It's October already???

Well I have been meaning to do a blog update about life but things have been nonstop and I finally have time and thoughts so here goes my attempt...

I have officially been in Portland for 8 weeks. Since August 14th, life has been NONSTOP. Sometimes I feel like I tend to be a tad bit over-dramatic, but seriously, this time I am so serious! The first few days back were full of unpacking and catching up with friends from school. Then we had our All-Leadership Retreat, which was awesome! Then we came home and had a few days of training and prepping the halls for the arrival of our students! Then we had New Student Orientation weekend which I love because I love meeting new people but it gets a bit tiring after several days. Then we had a week of school. Then our All School Retreat at Washington Family Ranch in Antelope, OR where we rested, played hard and spent time in the sun, pool and with friends. Then we had our second week of classes and then my best friend got married in Medford, OR so I spent a long weekend doing that and all that weddings entail. I came home happy but exhausted. The 6 weeks had finally caught up with me. Just when I thought I was about to get a break, I was thrown into a few intense weeks of being an RA. Sometimes I have this feeling where I think to myself, 'right now, I would love to not be an RA so I could just shut the door.' But, in the end, I am so grateful for how I got to see God work in the situation both in this students life and in mine as well. He was and is always faithful! 

Through the midst of this, I kept saying, 'I just have to make it to Mid-Semester Break!' Well, God had other plans. October 4th I got sick. I was VERY sick. I had a fever of over 100 for 4 days. Had everything from vomiting to chills. From headaches to a runny nose and everything in between. I spent 4 LONG days in bed. Doing NOTHING. Trust me...I love being productive so I tried hard. I tried homework, reading, movies, music, facebook, knitting, journaling, writing notes and the list goes on and on and on. Nothing worked. Everything simply made my pain worse. So, I spent 4 days in silence. Laying still in my bed. I shuffled to the bathroom when needed but other than that, I didn't leave my bed. The first few days were very uncomfortable. I realized I don't like sitting in silence. I don't like the feeling of me doing nothing. I was getting restless but forced myself to stay put. God was giving me the rest I so desperately needed! 

The last few days of my bed rest I spent time reflecting. The movie reel in my head played movie after movie of memories of Haiti. Me with my babies. Hearing them giggle. Hearing them cry. Watching them play, walk, sing and clap. I saw my students. My flirtatious students...I remembered how embarrassed I was at first, and how I got over it. I remembered my lessons I was teaching. The way my students would sing, 'Oh Be Joyful' over and over again and their beautiful voices. I remembered walking the streets. Beginning to try out my Creole. I remembered the mixed feelings of coming home. Most of all, I remembered what God taught me in Haiti. 

I had the privilege of speaking in chapel on the 4th, the day I got sick. I can only thank God that I didn't get sick before this! I got to share stories of what God did in Haiti. The whole time I was preparing, I felt as if there was one message God was wanting me to share with the students...but I think He wanted me to remember that lesson myself more than the students.

I talked about what it looks like to depend on God. In the midst of Senior year it is so easy to think ahead to graduation. 7 months from today I will walk across the stage and my time at Multnomah will be finished. I have no idea what I am doing after this. Am I moving back to University Place? Maybe. Am I moving to Portland? Maybe. Am I moving somewhere else? Maybe. Will I go on to do more school? Maybe. Will I just get a job and work some? Maybe. There are so many unknowns and thoughts that I have flying through my head. This weekend of being sick, God wanted me to remember how I depended on Him in Haiti. How He put the desire in my heart. How He opened every door along the way. How He went before me, with me and behind me in Haiti. Why am I so quickly to doubt? The final lines I gave in my speech in chapel are still echoing through my head and it is giving me the hope I need to trust God.  

"Do WHAT God is calling you to do, today. Be WHO God is calling you to be, today. Just trust God with the rest...You never know the kind of adventure He is waiting to take you on." 

Adjusting to Home Life

It has officially been three weeks since I got home from Haiti. It is so hard to believe that just three weeks ago I was leaving a whole other country to come home to my family and America. So many emotions and so many thoughts and feelings are constantly swarming my mind...it is simply overwhelming. 

It has been nice to come home and see my family and hang out with them. And it has also been fun to see my friends again and spend time with them as well. But, everything is different. It doesn't feel the same. It is wonderful being home and I am loving it...but a part of me feels like a piece of my heart is still with my babies. I am so torn now...something I have never experienced before. Since Haiti, everything doesn't seem as important. All the things that used to stress me out don't even phase me. They just don't seem as important as loving on my babies in Haiti. It's almost as if a part of me is missing now. 

