We have been having groups come into Haiti every month and we ask those groups to fill out a de-briefing form at the close of their missions trip. We let those who come know, that they do not have to put there name on the paper yet these friends of ours (who we made in Haiti) chose to sign there de-briefing forms. Our prayer is that this will be a guide for Pastors and lay leaders who desire to dig deeper and see what goes on in the hearts of those who come. I was asked by the Wilmington News Journal in June how Haiti affects these groups and if the groups are really helping. I believe these de-briefings can shed some light on those questions from a different view point. Regina and I have learned a lot both in Haiti and in the D.R. from this evaluation process (See March 2008) and in several cases have implemented long term changes to our short term group strategy.
The following 3 de-briefings come from 3 different groups who visited Haiti over a course of three months. Steve Drake is a career police officer and a member of the S.W.A.T. team in his county. Keith Bengston is a Park Ranger and Rene Saltana P.H.D. is a professor at Texas Tech University. 3 men, 3 groups, 3 different walks of life. All were a blessing and love the Lord.
One thing debriefing triggers is the reentry process. Reentry is both an end and a beginning.
• an end to a foreign experience, but the beginning of feeling foreign
• an end of a trip, but the beginning of another journey
• an end to being/feeling special, but the beginning of being ordinary with a special heart for God and for the people of Haiti
• an end to being stared at, but the beginning of looking at people and the world through different eyes
• an end to simple living, but the beginning of a different lifestyle
• an end to crowded housing, but the beginning of having more space for God and for people
• an end to eating foreign food, but the beginning of friendships with International students, immigrants, refugee’s and ethnic minorities
Steve Drake - Police Officer / S.W.A.T - Heritage Baptist Church - Lebanon, Ohio - Pastor Steve Craft
EXERCISE 1 FOR SHORT TERMERS
Complete the following sentences.
LEAVING
1. When I think of leaving, I feel . . . Sad, for leaving friends behind.
2. My experience here has been . . . life changing, I will cherish this trip forever.
3. For me Haiti means . . . a beginning for me to help the country
4. The people I will miss are . . . Tom, Jean, Luis and George
5. The things that I will miss are . . . spending time and talking to Tom
6. The things I will be happy to leave behind are . . . N/A.
7. When leaving a place I usually . . . N/A
8. The easiest point of leaving for me will be . . . Getting to see my family
9. Before I leave I really want to . . .N/A.
10. I feel that my goals/expectations have been . . . fully met. God has worked in my heart.
11. The most stressful part of leaving will be . . . knowing my brothers and sisters are suffering.
Note from Tom: This group came through the Dominican Republic These last four questions under leaving were not on the evaluation form at the time this group came to Haiti.
12. A few things I would suggest to the missionaries . . .
13. A few things I would suggest to the national team at the base . . .
14. The base needs . . .
15. One thing I wish we could have done was . . .
EXPECTATIONS
1. I think the return home will be . . . Bittersweet. I want to go home, but I will miss my new friends.
2. I expect the reception from my family will be . . Great Joy
3. I anticipate my church to be . . .waiting for a full report.
4. I picture my friends to be . . . very interested in the trip.
5. I expect my family to be . . . start praying and support Haiti.
6. I hope my church will . . . catch a vision to help rebuild Destini’s church.
7. I think my friends will be . . . N/A.
8. I am looking forward to . . . spending time with my family
RETURNING
1. When I think of returning to the United States, I feel . . . very excited.
2. I will be going back to . . . work and catching up with my family.
3. Going back will enable me to . . . share the needs of Haiti with others.
4. Regarding money, I will . . . increase my missions contribution
5. I think the hardest part of going back for me will be . . . getting back in the routine when I know of the suffering going on in Haiti.
6. I think the easiest part of going back will be . . .
7. I cannot wait to. . . see my wife.
Keith Bengston - Park Ranger - Hillsboro Bible Baptist Church - Hillsoboro, Ohio - Pastor Dan Lamb
EXERCISE 1 FOR SHORT TERMERS
Complete the following sentences.
LEAVING
1. When I think of leaving, I feel . . . Sad, but know that #1 we tried to make a difference the short time we were here #2 that it went too fast.
2. My experience here has been . . . Unbelievable. It has truly been a blessing. I felt the presence of God in a powerful way. I have not felt this moved since our church’s Canada fishing trip with my son in 2000.
3. For me Haiti means . . . an industrious, faithful, happy family of people amidst devastation on an apocalyptic level. It is not what the news portrays it to be. It was not what I had in my mind. It was better and not scary.
4. The people I will miss are . . . Tom and Regina, Pastor Destini and his wife Carmen, Luis and the other staff, George, Pastor Jean Dial and the ladies
5. The things that I will miss are . . . Regina and Yolanda’s food. New Friends and Fellowship. Laughing with Luis and yet - not understanding him.
6. The things I will be happy to leave behind are . . . heat. Although I was getting used to it.
7. When leaving a place I usually . . .
8. The easiest point of leaving for me will be . . . knowing I will see my family to share this great trip.
9. Before I leave I really want to . . . thank everyone for such a great time.
10. I feel that my goals/expectations have been . . . met beyond all doubts, fears and trepidations I had. I let the world tell me through research what Haiti was about. I let my mind out think my heart before coming.
11. The most stressful part of leaving will be . . . Customs and Frontier
Note from Tom: This group came through the Dominican Republic These last four questions under Leaving were at the time of this evaluation under Reflections.
