The mission of Restore Haiti is -

to empower a community to rise from a culture of desperation to one of hope through providing assistance in the areas of nutrition, education, health care, and general living conditions.

Pray with Passion/Receive with Thankfulness !!!!

 

It was a pretty rough weekend …. The back spasms came back and I think I got out of bed a few times just to go to the bathroom and to walk  so it would loosen up a bit …l received a lot of prayer from the pastor and from people who passed by the house …. I’ve been here long enough … People start wondering where you are if your gone for five minutes …. The new family that moved into the house I’m staying at has a praise and worship time before they go to bed each night …. As I was in bed I began to listen to them sing “Majesty” so beautiful !! They went into a few more songs and then went into prayer …. At the time I didn’t know what they were praying about …. But I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit …. As they were praying I began to fall asleep …and received some of the best sleep I’ve had since I’ve been here …
When I woke up the next morning I was feeling much better , that night Eve Rose was praying and she was praying with passion !!!! She had told me she was praying that my back would be healed … I’m living with a group of people who are passionate and pray with a purpose !!! I’ve always believed in the power of prayer and I always will , but there is just something that sets this place apart , it’s a pure soaking of the Holy Spirit !!
I’ve had some amazing quiet times on the roof , one of which was tonight as I was listening to some music “Jesus Culture ” Come Away With Me …. I was looking off into the mountains … I just began to express thankfulness for what God has done , what he is doing ,and what he is going to do here !!
A former Voodoo Priest who is now a Christian was walking down a path , I know this because I’ve worked with him on a few job sites….. He started walking on a path away from the house …. He briefly looked up saw me and took the path towards me … When he got close enough to the house he stopped looked up at me and raised both hands and pointed to the sky and smiled …. I smiled and did everything I could to hold back tears until he left .  Wow we serve and awesome God !!! Him pointing to the sky and smiling … In any language to me that represented how thankful he was as well !! God is doing some awesome things in this community … As he walked away I prayed that he could be that witness to his former life and bring other people to Christ as well !!!
When God puts you in moments like these ” it’s a move quickly listen to the voice of the holy spirit moment ” it’s not a what can I do later … It’s a what can  I do now … This is why God put me here to pray continuously for this community , and to love unconditionally  ….
I walked over to take a few pictures of the house that the June and July teams have worked on …. So awesome to see a house go up and possibly be finished by the time I leave !!!! God is good and he is providing and awesome home for another family in the community !!!
Blessings !!!
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ABUNDANCE IN ALL THINGS  !!!!!

It’s been awhile since I last wrote …Staying busy … Lots of projects going on .. Let me start first with Chicken Leg Day … In the time that I have been here I will have seen 3 chicken leg days …. This if you don’t know is a day where each kid in the feeding program gets a chicken leg with their meal along with a glass of milk … Very awesome to see … I’m also continuing to take heights and weights of the kids in the feeding program … This is something the sponsor can check on the Restore Haiti website … I’m not done but I’m getting there .. And eventually all the kids information will be entered ..  Another project that the teams are working on is a new fence in front of the preschool I haven’t been over their with any of the teams but they are continuing to work hard on the project. The house next to the palace is a project I’ve seen each team work on since I’ve been here Involves carrying large bricks down a steep hill along with large wheel barrels and large buckets of sand .. Each team has brought 110% energy to this project .. This is really awesome to see what was a hole in the ground turn into something that is going to provide awesome shelter and bring great joy to the family moving in …. Our God is awesome !!!  Another project that we have started at what once was Pastor  Rodrigue’s is total transformation bunk beds being sanded and painted along with a few other projects as well …  That’s it for now … My body and mind need some rest …. Please continue to pray for the leaders .. That God will provide them with rest and strength … There are a lot of things going on . Thanks and God Bless

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Rooftop Experience !!!!!!

