Author: vernonhammett

It’s the dawning of another beautiful day here. I always enjoy getting up a little early and going out to meditate and pray. I am the first one out today and I thoroughly enjoy the peace and tranquility of the morning. So many people only know Haiti from the pictures they  have seen of places like Port Au Prince with its crowded streets. But there is so much more to take in on this tiny island. It is absolutely picturesque right here! I often find myself looking around and saying with envy, “they get to enjoy this everyday”. Soon the remainder of the Alfred Street Team (A-Team) ventures out and they, like me, are captivated by the beauty and serenity of the canvas God has unfolded before us. I get the feeling I will have company in the mornings from now on.

Over breakfast we go over the songs we will sing at church service this morning. We also find out that we will tour a few of the “ministries” which are a part of Mission of Grace. There is an orphanage, with infants, children and teen girls homes; a church; a school for grades K-6; a clinic; soup kitchen; Grandma’s House (senior home); teen boys home, and; a transitional home where they plan to teach people a trade…all of these are incorporated into the mission/vision of Lynn and John Joseph.

When we arrive at church, a few people remember me from last week and are surprised to see me again. The lovely young lady pictured to the left is Julie and she is especially surprised. She and I had this love/hate relationship going on last week and we will no doubt continue it into the coming week.

As team lead, I have the pleasure of greeting the church and introducing the team members with the aid of Ms. Lynn who interprets my English into Kreyol. We are then treated to a rousing “welcome song” by the entire church. Later on our entire team comes forward to render a couple of songs. While they are collecting the offering Ms. Lynn comes to me and says, “you are speaking this morning. Just give them a few words…may be about ten minutes”. My heart starts to race because I now realize that I am being asked to preach this morning. I DON’T preach! God has not elevated me to that calling. However, I remember I have some notes from a “talk” I did a while ago on my tablet so I quickly start scrolling through it. I borrow a bible from my nephew Michael (my bible is an app on my tablet but I need it for my notes) and start looking for a text, all the while thinking, “this can’t be happening to me”, especially with just a 10 minute notice. After another song by the church choir, I am called forward and, although I am nervous as heck, there is a calmness which unfolds as I begin reading a familiar passage of scripture and speaking to the church while Pastor John Joseph, Lynn’s husband interprets. Honestly, I don’t remember all that I said. I DO however remember thinking last week there were 3 preachers in Team Trinity and this week were are none. Even though being an ordained deacon puts me a “head” above everyone else on the team, I made a note to myself to recruit a preacher for the next mission trip.

I notice a covered table at the front of the church and realize they are serving communion today. It’s a joy to share in the ordinance of Communion at Grace Church. We are all surprised they serve real wine. The church is spirited at the end of service as the choir is singing their hearts out. A few members of our team join in with them on the final selections. My team members are so encouraging at the end of service. They tell me I did well. Kathi Reid teasingly reminds me that several people greeted me last week as “Pastor”, and Kevia calls me “Bishop” in passing. Cheryl Thompson jokingly reminds me of a brief conversation we had over breakfast about being “setup” and starts to laugh saying those words came back to get me. Thanks Cheryl. Lol.

After service we go back to change clothes and have some lunch. Around 2pm we head back up the mountain to visit the “Grandma’s House”. This is a senior home for the elderly. We walk through speaking with the residents and praying with them. A couple of them give us words of praise, testimony and prophecy. Anita Banks starts singing “Hallelujah” and soon everyone joins in. It’s apparent God’s praise is universal and we are all crying and singing, and laying hands on people. The Holy Spirit is very present here. It’s such a moving experience! The picture to the left is Michael Bolton receiving a word of prophecy from a 105 year old resident.

We next go to the orphanage to visit with the children. We get there right about feeding time and we all split up to help the younger children with their meals. Cheryl Thompson, Camille Jackson and Kevia Richardson are captured here in the midst of feeding the babies. I think it’s kind of funny that after they eat they all sit on the pot at the same time. And I mean they literally sit on plastic pots to do their business before they are allowed to go play. I guess this minimizes the “accidents” which could occur.

The remainder of the day is rather quiet as we all reflect on God’s greatness we witnessed today. I see most of the team busy writing and journaling their experiences. I look forward to hearing and reading their words. I am also anxious to find out how this mission will change their lives. After dinner I want to lighten the atmosphere so we break out a deck of cards and play a spirited game of spades late into the evening.

