by Veronique Shoemaker, trip participant with MH4H
Today was a very busy day. We started by preparing for the Thrive for 5 program. The children started wandering in around 9:00 in the morning. Today was also a big surprise for them; we were giving out their Christmas gifts that were made by Hearthstone. Most children here do not even have one toy to play with. They also might have only a few pieces of clothing. The gifts contained toys, hygiene items and clothing. It was a blessing to be able to witness them receive their gifts. It is just one more way that Many Hands for Haiti is able to be the feet and hands of Jesus.
Above: Hearthstone helped organize this project so that every child in Thrive for 5 would get a Christmas present. MH4H is so thankful for their help and passion. The kids were so blessed by the presents!
The guys poured another cement floor today. This means another family is able to sleep on cement instead of dirt floors which really helps to keep disease down. The children will hopefully maintain nutrients in their body better, because cement floors mean that they are less likely to get tape worms.
After lunch, we went to Pignon to visit a feeding program for the mentally and physically disabled. We were told when the mentally disabled beg for food, they usually get beat. However, through this ministry, they get fed twice a week. These people were very appreciate and said “Mesi” (thank you) many times to us.
Tonight was movie night for the children of Savanette. The movie was supposed to start at 6:00, but the children started to arrive at 2:00 in the afternoon. We thought we had 40 to 50 children, but the final count was way over 100. We passed out popcorn to everyone, and even the parents were excited to get some. We ran out of cups, so we started scooping it into their hands. There were so many hands in front of us that we couldn’t keep track of who already received some.
The day was very long, but it made us ponder on what else we could do to help these people. The needs are so great, but we have to remember that God is so big! It made me think of the song “My God is so big, there is nothing my God cannot do!”
To read about the team’s first day at Thrive for 5, click here, or to read about their arrival to Haiti, click here.