Bick Gibbs

In the summer of 2002, I took several students to Power Plus Camp. At camp,  we were presented the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Haiti. I was excited about the opportunity to go on a mission trip with other leaders and students. I filled out the application and waited patiently for the call to come to see if I was going. The wait since finding out was full of learning. My prayer was that God would bring us all together as one body, one family. We came together for a retreat to prepare us for the trip. Even after the retreat I had no idea how much God would draw us together. After landing in Haiti, God began to show me the answer to the prayers I had been praying. I knew going into this that it would be more than just building an orphanage. The realization of how blessed I am set in quickly. As we began to work together it became so evident that God had definitely put our group together. As we worked, God worked through us and for us. He provided cool breezes and clouds at just the right moments. He gave us the strength to persevere through the heat of the day. During the times we were not working, we were building relationships with the Haitians. In the evenings, we had awesome times of worship. God drew us together as we sang and shared what He was doing. The last night that we were there we were able to meet together on a concrete floor we had worked together to pour. The impact of our trip to Haiti was most recognized as the girls began to weep when we said goodbye. I did not realize that our being there had made that much of a difference. We went to build an orphanage, and in the process built relationships that will last a lifetime.

Steve Boyd

"...You said be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth."

(Acts 1:86) This past week I was reminded of where "the ends of the earth" are. They lie at the end of the 5 hour plane ride and a 2 ½ hour ride in a truck, along dusty roads, streets filled with activity around the clock. Where the night air is filled with the sound of life, roosters and dogs but life still the same. In this place of new sights, sounds, and smells, I encountered God again in a new way. He made himself known to me as "Giver of Joy." The joy that comes not from things, but comes from the love and hope of God. Love that is amazing, steady, and unchanging. I saw the love of God while the leaders of the church worked and taught us how to build. The hope of God explodes from the lips and faces of Jean Alix Paul and Mike Brister as they step back for a moment and begin to see the dream of a new dorm room come about. I am unsure of what God has in store next, but I am going to be praying about how I can be involved and how Power Plus Camps can step up and move to the next level in support of this ministry. I believe that God is possibly leading me to spread the vision and "Hope for the Hungry" of Haiti.

Drew Allen

Coming into the trip I don't think I prepared myself as much as I should have, but God showed me things that will affect the rest of my life. As we flew into Haiti I could see that some people were nervous, and some felt pity on the Haitian people. But I didn't have either one of those feelings. I was curious. I could still tell that this country wasn't wealthy, but I was ready to go meet people and find out what the culture was like.

                Well, I found out real quick that this country is very loving. Yes, they do have voodoo, and they are surrounded by demons, but most of the people we came in contact with showed us nothing but love. Sometimes I would just sit back and watch one of the Haitians, and I could see that everybody helps each other. I could clearly see that they gave us the best they had. With that I mean the food, sleeping arrangements, and transportation. Building the girl's home was definitely hard, but it was such a blessing to me I didn't care how hard it was. God gave me my abilities so that I could glorify Him, and this week I feel like our team accomplished that. One Saturday night we were leaving the room that we had worked on, and I was the last one so I just stood there and looked around. In that moment God broke me. I could see how much a blessing it was for the girls, and how with God's hand over us, we helped further the kingdom of God. As we were getting out of the truck to go to our house, all the girls from the home were crying. It was a sad moment, but it was also pleasing because God had used us to change these little girls' lives. Throughout the entire trip I could see that God had handpicked every one of us. Before the trip we hardly knew each other, but through one week God turned us into a family. I will never forget, or stop caring about anyone in our group. I am so thankful that God thought I was worthy enough to spread His Word. I know that if God ever tells me to go somewhere else for Him, I'll come running.