When we arrived in Haiti at Jacob’s Well, the kids stood on the side of the road cheering, calling us by name even though they had not seen us for an entire year. We had traveled from the city of Cap Haitian to reach Jacob’s Well, through deep poverty, the smell of burning trash, crowds of people, and the frantic pace of the city. But we had also seen a sacred beauty in this country—majestic mountains, green and fertile land, and people who are kind and love to laugh.
Jacob’s Well is the only camp of its kind in the entire country. It is nestled in a valley between the mountains and the sea, on the northern edge of Haiti. Each year, the mission of LLYC Outbound is to help with a three-day camp for Haitian children ages 7-18. We played games with the kids, presented Bible stories, sang songs, and provided lunch for them every day.
About two weeks before the trip, we learned that the well which supplied water for the camp and nearby village had collapsed. So we funded and facilitated the drilling of a new 80 foot well. It took five days to drill the well and get it on-line. When the well was finally complete, it easily filled the 5,000 gallon cistern which will provide life giving water for the whole village for years to come.
Throughout camp, our nurses and doctors treated patients all day long, and our pharmacy dispensed medications without tiring. Babies, children, moms, and dads were treated for parasites, hypertension, skin and scalp disorders, conditions that are easily healed in the United States but can be life threatening in Haiti. It was amazing to be able to offer the gift of quality health care to the village, and especially rewarding to see our doctors give Haitian parents a “thumbs up” when their kids checked out healthy.
In such a place of immense need, we wondered if our short time at Jacob’s Well could make any difference. Our answer came when hundreds of Haitians and our mission team all gathered for worship under a makeshift tabernacle of sticks and tarps. Peter Mark, our interpreter and the Jacob’s Well director, called up an eight-year-old boy. The young boy walked slowly to the front, stretched his hands over the crowd and began to pray, settling our restless souls. When he finally said “Amen,” this eight-year-old led us in worship songs with just the rustling trees as musical accompaniment. At that moment, we realized that Jacob’s Well is raising up the leaders who will be the future of Haiti.
In years to come, additional permanent buildings at Jacob’s Well will serve as Christian retreat center where youth and adults can escape all the chaos of Haiti to find peace, rest, and safety. Haitians will minister to Haitians, and leaders will dialogue about faith, work and their vision for their country.
Our young people have been truly changed by what they have experienced in Haiti—a youth camp that is changing a village and someday a country! We are grateful for all your interest, your support, and your prayers for our LLYC Outbound counselors and for the permanent leadership serving the people of Haiti at Jacob’s Well.
View more photos from our trip on Facebook
Watch our trip video on YouTube
Kevin & Angela’s preview trip to Haiti in April
Sending the Haiti Team Off With Prayer
Healing And Hope in the Midst of Tragedy
Interested in going on Outbound? Find out more about our next Outbound mission here.
