The A Team

What a team you were.
I mean it. I was so blessed by the trip and the opportunities we had to care for the hurting, helpless and hopeless. However, I was more blessed just watching all of you respond the way you did to what the Manaserro's needed...what Whitney needed...it was a true encouragement to me. Roger...I could not have imagined the trip without you. I am so glad you stepped beyond what others thought and their plans and jumped in.  Awesome! Kelly...the man of perpetual motion. What a servant you were. Be blessed. 
Dr. Doug...you are a tribute to the medical profession. It is PI's honour to have you part of the team.
Val...you can be a late addition to my team anytime. It was a joy to watch you care. Kari...once you are out of bed you are amazing! Lol! Seriously, you are an example of what it means to take your passion and gifts and use them to bless other people. Ron...my dream is to have enough resources so you could travel on all PI trips and do for me and for everyone what you did on this trip. There is none better. Besides Jesus...no one could find a better friend than you. Fin...your heart for the hurting, helpless and hoepless is worn on your
sleeve....mixed with your energy and drive...lethal. In a good way. You inspire me to push harder.
Charles and Connie....supporters of PI from the beginning, you embody what servants are...and are a credit to "the way". You are welcome on any PI team. Marshakka...you are the salt of the earth and it has nothing to do with where you are employed. Stay tender and teachable...the sky is the limit.
Merve...you crack me up! I will never forget you telling Patrick to tell me sooner when to turn. Your heart to serve was awesome. Scott...get ready as you are heading back in September. It is always a joy to have my boys travel with me. You guys truly are the pride and joy of your mother and I. Greg...your first trip....awesome. The first of many I hope. You have so much to give...do not give sparingly...give hilariously! There is so much power and grace in you...give it away!


Stay tuned to www.iam1ru.com over the next few days as we will be posting the upcoming trips for PI in late 2010 and 2011.  On the docket....Haiti in December....Guatemala in March....Mexico in May.....Ukraine in July and Kyrgyzstan in September.  All the details will be over on the iam1ru site.

Final Days in Haiti

It was not far from this collapsed home that we spent about 90 minutes this morning.  We had the opportunity to visit a "ravine" where there was a smaller tent city.  We connected with a local minister that has set up a "church" in a tent.  Marcel had arranged to bring rice and beans and the Goderich connection also brought toys with them as well as buying some candy in a local market here.  We had a blast!  Over the next few weeks I will post some video footage and more pics on the iam1ru website.

Peter Findlay with a pile of toys that he and Marcel brought from Goderich

A special thanks to all the "everyday philanthropists" in that area.

The Church Service in the Ravine.  They were singing up a storm.

Val Hazzard from Windsor helping the girls with their crafts at the Feeding Program.

Phil with a young lad that was PUMPED about his new shoes.  Thank you so much to every person that gave to PI's M.A.D. (making a difference) fund!  From Edmonton to Petrolia to Goderich...you helped us bless so many!  That is what I am talking about!

Were the crafts a hit?  Oh yeah baby!  Connie Evans....thanks so much for all your work.

Kari Loscher singing in the "tent church".  That my friends was something else.  I hope to have Kari on many trips with PI in the future.

I have so many pics....so many videos....so many stories.  I have never been at the place where my body was so close to over-heating.  It was a "sweatfest"...but was totally cool!  Be sure to visit www.iam1ru.com over the next few weeks for pics and stories and the posting of the late 2010 and 2011 trips!

"Our" world trumps "my" world!

For me it is not about making a short term splash.  To be able to say "look at what we did" does not interest me.  It is about treating every child like they could be the next great leader of their country.  It is about doing the "ordinary" and leaving the extraordinary to One who does it way better than I ever could even dream or imagine.  That is what "raising the rubble" is all about.  As I sit here typing this update Charles Evans and Roger Pilon are over painting the boys home...Dr. Doug May is teaching Math at the school...Greg Welten is sitting in at the Computer Lab at the school....Marcel McIntrye, Peter Findlay, Kelly Deschamps and Merve Morris are assembling storage units (while singing to 80's rock).  Kari Loscher is getting ready to hold an impromptu concert for those that will be waiting in line at the medical clinic this afternoon.  This has been a trip where change is happening constantly.  These team members adapt as well as any team I have led.  I am honored to be their leader.

What a great day...

Phil here...
We are having a blast....in the blast furnace! The jungle was a hot place
but I must admit Haiti is hotter. However in the midst of this heat this
team is impacting the hurting, helpless and hopeless in incredible ways. It
was bananas today to watch the young boys get their new shoes. Pete and
Marcel had to jump in for the picture. As you can see they sort of blocked
me out....lol. I was also part of the feeding program today and that was
crazy. It was raining and Ron and the Freakshow decided to get out their
special Canadian umbrellas. The children had a good laugh. It was cool to
watch the team serve the children that came in off the street. Tons of
stuff...good stuff...taking place today. Pete, Ron and Greg were busy
painting the boys home...and got a little sun. Sorry about the pic with no
shirts...:).

Sam Welten
Executive Director (aka....The Freakshow!)
Possibilities International
Everyone can be a philanthropist!

www.possibilitiesinternational.com
www.iam1ru.com

What a glorious day...

What a team we have here. At the ready to do anything...anywhere...anytime.
I watched people shift gears today...take others places as those who were
sick recovered. Call me crazy but I have a dream to assemble a nation of
people that are ready to go...give...get involved. Things just get crazier
around here....and hotter. However....we are having a great time.
Stay posted ...tomorrow is another day.

Sam Welten
Executive Director (aka....The Freakshow!)
Possibilities International
Everyone can be a philanthropist!

www.possibilitiesinternational.com
www.iam1ru.com

Feeding Program & New Shoes

Yesterday the new shoes we brought began making their way to the children.
What a thrill to see the excitement on the faces of the children as they got
to try on the shoes and pick the ones they wanted. We also got to
participate in the feeding program where 75-100 kids from the street are
offered a program of singing, crafts, games, life lesson and food. This is
done Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The team came prepared to handle all
aspects of the program except the food. It was a crazy ending to the
feeding program as it began to pour rain...I mean pour. I have no pics as
my camera headed for cover. Let's just say it got crazy as huge water fight
began. Dana & Whitney have declared war on the Freakshow! I have warned
them...if you want to tangle with me....bring your "A" game.
Once again a wild THANK YOU to all that donated resources for us to be able
to come and bless these wonderful people.

Sam Welten
Executive Director (aka....The Freakshow!)
Possibilities International
Everyone can be a philanthropist!

www.possibilitiesinternational.com
www.iam1ru.com