0 to leave by 6 for the 3 hour drive through the mountains to Jacmel, which is by the beach. I took a Dramamine and slept the whole way but was jerked awake when we nearly had a head on collision with another car (people pass at will) but due to the quick thinking of our driver we narrowly avoided the wreck.When we arrived at Trinity House, the third of the St. Joseph's homes the children met us in the courtyard singing "This is the Day" and then ran towards us at full speed giving us all a hug. It was a welcome like none other. We got a tour of the house. Sixteen boys live here and travel out into the community for school. There are 50 students wh
o come into the house to be educated during the day -- grades K-3. These children live in the poverty stricken area around the school and would without a school otherwise. This house is the smallest of the homes and has no guest rooms so we will all sleep on the floor together. The house has its own dance team too and hopes to add on a bakery to raise funds. The house was started by Melchi, a St. Joseph's graduate who runs the house.
o come into the house to be educated during the day -- grades K-3. These children live in the poverty stricken area around the school and would without a school otherwise. This house is the smallest of the homes and has no guest rooms so we will all sleep on the floor together. The house has its own dance team too and hopes to add on a bakery to raise funds. The house was started by Melchi, a St. Joseph's graduate who runs the house. When we arrived 
we did art projects with the
school children after lunch. I made mobiles with the kindergarten class (see photo). Afterwards we walked the children home. Their homes were just outside of the school grounds and they lived in cinder block homes with meager means (see photo).
we did art projects with the
school children after lunch. I made mobiles with the kindergarten class (see photo). Afterwards we walked the children home. Their homes were just outside of the school grounds and they lived in cinder block homes with meager means (see photo). 
That afternoon we we walked down to the neighboring beach. After dinner we saw the Trinity School's dance team perform. They even danced with fire. At the end once more the audience joined in and danced. Afterwards, we sang Happy Birthday to Nicole a girl on the trip with us. We had a birthday cake baked at a local bakery that was awesome. The boys also displayed their beautiful artwork after the dance class.
Then Melchi (in blue in the photo next to his look-a-like, Dariel from our group), the
director of Trinity House shared his story with us. Melchi's mother and father were murdered when he was young. For 2 years he lived on the street before going to St. Joseph's where he grew up. When a boy turns 21 he ages out of St. Joseph's so when Melchi turned 31 he came to Jacmel to start a house like St. Joseph's named Trinity House. The house began with 4 boys in 200. It is now the place where new boys to the St. Joseph's Family Homes comes when they first arrive. Melchi believes God chose him to come to St. Joseph's and choose him to help other kids like him. He says that you should let God choose for you in your life. Melchi ministers to children who have lost their families. He told us that he considers us friends because we chose to come here and sleep on the floor when we could have stayed in a hotel or at home. Yet this feels like the very least that I could do. I never cease to be amazed that despite the pain they have endured, the Haitians have such a large capacity to love. How much do they tell us about love and forgiveness?
director of Trinity House shared his story with us. Melchi's mother and father were murdered when he was young. For 2 years he lived on the street before going to St. Joseph's where he grew up. When a boy turns 21 he ages out of St. Joseph's so when Melchi turned 31 he came to Jacmel to start a house like St. Joseph's named Trinity House. The house began with 4 boys in 200. It is now the place where new boys to the St. Joseph's Family Homes comes when they first arrive. Melchi believes God chose him to come to St. Joseph's and choose him to help other kids like him. He says that you should let God choose for you in your life. Melchi ministers to children who have lost their families. He told us that he considers us friends because we chose to come here and sleep on the floor when we could have stayed in a hotel or at home. Yet this feels like the very least that I could do. I never cease to be amazed that despite the pain they have endured, the Haitians have such a large capacity to love. How much do they tell us about love and forgiveness?
After Melchi's talk we laid down on the floor to sleep -- 17 of us on the floor in one room. I will say that there has been some serious team building on this trip. :)
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