! We also taught them a song, “Our God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing our God cannot do!” What a reminder.
Wednesday was our trip to the prison. While the guards were distributing the care packages, Patty read the devotion with Pastor George translating. This was done a few times as we moved down the cell block so more people could hear. The men all listened quietly and when finished there was loud applause and cries of AMEN! The conditions in Haitian prisons are appalling. The cells are dark, damp, and crowded. Platforms are built three stories high with several people to a platform. It is a difficult place to visit.
That afternoon we had the opportunity to visit with some friends that we have made over the years. It seems that everyone that goes to Haiti makes a special connection with at least a few individuals. This was the day that was set aside to spend some time with those friends. Later that day we went to pick up one of the potential elder care residents that we had visited the day before. This gentleman seemed to be in better shape than some of the other people we saw but he was homeless, had no family, and had some medical issues that needed attention. He gladly accepted the invitation but had to take care of one thing first. He asked if he could have a minute to give away the food that we had gifted him the day before. A few minutes later, he was in the truck and on his way to the elder home.
On Thursday there was more construction to work on. The medical team was going to the hospital and Patty asked if she could go along. This was the highlight of her week as she got to weigh the babies before they were immunized at a well-baby clinic. She also tagged along with the med students as they conducted rounds. The lack of equipment and supplies is such a contrast to US hospitals. We made a few more elderly visits and had the opportunity to pray over a lady who was very near death. She had no family, but a community around her that took care of her. We then served food at the feeding program in Beaudouin.
We had our plans for the next day but that all changed in a hurry. The first two cases of COVID-19 had hit Haiti. Soon our phones were telling us that the president was closing the airport that night (after all flights had left for the day) and our Saturday flight was cancelled. After some discussing and conferring with Pastor Marky, it was decided that we would drive to Port-au-Prince the next day. The idea was either to get to the US Embassy for assistance or at least to be near the airport so when a flight was available, we would be close by. We left the guest house that day not knowing exactly what would happen. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
We considered going to the U.S. Embassy, the airport in case there was a flight leaving, or another guest house. Plans were changing as we drove along as we found out more information. When we reached Port-au-Prince, we learned that American Airlines was sending four empty planes to ferry out their stranded passengers. Two would come on Monday and two on Tuesday. We were able to book seats on Tuesday’s second flight. After some more discussion and a few anxious moments, we decided to find a hotel in Port-au-Prince near the airport. We would then stay there until Tuesday.
The next few days were spent making the best of the situation. We did some puzzles, read some books, and hoped not to be blindsided by any more surprises. On Tuesday, we made our way to the airport and initially waited outside until we were let in. After some time, we were able to enter the airport, check in, go through the security procedures, and finally wait for departure. The plane was full and numerous people were on standby. None of us were comfortable until that plane’s wheels left the ground and we knew we were on our way to Miami. We landed in Miami and found an eerily quiet airport. The scene was the same in Chicago. It was a long journey home, and things were not the same as when we left. So much had changed in 2 weeks! Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
With the circumstances we left under, we did not say the proper goodbyes and thank yous that we wanted to. We are grateful for all of the drivers and escorts in Haiti. These included Vlad, Pastor George, Gimme, and Mark. We also owe a thank you to Pastor Marky, Sydney, Peterson, and all of the guest house staff.
We want to thank Thrivent. We applied and received action teams for elderly food, the children’s feeding program, VBS supplies and other expenses.
Thank you to Dress a Girl Around the World which once again provided children’s clothes for the trip.
Thank you to Mark and Jackie Rychel for inviting us on this trip and for organizing our activities.
Thank you to our church family at Shepherd of the Hills. Thank you for all your prayers and concerns. Thank you for any mission money or free will offering money you donated. Thank you for anyone that purchased Haitian art.
Please keep the Haitian people in your prayers. If you want to learn more about Ministry in Mission and their work in Jacmel, we would welcome you to visit their website: ministryinmission.org
Themes of the trip:
The story of the 2020 Haiti trip began well over a year ago. Our largest group ever had been assembled and planning had been going on for months. John Hansel had identified the basic need of underwear for prisoners and the congregation surprised us with their overwhelming response of over 900 pairs of underwear to be distributed to both adults and children. We had already collected supplies for VBS programs, hygiene items and a suitcase full of clothing from the “Dress A Girl” chapter in Appleton. These supplies were ready and waiting to make the trip to Haiti. This all changed a few weeks before our planned departure date. Protests and problems in Haiti prompted the U.S. State Department to change their recommendation to “do not travel”. The trip was cancelled with the hope we could go at a later date. In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9
Earlier this year, we were all surprised by an offer from Mark and Jackie Rychel, founders of Ministry in Mission based in Ohio, to accompany them on a mission trip. Shepherd of the Hills has coordinated with Ministry in Mission, who is supported by the LCMS, for our previous trips. They told us that the situation had changed for the better and they felt the time was right to return to Haiti. This organization has worked to establish a guest house in the city of Jacmel where mission teams stay. Ministry in Mission has built an orphanage and the Jacmel Lutheran Home for the Elderly. They also provide two meals per week through a feeding program for hungry children in the poorest area of Jacmel. John, Laurie and Brad Hansel, and Tom and Patty Kautz accepted their invitation. We did have concerns but we decided to take a leap of faith and “fly on Holy Spirit Airways” as Jackie Rychel referred to it.