Team Trinity has packed their bags and loaded up the van for the ride back to the airport in Port Au Prince. It’s about an hour’s ride so we roll out around 9:30 am after taking team photos with some of the staff.

We have about three hours between Team Trinity leaving and Team ASBC (The “A” Team) arriving so I have some time to spend with the two young men Judy and I are sponsoring from Lambi Village in Port Au Prince, David and Paul.

I first met David Mozzard, pictured to the right, in 2013. He is now 18 years old and is in the US equivalent of high school. When I saw him, I saw me at his age…tall and lanky, and kind of shy. I found out kids like David have a hard time finding sponsors. Most people want to sponsor the very young and preferably girls. Older children, particularly boys rarely find someone willing to help them with their education. Although David struggled in school his first year of sponsorship, seems to be hitting his stride now.

I remember Romario Paul (he goes by the name “Paul”) from my visit in 2013 also. He was working very hard along side of the Lott Carey team to help build some else’s home…he and his mom already had a home in the village. Paul’s mom was seriously ill at the time and he spent part of his time caring for her (she has since fully recovered, praise God). I assumed Paul was not in school so he could care for his mom but learned in 2014 through Randi Pascal Drewry that he needed a sponsor. It has been a joy to open this door for Paul to continue his education. He is now in the 13th grade which is the terminal grade for high school students and is scheduled to graduate this May. As you can see from his photo on the left, Paul is a handsome young man with an infectious smile. He is very studious and focused, and enjoys soccer. His English is very good although he is shy about speaking it. He said he wants to become a doctor.

To kill some time, we drive into the Delmas section of Port Au Prince and do some grocery shopping. As we are picking up some goodies for the arriving team, I tell the boys to get some items for themselves and they are both very appreciative. I thought it was amusing that they both wanted some cologne and agreed to share a package of Chips Ahoy Chocolate Chip cookies (not the reduced fat kind…The ASBC Team will understand this reference, lol). I brought clothes for both boys with me from the States and presented it to them.

We next went to the Kokoye Restaurant nearby and had some lunch. Both David and Paul selected a goat dish with rice and veggies. I wanted grilled fish but ended up with chicken strips and fries because the fish was sold out. Before too long, we had to head back to the airport to meet the arriving team. My boys hung around and helped load the luggage from the A-Team into our van before we hugged to say good bye. I told them both to continue to work hard in school and got assurances that they would do just that. Paul gave me a copy of his report card for the semester. I then looked at David who just smiled at me, realizing he had been put on the spot.

It is so good to see the team from Alfred Street and doubly nice they had the opportunity to meet David and Paul. I have to switch roles this coming week from that of team member to team leader. Fortunately Tony Taylor and Robin Woodberry are excellent role models. As we are driving back to Carries, we drive past by the City of Hope which was a place of refuge after the 2010 earthquake. I was told it was one of the areas close to the Port Au Prince which was unaffected by the tremors. Just west of here there is a memorial park surrounding a mass grave where many of those who lost their lives in 2010 are buried. It takes us about 75 minutes to get back to Mission of Grace. We get settled in and decide on what songs we will sing for worship service tomorrow.

Today is the last full day for Team Trinity here in Carries, Haiti. We spend extended time in fellowship today as most of the team will return home tomorrow. Some missionaries have had a difficult time returning to their “regular life”after being in the mission field so our team leaders take the time to counsel everyone about depression, entitlement, and other emotions which may negatively affect us. It is an enlightening and fun-filled time but we commit to heeding the advice of our leaders.

The girls from the teen girl’s home as well as the guys from the boy’s home are both coming to our hotel this afternoon so we pick up ice cream and cookies for them while we are out. The girls and women in our group swim and socialize. We give the fellas a couple of gifts then walk back with them to the soccer field to watch another match. Around dusk we head back to our hotel and have dinner.

The staff from the Mission of Grace serve us cake and thank us for our hard work and diligence. Ms. Lynn takes this opportunity to share more about the devastation from Hurricane Matthew she witnessed in the south western region of Haiti called Plaisance. She said many roads have been washed away, quite a few people are homeless and hungry, and disease is rampant however, she encourages us that God has delivered them in the past and He will do it again.

