Our Team

Mission trip goodbyes are always so hard...


We started today the same way we have started everyday here in Haiti: laughter around the breakfast table. We then headed off to church. The service had special moments for each of us but singing "Hosanna" was the icing on the cake. We then headed up the mountain to do a little shopping and sight seeing.  Being on top of the mountain looking down at Haiti is such an amazing experience. Seeing the beautiful mountain side, feeling the fresh island rain and the entire time being fixated on the smoke rising from Cite Soleil. How can there be so much beauty and so much pain in one view?

I want to tell you why Mission Trip goodbyes are so hard. Because you meet people like:

Jill who is without question one of the hardest working people I have ever met. There was nothing she wasn't willing to do on this trip. Bucket Patrol (Check) Hold the water hose (Check) Twirl the jump rope until her arms wanted to fall off (Check).  There is so much more she did but my mind will always find her pushing a girl on a swing at Gertrude's for about 45 mins. 

Nancy who is a lady of very few words but the wisdom and faithfulness when she speaks is amazing. I believe she was the last to join our team but her willingness to follow where God called her made an impact on every single team member.  Her smile, love and grace gave us all the ability to keep going when many had hit the wall; as graceful a woman you will ever meet.

Angela who has a spirit about her that is so joy filled that you can't help but smile as you see her coming. She remembers the names of single person she comes in contact with in Haiti. She looks them in the eye and lets them know how much they mean to her. She has a passion to get to know the Haitian people and make them feel like they are as important as anyone in her family. I will have a picture of Angela calling out at neighborhood boys by their first name and seeing them react as if their best friend was yelling for them.

Josh who is as humble, sensitive and free wheeling as the come. To have a guy in his mid 20's on a trip with his mom and never hear him complain or speak badly of his mom is almost beyond belief. I have learned so much from how he loves his mom. Not only did he reach higher every day, he also dug deep to make sure he never wasted a moment to make some one else smile. I know God has a bright future laid out before Josh and I can't wait to see where it leads him.

Deb who is Josh's mom. She has raised a young man that she can be so proud of. She has a laugh that makes you cry, she never misses a moment to encourage you, and most of all she kills with kindness. This trip was a battle everyday for Deb. She got sick the day before we left and coughed the entire trip. Sore throat, headaches, and awful cough. None of this could keep her from working the water truck with her pride and joy. She wasn't going to let her pain and suffering keep her from seeing Josh hold kids at Juno's. Deb fought harder than anyone on this trip and she did so for Josh.

Barb who can only be described as the most gentle soul I have encountered in a long time. If I had to use just one word to describe Barb it would be Love. She was the first to reach out to team members who were struggling, she was the first to have 3 kids hanging from her, she was the first to love on babies fighting illness in orphanages. She wanted everyone to feel her love and she left no stone unturned to do it.

Katie who is determined, strong and steady. When we first started meeting I had no idea what to expect from Katie. That all changed as I spoke with her in the back of the Tap Tap at Juno's.  I quickly realized that Katie was much more than a "Silent Assassin" she had a real passion for life.  This passion drives her and I have no doubt that it also drove the rest of our team.  Her smile lights up a room and lets everyone know that she is their friend.  My trip would not have been the same without her.

Sherry who is sweetest person you can possible imagine. The kids flocked to her and would not let go. Each child had no doubt about how special they were when they made eye contact with Sherry.  Her warm spirit brought us all comfort when we needed it the most. By the way she is Angela's mom, makes sense doesn't. 

Nicole who makes every single moment count.  Every picture she took had a reason, every word she spoke had a reason, and every journal entry had a reason. She has been here for two weeks and I promise you not one single moment was wasted.  Her cup overflowed into our team everyday.  The single picture in my mind of Nicole will always be: seeing her holding the water bucket, the water hose and two kids hanging from her back all at the same time. She analyzed every word spoke and wrote about each moment that touched her heart.  She held nothing back and gave everything she had.

Dave (Leader) I have known Dave 4 years, but in the last 7 days I have realized how much depth he has for Jesus Christ. Beyond his story, beyond his jokes is a man that at his core loves Jesus. He lead our team in devotions each night and pierced hearts with his thoughts. Dave could walk up to the hardest Haitian man, and with in seconds, have him smiling. Only a man that has Jesus at his core can do this. Dave on behalf of our entire team thank you for being a messenger of Christ.

Lisa (Leader) I have no words. (Lisa just said "Yeah Right") I have tears in my eyes as I type this. I would challenge anyone to show me a better Christian Leader.  She never faltered at any moment.  She built our team on the Rock of Jesus Christ reinforcing it daily with grace, compassion and humility. Every single day I caught myself saying I need to become a leader like Lisa. She was an example to each of us that true leadership is defined by putting the team a head of yourself. Thank you Lisa for allowing your strength, love and passion for Haiti to be delivered by our team.

So that is our team 12 people who came together in the hopes of providing an opportunity for others to see Christ.  We loved, laughed and we cried. I am so thankful that God blessed me and called me to serve with this group.

In Christ
Jeremy Brandt