 

I ended my night tonight sitting on the rooftop watching a storm in the distance , the stars above me , the moon off to the right shinning bright …. The best part about all of this was Jackson 6 yrs old and Vio 10 yrs old sitting in my lap and we were all singing Like Incense/Sometimes By Step by Hillsong…The part where they sing the oh part was amazing …. And they went right into “Oh God you are my God and I will ever praise you !! Such a beautiful sound !!!  My heart is really experience a lot of joy here this has to be one of my top moments
When I went down to my bed I noticed that it had an extra mattress on it … I began to tear up a bit … I mentioned earlier that I was experiencing back pain that was in the morning …. They always surprise me with something … I am learning so much from my family down here .. Just like in James where it calls us to be doers of the word they walk it out all the time !!!
The the group was split up I went to work with the block crew again ,the house that a few groups have carried blocks for is going up fast …Very Cool to see .. So much passion in their work it’s so awesome to watch , and their always giving each other an encouraging word when they pass each other on the hill !! After this we had a big lunch , my body was screaming for rest so I ended up taking a 2 1/2 hour nap … I feel refreshed and excited for church tonight !!! Just wanted to say thanks for your prayers as I was experiencing some back pain , that pain is now gone !!!! Praise Jesus !!! Until next time Blessings !!!
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Each Footstep is a chance to share Jesus !!!!

 

Really hard to believe I have been here for a month … God continues to put me in places where I can pray for people and I’m loving it !! Yesterday I was waiting for my ride at the hotel it was getting later and dark out … Something in me said start walking but before I could leave the hotel , Bernard’s wife said excuse me can you come here for a minute … So I walked over and sat down , she said can you help me with my English … I said certainly I can ,so she had a sheet she was practicing from .. I read a line than she repeated it after me … She said she wants to know English so when groups come down and Bernard is out of town she can be fluent and talk with the groups .
I woke up today with some really bad back pain … I sat in bed and was praying that God  would take the pain away from my body … After my prayer I fell asleep for a bit and when I woke it was better … I went to help the group carry blocks .. On my way there there was a gentlemen who was riding a Moto he just happen to stop in front of the voodoo temple … He was explaining to me how he wanted to excel and go to school and get a better job to provide for his family … We go on the topic if he had a church I explained to him that he was invited to the church that I have been attending while I’ve been here .. He nodded and said thanks … So back to the part where oddly enough we stopped right in front of the voodoo temple … I asked him if I could pray for him … At first he didn’t understand , then he caught on .. So I took my hands and put them on his shoulders … He bowed his head and then I bowed mine …. Something awesome in me was stirring up … I began to pray and I did it loud and with boldness !! Asking God to intervene in the young mans life , he had told me he had dreams so I prayed that those dreams would come to fruition for him … That he would get the education he needs , and that God would provide abundance in his life … I prayed for peace when he sleeps and that God would continue to give him amazing dreams and visions !!!!  As I was praying I began to see a small crowd develop around us , some wondering what was going on , some were children … It made my heart race !!! I was being reminded again what my purpose is while I’m here …. To pray for those in need and to stir up happiness in their soul … So that they may know the goodness of Jesus !!!
After we were done praying he began to say thank you repeatedly … I gave him a hug and said I will see you again because he lives on the road that I walk to for the job site …. Such a great moment !!! As I was walking away I looked off into the mountains and just began to thank God for pouring his spirit into me for such a time is this !!!
I went to the site and my back began to loosen up …. The team did an awesome job today !!! We headed back to the house for some lunch and to relax before heading to the feeding program … Just another successful day at the job sites the and the feeding program … God Is Good !!! All the Time !!!
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Feeding Program / Solar Lights 

 

On Thursday the kids received a chicken leg with their regular meal ….This is  a big deal and the kids absolutely love it …. I wasn’t really feeling well on this day but God gave me enough strength to go take pictures …. Going back to one of my earlier post …. It’s so awesome to see the joy on the kids faces over the simplest of things to us back in the states …l I’m really learning what it means to be truly thankful for what I have and when you put all of your trust in God his plan is the best …


After this I went with Gabby to take some photos of some solar lights being installed in some of the houses … There were 6 installed this past week  … Again really cool to see the joy on their faces …. This is what life is about “Being Jesus” in everything we do ….
Saturday morning 3:30am wake up call from Jean Mary coming down the road …. He picked me up on the Moto we went to his house dropped the Moto off then walked down to the bus station to be picked up from the bus so we could head to the airport to pick up the Solid Rock Team . It was pretty a awesome walk the stars were bright and it was really peaceful …. While we were waiting at the bus station Jean Mary’s Dad came walking down the hill at the time I didn’t know who it was …. He was carrying a machete …. Jean Mary looked at me and said we are going to die …. Then he laughed and said its just my dad …. Love how he jokes around  with me ….
Church was amazing today !!!! More people came to accept Jesus Christ !!! And the Kingdom of Heaven keeps increasing !!! Couple of teen boys sat by me in church again today …. So awesome how hungry they are for God ….
If your reading this and you have an extra $30 dollars a month that you usually put towards fun for yourself … I would encourage you to pray about sponsoring a young child in the Restore Haiti Feeding program !!! You will change a child’s life …. I’m seeing this 1st hand the joy it brings to their life …. You will also be sending them to school …. The other day I watched a few of the kids in their school uniforms come to the pastors house and show the report cards to the pastor …. This is also something they put alot of effort into …. When your pouring your love into them they can feel that!!! So please consider sponsoring a young child today !!! You will be making a difference so they can make a difference in their community …..
Thanks And God Bless !!!!
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Mirror Images of the Holy Spirit !!!!  25 /26

