Many of you have helped in the support of Mission Change Haiti and I am personally thankful for your generosity.  After the disaster struck Haiti we were able to partner with another organization called Bahamas Methodist Habitat (whom we are currently missionaries with)  that organizes successful air control for small planes heading to and from Haiti.  During this time of organizing the trips for relief, I was able to add myself in the mix of the “controlled chaos” after being asked to go with pilot, Mark Grimaldi.   I was hesitant to go due to the break out of fights that were being shown all over the news over food and water. I was also hesitant to join him with having a family that I didn’t want to leave behind, of course I thought of the worst that could happen.  And, through much prayer, I decided to go and I can tell you that it was a great decision that has changed my life forever.

As the morning came for me to gather my things to get on the plane, I was excited and nervous at the same time. I knew that today was going to be a day I would never forget. Mark and I headed to Nassau to load the plane with supplies and afterwards we packed a couple of snacks to take with us for the 8-hour day that was just beginning. As we flew over the islands of the Bahamas and stopped in Inagua for fuel, I was reminded of the beauty that has been made for us.  Soon, we approached the island of La Gonave, Haiti and it was so beautiful that I couldn’t imagine what I was about to embark on. Mark had already made a trip the day before and was going over all the safety procedures that were about to happen, along with scaring me half to death of what could happen as we opened the door of the airplane.  I could not believe my eyes as we were in front of the “runway”. People were scattering out of the way as the plane got closer to the ground and waving like crazy to us that they were hungry.  Children lined the road making motions towards their mouths indicating that they were starving and I felt so overcome with sadness for these people.  When we landed safely, Mark’s plan was to get out first and have me lock the door until he thought it was safe enough for me to be out in the open.  Anything could have happened and lucky for us our translator and contact person from the island, Bennie Guerrier, organized 2 military men to be there with machine guns as we opened the door of the plane.  This was so overwhelming that I looked nervously at Mark and he told me that it was going to be okay and for me to get out of the plane to be with the people.

I cannot fully express to you what I felt as my feet touch the ground. The men, women, and children of La Gonave embraced me, and saying thank you in English and some speaking in Creole. I began to weep so hard that I could not even speak. I knew then that this was a place that was grateful and thankful for what was being brought to their island.

This particular island has been cut off from any form of supplies (food and medical) due to the earthquake. Their main way of receiving food was through Port au Prince and that was totally cut off because of damage to the ports that the boats shipped out of.  Mark and I were one of the first to respond to this need and I can tell you that my heart broke into so many pieces that day as I saw the hunger and poverty of the people around me.  Once we unloaded the food onto the pick-up truck, I stayed with the people and told them thank you for allowing us to come. I placed my hands on the faces of those little children and babies and told them how precious they were. They smiled so big and so sweetly that my heart continued to break because I knew that I was leaving soon and I knew I had a place to lay my head, clothes to wear, and food to eat.  Bennie carried me into the village for a short time and I was able to meet a sweet preachers wife. She allowed me use her “bathroom”, which was hole in the ground with cement piled up for the toilet bowl. I came from the little “out house” and she was waiting on me. I noticed that she had a bowl of water, a bowl of soap, and a towel on her shoulder.  All this time I thought that I was serving this little island with food and water, but she served me as she washed my hands and dried them for me before I left. I have to say that it was the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen.  The memory that I will carry with me forever can still be a memory for you.

I am asking that you remember these poor people in your thoughts and prayers each day, and if you can give a bag of rice, beans, tomato sauce, noodles, or monetary donations for fuel for the planes to take supplies to the island of La Gonave, please do so. They have nothing to eat, but they have the love of the Lord to help them get through this horrible time. You can make donations through the Mission Change website and click on the Hope for Haiti donate button.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support that you have given for this particular mission. The people of Haiti do need us and I know that we can make a difference from our own backyard!

God bless you!

-LaDonna