If you've read some of my previous blog entries from Haiti, you'll know that I've been working with Samaritan's Purse on an orphanage project called The Lamb Center. There are 60 children currently at this orphanage. And they are so precious! :) Of course they've all already stolen my heart!


About half of them are in need of sturdy shoes. We walked with them to church this morning, and two of them had their cheap flipflops break on the quarter-mile trek. We kept trying to fix them every time they came apart. The girl eventually took hers off to walk barefoot and the boy (pictured above), barely 4, I ended up carrying the rest of the way.


I would love to help buy shoes for the ones who need them most. I brought some money along that some of you gave me, but it will not be enough to cover them all. I should be able to get a good pair of shoes for around $7 each down here. So for 30 shoes, I'll need $210. Any remaining money I can use to buy them clothes, which they also need. Some of them this morning didn't go to church because they didn't have clothes without holes or big tears in them. Some of us may say that it doesn't matter what you wear to church. And of course we know that is true. But, the people of Haiti have just as much dignity as you and I do, and want to be presentable, especially when they go to worship in God's house. And I certainly believe they deserve that option. Most of us have dozens of outfits to choose from. These children are lucky if they have one good outfit on any given day.


If you would like to contribute towards the purchase of the shoes or clothing, send me an email (hannahsterling@live.com) and I will give you my mailing address. My mom can deposit the check and I can withdraw it from here. I've still got this week and next to purchase the items, so there is time if you would like to mail it this week. Just write "Shoes for Haiti" in the memo so we'll know what it's for.


Thanks for praying for these children and helping where you are able!

I thought I would take some time to post some more photos from my time here. There is so much to say and so many photos to show! I went through and picked out some that I thought give you a good overall picture of what I've seen and experienced here so far.
These first ones I took while riding around. We are staying right outside of Léogâne which is at least a two hour drive from Port-au-Prince. Some of these were taken closer to where I am staying and some were taken while driving through bigger cities.

Traffic in Haiti is an experience for sure!


Many of the temporary shelters that SP set up can still be spotted throughout the country


Remains from the earthquake


A big problem everywhere, and especially in the larger cities


A family pulling in the catch of the day near our base outside of Léogâne


A storm coming in... those tents are where we sleep


Not cool. And each of Aaron's fingers are about two inches longer than mine, so that tells you how ginormous this tarantula is. Yikes!

But... since Aaron seemed to have the situation under control, I used it as a photo op... sweaty and gross or not!


Guess what we're making?? CAKE BALLS! :) I wanted to treat the staff and volunteers with my signature dessert. They were the ugliest cake balls I've ever made, but they still tasted great and were a big hit. Marie Michell enjoyed helping me make them. And yes, I'm once again drenched in sweat. Lovely, huh?


Our friend Charles cutting open some coconuts for us from a tree that randomly fell down while we were working. The milk was so refreshing after working so hard out in the heat.


The kiddos that live next door to the building site


One of the many absolutely amazing sunsets we witness each night from the base! (This is when you realize why I really chose to stay two more weeks! Jk...)
I suppose the biggest news to report is that I am writing this blog entry from Haiti. Why is that significant? Because as many of you know, originally I was supposed to hop on a plane home yesterday.

First, let me catch up with what has been happening these past couple of weeks and then I will share with you why I am still here. Before arriving in Haiti, I knew little about what our team was going to be doing. As I mentioned previously, we had been told that more than likely we would be working on some groundwork for an orphanage called The Lamb Center. It took a few days for that to be ready for us, so we started with painting the rental homes where the kids are currently living. In a little over a week, we finished painting both the girls' and the boys' homes. It's incredible what a little paint can do to make concrete walls come alive and a place feel like a home! We painted the ceilings white which also made a big improvement and helps brighten things up when there is no electricity.

Before

After

In addition to the painting, we also split up throughout our time here and worked on various projects. There is a volunteer trailer we have been trying to get ready that will stay at the construction site and be stocked with tools, water, lunches, and a place to take a break. Most of the painting on the interior is finished, and they are working on completing the electricity and plumbing. It will be great for future volunteers to have that on site as they work throughout the day under the hot Haitian sun! There is also a volunteer house that SP is renting. Hopefully it will be up and running in the next few weeks so future teams can stay there and be closer to the project site. The house itself was built after the earthquake and looks to be in great shape. It just needs a perimeter fence for security, a more complete kitchen, and additional furniture before its ready to house volunteers.