As she is talking the Lord is pouring into my spirit. I recall our church took up a special offering a few weeks ago which was to benefit people in Haiti affected by hurricane Matthew. I also remember speaking with a couple of ministers who were interested in getting supplies and help to the region affected by the recent hurricane. And several people who made donations and contributions inquired whether any of it would reach affected areas. I remember saying that I didn’t have any contacts in the area devastated by the hurricane’s water and wind. I had an epiphany: I realized that God had once again united people and purpose. I am excited to report that many of the donated items we shipped to Haiti in the 55 gallon drums will reach the people affected in Plaisance. And I can’t wait to share with Alfred Street’s Missions director that God has opened the pipeline to bless these folks. They are in desperate need of money to rebuild their homes and lives. I praise God that He is indeed a prayer answering God.

Personally, I am blessed to be able to stay here in Haiti for another week. I am looking forward to how God will reveal Himself in the coming days.

There are two additional bedrooms we need to paint at the orphanage and we are up for the challenge to get them done today. Before we head to the orphanage, we go further up the mountain to see one of the homes being built by the missionaries from Lott Carey. Two teams before us, mostly skilled-labor men helped lay/pour the foundation and put up the walls. The team prior to ours help put the roof on. By US standards this home is not much. Probably no more than 250-300 square feet across two rooms. There is no kitchen and there will be no indoor plumbing. The electricity will be supplied by solar panels. However, to the grandmother who became the primary guardian to her 4 grandchildren when her daughter died, it’s the greatest thing which could have happened to her. Her previous home was one of the 29 destroyed during the mudslide in August 2015 following torrential rain storms in the region. I believe God ordained triumph out of their tragedy! Below is a picture of their new home. And the view they will have from their new home is what one of our team members called, “a million-dollar view”. You be the judge:

 

These two pictures show the panoramic view from the home…to the west is the sea!…and to east are the mountains.

Our team puts the first coat of paint on the walls in both bedrooms at the orphanage before lunch and finish things off afterwards. Before we break for the day we visit what is called “the little orphanage”. We are told that Ms. Lynn was headed up the mountain one day and came across a small home with about 10 children in it. It turns out the children were orphans being cared for by the pastor of a nearby church. The pastor was doing his best but didn’t have the resources to care for his charges, who were malnourished and sleeping on sheets on the floor. Ms. Lynn immediately committed to providing food for the children and continues to do so to this day. She also sent her team in to build a kitchen area and a bathroom in the back of the home. She also built beds for the children so that they no longer have to sleep on the floor. These children are shy and somewhat wary of strangers but after a while, they are coloring and painting pictures with members of our team.

Later in the day the guys in our group head over to spend time at the teenage boys home. Their small house is located next to the Grandma’s House. The five young men who call this home are all orphans and they provide labor for many of the projects in and around the mission. A couple of the boys have tutors because they have had no formal education and are too old to attend primary school classes with the younger children. Two of the young men are currently attending secondary school during the afternoon. The six men on our team spend about an hour pouring out our love and God’s spirit over these young men. We prayed with them and for them, and quoted scripture. We charged them to do what is right in the eyes of God and those who are watching over them. They seem focused and thankful for the opportunities they have been afforded and they each know that the hand of God is upon them. Our team makes a commitment to stay involved in their lives. Pictured below are Selmi, who is one of the young men living in the home who is currently in secondary school, missionaries Ralph Taylor, Tony Taylor and Erving McDaniels, and our translator, Junior.

Afterwards we head over to the community soccer field to watch a match. Earlier in the week one of our team members graciously purchased cleats for the entire soccer team…that’s 12 pairs of cleats! It’s the first time some of these young men have ever played in proper footwear. LOOK AT GOD!!! The guys were so appreciative and were happy we came by to watch them play. Unfortunately the game ended in a 2-2 tie.

The ladies on our team spent time at the teenage girls home while we were hanging with the fellas. They won’t talk much about what went on but it is obvious they had a great time. They have invited the girls to come to our hotel for some girl-time and swimming tomorrow (Friday).

