Meet the Summer Haiti Team!!

This team is almost done growing! We have 30 people going on this trip, 23 of them are students from all over Charlotte. Look below to see who they are!

Madison Williams

Age: 17
School: Myers Park High School
Acitivities: rowing, tennis, volunteering at the hospital
Most Excited about: Visiting another country for the first time and seeing first hand how people live in another part of the world...and bringing joy to their lives.
Secret Talent: I know all the words to every Taylor Swift song!
Favorite Bible Verse: "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7


Kaelyn Jhori Varner

Age: 16
School: Ardrey Kell High School
Hobbies: Track & Field, Chior
Most Excited About: To meet the kids and learn something new
Secret Talent: I can play the Ukelele
Favorite Bible Verse: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11


Jackson Marshall

Age: 14
School: Fort Mill High School
Hobbies: Track, Cross Country, FFA
Most Excited About: Meeting the people there and the people I am going with
Secret Talent: I can ride a RipStick
Favorite Bible Verse: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1


Stephanie Cameron

Age: 16
School: Camder Academy
Hobbies: Tennis, babysitting, Volunteering at the hospital, running
Most Excited About: Getting to meet all of the people of Haiti
Secret Talent: I can do a split
Favorite Bible Verse: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24


Emily Lindsey

Age: 17
School: Ardrey Kell High School
Hobbies: singing, photography, VP of Literary Magazine, Chamber Choir, Photography Club, Friends Club
Most Excited About: For the opportunity to lead Haitians to Christ, possibly with the help of a translator! I think that would be an amazing experience!
Secret talent: baking/cooking
Favorite Bible Verse: "But those who hope in the lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31


Elijah Whyte

Age: 15
School: Nation Ford High School
Hobbies: Lacrosse, Cross Country, Whitewater kayaking and rafting, almost any water sport, downhill skiing, Advance
Most Excited About: I get to go to another country and help people in need and spread God's Word.
Secret talent: I have super strength and laser vision. I can also read minds and the back of cereal boxes.
Favorite Bible Verse: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13


Nate Whyte

Age: 17
School: Nation Ford High School
Hobbies: Lacrosse, Cross country, Triathlons, Whitewater rafting, Wakeboarding, Waterskiing, Tubing, Snowboarding, Advance
Most Excited About: I get the chance to travel to another country in need, in order to share God's love and his mercy.
Secret Talent: I can rip the duck
Favorite Bible Verse: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19


Andrew Purvis

Age: 15
School: Charlotte Catholic High School
Hobbies: Cross Country, Indoor and outdoor track
Most Excited About: To have the opportunity to help people that are less fortunate than me.
Secret Talent: I'm good at fishing.
Favorite Bible Verse: "For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living." Romans 14:7-9


April Purvis

Age: 10th Grade
School: Charlotte Catholic High School
Hobbies: Tennis and guitar
Most Excited About: The chance to serve other completely out of my comfort zone and normal world.
Secret Talent: I'm double-jointed.
Favorite Bible Verse: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8


Mary Snover

Age: 17
School: Myers Park High School
Hobbies: Lacrosse, Dance
Most Excited About: I am mostly excited about meeting the people of Haiti and knowing God is a closer way through relationships.
Secret Talent: I know every word of "American Pie"
Favorite Bible Verse: "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39


Danielle Vayo

Age: 17
School: Weddington High School
Hobbies: German Club, International Club, Fishing Club, FFA, Lacrosse, babysitting
Most Excited About: Being able to build structures for people in Haiti and touch children's lives
Secret Talent: I can sound like a dolphin and a cat
Favorite Bible Verse: "'For I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11


Cassandra Tarr

Age: 14
School: Home-schooled
Hobbies: soccer and Bible study, volunteering at the Children's Attention Home, LittleKids at FHC
Most Excited About: Going to the orphanages and serving the children there
Secret talent: working with children
Favorite Bible Verse: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13


Brisa Sander

Age: 15 going to be 16 on the trip
School: Camder Academy
Hobbies: singing, guitar, and piano
Most Excited About: To spend time with the children in Haiti. I can't wait to build relationships with them!
Secret Talent: I can talk in a man voice.
Favorite Bible Verse: "Don't be dejected or sad for the joy of the Lord gives you strength."      Nehemiah 8:10


Kevin Gassaway

Age: 17

School: Charlotte Catholic, 11th grade

Activities: Skiing, soccer, basketball, and golf

Most Excited about: Having the opportunity to serve others.
Secret Talent: I can fly.

Favorite Bible Verse: "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do note consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14

Michael Freije

Age: 10th Grade
School: South Meck High School
Activities: Tennis
Most Excited About: To serve the Lord, to see all of the children, and fulfill my duty.
Secret Talent: I can make Kraft mac n' cheese with my eyes closed, yes three cheese, extra cheesy, shells, whatever kind you want, even original
Favorite Bible Verse: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9


Liz High

Age: 17
School: Ardrey Kell High School
Activities: soccer and being with friends
Most Excited About: working with kids
Secret Talent: I can juggle a soccer ball 376 times without dropping it
Favorite Bible Verse: "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." John 4:23


Steven Kasay

Age: 11th grade
School: Charlotte Latin
Acitivities: Mountain biking, skiing, hunting, and fishing. Exploring new places and new activities.
Most Excited About: Being able to serve the Haitian people. I feel that I have a calling to missions and hope this trip is the second of many to come.
Secret Talent: I can throw trees off the top of mountains and I know how to ninja fight yellow miniature neon glowing dwarves.
Favorite Bible Verse: "Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress." Psalm 71:3


Chandler Hillman

Age: 15
School: Myers Park High School
Hobbies: Drawing, acting, singing, Kiva Club
Most Excited about: Serving and getting to know the people of Haiti
Secret Talent: Singing
Favorite Bible Verse: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Meet your leaders:

Matt Barcalow

Occupation: Student Pastor>>Advance Ballantyne

Hobbies: spending time with family, spending time with students, football, taking naps

Most Excited About: Watching God work in the hearts and minds of students

Secret Talent: I can push my stomach out like a pregnant woman.

