I was in Haiti earlier this year, and all I have to do is think of how most Haitians live to be extra thankful for what I have.I’m thankful for the faucets in my house and the clean water that I have every time I just turn on the tap; he doesn’t have a faucet.I’m thankful for my stove. Just a turn of a dial and I can cook my meal; she uses charcoal.I’m thankful for my kitchen sink where I can wash my dishes (because my dishwasher is broken); she doesn’t have a kitchen sink, at least not a functioning one.I’m thankful for my washing machine. Just dump in the clothes and detergent, press a button and walk away; it takes them hours to do their laundry.I’m thankful that every week my trash is picked up; there is no trash pickup here.I’m thankful for electricity. I can plug in, turn on, or recharge any time I want; they have to wait for the generator to be fired up.I’m thankful for my local grocery store; it’s not as exciting as a Haitian market, but it sure is more convenient.I'm thankful for my car; most Haitians don’t own cars and have to rely on public transportation.I’m thankful for my home; imagine what it’s like for her to live under a sheet and tarp. (She’s just one of over a million still displaced by the earthquake.)I will go back to Haiti in January on another relief mission trip and will surely have an even longer list of things to be thankful for.
~Vera Sytch, Haiti March 2010~
I have long wanted to go to Haiti but have not felt God peace until last fall after my husband and son returned from their trip with Mission E4. Our daughter has been there twice and now it was my turn to serve God in Haiti. I had seen so many pictures and heard so many stories and I felt I knew what to expect on this trip. What I saw, was what I expected, to some degree. Being on the bus as it bumped along the road, the odor of burning garbage and looking into the eyes of the people, I realized I wasn’t as prepared as I thought. Poverty now had a face and eyes that met mine. Meeting the dedicated pastors and hearing the beautiful songs of worship in a language I didn’t understand, but a tune I recognized brought joy to my heart. The work our team did was helpful to the mission and rewarding. Spending time with the school children and our sponsored children was wonderful.
I realize more than ever, we need to stay connected and ease the burdens of our brothers and sisters in Christ, whether they are in the inner city, in our own church or in Haiti. We also need to reach the lost for Christ at home and abroad. I am so thankful that God brought the ministry of Mission E4 into our family’s life. This is a mission that is reaching the country of Haiti for Christ. I received a much bigger blessing than I gave in Haiti. However it is my hope that those that we worked with, understand we care about them and have not forgotten them.
I also realize that although my mission trip to Haiti is over, my work to speak up for “the least of these,” has just begun. By one child and family at a time, we can ease the burden of the poor and obey God’s command in Proverbs 31 to speak up for the poor.
In Christ,
Nancy Pruis, Haiti January 2011
I survived being in the epicenter of the Haiti earthquake without injury while on a trip with Mission E4 in 2010. I saw that our little cement block medical clinic built by our team the year prior and stocked with medical supplies the day prior to the quake withstood the 7.0 earthquake! What a blessing the ME4 clinic was to hundreds of injured Haitians during this time of crisis when no other hospitals or clinics were functioning. I learned that the "little" things we do to make a difference in the world can be used by God in a BIG way!
~Jane Renzelmann, Haiti January 2011~
Scott, Taran, the Baziles and the rest of the Mission E4 team are for real. We benefited as much from their passion for the Kingdom and the church as we did from the work itself and our immersion into the Haitian culture. It made our week all the more meaningful to have linked arms with a ministry that has a real vision, that we know will continue the work long after we've gone home. Mission E4 is an ideal ministry partner--and we're looking forward to partnering with them again!
~Pastor Bill Hodgemann, Haiti July 2010~
My January trip to Haiti was as so many have been. Better than any other I've been on. Having been in Haiti during the earthquake last year, it was a special trip being able to be there for the one year anniversary and being able to work at making a difference for the Haitian people. To be able to see the progress after a week of hard work was so amazing and a huge part of my healing process. The other amazing aspect of the week was being reuinited with Nehemi, one of the orphan girls who last year was my buddy after the earhquake. She had helped me with whatever I was doing which was hauling rocks, making crutches and splints. This year when I walked into the orphanage she saw me and came running and I got a hug from her that brought me to tears. I didn't realize until that point how much of an impact we had made on each other. I can't wait to go back !!!!
~Diane Henschel, Haiti January 2011~