When we return to our hotel, there are quite a few additional people there. Ms. Lynn Joseph and her husband Pastor John Joseph have returned to Carries from another mission they manage in the region of Plaisance. They also brought the mission director and his family back with them. Plaisance is in the southwest part of Haiti and was hit hard by hurricane Matthew. They shared with us over dinner that 11 of the 13 churches in their region were destroyed or lost their roof. Additionally, hundreds of homes were lost and several thousand people are without a place to stay. They have been working ferociously to help as many as they can and reported that they were able to help repair the roofs on 3 churches so far as well as several homes. Unfortunately they also lost 3 children in their orphanage to cholera which was personally devastating to them. They are here on a forced 10 day sabbatical.

 

Today we’ve been asked to paint two bedrooms in one of the buildings in the orphanage. One of the two larger buildings in this compound house infants to five year olds, and the second one, which we will paint, houses six year old children up to early teens. A third building within the confines of the orphanage is residence to 13 teenage girls. Most of the kids who occupy these buildings have very interesting stories. Some were orphaned when their mother died during or not long after child birth. This is not an uncommon occurrence because of the lack of prenatal treatment most mothers receive. Some children were dropped off by parents or relatives who could no longer afford to feed and house their children. There are stories of children being abandoned at the doorway to the orphanage or brought there by friends or distant relatives who witnessed them being neglected. There is even a child living at the orphanage who was found by workers at a garbage dump. They heard the whimpers of the child and thought it was an animal which was trapped under the rubbish until they discover the hours-old infant with his umbilical cord still attached and, according to the mission director, still moist. The compassion which is evident in the voice of Lynn Joseph, the founder of Mission of Grace, is astounding. She rarely turns kids away and people come from far distances to place their children in her care because of her stellar reputation.

As we begin our task, it is evident to me that some of our team members ARE NOT painters…at all. There are splatters and drips all over the floor however, it is apparent that we all are going about our task with considerable zeal. Those of us who are a little more experienced are asked to use paint brushes to “cut it” areas near molding and windows. Others are given rollers and told to stay within their boundaries.

We manage to get two coats of paint on the walls of one of the bedrooms and the first coat in the second bedroom before we break for lunch. When we return an hour later, we knock out the rest of the job in no time. When the residents (kids) come back we hear some squeal with excitement at what they witness. I heard a couple of them say “tres belle”, which translates to “very pretty”. It’s been a minute since the walls have been painted so they are very happy. Since we’ve completed our task, we have play time with the kids until we have to return to our hotel. I’m not sure whether Rev. Robin or the child she is holding is enjoying this moment more.

A couple of people from our team go to the Grandma’s House while we were painting and pampered the people there. They received manicures and pedicures, massages, hugs, kisses and much more. This building houses several seniors, one of which is 105 years old. There is also a couple of younger men there…one has polio and the other has severe developmental issues. Ms. Lynn thought it better to house them there.

Our meeting with the pastors from Grace Church goes better than expected. They open up by thanking us for taking the time to meet with them. The senior pastor said he listened intently to our exchange yesterday and committed to implementing a few of our recommendations. Praise The Lord!

 

On our agenda is working in the clinic, constructing a covering over the village soup kitchen, building a set of wooden steps to be used at the new school building, and making adjustments to the bathroom doors at the church. The men on our team will host a meeting with the pastors of Grace Community Church later in the day. The women will also conduct bible study with the women later in the day

The three ministers in our group have chosen to spend time this morning at the clinic. There is a recent shipment of drugs and supplies which must be inventoried and they will pray for and with people who come in for treatment. The praise report for the day is that several people in the clinic waiting area have accepted Christ through the intervention of these mighty prayer warriors.

The clinic here in the village is one of the few in the surrounding area and the only one which is completely free. They do not charge for any of their services or medications, and it doesn’t matter whether or not the patients are members of the immediate community. People who come to the clinic are also eligible to receive a meal at the soup kitchen. This is vital in a country with extremely high unemployment and poverty. Most people can’t afford to eat more than one meal a day so you can imagine they don’t have funds to pay a doctor or purchase medicine

Simira, Tony and I spend the morning constructing a set of steps wooden steps to be used at the school. We found out the hard way yesterday that it is a little difficult for some of the more “seasoned” people to navigate the high landing to get into the newer school buildings. Tony and I did most of the measuring, all three of us shared in cutting the boards to length and Simira proved to be a beast with the drill during the final construction. Later Rev. Michael joined us as we had to trim the lower portion of the bathroom doors to make sure they closed properly. I must say we made a great and very efficient team.

