My Trip to Haiti

 Haiti was AWESOME!  Seeing new sights, meeting new people and sharing God's love!

Day 1- Saturday
We woke up real early and headed to the airport.  I did not know what to expect.  I had never flow before and I wasn't just flying to another state, I was flying to another country!  When we got to the airport, we ate breakfast, went through security checkpoints, waited, and then finally got on the plane.  I was scared at first then not so much because I love roller coasters so I thought of it being a roller coaster.  Next think I know we were in the air.  It was really cool seeing all the pretty views from above.  I took lots of pictures.  Next thing I know we were on the ground safe and sound in Miami.  When we got inside we waited a long time.  After lunch we got on the plane and were in the air...then...we were in HAITI!  When we got off the plane we went down this long hallway. It was HOT!! Then we got on a bus that took us to get our luggage.  There Stephanie, Miguelson, Eddie, Nasan, and a few other guys were waiting for us.  There were a lot of people everywhere trying to carry this or carry that.  We roughly got to the house, unpacked, ate dinner, and went to bed. 

Day 2 - Sunday

We woke up, ate breakfast, and went to Pastor Pierre's church.  The service lasted 3 and 1/2 hours long in the heat.  After church, I handed out hair stuff and toys to the kids and ladies. They were smiling and very thankful and it felt nice to be able to give to them. We also gave some ties to the pastors. They really liked them.  Then we went to Epi Do, a place where they serve pizza, crapes, and ice cream.  It was really good!  I didn't think they would have a place that good in Haiti! Next we went back to the house, changed clothes and went up the mountain.  The sights were so cool!  You could see all of Port-Au-Prince.  Going down the mountain was pretty scary.  We were up a couple of hundred feet and the roads were slippery because it was raining.  The roads were narrow and NO guardrails and in Haiti there are no lines on the roads so the bigger one goes first or else.  So you just have to find a way and somehow get there.  Finally we got to the house and ate dinner.  We had cake with marshmallows around it.  Only the girls ate the marshmallows. Well, except for Mr. Eddie.  He ate some and therefore had to be a girl and got the new name Big Flower! 

Day 3- Monday
We spent this day mostly with Stephanie.  Stephanie is Awesome!  She works for the FBC and lives in the safe house.  She is from Clearwater, FL.  She helps Eddie Blackmon (aka Big Flower) examine sites, orders supplies, and other things needed to help with the rebuild.  We drove to lots of different home sites with her.  There were lots of men working.  The homes are just 4 block walls, a metal roof and a metal door but it was a nice home to the Haitians. We saw some men on mission from North Carolina helping build a home. We also visited some churches and pastors in the area. It was super hot...even hotter than Florida.  After we looked at homes, we went to see the Palace.  It was crumbled.  They have taken out the middle part and some of the domes.  We then went to the market. Everywhere we went, someone was trying to sell something to us or get some money from us.  The people were really needy for anything.  They would hold out their hands asking for anything.

Day 4 - Tuesday
Today, my dad led the morning devotion for the people who work building homes.  I got to share the e-cube with them.  I was really scared at first because I didn't know any of them.  It was like doing a speech. But I knew God was with me and I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  I was just glad I could remember all the verses.  I then stayed with Stephanie for a while and then went out to check on a few more home sites and another church.  We drove a lot this day.  I got to meet some more kids and give them some toys.  It was really neat being there and seeing what goes on in Haiti.  Their everyday life is way different than it is here in America.

Day 5 - Wednesday-
 Leaving the house was kind of hard. I had made lots of new friends that I didn't want to leave. Miguelson was so sweet and awesome.  He always made sure I was ok and made me feel safe.  I am glad I can keep in touch thanks to email.
The airport was so hot.  It's not like a normal airport.  There are no food things or shopping or even waiting area seats. I boarded the plane sadly but happily flew home.     I especially want to say THANKS to Dr. Fritz Wilson for letting me have this opportunity to go to Haiti.  He is an amazing, awesome, sweet, wonderful man who really cares for others.  I also want to thank my dad for going with me and my mom for letting me go. Haiti has such a special place in my heart.

