Tropical Storm Isaac

SNOW DAY! That is exactly what Isaac felt like...get the day off and can't really do much of anything! Sleeping through the night on Friday was pretty rough...loud, windy, and LOTS of rain. There was a little bit of water on my floor when I woke up, but thankfully, other than that there was no damage done to the Guest House area.

Unfortunately, this "Snow Day" for many, is not nearly as fun as you would think. I can't even begin to imagine what it must have felt like to people who live in the tents and tin shacks in Canaan. It was loud and scary here in a very strongly built wooden bunk house...what would it feel like to be in a tent? Possibly sleeping on the floor? Was it wet? Did the 'houses' move or blow over? I guess I will never know...but my heart and thoughts did go out to them all weekend.

Thankfully, when Jeff, Drew, and Ben headed to Canaan earlier in the week there seemed to be minimal damage, and to their knowledge everyone was safe!

This video was created by Jen and Ben shortly after Tropical Storm Isaac came through Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I'm just posting this now because we did not have internet access until today. Thank you for all the emails, thoughts, and prayers as I weathered my first Tropical Storm in Haiti!

Ouch!

This is what happens when you spend the day at the Girls' Home. Ouch...I am currently in so much pain!

Heartbreak

To me, most people would think of heart break in Haiti for the multitudes of children who are roaming around hungry, or the children in orphanages without parents, or the mothers who live in an 8 x 10 ft tent with 4 children.

But recently, my heart has not been breaking for them as much. My heart has been breaking for the men of Haiti, specifically, the men of Canaan.

Today, I was out in Canaan doing some more finishing work on the medical center.

Drilling, hammering, screwing.

As I began working, one man showed up, then two, then four, then eight. After about an hour of these men literally standing over my shoulder and watching me work, Jeff asked Jacque (one of our Haitian employees) to tell the men they must go. There is no work for them.

Unfortunately, this isn't something that just happened today. It is an everyday occurrence...men standing around, eager to help, waiting for work.

And turning them away isn't something that just happened today either. It HAS to happen every day. We can't possibly hire every Haitian man that comes along. And even if we could hire more than the 4-5 Haitian men we already employ, who do you hire? Where do you draw the line? Who gets the job and who doesn't?

I realize the necessity in this. The need to be patient to produce a long-lasting, sustainable community. The need to follow procedures and have Pastor Nathan do the hiring since he knows these men, he knows the culture. It keeps things running safe, effective, and in line with our mission.

But it's sure not easy.

Not easy to see the pain in a mans eyes because he can't get work to provide for his family. Not easy to smile and say hello, but tell them "no" as they go to pick up a hammer to help me with my project. Not easy to wonder what is going through their head as they stand and watch me do something they probably could do just as well. Not easy to see the desperation...that these men would do anything, even show up every day over-and-over knowing the answer of work is "No" but still holding out hope. My heart breaks for him. For them.

But I continue...drilling...hammering...screwing.

And with each movement, I gain intensity, filling up hope inside of me that if somehow we can get this done faster, more jobs will be created. A medical center with opportunity for work. And eventually a training center for men to learn construction skills, business skills, and basic building skills (furniture, carpentry, etc). Maybe the harder I work, the closer we get to those days.

Drill. Hammer. Screw.

Break my heart for what breaks Yours.

Two Weeks in Pictures

The spider (aka - tarantula) I found on my 2nd night...2 feet outside my door as I woke up to go to the bathroom. The mosquito net WILL be staying securely tucked in over my bed!

Blocks of ice frequently seen sitting alongside the road. No refrigerators = selling pieces of ice on the side of the road.

The view, looking out, from the inside of my bedroom!

A little boy intently listening during a Kids Day activity. I loved his sweet little tucked in shirt and belt!

Me, holding a sleeping baby on my lap during Kids Day so his sister could enjoy the days activities.

Helping women from the church make lunch for the kids on Kids Day. "Red beans and rice did (not) miss her." - Sir Mix-a-Lot :)... sorry to those of you who will not understand that!

Computer class with the girls at Good Sam!

AwakenHaiti's portable pharmacy for the clinic. Once the new medical building is done we will no longer have to transport all the medicine to and from Canaan.

The Exam Room where Vanessa sees patients. Again, still temporary and portable...but not for long!

The Pharmacy table where I got to count pills and fill prescriptions.

The view outside the Pharmacy window...I watched children play most of the day out the window. Notice this baby boy...no clothes, 5 feet from the motorcycle, just walking along!

Naked baby now joined by his sister...still walking, and still naked! So cute!

August 2012 Team Trip

  

This week, I got to experience my first AwakenHaiti team trip. As an organization, the mission of AH is to break the cycle of poverty through providing aid to orphans and the poor of Haiti and to encourage spiritual transformation by bringing together diverse cultures. 

I got to witness that first hand this week. In the few short weeks I have been here, what I have really been learning is that coming in a DOING for the Haitians what they are capable of doing themselves is toxic. My service here, and AH's, is not to make ourselves feel good, or to give hand-outs, or to 'save' the Haitians. Our purpose here is to empower the Haitians... to provide opportunities to help create things that will last. And in doing so, to bring different cultures together...not as one culture being 'better' than the other or 'saving' the other, but coming together to learn from each other.

This weeks team, in a small way, helped to break the cycle of poverty in Haiti by physically helping to build a medical center...but that was not entirely the need or the intended purpose. The more I thought about it, the more I realized, God didn't NEED them to come here to build that center. He easily could have AH staff or Haitians build it. But, He WANTED them to build it. To work alongside Haitians, to meet and play with Haitian children, to see how blessed most Americans are to be able to go to the doctors whenever....to change their perspective, to change their HEARTS, to challenge them.

