We are back in the US!

We are back in the United States!

We arrived at the Cap-Haitian airport just a little after 8:30 this morning and we landed in Fort Lauderdale not too long ago. Everyone is safe yet tired from such a long week. We will have a long layover in Fort Lauderdale before we board a flight to Atlanta. There we will have a brief layover before we finally head back home. Our flight schedule has us returning back to Pittsburgh International Airport around 11:30pm. So keep praying that everything goes as planned.

While we are in the airport, I will be taking the time to upload all of my (Joel) photos from the trip. Sometime in the next few weeks I’ll collect the best photos from the trip from different team members and upload them to an account on a photo sight. That way you get different perspectives of the trip taken from different members of the team. I want to use this post to recap what happened during our last full day at EBAC. 

Yesterday, our team and the orphans worked very hard all day in order to complete as much of the basketball court as possible. The day started as we worked together to put down rocks while some of the Haitians mixed together concrete by using shovels, sand, rocks, cement, and water. We first worked on the area closest to where the concrete was being made. Then some team members and the orphans carried buckets filled with concrete to the spot where it needed to be poured. We lucked out this trip by having on hand a Haitian man who specialized in making and laying down concrete. He contributed a great majority of his skills in the completion of this project. As the day went on, so did the buckets of concrete. After we filled one half of one side, everyone took a break for lunch. When we returned we continued to work. Sometime later when the holes were dug out for the basketball poles, we set up a system that would hold the post up while it set in the concrete using ropes. A lot of measuring went into making sure that the posts were even in every area. While the posts were being put in proper position, others continued to work to extend the other end of the court. Once the posts were in place and the ground was dug out on the other end of the court, we formed a long assembly line in order to get buckets from the concrete area to the spot where they needed to be poured. This process took almost an hour and a half as we had to keep breaking for people to form a new batch of concrete. Once it was finished, we knew we still had to put the backboards and the hoop up but we needed to wait until morning so the concrete could set in place. At 5am, some members of the team woke up to finish the job we started. Working initially with flash lights and three ladders, we were able to get the first basketball hoop up. By the time we got to the second one, the orphans were awake and eagerly waiting for us to finish so they could start playing basketball. As we finished on the final hoop, some of the kids started to shoot around on the new hoop. You could see the joy on their faces that they were able to play basketball again. We were scheduled to leave the orphanage at 7am but we ended up finishing the project at 7:03am. It was a job well done. Afterwards, we packed up the bus, said our goodbyes and headed to the airport.

Leaving Haiti is always bittersweet. There are so many relationships that are formed throughout the week, some people started new friends, and others rekindled old ones. At the end of the week, it’s always difficult to say goodbye. Last night, the Pastor that helps with the orphanage prayed for us when we finished laying down the concrete. He blessed the court and the time we spent there. But there was one thing he prayed that really stuck out to me. He said “We are sad to see our friends go, but we look forward to the day when they no longer have to go.” What a great perspective on the hope and reality of Heaven that will bridge the distance between us and these orphans. One day, we will no longer have to leave our friends. We will no longer have barriers between us. We will no longer have to go so far to have so much fun. But rather, one day we will be running, laughing, and playing with them on streets of gold and through the land that God has promised to those who love Him.

God has done so many incredible things through the lives of the people involved in this trip. He has taught all of us the perspective of humility and simplicity. He has shown us that true joy is found in our hope in Christ. He has given us the heart to love others as He first loved us. Haiti is always a life changing trip and my prayer for everyone is that we never lose sight of God and sharing His love when we return back to our lives. I hope we take the light God has shown us in EBAC and share that light with the rest of the world. God loves Haiti but God also loves those who don’t know Him quite yet. As great of an impact we can have in a third world country, we can have an equal if not greater impact in the lives of those around us who are broken and hurting but in different ways.

Thank you so much for your prayers. All of them were answered.

1^st John 4:19 – “We love because He first loved us”

Joel

Haiti Update (Day Three and Four)

The past two days have been wonderful as we've explored into different aspects of our trip.