Perhaps the "project" our team enjoyed most was a party we threw for the children. My mom had given me money to use for any needs here, and I thought a party for the kids would be a great way to spend some of that. We made a list of treats we thought the kids would enjoy and any other supplies we needed for the games and activities. Our final team member, Jerry, arrived a week after the rest of us. I told him about the party and he brought some funky sunglasses, whistles, candy, and balloons. We each came up with a game or activity. Allen and the guys filled up water balloons and made a target for us to hold while the kids launched water balloons at us. Katrina had a coloring station with paper and crayons for the kids to draw pictures. Nadege had a Haitian story book and sat under a tree reading that to some of the kids. I made balloon animals, which eventually turned into balloon swords because the demand got pretty high for them and the dogs were taking too long! And probably the most popular of all was Celeste's dance party. She had been dancing with the kids almost every day and they loved listening to the music and learning her crazy moves. We also made up some kool-aid for them to have with their lunch. At the end of the party, we gave them each a bag of treats. We packed in each bag some cookies, candy, a pencil, sunglasses, a whistle, and 2 silly bands. And we gave them each a notebook and a bag of chips. It was so wonderful to see their faces light up when they received their bag. Everyone instantly put on their sunglasses and started munching on the candy. It was a great success!

Jerry coaching one of the little squirts on how to throw a water balloon

Dance party with Celeste!


Aside from the painting, prepping, and partying, we did begin some of the groundwork for the new building. We started setting up the batter boards. Before this trip, I didn't know what those were--and I probably still can't really explain them to you--but I know the process. Cut 4' pieces of wood. Dig holes. Lots of holes. Mix up some concrete. Put the wood in the hole and pour in the concrete. The ground here is so rocky. You have to use a pickaxe to break up the ground, shovel that out, use the pickaxe, shovel, and so forth. It's hard work. Especially in this heat and humidity. But our team did an incredible job and we got a lot done in the short time we worked on that project. As we set up the batter boards, I helped with quality control. We strung a line down each end of the site and I helped keep all of our boards perfectly in line and perfectly vertical. We've got a few more to finish and a few of us will do that this week before the next volunteer team arrives on Saturday.

Construction site with the batter boards set up

So why am I still here? The obvious answer to that is that God is not done with me in Haiti. If he were, I would have left yesterday. Another answer to that question might be that two weeks serving in a place like this is never enough time for me. I should have known that coming in, but I signed up recognizing that this was a great opportunity to serve in Haiti and to get a taste of what Samaritan's Purse does on a global level. In my first two weeks here, in addition to helping out with what the rest of the team was doing, I also had the opportunity to assist with some of the administrative tasks that needed to be done for The Lamb Center project. Through that experience I got to know and work even more closely with two of the men overseeing SP's work there. I got a behind-the-scenes look at all that is involved with a project like this and saw a bit of the to-do list for what's left. It's a big list. I enjoyed being able to help them get some of the documents and other files together and organized. And I know there is still a lot I can help with. In talking with one of the guys, I learned that staying a bit longer might be an option and that they could definitely use my help if the request was approved. We put it out there and it was approved the next day. So... I'm staying for two more weeks. The next volunteer team doesn't come until Saturday, so this week I will help with some more administrative work and also get the batter boards done and string pulled across so that the team can start digging next week.

I'm just as excited for these next two weeks as I was when I set out to come for the first. This is a great opportunity and I am blessed to be here and serve with Samaritan's Purse. I've met some incredible people so far who have come down here to volunteer and work with SP. They have encouraged me and I hope I have been able to provide them with some encouragement as well. And most of all, it's wonderful getting to know the kids at The Lamb Center and having the chance to love on them nearly every day. Thank you for continuing to pray for me throughout these next two weeks. I listed some prayer requests prior to my departure for Haiti. As I reread them just now, they still apply so I will list them again to include with any other prayers you would like to lift up for the remainder of my time here. :)
  • Please pray for good health for myself and the other volunteers and staff.
  • Please pray that the work of our hands will be productive, but also that our presence and work there will be a demonstration of Christ's love.
  • Please pray that we as members of a team will be selfless and loving towards each other, and demonstrate unity as the body of Christ.
  • Please pray for opportunities for us to share the love and message of Christ through both word and deed, and that we will boldly take advantage of those opportunities.
Lunch time!

When most people think of an orphan, they probably think of a child whose parents have died. That was typically what came to my mind as well until I started working more with orphans and vulnerable children these past few years. Before, I would have assumed that most orphanages are filled with children who do not have living parents. Now, I'm coming to realize that a lot of the children in many of the orphanages I have visited have at least one biological parent who is still alive, but who is either unable or unwilling to take care of the child. That was what I experienced today...

