Our last night here

I can't believe we are leaving tomorrow. There is too much to tell and writing a blog has been tricky.

I really have loved it here and will be sad to leave.

God's plan

It quite overwhelming to be here and I so appreciate your prayers. They are working to get me through this, and find God here. Hearing Michael Geilenfeld and Bill Nathan stories have been important in many ways, not the least of which is how God is at work, and the tremendous presence and grace. Michael came here with $1000, and lead the creation of 3 homes for kids. His graduates are now running these homes---and I can tell you first hand it feels like family here! Bill, now director at St. Joe's and world class drummer, among many other things, was a "restavec"--- a child slave, before he was brought here at age 8.

The people here are so pleasant, creative, hard-working (although not jobs enough).

While God is hard at work, He is showing us that He needs us to live out Jesus' resurrection with these folks. Resurrection from the rubble, bad leadership, it goes on....

Even though we have done and seen so much and it feels like we've been here months, and I miss my family dearly, I don't really want to leave in 2 days!

Buckets and rubble

Yay! Today we got to work alongside the construction workers who are building the new St. Joseph's house (right next door to the temporary house where we are staying). The 9 of us moved rubble with buckets as they were pulled up from the bottom of the new house--- handoff style. Everyone survived working in the heat.

The construction workers here work in flip flops, and tattered shoes. We did bring along a bunch of donated work boots thank goodness. There is no OSHA, or labor unions, etc. people are just happy to have a job. With 80% unemployment, there are streets after streets of people who are ready to work but have no employment. Many people claim spots and sell their goods, fruit, barbecue chicken, etc.

Wings of Hope

Today we drove to Wings of Hope in Fermathe. This particular home house the kids that are severely disabled, as the hospitals here aren't equipped to deal with them. Also, there is a great stigma in Haitian culture for kids that are born "different" and people just don't anything to do with them. They don't know what there missing! These kids are so great--they are all so different in personality. We got to meet them, sit in on lesson time, do some laundry, and take a group of them out for lunch at the Baptist mission. The highlight here was ice cream.

Done of the kids cannot walk or feed themselves, but they have the biggest smiles and you can see God in all their faces. One of the girls spoke English. She's been there since she was an infant.

After spending much the day there, we visited a very unique farm called the Wynne farm. Not too far from Winfs, up in the mountains. Some money saint mark sent last year was recently used to build a composting toilet---very cool! They teach kids about reuse and recycling. The farm has 10 types of bamboo, among other wonderful plants and trees. Such an oasis in the midst of chaos.

Really, there is still rubble everywhere as well as tent cities. Everyone seems to hang out on the street , trying to sell their meager wares.

We have landed

Yesterday was a long one. The flights were fine though, fromdc to Miami I was more nervous. But much better Miami to port-Au-prince. The airport here has undergone a lot of renovation since the earthquake, so wasn't as chaotic as normal. But chaos was there. Luckily,by the time we found all our luggage and got through customs, a familiar face was there to meet us--Walnes from st joeseph's home. I'd met him when the Ressurection Dance Troup came to saint mark last year. He got us all out, had a bus and driver ready, and the ride from the airport to the house began. What a ride! It was dark, but the city is quite alive at night. Lots of sights and smells and sounds--too many to write about. The roads are in poor shape, so bumpy as you can imagine. Our driver knew what he was doing!

We were greeted at the home with cold cups of fresh water and hugs by the current residents. And an amazing dinner. Then, lots of conversation with Michael Gelenfeld, the founder, Bill Nathan, who grew up here and is now the director and world class drummer, and Walnes, who also grew up here and is now the assistant director and resident artist.

BiZbig day ahead today, must go eat breakfast.

Leaving tomorrow

One of the hardest things is to leave one's family, esp. younger kids, and leave the country. Although, Haiti is not very far away re: distance, at least. But it's good for them to know they are capable of doing things without me sometimes! Even for 1 week.

Well, I and 8 others leave in the morning......ready or not......My first challenge is dealing with not 1, but 2 plane rides tomorrow (I have a fear of flying, you see...)

1 1/2 days until liftoff

I am testing out my blogging abilities here.
All the donation suitcases are packed and ready at church.
Now to finish my carry-on. I wonder what I'll forget?