Favorite Bible Verse: "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace." Acts 20:24

Bethany Kortekaas

                                            

Occupation: Advance Administrator >> South Park

Activities: rock climbing, reading, exploring Charlotte

Most Excited about: watching students transform throughout the week

Secret Talent: I can install hard wood floors

Favorite Bible Verse: "'For I know the plans I have you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

Ryan Carson

Occupation: Advance Student Pastor >> South Park

Activities: Bethany and Anna Grace, basketball and fishing, corn hole

Most Excited About: seeing students grow in their faith with Jesus through serving and seeing Atian, one of our interpretors from the Spring trip

Secret Talent: at random times I turn into a horsie for Anna Grace to ride

Favorite Bible Verse: "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace." Acts 20:24

Todd Lesher

Occupation: Student Pastor>>Advance Rock Hill/Fort Mill

Hobbies: Basketball, reading, writing, training my sons to be brave warriors, and casually cycling with my wife.

Most Excited About: To see what God has in store for students.

Secret Talent: I can blow bubbles off my tongue and I know the secret to cleaning gutters.

Favorite Bible Verse: "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:3-7

Loren Burris

Occupation: Volunteer Coordinator>>Advance Ballantyne

Hobbies: hiking, reading, blogging, gardening, going on missions trips, and being with my family

Most Excited About: Being reunited with my Haitian friends - Daniel, Popitas, Atien, and Kadesh. Also, watching students lives be transformed.

Secret Talent: I am extremely accurate at throwing a football.

Favorite Bible Verse: "When Jesus said, 'I am he,' they drew back and fell to the ground." John 18:6

Almost Ready!

April 28th is almost here! Our team of 12 will be leaving for Haiti this Saturday!

In the week leading up to a trip like this, you can imagine our team is full of anticipation. There are the "To Dos" we each have to cram into 4 short days; packing, immunizations, and loose ends at work. There are the nerves about flying to a country that some of us have never been to: lost luggage, language barriers, and foreign customs. But these don't come close the anticipation we have for what God has waiting for us in Haiti. We are praying and know God will use this experience to make an impactful difference in our lives and in our relationship with Him. God is capable of teaching, showing, and blessing us in ways we cannot imagine as we run around and prepare in Charlotte this week.

Mission of Hope (MOH) is doing amazing things in Haiti. Through the church, school, orphanages, hospital, and nutrition programs, MOH cares and provides for adults, childrens, and orphans. As an organization following Jesus Christ, MOH exists to bring life transformation to every man, woman, and child in Haiti. That is the vision and MOH is leaving a very distinct footprint on the country of Haiti. The impact this organization is having, and will continue to have, will change the country. Through MOH, God is nuturing the future spiritual, political, and social leaders of Haiti!

What MOH is doing for the country of Haiti is a big deal and we get to have small part in it! It is an opportunity and experience that we are very blessed to have and humbled to be a part of.

We expect to experience humility in a country in such dire need as Haiti. Most of us probably did not expect to be absolutely blessed and humbled by the generousity, prayers, and support of our family, friends, and co workers. Your involvement has truly encouraged us and God has used every token to prepare and fuel our hearts. Thank you! God has His hand on this trip and has given us each a gift and purpose. Every prayer you pray and dollar you give has the same deliberate purpose.

Deanna

Everyone is healthy and well.

We have seen so many incredible things this week.  Our rooms are nestled around the baby room of the orphanage. We have loved giving cuddles and kisses to the babies and toddlers.

We had work days on Monday and Wednesday. We painted houses and mixed cement by hauling water and rocks.

Tuesday we had a ministry day. We walk around the villages of Titanyen and Simonette to share the gospel and pray for people. It was one of the most special parts of the trip as students boldly and eagerly shared their faith and prayed faithfully.

Tuesday night we joined the Mission of Hope church for worship. It was beautiful as we worshiped in English and Creole together. What a wonderful picture of heaven! It ended in a dance party, shouting praises and congo lining through the sanctuary.

Today, Thursday, is our last ministry day. We will be serving in Mesaya in the morning and Leveque in the afternoon. 

There has been tremendous transformation going on in the nation of Haiti, these 19 students, and the 5 of us leaders. It has been a moving, inspirational, heart-breaking, heart-changing trip. 

Here's a photo of our team in Simonette on Tuesday.

We can’t wait to share more with you when we get back. See you on Saturday!

Hello Parents!

This is another update unfortunately again from Charlotte about the Advance Team in Haiti. As you guessed it the internet is still down (can you even imagine what we'd do in Charlotte if it were down for even one full day?!).

We have spoken with the Mission of Hope team and Matt Barcalow who say "the trip is awesome and everyone is doing wonderful."

For the rest of the week I suppose we'll have to go by the phrase "No news is good news."

We're excited to hear about what God is doing when they return (or hopefully sooner if the internet situation is resolved).

Blessings!

The Advance Team

Hey Parents & Friends!

This post is coming from Charlotte to let everyone know that the Advance Haiti team is doing great!

The team arrived in Haiti on schedule, but due to some weather the internet has been down for all of the Mission of Hope staff and visitors since they arrived. As a result they have not been able to provide any updates.

Sorry for the later notice (as we hadn't heard from them until this morning), but know everyone is doing well and they are already out in a village working.

Please be praying with us that God works in mighty ways in the hearts of students and Haitians!

Blessings
The Advance Team (in Charlotte)