A Summer Full of Blessings

For many of us, summer is a time of vacationing, camping, traveling, and visiting family. For others, it’s a much-needed break from school, a time to swim, ride bikes, and catch fireflies. At Haitian Christian Outreach’s main campus in Peredo, summer is one of the busiest times of the year. This summer was no exception with nine teams and 87 team members serving in Haiti from Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio. Teams were busy leading VBS in Peredo and Belle Anse, performing surgeries in the new surgical wing of Peredo Community Hospital, taking mobile medical clinics to Ravine Normande and Demontreuil, distributing backpacks in Kapotyer, and building and painting cages for our rabbits in Peredo. God continues to provide teams that make an impact in so many ways and, for that, we are extremely grateful.

From January through October approximately 180 participates will come to serve with HCO and 87 of those participants (almost half) served with us this summer. Megan, a team member from Converse Church of Christ (IN), recently shared about her time in Haiti this summer.

“I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to travel to Peredo, Haiti with my Converse team for the second year in a row! Before going to Haiti for the first time, I was struggling with fear. However, I decided to get out of my comfort zone and go on an international mission trip. I clung to Esther 4:14, “Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created.” This verse reminded me to take advantage of every moment- even before and after the trip. Leading up to my second trip to Haiti, I strived to be free of a lukewarm faith and to be “all in” on God’s plan for my life. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” I loved traveling to Haiti because the Haitians were so welcoming. I saw God in the little moments from bible journaling in the mountains in the morning to sharing testimonies in the gazebo in the evenings. Seeing the changes in the campus since my first trip was one of my favorite parts. I remember painting the ceiling of the rooms in the hospital, drenched with sweat and dripped paint in my hair. Seeing the surgery room and all of the rooms filled with Haitian patients and being utilized makes it all worth it! It was inspiring to see how God was using HCO to impact the lives of the Haitians. Some parts of Haiti haven’t changed, from shaking hands at church, to saying Bonswa in the streets, and little children reaching to hold your hands. I will always cherish the memories made and the lessons learned in Haiti! Orewva!”

Although summer is a busy time on campus it is always full of blessings as God uses numerous believers to come together with our Haitian friends to evangelize, equip, empower and encourage.

Interested in serving with HCO? Visit our website to find out more about short-term trips and to see a list of available dates for 2020.