There was also 2 medical clinics in Canaan this week. As most of the team helped build, AH staff and a few team members held a clinic. Haitians get a ticket at church (or just show up) to come to clinic. After they get basic measurements (height, weight, temperature, bp) Vanessa, our nurse, sees them in the exam room. There, a translator works to help Vanessa and the patient communicate. Lots of questions are asked on both ends and a diagnosis is made. Most times, Vanessa was able to prescribe medicine we had (which, I got to fill the prescriptions!!). A few times, patients were directed to go to the hospital because their symptoms were outside of what we are capable of providing (and most times it seemed like those people couldn't afford to get to the hospital...talk about feeling heartbroken and helpless).

One of the coolest things I got to experience was hearing a babies heartbeat inside the mother's belly. She was 8 months pregnant and had not had an ultra-sound yet. This was her first child. It was so neat to be able to see her face as we listened to the babies heartbeat! Strong and steady.

Seeing the (almost) finalized medical center made me excited...excited to know that within my 2 years here, I will see Haitian doctors and nurses working there, I will see individuals getting medical treatment that didn't have the means or opportunity to before, and I will be a part of something so much more than just a building...a physical reminder of people coming together, hearts being changed, and lives being transformed.

Swimming Lessons

Today, we took the boys from the boys home swimming!!! What a blast!

The Denlinger's found a really nice hotel called the Caribbean Lodge and have been going there on Sunday's for the past few months to swim and have dinner. They have become friends with the owner and somehow they struck up a deal to let the kids from the girls and boys homes come to swim on Thursdays throughout the summer. The kids don't have school now, so it works out well.

It is basically a free-for-all, which is slightly crazy considering most of them have never even seen a pool before. Each group (girls and boys) has gone once before and I was warned that there really isn't much fear in the kids!! For that reason, we took as many AwakenHaiti staff as possible, even with only 7 boys to watch.

This is Loubenson (not sure about the spelling). He is one of the 3 year old twins, and as mentioned above, is quite fearless. Him and his brother would, at any moment, run and jump in the pool, with NO idea how to swim. It was so much fun watching and teaching them, yet a little nerve racking making sure they were being watched at all times.

I had just been holding him and trying to teach him to "Reach & Pull" when all of a sudden he just started repeating "Reach and Pull, Reach and Pull" having no idea what he was saying. It sounded  more like "Reshenpo", "Reshenpo" when he said it! Keep in mind he is 3 years old and knows NO english...I was pretty impressed with him. Sorry for the overly loud "kid voice"...we were all just excited! He is so funny...

We taught some of the older boys to bring their arms out of the water, do handstands, and under-water flips. I even tried to teach one boy how to flip off the side...he back smacked the water pretty hard so I think the pain scared him, oops!

Next week we take the 13 younger girls, and then the following is the 13 older girls. What an adventure!

Made it!

I've arrived safe and sound! Left my parents house at 4am...arrived at the AwakenHaiti house around 4pm. Long day, but pretty smooth...Here are just a few pictures of the day.

2 suitcases, a carry on, 1 book-bag, and a mosquito net

After getting stuck in traffic, the stress of making it to the gate on time, and sitting with the realization that this was it, I was going to Haiti...THIS is what kept me smiling! "SHANGHAI - PU DONG" The boarding gate right next to mine...Hilarious!

Views from my window seat as we landed in Port-au-Prince.

My new sleeping arrangement...complete with mosquito net!

The AH staff did an awesome job on the bunkhouse! I was able to get unpacked and settled in no time. So much more than what I was expecting!

My New Bedroom

The AwakenHaiti staff in Haiti has been working hard to get the new bunkhouse finished. Here is the completed look of my new room in the bunkhouse! So nice! The other side of the house will serve as a room for teams to stay in when they are down for trips.

Less than 36 hours until I am on the plane headed for my new home!

Goodbye air conditioning...Hello, heat!

The outside of the completed bunkhouse!

74% and Counting...

74%... the percentage of financial support I have raised for my entire 2 years!!!

In 6 months, I have been provided with 74% of what I will need to live in Haiti for 2 years! Can you believe that?? Before I began this journey, my biggest fear was having to raise support (obviously, some other fears have come along and kind of brushed that one to the side, ha!). Raising support for me meant giving up total control, letting go of the "I can work harder, and do it myself" mentality, and completely humbling myself to ask others for money! At times, it felt embarrassing and shameful!

But, that is what happens when you step 'out of the boat' and take a risk....it ALLOWS God to show up. Without having to raise support, I never would have learned that God can (and does!) provide, WITHOUT MY HELP! So often, I just work and get things done on MY strength, never allowing God the chance to show that He can provide; all because I don't want to sit with the uncomfortable feelings or have patience or rely on others. Yet, when we finally get to a point and have no choice but to give up, God does show up!

And not only does He show up, but He provides, and He provides in BIG ways. I mean, I thought I would have to live on a month to month basis, wondering if I would have enough money for that month. I thought it would take me until the end of my 2 years to get most of my support. Not so!

Obviously, I still have 25% left to raise, and that can make me a little nervous. But, then I must REMEMBER that God provides. In His timing, in His way, and more than I could ask or imagine!


So, THANK ALL OF YOU for your support. Whether it has been with finances, by praying for me, by emailing and calling, or by just reading my blog...THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart.