They're baaaack!!!

Just got a text from Kat... they have landed in Miami and are going through Customs. She said she'd call me as soon as they are finished with that.

Woohoo! This is one happy mama!!!

The trip home.

Want to follow along? The team will be on the following American Airlines flights:

Port Au Prince to Miami: Flight #822, departing 1:15 pm Eastern (While you'll be able to see the info that the flight has departed, you won't be able to track this flight until it is out of Haitian airspace and over open water.)

Miami to Dallas: Flight #1973, departing 6:55 pm Eastern

Dallas to Austin: Flight #417, departing 9:50 pm Central

You can follow along on American's website HERE under the flight status tab.  Or, I like to use the FlightAware website found HERE. Enter the flight info in the "Airline Flight Tracker" fields in the orange box on the left side of the screen.

I will post any communication we have with the team as I receive it.

They're almost home... keep praying!

Monday night...

Remember... no news is good news!

Sunday update!

Dear Family and Friends,

 

Well, it is Sunday evening...we are busy packing and starting to focus our thoughts back in the U.S. We have had a wonderful day - we went to church in Prospiro (the place that we painted), ate lunch (cooked by Dee Dee), played at the orphanage, climbed another mountain, attended a birthday party, and on and on and on!

 

The team won't be writing tonight - it takes a long time and they just told me to tell you all the stuff above. They could give you their version of it all and you'd cry... their hearts are so full of LOVE and JOY after a week of serving and loving on people! They have held more children in their arms and on their backs these past 6 days than they probably have in a lifetime. NO ONE has walked by a child that they didn't touch, hug, hold hands or pick them up. They have worked hard all day long in the heat and NO ONE has complained. They have been dirty and sticky and wanted to sit in a cool air conditioned room or soak in a tub, but NO ONE would exchange this week for anything! Be ready for some great stories!

 

Tomorrow we visit the hospital here in Dessalines and then head back towards Port Au Prince. We will take some time to relax at the beach and then tomorrow night reflect on the past week and talk about what they will bring back to Texas with them this week after a week in Haiti. God has plans for each of these kids and some of them are starting to see missions in their future.

 

Keep praying for us. We've been blessed with protection, good health, safety and a wonderful time. Pray for Bethany - she is a little under the weather tonight, but she should be fine after a good night's rest. We are grateful for Dr. Dan being right here by our side!

 

Blessings and love. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all our dads! We love you very much!

 

Libbie, Rob, Bethany, and Emmanuel...and the team

Saturday update from Haiti

Dear Friends and Family,

 

Wow! What a day! It is Saturday but we still worked...well, it was all fun work! Many got up early and climbed a HUGE mountain, Rob and I cooked pancakes and bacon for everyone, we finished painting, gave out rice and beans and then handed out shirts and dresses for hours! Oh, and of course there was the daily soccer and basketball game going on, along with the newly learned game, Duck Duck Goose that the kids love!

 

The team is still doing great! I am so proud of them and how big their hearts are! Here is the latest from them - you too will be proud....

 

Kat: Today was another fun day! This morning we got up at 5am to go climb a mountian to one of the forts from the Haitian Revolution....I attempted the climb but asthma got the best of me and Heather was done too so we stopped about half way which was plenty for me. We went back to the church today and passed out the little dresses and other clothes donated as well. We also passed out rice and beans for the poor and to the staff. This has been a GREAT trip and I'm really sad that it's coming to an end but my bed sounds really good right now ;) I miss you guys and love you all! Daddy I hope you have a good fathers day and I'm sorry I'm not there to celebrate. Love you and see you soon!

 

J-Flan: Today we had a very grueling climb. Very steep rocks and I've never seen so many rocks in my life! We very slowly made our way to the top of the mountain. We stopped at forts that were used by the French. I did the whole thing in my Vibram five fingers. What was I thinking!! The descent was much worse. I had to be very careful not to slip and the toe shoes made it very difficult. I survived though with a sore knee and sore feet which feel fine now. I got the chance to speak to the people before we gave out the rice and beans. People are calling me pastor J-Flan now. I talked about Saul's conversion, and Joquoline our translator helped a ton. I will be bringing home a machette. See you guys soon and be safe. Love you guys!

