Well, despite the State Department warnings about coming to Haiti, the Prince of Peace team came anyway and managed to go home unscathed. In fact, several team members who had been here before commented "I have never seen things so calm or so clean."  Yes, there was some rioting and some looting; yes, Haiti continues to have problems; and yes, violent conditions are likely to occur again.  But God continues his work of redeeming the mess that is Haiti.

The team felt God's presence in many ways, not just in the cleanliness and order, but particularly in the lives of the people they met.  They commented again and again on how evident God's Spirit was in Gladys, in Jorel Carte, in the smiles of the children.  All went home convinced without a doubt that God is alive and well in Haiti.

As usual, the team blessed us with many "things"--sewing machines for Marie, school supplies and food among other items.  And, as usual, the most important thing they brought was themselves, giving much love to the people of Haiti and in turn taking much love home with them.

By way of work tasks, they completed a lot of little items:  cleaning and sealing the sign at VOH and the mural at Hope House, repairing the outside drainage pipe at Hope House, painting the gate, putting a second coat of paint on the outside room doors at Hope House, repairing some termite damage, bagging beans and rice for the staff, repairing some screen at Hope House, holding several sewing sessions at Marie's, and (much to Margaret's delight) sharpening the kitchen knives at Hope House.

There were twelve members of this team, eight from Prince of Peace and four from Lord of Life in Memphis.  Six were new and six were repeaters; although for two, it had been over ten years since they had been here.