On Sunday morning we joined the orphans of EBAC for both Sunday School and their church service. It was a cultural experience for a good majority of the group and they learned how people in other countries connect with and worship the Lord. After the service, the team prepared for our trip to the Citadel. The Citadel is a historical landmark in Haiti that simply put is a castle fortress on the top of a mountain. I won't go into the historical details of it's development but let's just say a lot of people and cows died while building it. The climb to the top of mountain alone was physically taxing. We took a truck up a very steep hill and once the truck couldn't go any higher, we had to walk the rest of the way. It's a very steep journey to the Citadel but once you reached the top it was totally worth it. The views alone were breathtaking but the structure itself was quite impressive. The pictures from the Citadel are photos that you should look forward to. Before we headed back to EBAC we stopped by IDADEE which is the sister orphanage to EBAC. God has been doing such incredible things through that orphanage and He continues to build it with the support of those in Western Pennsylvania. IDADEE will be yet another orphanage that God will use to impact greatly the lives of children in Haiti. After our visit we headed back home for dinner and to iron the details for our visit to the beach the next day.


Today we took over 80 orphans to the beach. Like most things in Haiti, it's a long bumpy drive to get there but once you've arrived, it was worth the travel. We often say that the beach is the equivalent to Disney Land because it's so much fun for everyone involved. The kids don't go as often throughout the year so it's a special thing when they go. And the thing is, it doesn't matter whether they are 5 or 15, the orphans love it. This day was yet again one of those days where you discover that we can be content with the simple things in life and this is something that God is teaching us through our visit to Haiti.


When we returned to the orphanage we relaxed before our devotional time. We are continuing to have great Christ centered conversations and we are looking forward to seeing what God does as we close out our time here tomorrow.Tomorrow we are finishing up our work projects as we prepare to head home early Wednesday morning. Continue to pray for us that all projects are finished. Pray God will continue to protect us. I (Joel) stepped on a nail on the way back from our small group tonight but the damage wasn't too bad. Just pray God protects it. 


Thank you for your constant prayers for us. They are all being answered!


1st John 4:19 - "We love because He first loved us"


Joel

Haiti Update (Day One and Two)

We are almost at the end of day two and we have finished more than we thought we could accomplish in this time period. Last night some of the members got ambitious and began working on the basketball court. The most amazing part was how invested the Haitians were in helping us take on the task. It has been very hard work. We had to dig the ground down 6 inches through hard rock, tree roots, and concrete. The biggest area we had to dig was 30x16. Everyone pitched in together using pick axes and shovels to get the job done. One of the bigger tasks was removing the broken basketball pole that remained. For hours we worked on the base only to realize the pole was very strong and very deep. I (Joel) began picking up bigger rocks and throwing them at the pole. After about 30 minutes and a lot of help by everyone the pole finally snapped. It was a great victory!

Our team meeting time was met with mixed feelings on the day. Some team members reflected on the new friends they made, some on the drive through town, and some on the work we had accomplished that day. God was most definitely among us and we enjoyed His presence in worship and conversation. The team continues to grow closer together as the day goes on.

Today we continued work on the basketball court and began work on the playground. We finally reached a point today where we were able to start boarding off the areas where we will pour concrete. We also have begun to dig holes for the new basketball hoops. Our timetable for the basketball court is to have concrete poured on Tuesday and hopefully be able to see it in completion before we leave on Wednesday morning. Dan and Aidan began working on the playground. As always, nothing is ever easy in Haiti. They had to use a saw to cut through metal in order to get the right parts in place properly. They were able to get the old pole holding up the slide out and finished pouring the concrete for the new pole late afternoon. Tomorrow the kids will be able to use the new addition to the playground!

This week has been so impacting already and it's only day two! After church tomorrow we are heading to The Citadel which is a historical landmark in Haiti. Pray for us as we continue to go through the week and I will update you all as possible as I can. Although we have established a stronger internet connection, it's still too weak for me to post pictures. I imagine I won't be able to upload any photos this side of the US. Once we get back into the States I'll upload the photos during our long layover in Atlanta.

Thank you for your prayers!

1st John 4:19 - "We love because He first loved us"

Joel

We've Landed In Haiti!

The team has landed safely in Cap-Haitian and we are in the orphanage after a bumpy 40 minute bus ride. We did have some issues with the luggage at the start of our time in Haiti. The first was due to a weight issue where some of our luggage had to come on a separate flight. A group has gone back to the airport to pick it up. We also had another issue where the back of the bus was not shut properly and one of our team members bags fell off the bus. The door had not been secured for quite some time so no one was aware of a bag falling from the bus. But by God's mercy, a couple of the orphans rode back into town and found the lost bag. So our luggage situation on the first day is infinitely better than last time.

The team has been spending time today reconnecting with old friends and meeting with new ones. Some of us will spend some time laying the land for our projects tomorrow. We'll be gathering materials and planning out the best ways to complete each project. The internet is painfully slow but I will try to update everyone as often as I can. If the internet cooperates, I will post some pictures later.

Thank you for your prayers

1st John 4:19 - "We love because He first loved us"

Joel

We've Landed In Florida!

The team has just touched down in Fort Lauderdale and we are making our way to the hotel. Once we've settled in we will make our way to the beach, weather permitting, and then out to dinner together. After we're finished with today's events we will return to the hotel to get some much needed rest. We will be getting up around 3am. Once we're at the airport we will patiently wait until we depart for Cap Haitian.

Thank you for your prayers.

1st John 4:19 - "We love because He first loved us"

Joel

The Eve Before Haiti

Tick, tick, tick.

The clock is counting down quicker than we are realizing. One moment we are two months away, the next moment we are one day away from a life shaping experience. The closer it gets to take off, the greater sense of anticipation forms in us. The interesting thing is that the reaction of anticipation is different among those who have gone once before, many times before, or never knew much about Haiti prior to signing up. On our trip we are taking a very mixed bag of adults and students. Some students have gone before, some adults have never been. Some adults have gone multiple times and for some students this is their very first mission trip. With this kind of group going, there is no doubt that there will be different experiences.

I want to use this blog post to share some of the different reactions and stories of people who have gone before and some who are going for the first time. I want to invite you in to the excitement of not only myself but the members of our group who are going on this wonderful adventure.

Here are their stories of anticipation:

Jaida Hobbes (Student Ministry Intern - New Community Church) - Second Time to Haiti

"I am unbelievably excited to go back to Haiti to see the kids that I formed relationships with last time, invest in other relationships, serve at the orphanage, and just to be back in Haiti!
Also, while I prepare for this trip, I am totally blown away with gratitude to God for giving me this opportunity. Going back to Haiti has been something that I have continually prayed for over the last two years, so I'm in awe of Him and struck by the truth that He listens and cares so much. Lastly, I cannot wait to see all the ways that God is going to work through this trip, in the Haitian's lives and in ours.
 Basically, I'm PSYCHED"

Ashley Cavey (High School Senior) - First Time to Haiti

"About 1½ years ago I found it cool that kids my age had a meaningful and life-changing experience in Haiti. I wanted to go. While preparing, I have been fundraising. At first I was worried about raising enough funds for the trip. As each check comes in, I get more and more and more excited. I am in awe of people’s immense generosity. The Lord is surely providing for my trip to Haiti, and I know it is definitely His plan for me to go on this journey. I’m looking forward to building relationships with the children, as well as, growing closer to God. I do not know what God has planned for me in Haiti. I know there will be challenges. I am looking forward to seeing how God changes my life. I can’t wait for Haiti!"

Kenzie Trader (High School Junior) - Second Time to Haiti

"I know that Haiti had a huge impact on my life, I learned what is really important in life and that plays a big part of my everyday life. Haiti has helped me mature as a person and that has changed me. I really can't wait to go back and be reminded of lifes best memories and how God works in mysterious ways, even when things get tough I try and just think about what really matters. Being happy is a big part of life that people miss and in Haiti people are happy no matter their circumstance. I want to go down there again and see how much everyone had grown and build relationships and to see what God has in store. I need a reminder of how much God is in control, I want to spread the word of God and love all the people there."

Brad Nanna (High School Sophomore) - First Time To Haiti

"I am extremely excited. I am nervous, but know that God wont put anything in front of me that I can't handle. I am also really looking forward to seeing how God has worked in Haiti already." 

Joel Friend (Middle School Director - New Community Church) - Third Time to Haiti

"This will be my third time to Haiti. The first two times to Haiti were spent establishing relationships with the people at the EBAC orphanage. Since that time, I've had the opportunity to grow those relationships through Facebook. What I'm excited about the most is spending more time with them and getting to know more of their story. I'm also excited about the projects we will be working on. We will be fixing up both the playground in the orphanage and repairing (and adding to) the existing basketball court. It's going to be hot, sticky, and smelly hard work but I've seen the joy that it brings to the people of EBAC." 

Adam Jackley (Young Adult Pastor - New Community Church) - Fifth Time to Haiti

"Fourteen years ago, God implanted Haiti in my heart. On June 22 I will travel there for the fifth time. What was once an utterly foreign place is now one with which I feel a surprising comfort. And yet, I often think that I shouldn't feel so close to Haiti and my friends there. The stark discrepancies between so many aspects of my life and those of my friends in Haiti inevitably create some distance between us. My worries so often seem trivial in comparison to those of my Haitian friends. But God has close the gap between Haiti and me. Those in Him share a spiritual bond of faith, hope, love care, and concern for one another that transcends the separation of social, material, racial, and geographic distance. The differences remain, but they are positioned beneath our commonalities. What becomes most important is unifying under God's love and mission in this world - taking God up on His invitation to join in His redemptive work here and in Haiti. I love that place and its people and feel so blessed to return in a few days."

Continue to follow us as God works through the lives of the people on this trip. Please be in prayer for us as we go on this journey together to answer God's calling on our lives to help people in the world. 

Orevwa!

Blog Update - Internet Back Online!

This update is to inform those following the blog that the internet has been turned back on in the orphanage. I've been in contact with people currently in EBAC and they've informed me that the internet is back on in one of the apartments but it won't always be dependable. We are currently looking into using a wireless sim card that would get us better access to the internet but it would require us to take a computer down. I am not sure how well this technology will work for us but I will do my best to update the blog as frequent as circumstances allow us. We are just two days away from take off! Continue to pray for our group's final preparations before we depart for Fort Lauderdale, FL on Thursday morning.

1st John 4:19 - "We love because He first loved us"


Joel

Blog Update - No Internet In The Orphanage

This update is to inform everyone that as of right now there is no internet connection in the orphanage. I have spoken to people who have been at EBAC in the past week and they did not have any kind of internet connection. I was also told that they were exploring ways to fix it but it's hard to say what the problem is and what resources they would need to repair it. At this time, we will not be able to update the blog on our progress in Haiti. Keep checking the blog periodically throughout the week while we are there because the problem may be resolved.

1st John 4:19 - "We love because He first loved us"

Joel

NCC Returns to Haiti!

Welcome to the New Community Church Blog for our 2012 Trip to Haiti!

The purpose of this blog is to inform you of the progress the team of 23 is making in Haiti. This blog will be updating everyone on how things are going and the stories that are coming out of our time in Haiti. There is an internet connection in the orphanage we are staying at but the connection is not the strongest nor is the electricity reliable. Therefore, we cannot promise daily updates. We will also upload photos if technology allows us.

Details:
This year we will be taking 23 team members, 9 adults, 4 college students, and 10 high school students.

Here are the names of the team members:

Adam Jackley
Joel Friend
Jaida Hobbes
John Sicher
Phyllis Coughanour
Aidan Wright
Bradley Nanna
Zac Sicher
Aimee Long
Dan Long
Stacey Long
Kenzie Trader
Tanner Grindel
Shannon Johanson
Alaina Byers
Tori Cavaliere
Alyssia King
Renee Arnold
Tyler Grove
Kate Zierenberg
Natalie Hoey
Jeff Arnold
Ashley Cavey

We will be departing for Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Thursday, June 21st. We will stay in a hotel overnight. The next morning we will fly to Cap Haitian. Once we've cleared customs we will take about a 30 minute ride to the orphanage.  We will be staying in an orphanage called EBAC in Cap Haitian from the morning of June 22nd to the morning of June 27th.

We will be doing a number of things while we are in Haiti. We will be accomplishing two different kinds of mission. The first kind that we will be pursuing is working along side Haitians to repair two things that need some construction work. We will be helping to repair a busted part of the playground that is on the campus at EBAC. We will also help to repair and extend the existing basketball court. These are two things that all the children of EBAC love and we look forward to partnering with them to repair these things. We will also help with miscellaneous work such as teaching the Haitian women to sew clothing and tutoring students with their homework. The second kind of mission we will be accomplishing is building relationships. Adam Jackley has once asked "Why don't we just raise money and write a check to the orphanage? Because the experience we have in building the relationships is an investment that will keep us continuing to minister in Haiti." Once we have names with faces and we invest in the lives of these orphans, it will keep our hearts connected to Haiti. The orphans in EBAC are wonderful people, both older and younger. It's a blessing not only to work with them to repair things in their home but that we would take the time to get to know them and learn how God has moved in their lives.

Finally, we ask you that you would pray for our trip. That we arrive at EBAC safely and securely. Pray that God would continue to prepare our hearts and minds for this grand adventure. Ask God to meet us in profound ways. Whether it be through a conversation, a devotional time, worship, the relationships we build, or the things that we see. Pray that we would walk away from this trip knowing that God loves us and that He loves Haiti. And pray that God would teach us to personify His word and follow His heart.

Thank you all for your prayers.

1st John 4:19 - "We love because He first loved us"

Joel