As I show pictures from trips like Namibia, and now Haiti, people always remark about how happy the children look. I've already posted one story about The Lamb Center here in Haiti and I've received comments about the beautiful smiles of the children, and so on. And it's easy for me to focus on those smiles as well. Often I'll even tell them to smile for photos. I love seeing how their faces light up with those pearly white smiles! For many of the children, however, unless they were too young to remember a life prior to coming to a place like The Lamb Center, there is a lot of pain behind those smiles. I've already seen that in some of the kids here. There are always those who seem to stay off to themselves or who can't as easily be coerced into a happy smile for the camera. I think about Ringo from FHS who at five years old was one of the toughest kids at the center. It took months for me to get a sincere smile out of him.

What I experienced today was not a happy, seemingly well adjusted child at an orphanage. Today I got a glimpse into Day 1 in the life of an orphan. And it wasn't pretty.

I arrived at The Lamb Center ready to paint with the rest of the team when Kalebe (the director) asked me to accompany him to pick up a baby and take it to his mother's orphanage in Port-au-Prince. About 2-3 hours away depending on traffic (which is insane here!). I got permission and headed off. We drove down some back roads, parked, and walked a little ways until we arrived at a wooden shack. On the way, Kalebe told me a little about the situation. The mother of this 9 month old baby was only 14 years old. In addition to having that baby to care for, she is also three months pregnant. The grandmother is unsure who the father is in both cases. In this situation the family is just not able to properly care for the baby. As if I couldn't already feel the pain and intensity of this situation, before knocking at the door Kalebe remarked, "I am very sad for this baby." I echoed that statement, but I couldn't stop thinking about what the mother was going through.

The mother answered the door with the baby in her arms. The baby--who apparently hasn't been named yet--was very small for his age, definitely malnourished. Kalebe talked with her for a little while until we were interrupted by some men carrying a sick woman into that same house. Soon, all of the neighbors were around us checking out that situation and wondering about the baby. Intense. That's the best way to describe it all. As everyone was talking, I kept glancing at the mother--only a child herself! Her mood was somber and soon I started to see her eyes begin to fill with tears. My heart was so heavy. I thought, "Here I am, standing in front of these Haitian people. About to take this baby from a crying mother, and I'm about to completely lose it." There were a couple times I had to turn my head from everyone and hope my own tears would disappear. Before we left, Kalebe wanted me to take a photo of the girl and her baby. I knew it would be wonderful to be able to give the photo to the mother. When we told her we wanted to take one, she went inside the house. She came back out a few minutes later and it was obvious she had taken a moment to herself to cry. I took the photo, my tears flowing by this time, and then gave the mother a hug. She didn't hug me back. She just stood there. I can't even imagine all of her thoughts and emotions at that moment.

One of the ladies carried the baby to the truck while Kalebe and I followed. I had a hat on but no sunglasses. I kept my head low because by that point I was crying. I've always been on the other end of orphanages. Playing with the kids. Listening to their songs. Amazed by their joy in the midst of their circumstances. But this was a much different perspective. And this was painful. When I was handed the baby, the tears didn't stop. I tried to say a few things to Kalebe but my words were shaky. I asked him to hand me my sunglasses so it would be a little less obvious to everyone outside that the white woman in the front seat holding a baby was bawling her eyes out.

We had put him in a full outfit and a diaper, all of which were way too big for him. We didn't have a bottle, but knew there would be food waiting for him where we were going. At first, he was pretty limp in my arms. Curious about the new environment. But soon he began to cry. I could tell he was tired and I'm sure he was hungry. And I know he missed his mom. When we were passing him back and forth at the house, he always reached for her. I prayed that God would allow the baby to rest. The drive to Port-au-Prince is pretty crazy, bumpy, and unpredictable. After a little while, he finally did fall asleep. And by God's grace he stayed asleep the whole trip!

Once we reached the house, everyone there was happy to meet him. He instantly had a handful of brothers and sisters and was wide-eyed taking everything in. The girls all gathered around as I fed him a bottle--which he drank without hesitation. I know Kalebe's mom will do a great job nursing him back to health and offering the best life that she can. Maybe he will even get adopted one day. Kalebe and his brother were orphans themselves when Sue adopted them. And now they are running the orphanage! So I have no doubt this baby will grow up in a loving and caring environment. Even still, I will never forget the mother's face and feeling a bit of the pain she felt and is still feeling now on her first night without him. And I know that from now on, when I see the smiles of these children and others like them, I will have a new perspective on their journey--from beginning to end.

The baby and his mother

Some of his new sisters

Getting lots of attention and a good meal

Our team made it safely to Haiti last Saturday. I can't believe it has almost been a full week since our arrival. Time has really flown by! I can already tell that it will be very difficult to leave this place in another week.

