Category Archives: Mission Trip Journals

Haiti Day 2 (2012)

I failed to journal last night…but we spent the day between Simonette and Oscars orphanage in Titanyen.
Anytime I am in Titanyen, I can not help but think about Mackee.  I wonder where she is, how she is doing, if she would remember me.  I knew we were going to a different section, but I kept my eye out just in case.  It is a little hard to think that she could be right around the corner, but that I will probably never see her again.
Anyways, Oscars orphanage has 20 kids.  We hung out and played soccer a little bit, and spent time inside with the kids.  Many of us had our hair done, including me, by the sweetest little Haitian girls.  I will say that it hurts, but  it is a simple thing we can do for them that shows that we care without having to break the language barrier.   I can’t imagine having to share my love and affection for my “parents” with 19 other children…I can imagine the personal attention the orphans get from us for the few short hours we are there must be pretty special.
All in all a decent day for most people.  I have to confess that I am having a hard time finding my place on the team again this year.   I had a pretty negative attitude most of the day.  As much as I am willing to do for the country and people of Haiti, I do not feel a strong connection or draw to most of the people here.  Is my heart too hard?  Or is God setting up something else for me?  I know many of my friends are being called into the missions field in a very specific way…what about me God?  Where would you have me go, and what would you have me do?

Haiti Day 1 (2012)

Today I found myself back in Haiti after about 11 months. The good news is that things didn’t seem as bad as last time. I guess that after 2 years of work some things are really starting to turn around. Don’t get me wrong, There is still plenty of poverty to be found, but things don’t seem quite as disastrous now as they did last year. I wonder how much of this change is a result of international aid, and how much of the change is because of the Haitians rebuilding on their own. So I am left asking is Haiti ready for a next step?

15 Minutes of Hope

In 2011 Gateway Chapel sent their first missionary team to Haiti. We were partnered with Mission of Hope Haiti. (MOHHaiti.org)

Music by Joel Teeple and Jars of Clay
This is a rough cut that was assembled in less then 1 week. It pulls from over 5 hours of footage that will eventually be assembled into a larger documentary.

It is also Nieuport Media’s first foray into the world of ADR (only had time for a few parts) and some other new techniques.

 

Haiti Day 5 (2011)

We went back to Leveque today. I got more footage of the trip in and out that should be good for the doc. We spent the day working on planting candilamb and painting in the houses again. There was some tension amoung the Haitian workers for a small part of the day, but it must have been resolved.

It was another good day in Haiti. We went home and I started to feel a little lonely again…I tried to work on a lesson but was unable to come up with anything until late at night.

We played picturephony and I once again felt inadequate, but I managed to get some nice DOF shots for the doc. It was a good day…but there isn’t much going on of note…I didn’t do much for the doc today and was just completely absent minded all day.

Haiti Day 4 (2011)

Went to Haitian church today. It was a blast. I am constantly being reminded of the Weston family. It breaks my heart a little to know that they lived here. I wonder where they were happier.

I didn’t see Mackee at church this morning. I hope that I didn’t just miss her in the crowd. I was looking at all of their faces trying to find her. I made a friend who sat with me during the whole church service. I never got his name but we sat together the whole service. I tried to sing along with all of the Haitian songs that I could. Hopefully it didn’t distract other worshippers.

We had a great lunch…I have been eating a lot again. Because it was election day we were unable to go out of the compound because of safety concerns, so we just stayed around the mission and played basketball and spent some time with the kids. I probably should have spent more time with them, I never know what to do though. I guess I should be stretching myself in that way all the time.

I shot a time-lapse of some clouds at dusk. I need more practice I guess…it didn’t turn out very well. I changed too many things at once. Today was an uneventful day other than that.

I met Lee from Canada and we talked for a while on a mountaintop while time-lapsed…

You know my heart God, and you know what I need. Also any time I could stop looking like a fool that would be good…I seem to always open my mouth and stick my foot right in.

Help me to create something that honors you. Show me where to put the camera and how to take the shots. Guide my hands and remind me that the credit is yours.