Read about the power of connection and shared joy from members of the Haven Christian Reformed Church IMPACT Team! Hear how they spent the day delivering phonics materials to a primary school and helping build a home for Hank. It’s a powerful reminder that our work is about people, hope, and how small acts of generosity can create contagious moments of delight.
We woke up to a beautiful sunrise after a cool and cloudy start to our trip. With our big group, we were able to split into 5 groups for various projects. Today was a powerful reminder that our work is never just about tasks. It’s about people, connection, and sharing joy. Each moment carried an impact that reached beyond what we could physically see.
Heidi’s visit to the local primary school was filled with pure excitement and hope. There is a high need for reading support for kids who were unable to attend school for a couple of years after the devastation of Dorian, and Covid followed shortly after. Despite their hardships, their joy and excitement can be seen at school. Heidi barely stepped one foot out of the classroom for recess before she was quickly tagged and proclaimed “it”.
Delivering the phonics material to the school, made possible through the generosity of our church, sparked immediate joy in the classroom. The children’s eagerness and delight, begging to use the material right away, was contagious. Their enthusiasm reminded us how small acts of generosity can create big moments of joy.
Erin and Bethany spent the day at Hank’s house with a large crew. They caulked and painted Hardie board siding, while others built the front steps to Hank’s house. The cool weather and strong wind, combined with tall ladders, made for some precarious moments, but it did not hinder the real joy that came from connecting with each other and Hank.
Lots of joyful conversation and beautiful blue paint appeared on each side of the house. Throughout the day, the team was able to learn parts of Hank’s story. Despite Hank’s long hardship of being without a home for six years, his encouragement and gratitude reminded the team that dignity, presence, and shared effort matter just as much as the progress made by the group.
Throughout the day, the size of our group could have been a challenge, but we found joy not only in completing our tasks but in supporting one another and serving together. We all loved being able to connect on a deeper level with our church family while serving in the community of Abaco.
— Bethany, Heidi, and Erin
