One of the most practical ways we serve the church in Haiti is through short-term ministry trips. Teams from our US partner churches come to serve and encourage the church in Haiti in a variety of ways, and it’as always a refreshing time for those involved. Today, we asked Mark, one of the volunteers from our February team, to share some reflections from the trip.

The biggest thing that stood out to me during this trip was the change in the kids from November 2020, when I was last there, to now. I noticed it during the Sunday church service—where Pastor Poyis led the service alone before, the kids now take an active role in every aspect of the morning. The most striking thing is the praise of their worship. The joy in their voices is palpable. I think about everything they’ve gone through in the last five years, and it would take pages to cover all the trials they’ve endured. Yet they live with peace. It’s not primarily a testament to the kids, but to Jesus and what He can do.

Five and a half years ago, there were kids you could tell had a burden. This trip, I didn’t get the same sense. Every morning, you could hear them singing a praise song. The day seems to start before the sun comes up, and you can tell they’re excited to be with each other. The kids have a strong bond with Pastor Poyis. He’s always been their Papa, but that tie feels even stronger now than it has in the past.

It was really fun to see their Wednesday Bible study. Everyone meets under the canopy in the pews, a few people get up and say a prayer, and then they follow it up with a couple of praise songs. Then they invite Pastor Poyis up to do the Bible study, and they follow it up with a period of questions and answers at the end. The Q&As must have gone on for thirty minutes. You could tell the kids were engaged.

The best part of going on a team trip to Haiti is that you think you’re going to help these kids and make a difference in their lives, but the reality is that you’re the one who’ll be changed for the better.

For information about joining an outreach team, visit Support Us.