2011 January Haiti Mission Trip: January 15-24, 2011
Leaving the Philadelphia Airport early Saturday morning on January 15th, a fourteen member team from the American Baptist Churches of Pennsylvania and Delaware traveled to Grand Goave, Haiti to assist in earthquake disaster relief. Following the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, that claimed the lives of approximately 300,000 people, many of the survivors of have been unable to find permanent housing. Many who survived the quake live in tents or temporary structures. The ABCOPAD Mission Team, in cooperation with Conscious International, worked to help build permanent homes in the Grand Goave Community.
During the ten day mission trip, the team completed one rubble home from start to finish along with beginning work on two or three additional houses. The work on the completed home included creating rebar wire cages necessary for the walls, setting the cages on the foundation, filling the cages with rubble, building trusses for the roof and installing the steel roof on the house. By the end of the week the rubble house was complete and a dedication service was held. Keys for the new house were handed to the pastor and his wife who will be living in the new structure.
While in Haiti the ABCOPAD Team also created wire rebar cages for two additional homes, dug the foundations for two additional homes and started the wood frame work required to set the walls for a home. The ABCOPAD Team was the first to ever complete a home from start to finish in a single week. Of course the team did not work alone. Along with the mission team, a dedicated crew of Haitian laborers worked on the projects. This allowed the ABCOPAD work team to spend time developing relationships with the residents of Grand Goave as well as an opportunity to teach the Haitian workers how to build rubble homes.
While work took place every day, usually starting around 7:00 am and concluding at 4:30 pm. there was plenty of time to enjoy rich fellowship and the Haitian culture. Children and adults often stopped by the work sites to see what was happening and introduce themselves to the mission team. Almost every night the team went for a walk in Grand Goave, getting to know families in the community and sampling some of the local frozen ice cream style drinks (known as smoothies.) On Wednesday afternoon and on the 2nd Sunday afternoon of the trip, the team went to the beach for an ocean swim. One of the meals during the trip included local lobster. On both Sunday's of the adventure, the group worshipped at local churches, experiencing the warm fellowship and rich singing tradition of the Haitian people.
Throughout the mission trip there was a deep sense of Jesus' presence. Although communication was sometimes a problem; the language of Christian love was easy to both identify and understand. It is hard to imagine how the mission trip could have been more successful. Most of the team members have already started thinking about how to make another journey to Grand Goave, Haiti in the not too distant future.
When the plane touched down at the Philadelphia Airport on January 24th, the mission team had moved from a 96 degree day in Haiti to a 5 degree day in Pennsylvania. Warm embraces shared by the team as they departed for their homes throughout the Region, as well as one member leaving for his home in Edwardsville, IL helped to offset the cold temperatures. Following Jesus to do Kingdom work in Haiti will be providing mission fire for months and perhaps years to come.
All of us are painfully aware of the human suffering taking place in Haiti following the earthquake that struck that country earlier this year. Over the last few months, ABCOPAD has been working with Herb and Bernice Rogers to plan a mission trip to Haiti. Rev. Frank Frischkorn, ABCOPAD Executive Minister, will lead a group of 12 people on a 10-day mission trip on January 15-24, 2011. This will include 2 travel days to and from Haiti, a vacation day mid-work week, and 7 days to work on our mission project. Initial estimates place the cost of the trip around $1,600 (airfare, room, meals, etc). The cost for the inoculations will be over and above the cost of the trip.
We will travel to the earthquake-devastated community of Grand Goave, Haiti. Our team will work side by side with members of the local community to rebuild their school, which is located in the Temple Baptist Church.
If you decide to participate, you will...
...Build bridges of friendship with the Haitian people, some of which may become long-term relationships as we seek ways to become missional churches.
...Work side by side with someone who has experienced a dramatic story related to the earthquake.
...Forge friendships with your other team members.
...Help with various construction tasks in support of national skilled laborers.
...Serve the people of Haiti by extending your hands in compassion, love, and hope. You will show them, that they are not forgotten.
Please be in prayer for this trip and listen for God’s call to become a missionary of Christ’s love to a people in deep need.
For more information contact the Pittsburgh office at 412-687-3940 or Email: pghbaptist@aol.com