 

Bethany and Emmanuel: Today was another great day!! We started early by climbing a few hills/mountains in order to get to the top where ancient forts remain. The sights were beautiful! Later we went back to the church/school and were able to pass out rice, beans and clothing. The people seemed so appreciative and they melted our hearts. J-Flan gave a short testimony and did a fantastic job! We might have a preacher on our hands. Emmanuel also got the chance to speak and did great as well! The people heard the gospel and it is our prayer that it will sink in and they will choose to follow Jesus if they haven't already. We have such a great group of kids and it has been a joy serving alongside the Seatons and Snyders! Keep praying for us! We love yall!

 

Joel: Today was fun! We climbed up one of the mountains near Dessalines, and it took an hour and a half up, then another hour and a half down. I got stung by a wasp at the top, then on the way down, part of a cactus got stuck in my calf...but I'm fine! Every single Haitian kid who sees us starts yelling, "Blanc! Blanc!" which literally means "white person." Anyways, I'm pretty worn out, and I can't wait to see you! I love you!

 

Clayton: Okay, I've been glancing (possibly not spelled right) at some of the other kids' entries and I kinda feel bad about only writing a few sentences about what has happened to me so I'll make today's entry really long. We woke up this morning and climbed up a mountain to see some of the forts the French made. I took tons of pictures but those could only capture a fraction of the beauty I saw. I also was the only person who wasn't kidding when they said they wanted to do it again. Guess I'm in better shape then yall, and I, thought. After climbing, we went back to the church to hand out beans and rice, and then I played soccer with some of the kids. They put all of us white kids vs. all of the Haitian kids and needless to say, they creamed us. Hope yall are well and I love you.

 

Heather: Hey Mom and Daddy, I hope yall are having a good weekend. Today was awesome! We got to give out clothes and food to the community and the kids and the people who work at the school we painted this week. I love yall, I am safe, I'll see you in a couple days. Have a great Sunday :)

 

Ben: Mom dad, I'm fine. I know I have repeated alot of what I've said, but that's only because it's true. Love y'all and hope you are safe.

 

Sean: Today I hiked a huge hill. I was first too reach the top. Later we went to give out rice and beans. I love you guys.

 

James Snyder: Dad, I miss you. Hope you are doing well.

 

Libbie and Rob: As you can see, the kids are doing well and enjoying every minute. They are tired, but are definitely finishing strong. As they see the last days coming, it is very bittersweet for them. Keep praying for us - pray the tiredness and heat doesn't spoil the last few days. Pray for church tomorrow. Several girls will be speaking and the youth will be singing. They will also visit the orphanage, climb another fort, go to a birthday party for 2 of our Haitian friends, and hear Pastor Charite's testimony about growing up with a father who was a voodoo priest. Good stuff!

 

Blessings,

Libbie, Rob, Emmanuel, Bethany and the "Gang"

Fourth update!

Same format as the previous messages... Enjoy!

Dear Family and Friends...

It's Friday and we have just about finished our paint job! We have painted inside and out of the church and school. The colors are amazing - blue outside and olive green inside....just imagine it and you'll see the photos later.

The team has done so well. Yes, they are hot, tired, sunburned, but their hearts are bursting with joy! They enjoy the painting, but their favorite time is in the afternoon when we play for hours with the kids. Today we "acted" out Bible stories, gave the plan of salvation with the Roman Road, had water games, football (soccer), manicures for the girls and tons more!

 

Here....let the kids give you their thoughts and perspective of the day...