Our SHLC family showed support for Haiti through a free-will offering. This offering went to support the cost of the children’s feeding program in Beaudouin, prisoner supplies, elderly care packages and logistics costs. In addition, Laurie Hansel led a Haitian metal art pre-sale and gathered orders to purchase in Haiti. We were so thankful for the response with all proceeds going directly to the Haitians that made and coordinated the art for us.
Days before our departure date, the U.S. government again changed travel recommendations to do not travel due to changing conditions in Haiti. Jackie had told us that she relied on her sources in Haiti to determine whether to go or not to go and she checked with them shortly before the trip date. We decided to leave it up to her sources and when she got the go ahead, we made the trip. Ironically, we perceived civil unrest as the primary issue. COVID 19 had not yet been labeled a pandemic….
May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 This verse was put on our hearts before we left with a devotion theme, “Sometimes Jesus calms the storm, and sometimes He calms our hearts” that was shared during elderly visits as well. We would keep coming back to this as our week progressed.
On Friday March 12, we made the drive to Chicago where we stayed overnight so that we could catch an early flight to Miami. At 3:00 am the next morning we were on our way. We had a connecting flight in Miami where we met up with the Rychels. Upon arrival in Port-au-Prince, we embarked on the three-hour drive over the mountains to the guest house. Sydney greeting us with a “Welcome home!” and hug was a great way to start the week in Jacmel! Once there, we met up with three medical students that were also part of the trip. Steven, Chris and Jacob had arrived three days earlier and had been assisting where needed at Saint Michel Hospital and various clinic locations. Steven is a family friend of the Rychels and had been making trips with them since he was 15 years old.
Saturday started off with supply gathering. On the list: soap and deodorant for the prisoners (to accompany the underwear), snacks for our VBS events, and food for the elderly. Tom had received a Thrivent Action team gift card used to purchase beans, rice, pasta, and cooking oil for the elderly care packages.
Saturday afternoon we went to a kid’s program in Beaudouin where Patty shared a lesson on prayer and we handed out clothing. We also shared a VBS skit and craft at the orphanage. The theme was the story of the ten lepers. The craft was a beaded necklace where beads represented Jesus (a cross), His love for us (a heart), 10 lepers, and a special bead to represent the one who came back to thank Jesus. Then He (Jesus) said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:19
After returning to the guest house we sorted the items from our shopping trip. Food was measured out from bulk bags to individual portions for elderly visits. We also assembled bags with underwear, soap, and deodorant for the prisoners (over 500). There was discussion of wanting to provide the prisoners with a day's worth of food so the team contributed $210 to buy enough beans and rice for this purpose. We also periodically interviewed kids in the sponsorship program and updated their photos.
Sunday morning, we all went to church at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jacmel, which neighbors the guest house. A Haitian church service is something that everyone should experience. The congregation is really passionate while participating in the singing and there are no hymn books or big screen TVs leading the way. You sit close together and can feel the presence of God in the midst of each other. We were invited to stand in front of the congregation to introduce ourselves and received a very warm welcome. Brad dazzled them with his mastery of the Haitian Kreyol language! A service may last two hours but goes by quickly.
That afternoon we took a trip to the beach with the orphans and some of the elder home residents. The elder home and the orphanage are on the same piece of property. Jackie informed us that there was a previous trip to the beach and the elderly residents that went truly enjoyed themselves as they sat at the ocean’s edge and let the water run over them. We observed this first hand. We fed everyone a meal and then the kids played in the water with the younger guys of our team while the elderly residents sat at the edge of the water, enjoying the sand and the water. Smiles of joy and contentment were everywhere.
On Monday morning we took the short walk down to the church that has been under construction for four years. The construction is being built around the present church building. Construction occurs when they have the funds to buy materials. Shepherd of the Hills has been a large part of funding for this church building. On the days we worked, we carried cement blocks and handled buckets of water and mortar for the workers who were building the walls. At the Sunday service it was mentioned that their goal was to have a roof on the new building by the end of the year. The hope was that $50,000 would be raised to get this far on the project.
On Monday afternoon, we visited some elderly in the community. Our visits had a dual purpose. We were delivering a bag of food, read a devotion, and sang a song or two. One of Jackie’s goals for the week was to transition two new residents to the elder home, so some of the visits also served as a way to identify appropriate candidates. Jackie’s team identified a lady who was in need of physical assistance and whose family could no longer take care of her. That afternoon the woman was gently transferred onto a pad in the back of an SUV and transported to the elder home. We also held VBS in a neighboring town of Raymond.