12. A few things I would suggest to the missionaries . . .
13. A few things I would suggest to the national team at the base . . .
14. The base needs . . .
15. One thing I wish we could have done was . . .
EXPECTATIONS
1. I think the return home will be . . . Long and thoughtful. I pray the Lord works with me about missions.
2. I expect the reception from my family will be . . excited and eager to learn
3. I anticipate my church to be . . .very excited and yearning to know about our adventure
4. I picture my friends to be . . . eager to hear
5. I expect my family to be . . . excited and happy to see us
6. I hope my church will be . . . excited to hear of the trip
7. I think my friends will be . . . happy for me and my trip
8. I am looking forward to . . . Air Conditioning. My wife and kids. Getting ready to move our house. Hearing from God.
RETURNING
1. When I think of returning to the United States, I feel . . . Sad, I left the missions field in Haiti. I want to pray harder.
2. I will be going back to . . . business of life
3. Going back will enable me to . . . share my experience
4. Regarding money, I will be . . . more thoughtful towards missions
5. I think the hardest part of going back for me will be . . . rememberin it all and wanting to do it again soon.
6. I think the easiest part of going back will be . . . seeing my family
7. I cannot wait to talk to Pastor Lamb to share the experience. . . of our trip and give him a concrete piece of Pastor Destini’s church - representing the destruction. Then a brand new Ondura nail - representing rebuilding, our project and His promise.
REFLECTIONS
1. One thing the base needs is . . . Can’t think of anything
2. The best thing at the base was . . . Happy Children, Fellowship with the Staff, Church member, The Team. Services. Tours
3. The food was . . . Great very filling
4. I learned from the missionaries . . . the importance of empowering the local people to grow.
5. I learned from the nationals in Tom and Regina’s team . . . Teamwork & God goes a long way
6. Three things I suggest . . . Zero
7. The Project was . . . completed and very interestingly: Powered by God and Built with Love
Rene Saltana P.H.D. - Professor Texas Tech University - Lubbock Baptist Temple - Pastor Wes Bygel
EXERCISE 1 FOR SHORT TERMERS
Complete the following sentences.
LEAVING
1. When I think of leaving, I feel . . . both happy and sad. Happy that I will be with my family again, but sad at leaving new friends and so much work yet to be done.
2. My experience here has been . . . all positive. I was leary at first because the country is so foreign to me, but the family at the base certainly alleviated those fears from moment one in country.
3. For me Haiti means . . . a very real place filled with so many souls in need. It means Pastor and Madame Destini working to win as many of them to Christ.
4. The people I will miss are . . . Luis, George, The Franklin boys, The Franklin’s period. Jackson.
5. The things that I will miss are . . . the fellowship with the men on the work site, the seeing of the work being / getting done.
6. The things I will be happy to leave behind are . . . the heat and the smells of burning trash.
7. When leaving a place I usually . . . pack up and go. The leaving is bitter sweet.
8. The easiest point of leaving for me will be . . . the airport. I could try swimming but I’d get tired fast. No, really the easiest point is hard to pin-point.
Note: This group came through the Port-au-Prince Airport
9. Before I leave I really want to . . . take in the sites, sounds and smells on the way to the airport. To have a very clear memories of the people / souls.
10. I feel that my goals/expectations have been . . . met. We wanted to come be of service in any way and I feel we did. The work on the site was always in flux, but it came together.
11. The most stressful part of leaving will be . . . getting to the airport: on the plane, ticketed; loaded.
12. A few things I would suggest to the missionaries . . . I really can’t think of anything. It was great to meet all the kids; Regina though that is not do able for every team.
13. A few things I would suggest to the national team at the base . . . nothing - they ran the show like Pro’s. I wish for my part, to have been able to serve them more, but they were ever the servants themselves.
14. The base needs . . . NO hot water.
Note: This is a joke - we had asked this group if this was important due to a suggestion from a previous visitor.
15. One thing I wish we could have done was . . . gone out to pass out tracts and or invite folks to Pastor Destini’s church.
EXPECTATIONS
1. I think the return home will be . . . a joyful one. I can’t wait to see my wife and sons and begin to tell them all that that I saw and heard of Haiti, the Base family, and what we did.
2. I expect the reception from my family will be . . happy
3. I anticipate my church to be . . . glad at having the Pastor back
4. I picture my friends to be . . . eager to hear of what all happened during there stay.
5. I expect my family to be. . . happy, warm and cozy.
6. I hope my church will be. . . glad at our return and become even more missions minded than we are.
7. I think my friends will be . . . excited to hear my recountings.
8. I am looking forward to . . . holding my wife and sons first thing and for a long time. Setting the thermostat at 68 degree’s ha ha ha!!!
RETURNING
1. When I think of returning to the United States, I feel . . . good. I’ve tried to do a good thing here, and I think I have.
2. I will be going back to . . .family.
3. Going back will enable me to . . . remind myself that any and all support of missionaries is key.
4. Regarding money, I will be . . . more willing to give back to God.
5. I think the hardest part of going back for me will be . . . leaving friends behind. But the work continues. Here and there.
6. I think the easiest part of going back will be . . . that my wife; boys are waiting on the other end and at the flight.
7. I cannot wait to . . . sleep in my own bed tonight, hearing the most familiar sounds, knowing we are all tucked in and together.
