How do you define poverty?
Does it only relate to third world countries or do you see poverty in the lives of American citizens?
From June 14 through June 24 I experienced poverty unlike anything I have ever seen before. I was one of many to experience the chance to do work in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Visualize 31 members of various churches in the Daviess County loading the back of two pickup trucks where there was around 10-15 people in each truck, all trying to hold on to some form of the truck. Back at home we get in trouble for riding in trucks but down there it’s the only way to travel. Traffic was a bit on the scary side no lines, no rules to follow; no stop signs just go at your own risk. Whose ever vehicle is bigger gets the right-a-way. The roads were not your normal roads we see around here, think of the worst dirt-gravel road and times that by about 10. These roads were dirt with trash and tons of awful pot holes. By the end of the week we figured Jon (the missionary) would purposely hit all the major pot holes and then rank our reaction. It was all a game for him.
Throughout the week we worked on different projects Jon and Beth needed us to do or finish what other groups couldn’t finish. The men were mostly in charge of creating welded together poles to create a garden on top of the orphanage they work from. Us college girls and other women mostly worked with the Vacation Bible School for the children that stayed at their orphanage and the nannies children that came. All through the week we were also having a Nanny Seminar on child safety and other child related topics. The topics ranged from Child Development, Child Activities, Hygiene, Abuse, Protection Tips, and different syndromes children can acquire from bad parenting. Brooke Lengacher and I taught the Child Activities/Development Class which was geared for children aged birth to twelve. We had no idea what to talk about until getting down to Haiti and talking to Beth. As we began the class the women were not interested to say the least so we changed gears and started talking strictly activities. They loved it!! We created butterflies using popsicle
sticks and coffee filters, made homemade play-dough and had a contest who could create the most original play dough creation. Man they loved doing these activities, and we’re very excited to try all the new things with their children back at the orphanage. 
Graci
You think kids are cute around here wait till you have 40-50 all around you with those big brown eyes, beautiful hair and a smile created by the one and only God. These children will have an ever ending place in my heart and hopefully one day I will be able to adopt one of them for myself. One night as I was talking to mom I just simply asked if we had the money or support right now to adopt again, that answer came to quick Not Right Now. I was devastated but God and I both know one day it will happen maybe not for the Lengacher family but for my own family. These children that live in the orphanage we worked in have an amazing Christian family waiting patiently in the United States. The process to adopt from that specific orphanage is a lot different than your typical one, they make the family come their twice. Once to have a one-on-one interview then another to pick up their child and take them back to the United States to be loved by many. The children all know who their future parents are, some had books about their new family others had pillows full of pictures. It was so touching walking in their rooms and seeing all the memories these families will one day do together. There were defiantly lots of tear shed being around these children, a life changing experience. So as the week was coming to end my body decided something I had ate, drank, got into somehow was not good for Ayrika Lengacher. I spent most of the last few days on a cot making frequent trips to the bathroom and not being able to keep anything down. I was one of the five lucky ones who got into something that just didn’t agree with us. Try getting sick in an airplane with lots of turbulence- NOT FUN. I was thinking I was getting better but I was wrong I actually have been sick for the last 19 days. I had many tests run trying to find something in my system that was causing me to be so sick. Well I had enough on Monday July 6 my mother took me to the Daviess Community Hospital ER and we waited for almost 3 hours to be called- I was very agitated and uncomfortable. AYRIKA D. LENGACHER your turn- I don’t think I ever been so happy to hear my name be called. It was an interesting night according to my mom. Remember haven’t kept anything down since June 20th- meaning very weak and nothing in system. I remember IV going in and the medicine but after that it’s all a blur. I turned green and was out. Lucky all my tests they ran came back negative besides receiving the dreadful news of UTI and lots of bacteria in my system. We finally left the ER around 2 am. That’s a long time I don’t recall much of. If that’s how drugs make you feel you can count me out=) I got home and slept pretty much the whole next day.
It is Wednesday and I can officially say I think the sick feeling is over=) Praise God. I can now eat little amounts and keep it all down. Thank you for all the prayers and texts from everyone. I love you all.
I also want to say thank you so much for everyone’s support for allowing me to go on this mission trip. Thanks to my family, friends, and loved ones who prayed from day one too day ten.
THANK YOU!!