 

Kat: Today was another great day in Haiti! I love the culture and the atmosphere. We pretty much finished painting today and I have blisters and a farmers tan to prove my hard work! While I was painting ,my friend Balenda came and visited me as well as other kids and they sang for me while I worked! After painting we played a water game called drip drip drop instead of duck duck goose. After the games we did nails for some of the girls there at the church as well as back at the compound. I have built such great relationships with both the team and kids and I thank you for letting me come and I wouldn't mind staying here long term! Love you all!

 

J-Flan: Well I can really get used to this awesome Haitian lifestyle. I can paint laying on the ground, Libbie has a picture. I can really see myself spending my life doing this. There really is nothing I love doing more. I might get the chance to speak tommorow so pray that that goes well and we are getting up at 5 in the morning to go hiking. Be safe, love you guys.

 

Heather: Hello! Another good day in Haiti. Gods doing great stuff here and I feel like I may be being called here. I love yall. Have a great weekend!!!! Mom, since youre going to be the one reading this, give Daddy, Hunt and yourself a big hug from me!! Also, on my bed is Dad's Daddy Day card, if you could give it to him on Sunday or whenever Father's day is that would be AWESOME!! Thankssss!! Love you.

 

Clayton: Hey mom and dad! I had a great day playing with kids and painting the church. I hope yall are all doing well and I can't wait to see yall. I love yall and tell Blake hey for me...assuming he didn't crash.

 

Joel: Today wasn't as tiring as the previous two, mostly because we were painting in the shade pretty much the whole time. When we got back, we played some basketball and I grabbed the guitar and we sang a few songs. We've spent a lot of time playing various card games or domino games. Anyways, I hope you're doing well. I love you!

 

Tiffany: Hi mom and dad. It was good to see you today. I'm doing well and having lots of fun! I am a great actress in our Bible stories - today the Haitian kids laughed at me because I was a girl playing the part of Jonah and David. See you Sunday at Jacquelin's birthday party!

 

Sean: Today was great. We worked more on painting and I took pics of the kids. I had a real coconut today. It was odd. It was like eating an egg but it was not an egg. I did not like it but I tried. I love you guys.

 

Ben: Hi mom and dad, I'm doing fine. My french is coming in handy, helping kids understand games, and reading the Roman Road to the kids. I will have to come back to Haiti sometime, probably in the winter.

 

Libbie and Rob: Once again the team exceeded our expectations of them in how they serve these people and interact with them. They shared the gospel with a whole group of Primary school kids and did a great job. So much to say and so little time - every day brings something more amazing than the day before.

 

Tomorrow most of the group will be getting up at 5:00am to climb a very tall mountain to a fort. Rob and I (age and poor knees) will stay behind with Dr. Dan and have pancakes ready for them when they return.

 

Until tomorrow...thanks for your prayers, and parents - your kids are awesome! Thanks for trusting us enough to bring them to this country. Their hearts are changing and so are their lives. Be ready!

 

Blessings, Libbie, Rob, Bethany, Emmanuel and the Team

Third update!

We received the following late Thursday night. It sounds like Kat and the team are really having a great time in Haiti! 

This is in the same format as the previous - an update from team leader (Libbie), followed by the kids' notes, the other team leaders (Emmanuel and Bethany) and a closing from Libbie.  Again, I am not editing grammar or spelling.

Dear Family and Friends,

 

Well, here it is Thursday and we are all doing well and having a wonderful time! Today we finished painting the church and started on school building - dark, sky blue....you can't miss the church when you drive by! I'll let the kids tell you what they did today, but as the "informer" I will tell you they are all fine, eating well (they love Haitian food), they are sleeping well, and have had no medical problems that involve any more than a little Tylenol or antacid. God is so good - He had so much in the plans for us here and this team is doing as much as they can fit in. Parent beware - I do believe we have some FOREIGN missionaries in the making..... Dr. Dan and Dee Dee are quite impressed with how these kids behave, work and share God's love to the Haitian people. OK, enough of my talk - let me get some kids from downstairs playing basketball and let them tell you what they experienced today!!....

