Haiti Project Photo Album (September 2010)

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 11:42:17 -0500

We made it back safely. Thank you for your prayers and support! These next few day will be a time of reflecting and processing what we experienced. We look forward to sharing with you soon.
For now take a look at our trip photos by following the link below.

Haiti Project Photo Album (September 2010)

with the church in haiti

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 08:47:08 -0500

Today (Sunday), we got up early and went to church at one of the Orphanages. The place was packed with people from all over the neighboring community and it was very hot. The total service lasted more than three and half hours and it was 90% in Creole. You might think it would get boring, but we all had three to four orphans sitting on us and around us. It was amazing to see these people who have very little praise their God with such a rich spirit.
As we left, Dr. Jerry was able to look at the leg of the girl whom he help the day before. He was surprised at how well it had recovered already, which was encouraging to us all.
On our way back to the hotel, we were all getting hungry. Our lunch consisted of toast, peanut butter and avocado! It was comical to watch people decide how to eat.
Next, we loaded up and began to head back to Port-au-Prince. After two and a half hours, we stopped and were surprised to be staying at an amazing hotel on the beach. A few of us swam in the ocean and we all enjoyed a great dinner. Our last team meeting was filled with thought about our wonderful trip and an intimate time of prayer.

Peace to you,
Jonathan Klee

at the orphanage

Sun, 5 Sep 2010 08:49:29 -0500

Today was long as we visited three orphanages and experienced a small piece of what life is about for these kids. We are all in deep thought about what our next step is and how we should get involved here. We have had some great prayer and discussion time as a group and some one on one time with who ever is sitting next to us as we travel and eat.
We returned to visit pastor Daniel and his orphanage. As we walked in, a few little girls looked up at Paige and said, “You came back for us.” This broke her heart and showed us all how alone the children feel. While here, we guided the kids in cleaning up the lot next door that was filled with trash, car parts and other random things. A few of our men (Frank and Jerry) used hack saws and removed some rebar that was dangerous places. This was really a great time of working together and showing the kids that this is something that they can do on their own.
At the other orphanages, we were welcomed in song. Their voices are amazing! I’m excited to share the recordings of them singing with you. We also performed a few fun skits and messages about Christ, which is amazingly effective in Haiti. Jerry, our doctor, was able to clean some soars and wounds on a few kids. One girl had a bad infection on her leg, so we gave the mommas some antibiotics to give her for the next week. We also had a lot of time to be with and play with the kids, including soccer, coloring books, balloons, playing with a giant parachute and just getting to hold them. The Lord has really pulled on all our hearts.
Please pray for continued good nights of rest and safety as we return to Port-au-Prince.
Thank you for your support, prayers and gifts for the children.

Peace to you,
Jonathan Klee

our friday

Sat, 4 Sep 2010 09:15:43 -0500

Today (friday), we got up between 6 and 7am and most of us had a large spanish omelet for breakfast. We then filled our water bottles and headed out to Gonaives. We noticed that the roads improved since our visit in February, but the the destroyed buildings were still untouched. The drive was 4 hours and went through a tropical paradise surrounded by beautiful mountains and the sea. This would end with the occasional small, dirty town filled with poor and oppressed people. We also passed a lake several miles in diameter that formed in 2008 from flood waters due to a hurricane. Gonaives is still recovering from this. As we approached Gonaives, the landscape changed to a very dry rocky desert due to deforesting. Most of you know that Haiti is the poorest country in our hemisphere. Gonaives is the poorest town in the poorest country. The poverty is too much to describe in a “cell phone blog.”
We checked in to our hotel, which is a blessing to have here, then headed to pastor Daniel’s orphanage. Here we sang and danced with the kids, and gave them coloring books with some markers and crayons while having some fun arts and craft time. We also unloaded a lot of food, school supplies and needed clothes and shoes that will get used as needed. Pastor Daniel shared his story of how he met Kyle Gillespie and all he has done for the orphans. We all realized we would not have been here today if not for Kyle’s years of building a friendship with pastor Daniel.
We then took a quick look at another orphanage, but the pastor of it was not there. Maybe we will try again on Saturday.
At night we had a great family style dinner and had some intimate sharing time about what is going on in our hearts.
Please pray for:
- Our work on Saturday back at pastor Daniel’s orphanage.
- Safety in travel.
- That we will engage in the now and what is happening around us.

Peace to you,
Jonathan Klee

arrival in haiti

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 07:42:30 -0500

At 5:15am, Pearle lost her boarding pass for about 10 minutes. Frank and I had a good laugh while Kyle ran on got a new one. She found it just in time for Kyle to return with another set. All the rest of the travel was smooth. Once we arrived, we went and saw the destruction at the presidential palace and the cathedral in the heart of Port-au-Prince. It made it real for those on the team who were seeing this for the first time. Next, we made our way to Moise’s church. He works with the Global Orphan Project and his church was destroyed in the earthquake. While there we played and sang with kids from the neighborhood and saw the plans for new construction on the church. Thursday night we are staying in a nice hotel and eating dinner.
Please pray for good sleep and safe travel Friday morning.

Peace to you,
Jonathan Klee