Summer Camp 2017: Week 3 (Janey)

Haiti has a special place in my heart. I have been so fortunate to come to this country again and spend two weeks here at Tree of Hope...although two weeks in not enough! Spending time here has opened my eyes and my heart in ways that are hard to put into words.

This summer camp that Cassandra and Tree of Hope have created is such a blessing. There are so many children that come in and have bunches of fun while benefitting from the extra opportunity to learn during the summer time. It is such a wonderful place for the community to come together to learn and grow. Being able to see so many beautiful, smiling faces instantly warms my heart. What I really enjoyed this second week was becoming even more comfortable with the kids. I felt more comfortable knowing more names and working more to help as many with their learning as possible. 

We were able to visit homes and to go see the kids playing in different places, and I really began to see how this is where their whole lives are. The people in this community are full of love, smiles and kindness. The have so little in comparison to what we have at home in the states, and yet their love is so rich. The kids all love to gather in the area where the pavilion is being built to play soccer, tag, joke around or to watch us feed the neighborhood dog Scooby. There is so much joy radiating from their little faces from being able to be around their friends. So many hugs, handshakes and giggles - and I still didn’t get enough! 

What I really loved while being in Grand Goave was the opportunity to get out and see the people and their community. This is where they live all the time - its where the kids play, parents work, where families eat sleep and breathe. When initially seeing the circumstances that are all around my first emotion was shock. There are too many people that are in need of better living situations and its overwhelming to try to wrap my head around how to reach out and help every single person. But what I’ve taken away from my time is that you just have to start with the people. No matter how big or how small the action is, putting your effort and whole heart into these people is where the change starts. 

If you’re feeling a calling towards Haiti, go for it! I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have had to spend more time here, and I cannot wait to get back!!

TOHH Announcements

Would you like to come on a mission trip to Haiti?

We would love to have you volunteer for one week (or more) at TOHH in Grand Goâve!

Holiday Sponsorship Trip 2017:

December 27, 2017 - January 3, 2018

We currently have spots available on the Holiday Sponsorship 2017 Team! This team will be doing a variety of activities with the sponsored children! These include home visits to the children's homes, crafts, baking, a holiday party, a hike, a trip to the beach, and a possible home improvement project (additional cost, to be discussed at pre-trip meetings). 

This team will have pre-trip meetings before traveling to Haiti. The cost of each trip is as follows:

$125 - Deposit (includes the cost of a TOHH shirt that we request you wear on travel day)

$450 - TOHH Guesthouse Fee (includes three meals/day, housing, transport to and from the airport in Haiti, and operations costs)

Flights - Purchased by each volunteer at a pre-trip meeting

If you'd like to join the trip, please fill out an application form here: http://treeofhopehaiti.org/volunteers/application

For more information about preparing for a trip to Haiti, follow this link: http://treeofhopehaiti.org/volunteers/preparing-for-a-trip/

Would you like to lead your own team to Haiti? 

Are you a church or school group? TOHH accepts missionary teams of 10 - 24 people. Once you have a team forming, contact us to request dates and begin preparing your team for Haiti. To submit your request for a one- to two-week trip, please email us at info@treeofhopehaiti.org.