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Wake Forest Presbyterian
Church Haiti Mission Trip – November, 2007
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 Our group of six landed in Port-au-Prince on Friday, November
16 to spend a week at the CODEP (Comprehensive Development
Project) facility. We drove through the narrow city streets
with mouths hanging open and eyes staring at the astonishing
sights of this country. The streets were crowded with people
and piles of trash filled the gutters. Hogs rooted through
garbage, the same mangy yellow dog scrounged on every corner,
goats nibbled roadside weeds while chickens dodged traffic.
Taxi trucks, called tap-taps, were low on their axles as they
carried too many people and supplies, honking horns and narrowly
avoiding collisions. The tiny stores and homes were mostly
dilapidated cinderblock buildings.
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Our
team headed south to L’Acul and the CODEP facility,
where Rick and Kathy Land warmly greeted us. Our mission:
to develop a heart for Haiti and its people, learn about
the program, help where needed and become ambassadors for
CODEP. As Rick told us, we would not do much for Haiti on
our trip, but hopefully Haiti would challenge us to expand
our own lives.
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 As we traveled through the beautiful mountains, we learned
about the reforestation and watershed rehabilitation programs.
This not only serves to rebuild the land, it provides jobs
and generates future income for the Haitians. Along with Nick
Warren from Woods Hole, we were taught about the program to
raise fish for food and income. We helped finish a new home
for a CODEP employee, tried out two different water treadle
pumps, and worked on improving the design of the fishponds.
We shopped in the congested market where we could have purchased
anything from hair extensions to cell phones to used tires.
We ate wonderful Haitian food and enjoyed the numerous tropical
fruits.
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 One of the highlights of the trip was the opportunity to participate
in a Haitian wedding as honored guests of the groom. In fact,
the best part of the trip was meeting the wonderful people
of Haiti. We prayed with Emmanuel, sick with disease. We rejoiced
with Clement at his wedding. We delivered baby gifts to Luke
and his wife and their new child. We sang hymns and worshipped
with Pastor and Madame Gabrielle at the church on Sunday. We
cheered on the beach kids at a soccer game. We hauled cinderblocks
with Mimi to repair fishponds. We listened to the dreams of
students as they talked about their future hopes and plans.
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 Rick and Kathy Land opened their home and hearts to all of
us. Every evening was a time to share devotions along with
a review of the day and an opportunity to learn more about
the day-to-day operation of this amazing CODEP program. As
Rick showed us the world of Haiti outside the compound, Kathy
showed us her ministry to the neighborhood children. She has
made enormous strides in helping these young people develop
small businesses, insuring that they attend school and teaching
them so much, all the while exhibiting to them the love and
compassion of Jesus.
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 Haiti was heartbreaking in its poverty and beautiful in its
people and possibilities. One cannot look at the Haitian life
in the same way that we view life in the United States. It
would be like comparing apples to avocadoes. Our first impression
was almost revulsion at the abject poverty and neglect, but
this is what is familiar to them. Yes, the Haitians need health
care, education and jobs and our gut reaction is to give money,
but that is not entirely what is needed. CODEP gives them pride,
helping them build a future, care for their land and make a
sustainable investment for themselves and their children.
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We did not do much for Haiti, but this trip challenged our
worldview and our Christianity. Our lives are an awesome
adventure in God’s plan for this earth. We need to
look at every person with the love and compassion of Jesus,
regardless of race, gender or beliefs. Even if our ability
is lacking, we can be available to help in some way, looking
for God in every encounter and opportunity. As we left on
that following Friday, we all hoped that we would return
and prayed for those that remained with the wonderful people
of this beautiful island.
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Amy Lewis November
27, 2008
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