 

Kat: Today was another amazing day! We painted another one of the buildings at the church and it looks great. After painting we did crafts with the fifth graders who spoke NO english so instructions were a little challenging. Then we had enough crafts left so we took the sixth graders to do crafts where I reunited with my new best friend Balenda from yesterday who I have such a cool bond with. When we finished crafts Balenda and I hung out and taught each other words in each others languages and by the time I was done teaching english I had about thirty haitians around repeating after me. They pronounced the english very well but they laughed with me when I butchurd their Creole:) When we got home we played with the kids around the compound and painted some of the girls nails. I'm having so much fun and hope no one is worrying! Love you all and talk to you soon!

 

J-Flan: Well today was another good day. I am having a great time and it has been wonderful. Kat is now my best friend and she is awesome:) The kids are wonderful. I had the most interesting bathroom experience of my life today at the church. We have a basketball net in the compound and Dan and I beat Emmanuel. so we call ourselves "the smoke" now. But today Eman had some help from James (Dr.Dan's son) and they beat us :( I never want to leave this place. I want to get rid of my green slip to leave the country and stay here. Be safe, love you guys.

 

Clayton: Hey mom and dad. I'm fine, played a little basketball without spraining my ankle and taught the hokey-pokey to over 40 kids! While I painted, I kinda splattered the paint all over me with my roller and after a couple hours, I was quite speckeled. It almost looked like I was blue and I had splattered brown paint on me! I hope yall are doing well and tell Blake hey for me when he gets in tomorrow.

 

Sean: Hi. I am having sooo much fun here, which is odd since it sooo different and you know I HATE different. The kids are cute. A few of them were asking me about my hair. I think I will tell them that all you need is eggs. With all the chickens here it should be an easy thing for them. I was flinging it back and forth this morning. They thought that was funny since all the boys here have short hair. I LOVE the fruit and juice here. Now I know what 100% fruit juice is like. Although I am haveing fun, I still can not wait till I see you guys.

 

Ben: Hi mom and dad. I'm fine, and my french is really coming in handy here, even though I can't understand evrything that is said. I really like this country, all I'll probably have to come back at some point, probably in the winter. I hope you all are fine, have a good week.

 

Heather: Another good day in Haiti. We got to play with all the little Haitian babies/children!!! They're sooo cute!! I love them so much. Don't be suprised if I bring a couple home. Its super beautiful and God is really showing us how big and amazing He is. I love yall. Have a super great day tomorrow.

Tell Hunt I say hi, I miss him and I love him.

 

Joel: Today was awesome, like yesterday! We continued painting the church and played soccer and other games with the kids. I was more sweaty when I got back though. It's challenging trying to communicate with the kids sometimes, but we get by okay. When we got back I took a shower, then played basketball outside, then took another shower :P I think this is the most I've ever sweated and/or been in the sun. I learned a new game called 4 On a Couch, and it's really hard, but also really fun! I hope you're well! I love you!

 

Tiffany: Tiffany isn't writing this because her parents are here in Dessalines like we are. We don't see them, but she knows they are close if she needs them. She is doing just fine...entertains the kids very well!

 

Emmanuel and Bethany: Howdy! Today was great! We painted the rest of the outside of the church and are almost done with the outside of the rest of the school buildings. The people are so thankful. When school finished we got to play with the students again. Today we showed the students how to play spoons with rocks. This was super fun. Bethany and i are so thankful for this opportunity to come to Haiti. Dr Dan and Dee Dee keep bragging on how great, mature, and hardworking our team of teenagers is. Also the food is awesome! Keep us in your prayers! We are all doing great!

 

Libbie and Rob: Just sayin'....I could sure bring a few of these babies home with me....one in particular! No, really we are doing great, have a great team and what you have read above from the teens lets you know why I love to come down here with them! Their lives will never be the same...all for the better!

 

Until next time...keep praying for us. We love you all and pray for you all daily.

 

Blessings, Libbie, Rob, Emmanuel, Bethany and a CRAZY team of teens!