While Simira, Tony and I were working on the steps, Erving, Ralph and Matt are working to put a cover over the soup kitchen. Here is a picture of the “kitchen” before the guys started working on it.  As you can see it looks nothing like what we’re used to here in the states.

Most Haitians cook their meals outside and the stove of the “kitchen” abuts a concrete fresh water tank and a storage bin. As you can plainly see it is outside and exposed the elements. The existing cover consisted of pieces of plastic taped together. The team has to put a tarp over the outdoor stove and construct the supporting structure onto which the tarp is fastened. After extensive discussion and measuring, they go about their task with precision. All-the-while, the cooks are preparing to serve 50 to 120 people who come by seeking a meal daily.

We spend our afternoon at the orphanage loving on every child we can find. Below is a picture of Simira with Timothy. This young man didn’t care who you were, if you approached him he would raise his arms seeking to climb up in yours and all of us willingly obliged him.

As the women head up to the church to conduct bible study, the four clergy from Grace Community Church join us for a brief discussion. I must admit communication was difficult and it wasn’t just tell language barrier…we had an interpreter. We share with the leaders how important it is for there to be unity in leadership in the church and that there is a great responsibility in properly “feeding the sheep”. We end our time together over sandwiches and soft drinks. We also invite them back for another session of dialogue and sharing tomorrow night. They graciously accept.

We start our days with group devotional time. Today’s message was taken from Psalm 100. After a hearty breakfast we toured the different facilities associated with Mission of Grace. There is a school for grades kindergarten through six, a church, a clinic, a “granny’s home”, and an orphanage compound which includes an area for babies through preteens, as well as a separate teenage girl’s home. The girl’s home houses about 18 young ladies.

It’s encouraging to see the progress from last year. When I was here in 2015, they were leveling the area where the school would be built and now there are 3 buildings on the site. The first picture below is the cleared and leveled land from last year. The second picture is one of the new school buildings. It’s still a work in progress…there are no windows or doors and no electricity.

 

While we were at the school we had the opportunity to talk with the principal, Mr. Billy. He is an energetic person who used to commute 2.5 hours to Carries. Recently he relocated his family to the village. A few of the children in each class appear to be a bit older. Many of these kids probably had to drop out of school previously, most likely because they couldn’t afford the $200 annual tutition. This may not sound like a lot of money but the medium annual income in Haiti is around $2,000. ALL STUDENTS must pay tuition.

The Granny’s home which was only partially completed last year now houses 10 elderly people and two younger adults, one with cerebral palsy and the other who is physically disabled. Our host shared that a couple of the residents there were actually left at their doorstep.

Last year our team built toilets in the orphanage. These were the first “flushable” toilets most people in the village had ever encountered (something WE in the US take for granted). Andre Lipford who is a general contractor, who happens to attend Alfred Street was instrumental in properly installing the commodes and sinks. Our team also poured the concrete steps and hung the doors. Today the toilets are in use. Someone actually stained the doors and painted the front so it looks wonderful!

In the evening we joined the men of Grace Church for bible study led by Rev. Michael Oakley. Service started at 5pm so it could end by 6pm because it gets dark. There are no street lights so it’s a bit of an arduous task getting back down the mountain.

What a great day!

Saturday was our travel day and it was pretty much uneventful. I connected with most of the team in Florida and we traveled the last leg of the trip together. It was great reconnecting with Rev. Robin Woodberry from Ohio, Rev Michael Oakley from North Carolina, along my friends Ralph Taylor and Erving McDaniels from Baltimore. Joining us for the first time is Rev. Brenda Rice. Three of our team members are ministers. Wow!

We have about a 90 minute ride from the airport in Port Au Prince to Carries, pronounced Care-ree-ess, where we will work. It’s a joy to be here once again. We eat dinner and spend the remainder of the evening getting settled in. The temperature is in the low 80s and we can feel the humidity. I stayed up all night Friday, spending some of my time with mom, so I am exhausted and can’t wait to get in bed.