Tuesday’s schedule consisted of construction, another VBS, and more elderly visits. Two of the people we visited were men who were candidates for the last opening in the elder home. We finished that day with the feeding program. Kids that are known to be in need are invited to a meal every Tuesday and Thursday. They bring any container that they can lay their hands on and they receive a portion. On this day we also shared the story of The 10 Lepers, distributed children’s underwear, a snack item, and the VBS craft item to each child in the program. The underwear generated the most excitement! We also taught them a song, “Our God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing our God cannot do!” What a reminder.
Wednesday was our trip to the prison. While the guards were distributing the care packages, Patty read the devotion with Pastor George translating. This was done a few times as we moved down the cell block so more people could hear. The men all listened quietly and when finished there was loud applause and cries of AMEN! The conditions in Haitian prisons are appalling. The cells are dark, damp, and crowded. Platforms are built three stories high with several people to a platform. It is a difficult place to visit.
That afternoon we had the opportunity to visit with some friends that we have made over the years. It seems that everyone that goes to Haiti makes a special connection with at least a few individuals. This was the day that was set aside to spend some time with those friends. Later that day we went to pick up one of the potential elder care residents that we had visited the day before. This gentleman seemed to be in better shape than some of the other people we saw but he was homeless, had no family, and had some medical issues that needed attention. He gladly accepted the invitation but had to take care of one thing first. He asked if he could have a minute to give away the food that we had gifted him the day before. A few minutes later, he was in the truck and on his way to the elder home.
On Thursday there was more construction to work on. The medical team was going to the hospital and Patty asked if she could go along. This was the highlight of her week as she got to weigh the babies before they were immunized at a well-baby clinic. She also tagged along with the med students as they conducted rounds. The lack of equipment and supplies is such a contrast to US hospitals. We made a few more elderly visits and had the opportunity to pray over a lady who was very near death. She had no family, but a community around her that took care of her. We then served food at the feeding program in Beaudouin.
We had our plans for the next day but that all changed in a hurry. The first two cases of COVID-19 had hit Haiti. Soon our phones were telling us that the president was closing the airport that night (after all flights had left for the day) and our Saturday flight was cancelled. After some discussing and conferring with Pastor Marky, it was decided that we would drive to Port-au-Prince the next day. The idea was either to get to the US Embassy for assistance or at least to be near the airport so when a flight was available, we would be close by. We left the guest house that day not knowing exactly what would happen. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
We considered going to the U.S. Embassy, the airport in case there was a flight leaving, or another guest house. Plans were changing as we drove along as we found out more information. When we reached Port-au-Prince, we learned that American Airlines was sending four empty planes to ferry out their stranded passengers. Two would come on Monday and two on Tuesday. We were able to book seats on Tuesday’s second flight. After some more discussion and a few anxious moments, we decided to find a hotel in Port-au-Prince near the airport. We would then stay there until Tuesday.
The next few days were spent making the best of the situation. We did some puzzles, read some books, and hoped not to be blindsided by any more surprises. On Tuesday, we made our way to the airport and initially waited outside until we were let in. After some time, we were able to enter the airport, check in, go through the security procedures, and finally wait for departure. The plane was full and numerous people were on standby. None of us were comfortable until that plane’s wheels left the ground and we knew we were on our way to Miami. We landed in Miami and found an eerily quiet airport. The scene was the same in Chicago. It was a long journey home, and things were not the same as when we left. So much had changed in 2 weeks! Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
With the circumstances we left under, we did not say the proper goodbyes and thank yous that we wanted to. We are grateful for all of the drivers and escorts in Haiti. These included Vlad, Pastor George, Gimme, and Mark. We also owe a thank you to Pastor Marky, Sydney, Peterson, and all of the guest house staff.
We want to thank Thrivent. We applied and received action teams for elderly food, the children’s feeding program, VBS supplies and other expenses.
Thank you to Dress a Girl Around the World which once again provided children’s clothes for the trip.
Thank you to Mark and Jackie Rychel for inviting us on this trip and for organizing our activities.
Thank you to our church family at Shepherd of the Hills. Thank you for all your prayers and concerns. Thank you for any mission money or free will offering money you donated. Thank you for anyone that purchased Haitian art.
Please keep the Haitian people in your prayers. If you want to learn more about Ministry in Mission and their work in Jacmel, we would welcome you to visit their website: ministryinmission.org
Themes of the trip:
- The hope of Jesus Christ brings shared joy between believers
- Peace in your heart is possible no matter the circumstances
- Meeting each other where we are at and doing the smallest acts of love make a difference
- Remember to say Thank You to Jesus! And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17