My Trip to the Florida Baptist Convention

On Wednesday, April 6th my family and I went to the Florida Baptist Convention in Jacksonville to give them the money raised from the Bake Sale for Haiti.  When we got there, we met Fritz Wilson.  He is the Director of  Disaster Relief for the state.  He was really cool.  He gave us a tour of the disaster relief offices.  There we met the lady in the pink cast, also know as Allison Walker.  She assist Fritz in the disaster relief office.  We looked at some maps of the earthquake damage and some pictures of Haiti.  The Florida Baptist were in Haiti only 3 days after the earthquake happened.  Mr. Fritz gave me a flash drive with some pictures that I will post later and a Haiti pin. 

We then took the elevator (which needs some music) down to Dr. John Sullivan's office.  He is the Executive Director of the Florida Baptist Convention.  We took some pictures, I gave him the money -which totaled $3000, and I got to tell him about my bake sale and how I want to help the people of Haiti.  We talked about going to Haiti.  I am looking forward to going someday soon after all the politics calm down (and I get my shots and passport.)  Dr. Sullivan gave me a Bible and my brother, sister and I a silver dollar.  He said the silver dollar was to remind us to be good stewards.  He also agreed to help me with my next event.  It was really awesome to meet Dr. Sullivan. 
Then we went to lunch with Mr. Fritz.  My brother and I got to ride in the disaster relief truck.  It was like an office on wheels.  It had a computer in it, a big headset with a phone, and special equipment to help whenever there is a storm or something bad happening. 
I thought it was really cool to meet these great people and being able to see what they do.  I look forward to seeing them again and hope to work with them for Haiti. 
 

Help Build a Home in Haiti

Hi!  My name is Mallory Fernald.  I am 10 years old.  My parents are helping me create this blog to let you know about a desire in my heart.  When the earthquake hit Haiti, it destroyed a lot of homes.  Families have been seperated and forced to live in tents and boxes covered with plastic.  Kids can't feel safe in these homes.  Families can't feel safe living like that either.  I found out from my pastor that the Florida Baptist have agreed to build lots of homes in Haiti.  I wanted to be a part of that.  So, I set a goal for myself to raise $1500 to help build a home in Haiti.  I asked my mom if I could have a bake sale to start raising money.  I wanted to have it at Cheek & Scott Drugs so I wrote the owner a letter and asked if that would be ok with him.  He wrote back and said yes and that he would match anything I made up to $750, which was half of my goal.  I picked the day to be Friday, March 25th and set the hours for 9am to 6pm.  I also recorded a video and put it on the store's website and on Facebook.  Then I called the local paper and put an ad in to let people know about it.  I also made some posters and flyers.  My dad, mom and I had so many great friends offer to make different things for the bake sale.  Our kitchen was so hot the day before the bake sale.  We were baking up a storm!  I was so excited the night before, I could hardly go to sleep.  When my mom woke me up, I was like a spring ready to go.  We loaded everything and headed up to Cheek & Scott to set up.   When we got there, we unloaded the tables and goodies.  People started to show up almost right away.  My friend, Emma, got to come help me around lunch time.  Other people also came to help and hang out.  I really liked promoting and selling all the baked goods.  People were so nice and generous.  Lots of times they donated more money than we were charging for the goodies.  It was wonderful.  I was so tired at the end of the day but I was excited to get home and count the money raised.  When we got home, my  mom and I said a prayer thanking God for all the money given, for all the people who gave, and for the people of Haiti who need a home.  We started counting and I couldn't believe my eyes.  There was $2214.63!  Amazing!  Then I thought about the matching of $750 that Mr. Jeff promised from Cheek and Scott, so that made the total, $2964.63!  WOW!  That is going to build a home for a family in Haiti and start on a 2nd home.  This makes me so happy.  I want to thank everyone who helped me reach beyond my goal.  I can't wait to take this money to Jacksonville and hand it over to the Florida Baptist Disaster Relief program.