 


Today I went to the center to enter more heights and weights for the kids ….. After we were finished doing this we were in for another treat …. Fedony and his wife asked us to join Pastor Lefluer and his team for lunch at their house , as I was sitting in their living room I had to hold back tears …. I’m really learning a lot about true servant hood and what it means to love like Jesus …. Incredible!!!
After this I became really tired … I’m respecting my body and when I get tired I just take a nap ….
Today Jean Mary ,Anna , and I went to the beach we had lunch “lobster” so good and then just relaxed … Another great day !!
I was relaxing in my room and I heard Jean Mary calling for me out in the dining room … He said lets go to the center and handed me some boxes for cakes … When we arrived at the center Marie Laure had a smile on her face such a sweet lady …. She baked another cake for me !!!!
Church was awesome tonight this community continues to be on fire !!!!Some of the younger teenage boys  are starting to sit next to me in church the ones I have had one on one conversations with …. They are hungry for The Holy Spirit !!!  I’m getting to dive into scripture with them and they want my pen to underline the verses I have underlined in my Bible ..
Last night one of the members from Team#4 gave a powerful message it was Holy Spirit driven !!! He spoke from Galatians  6:7-10 & Ephesians 2:10  he then spoke of Elijah very powerful moment in the service the church was tuned in and focused !!!
It was getting towards the end of the service one of the gentlemen from the Antigua team shared his testimony , when he was finished …. There was an update from Rodrigue’s mother she expressed how thankful she was that her son was still alive (a very touching moment ) .. He was in a very serious accident at the beginning of the month …. Yesterday he returned to his home by the church !!! Prayer is and always will be a powerful tool !!! The expression of  something physical turned into something supernatural , and in its return Holy Spirit Driven !!
After church was over there was a glow around the moon … Certain things keep reminding me how powerful this community is !! To me this represented how this community continues to be a shinning light for those surrounding it !!
Blessings !!!!
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My mission trip -June 2012

June trip

I just returned from one of he best trips I have experienced. I spent it with 18 people, 11 being from youth group. The house we worked was to finish painting for, Isalmo and Julie, he is our tap tap driver and Julie is the registrar at the feeding program. We take attendance for every sponsor to make sure we aren’t missing any. We also started a new house, this house was on the side of the mountain and for 4 work days and even on our beach day we went and carried blocks down the mountain to the house. Everyone set a goal and worked hard to get blocks to the works. This even included carrying blocks on our heads like the Haitians! I must say they were impressed with this team on many levels before we left the foundation of this house was complete.

The feeding program is another highlight and the children enjoyed having the team with us and eating with the sponsors. I was so blessed to see some of the USA team and students step way out of their comfort zones working hard trying new thins and just being a friend for the week. That sums up what a Restore Haiti trip is all about. I do hope more and more people can experience it.

Our drive to the airport and flight home was difficult which ended in having to stay in miami, but the spirits are high and we made it home on Sunday early enough for fathers day.

I ask everyone to sum up the question of ” how was your trip?” by unwrapping one moment, so I wanted to do that for this blog. My sponsor Vio lives at the main headquarters and many people who visit know him. Each time this little man does something that captures my heart once again. After a hard and hot work day I come with sweat pouring down my face. He goes into the house and finds a small fan to hold to cool off my face. As i take off my sandals he sees how dirty my feet are he motions for me to come in the bathroom and begins to take water and soap and wash my feet. What a servant heart does this boy already possess. A moment in the trip that I will ever forget.

Finally, I wanted this trip to change me like many who went for the first time. I can honestly say it has and I don’t want to go back. If you had one thought about going to Haiti, please contact me and let’s talk about it. I know it would be one of the decisions you make.

Thanks for reading,
Philip

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