I will try to give the basic rundown of what has been going on these past several days. There are eight of us on this particular volunteer team through Samaritan's Purse. We have been working on an orphanage project called The Lamb Center. The earthquake last year completely destroyed the orphanage. Although we can thank God that all of the children and staff survived, nothing from the orphanage itself was salvageable. Samaritan's Purse has been able to join with the nationals to rebuild the orphanage and provide a safe place for the children. There are 60 children at The Lamb Center. 60 absolutely adorable children!

The children are currently staying in rental homes nearby the previous site. Originally, I thought our team might be working on the groundwork for the new building. But since the project is slightly behind schedule, we are actually working at the rental homes themselves--mostly painting the drab concrete walls and ceilings. This was a pleasant surprise for me because it means we are near the children at the work site every day! Most of the time, many of the children are right at our heels... curious about what we are doing and whether they can help. I know all of them would love to get their hands on a paintbrush, but we've made enough of a mess ourselves as adults so that's probably not the best idea! :) We have let some of them help carry things and clean up and they really enjoyed pitching in. The nationals who work and volunteer at the orphanage have been a huge help and are often working right alongside of us. And I should mention that the two men who are running The Lamb Center were orphans themselves, adopted by an American missionary to Haiti many years ago. It has been so neat to hear their story and witness their love for these kids!

I have also been able to help with some of the admin duties here at the SP base. That's been wonderful as God always seems to use a variety of the skills and talents He has given me for projects like these. I've been happy to pitch in with those duties as well and I'm glad I could be of use in that way. But of course my favorite moments on this trip are spent with the kids, whether they are just hanging around while I work, or we're taking a break to play with them. (We take a lot of breaks!)

Please continue to pray for our team as we serve the children, the SP staff, and others in this community. Pray also for The Lamb Center and SP's role in helping them out. There are still many details and plans that need to come together and with God's help I know they will. Pray for those within SP who are in charge of this project, and that they will have the strength and wisdom needed to carry it out. And finally, pray for these 60 kids. I am thankful for the safe haven they have at The Lamb Center, but truly caring for these children and providing them with love and hope requires more than just a building.

I'll close with some photos of the kids. You'll see from their beautiful faces and smiles how easy it is to fall in love with them!

In less than a week I'll be on a plane to Haiti! I'm super pumped about this trip and anxious to see what God has in store!

I don't know all the details of the trip, and I won't really find them out until I hit the ground. But our team will likely be serving on a construction project in Léogâne, Haiti, possibly an orphanage. I did a little research on this area, and here's some information from Wikipedia...
Léogâne was at the epicenter of the 7.0 magnitude 12 January 2010 earthquake, and a United Nations assessment team that investigated three main towns near Port-au-Prince found that Léogâne was "the worst affected area" with 80 to 90% of buildings damaged and no remaining government infrastructure. Nearly every concrete structure was destroyed. The damage was also reported to be worse than the capital. The military estimated that 20,000 to 30,000 people had died from the earthquake in Léogâne. People have congregated in ad hoc squatter camps and relief has taken longer to reach Léogâne.
I don't think you can ever fully prepare yourself for a trip like this. I think my previous experiences in poverty-stricken areas will be helpful. But I'm holding little expectations and I look forward to simply going to learn about, live among, and serve the Haitian people. I've tried to spend some time each week learning new words and phrases in Haitian Creole. So hopefully that will give me a bit of a leg up as I dive into a new language and culture.

I'm excited to meet the other members of this short-term team. They are coming together through Samaritan's Purse from all over the United States and one from Canada. And a couple members who are U.S. citizens have roots in other areas of the world. One young man is from Russia and a young lady whose parents are Haitian.

I do have some specific prayer requests and ask that you will begin praying with me as I embark on this journey and throughout the two weeks that I am there.
  • Please pray for good health for myself and my team members. Risks increase anytime you visit an impoverished nation, especially those who have been recently affected by natural disasters and are operating on even lower health standards than normal.
  • Please pray that the work of our hands will be productive, but also that our presence and work there will be a demonstration of Christ's love.
  • Please pray that we as members of a team will be selfless and loving towards each other, and demonstrate unity as the body of Christ.
  • Please pray for opportunities for us to share the love and message of Christ through both word and deed, and that we will boldly take advantage of those opportunities.
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About Me

About Me
In 2005 God asked me to surrender my life to His plans and purpose. Everything changed. From Mexico to New Orleans to Namibia to Haiti it's been one incredible adventure with the Lord after another. This blog is a piece of that journey.

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