We awaken to a glorious day on Sunday. We have most of our meals outside in a gazebo overlooking the bay. After breakfast we get into vehicles and drive up the mountain to the Grace Community Church. It appears they are transitioning from Sunday School to regular service as we arrive. Church is packed and very spirited. Lots of singing and praising. Rev. Brenda from our group brought a powerful message entitled “The Glory In The Cross” based on Galatians 6:14. If she didn’t have to slow down to allow for interpretation into Kreyol, I think she would have run up and down the church.

Our afternoon was free time. We had lessons on speaking Kreyol and some “do’so and dont’s”. We also had a disaster briefing… what to do if there is an earthquake or hurricane. Hmmm!?!?!?

The television is working so we watched the Miami/49ers game, played some pool and lounged by the beach. We are looking forward to a productive  day tomorrow.

November 26, 2016. In a couple of hours I leave the US and head to Haiti for my fifth missional journey. I am so honored and humbled that God has placed on my heart to be HIS emissary. You may recall that in January 2010 Haiti was devastated by an earthquake. In the days and months after the quake there was a great outpouring of help from around the world. Six years have passed and the need is just as intense however those who are willing to GO and serve have diminished greatly. I praise God for organizations like the Lott Carey Global Missional Community (Lott Carey) which mobilized teams in 2012 and have consistently sent missionaries since. I am proud to partner with them to serve the people of Haiti.

This year I will be serving in Haiti for two weeks. The first week I will be teaming with friends from my past as a part of Team Trinity which is lead by Tony Taylor from Covenant Baptist Church in New York. The second week I will be serving with people from my church, but more on that in the next couple of paragraphs.

This year is a little different for me in a couple of ways. First and foremost, my mom is not doing well. On October 10, 2016 the doctors recommended we bring her home and make her as comfortable as possible because they believed she had reached the end of her earthly journey. At that time they thought she had days or weeks to live and now, almost 7 weeks later, she is still here. Several people have questioned my sanity…that I would continue to plan on going to Haiti given her condition. I have consulted God in all of my decisions and His answer has been, from the very start, GO AND SERVE! So that’s what I plan to do. GO AND SERVE!

Secondly, I am serving as mission team leader for an enthusiastic group from my church, the Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, VA. I am excited to serve but more importantly, I am overjoyed to share this wonderful journey with them. I know how serving in Haiti has affected me…even changed my life. It is my prayer that they also find their God-given purpose through missions work. I look forward to seeing the effect of this important work on them. I know beyond a shadow of doubt these individuals will be “transformed”. You cannot serve God in this capacity and NOT be forever changed.

I ask that you pray for me and the other missionaries. Please pray that everything we do and say will reflect our love for God’s people and His commitment to show that unconditional love. Pray for a hedge of protection against the enemy and we go forth and declare, apologetically, the goodness of the Lord. Please pray for the loved ones we leave here in the US as we travel abroad.

Blessings…Vernon

PS – I’ve decided to try and publish my experiences through a blog this year. Please let me know what you think.

This year God gave me a vision to help my friends in Haiti in a tangible way. My mom and I attended bible study with The Busy Bees at Grace United Methodist Church in Fort Washington, Maryland and I had the opportunity to talk about my last mission trip to Haiti. At the end of my presentation I was asked how the Busy Bees could get involved.  I shared a list of supplies the village needed and they began collecting those items. Somewhere along the way it turned into a church wide event and God blessed in a mighty way. I collected enough donated items from the wonderful people at Grace UMC to fill my truck three times over and still there was more. Other organizations I am affiliated with as well as some dear friends made similar donations. at one point I couldn’t even park my car in my garage!

I went  to my church, the Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia and told the Minister for Missions what I happened and she offered to help me get the items to Haiti. That meant sorting and organizing the donations…no need for winter clothes and boots in Haiti. I sent out a call for help and people came by on Saturday mornings to pitch in. We filled eight, yes I said EIGHT drums with donated items…everything from clothes to shoes, disposable diapers, medical supplies, toiletries and so much more. We loaded more than 1,200 pounds into the eight 55-gallon drums and shipped them to Haiti. And guess what? We still have items we have yet to send!!! It is going to be quite a site when they view the way people here in the US have blessed them.

I can’t say thank you enough to Grace UMC, Alfred Street Baptist, my Harmony Hall buddies, and the countless friends who donated times, items and made financial contributions towards this mission.

Love you all. Vernon