- April 18, 2024
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Rick and Emily Hilliard and Kai Ponder at the Hilliard's home. Courtesy photo
The Salty Church youth group in Haiti. Courtesy photo
Students help to feed children in Haiti. Courtesy photo
Tyler Dalecki takes a selfie with a young girl. Courtesy photo
Volunteers helped residents pour a concrete slab. Courtesy photo
The Salty Church youth group in Haiti. Courtesy photo
Rick Hilliard swats at a mosquito as he sits with his wife Emily in their home in Ormond-by-the-Sea. Next to them on the couch is Kai Ponder, a 17-year-old senior at Seabreeze High School and a member of the youth group at Salty Church.
The mosquito is a nuisance, nothing more. The Hilliards have the front door open so they can keep an eye on their dog Frankie, who is sound asleep just outside. The three had just returned from a mission trip to Haiti less than 48 hours before. Mosquitoes there are a bigger problem – the Hilliards’ chose to have their door open, some of the people they helped on their trip didn’t have a door to close.
The three were part of the Salty Church Youth Ministry, 12- 17 year olds who took the eight day trip the first week of June. The church typically sends a team on an annual missionary trip to Haiti.
When asked what surprised him the most, Kai said the Haitian’s attitude.
“They were happy we were there and they work so well together,” Kai said. “They have fun and work doesn’t stop them from laughing and making the best of the situation.”
An earthquake devastated Haiti in 2010, but according to Emily Hilliard who has made multiple trips to the island, things were improving. Then Hurricane Matthew came through and flooded the island resulting in the loss of crops, crops the Haitians rely upon not only for livelihood but also for their own nourishment.
On this trip the team worked on laying a concrete slab so a family wouldn’t have to sleep in the dirt anymore. The volunteers hauled supplies and mixed the concrete while the Hatian workers laid the actual floor.
Kai spent part of his time helping unpack boxes of food. There was a language barrier but that didn’t slow down the process.
Emily Hilliard smiled as she talked about the students going to a hospital where 150 malnourished babies simply needed to be held.
“There were eight nurses in charge of their medical needs but there wasn’t’ enough time to hold all of them,” she said. “It was great to see the students, especially the boys, holding these little babies.”
At the orphanage, run by the Lininhoker family of Ormond Beach, the students got to spend some of their time just playing with the children and taking them out.
“We even had some of the children from the town come along,” Kai said.
Rick Hilliard said the best way to help is to join a mission group through a church.
“I hear people say they are afraid to go and I tell them don’t be afraid,” he said. “The people are very appreciative and welcoming.”