The one thing that is comforting to me right now is knowing that, for now, this is where God wants me to be. And for that, I am content. It is so refreshing knowing that God directs our paths and tells us exactly where He wants us to be. If it weren't for that, then I know I would be completely lost! 


There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of my little angels and wonder how they are doing. I am constantly seeing little things that bring me right back to my patio in Haiti. I would give anything to hold one of my babies again, and can only hope that I get to go back and do so again. 

I am excited to finally be able to share with my friends and family about my trip to Haiti. I will be showing pictures, a video and other small things that I brought back from Haiti. Consider this your invitation to come and hear about my adventures in Haiti. The missions night will be at my church at 6:30 this Sunday. The youth mission trip will share as well as one other...so it will be a night full of hearing what God is doing around the world through missions. 



Isaiah 6:8 "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? then said I, Here am I; send me."


Hope you enjoy these sneak peak pictures! 

6 Weeks Already?

I can't believe I am already writing this post. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was leaving and first beginning my adventure in Haiti. But, like all good things, things come to an end. My time in Haiti is now finished and I am so grateful for all that God taught me, for all the experiences I had, and for all the lives I touched during my six weeks. 


Friday was the longest and hardest day of the entire trip! I left the house in Port-au-Prince shortly after 7 am. We made it to the airport fairly quickly and it was finally happening. I made it through the airport and waited for an hour and a half before I finally boarded my plane. After filling out customs papers I sat back and couldn't believe I was gearing up for landing in the States. So many thoughts and emotions were flying through my head. We landed in Miami and was quickly shuffled to customs. I looked a bit suspicious because I was bringing back some coffee to sell for the missionaries in Haiti. Carrying on a brown package of 20 lbs of coffee raised a lot of questions for the customs employees, but I finally made it through almost 2 hours later. 


Once I got through customs, I made it back through security and the wait continued. I called my parents and Jori and then talked with Larisa as I waited for my flight to finally leave 4 hours later. My flight was about to board when the pilot was suddenly nervous about the heat of the engine. It was really hot and it was not cooling down. After mechanics came and worked on it, they decided that we needed a new plane. Finally an hour after our scheduled departure time we were boarding our plane. It was around this time that I was feeling a bit anxious because my layover in California was not a long one. We were supposed to land at 7:30 and depart at 8:20 for Seattle. I called mom and asked her to  pray with me that I could make it back, and God hear our prayers. We landed in California at 8:45. After quickly getting off and going through another set of security, I arrived at my next gate 5 minutes before boarding time. I was able to buy a bag of peanuts and a bottle of water for dinner and walked right onto my plane. Apparently there was bad weather in San Francisco Friday morning pushing ALL of their flights back for the date...a provision from the Lord! After a quick flight and nap, we landed in rainy Seattle and I was home. 


Now, just a long walk and a few minutes separated me and my family. I couldn't believe the moment was finally here. I walked through security and the hugs and kisses began! I was home! Paul and Karen even came to welcome me home, a wonderful surprise! :) 


The last 48 hours have been somewhat of a blur. It's good being home with my friends and family again but it doesn't feel real...at least not yet. I am anxious for the presentation I am giving at church. There are so many pictures and stories to tell that I can't say it all now and that is challenging but good. Thank you, friends and family, for praying so diligently for me during my time. I knew God was hearing your prayers and your support is unbelievable. 


If you have any questions or are interested in hearing more specific stories or see pictures, you are welcome to join us for my presentation. Sunday, July 22nd. More details to follow about time and location. Again, thank you for your love for me and for your interest in the beautiful people of Haiti! 

Another Round of Goodbyes

6/28/2012 

Today was it. My last day in Haiti. I can’t believe how fast that went! It’s just crazy! This morning me and Jamie made another round of homemade bread and we made a pasta bake thing for lunch. It turned out pretty good but I did burn my hand on the stove...maybe there is a reason I stay out of the kitchen! :) 

This afternoon was our last class so that meant it was time for the final exam. I told my students they could leave right after, but they were acting all strange and said, “no, we won’t leave.” I said that’s alright but once everyone is done I need to go back and pack. 

After they were finished with their final, they all left and went outside but they left their belongings inside. At that point I knew something was up. They all came back in and yelled, “surprise!” (We talked about surprise parties last week and they were THRILLED that they were able to surprise me today!) They gave me a card that they all signed and then a big wrapped present. They all took turns thanking me and saying how much they appreciated me. They gave me a bracelet, necklace and a hair piece that all match and say Haiti on them. And, I got some perfume and some candies...but the best of all. They got me a beautiful wood map of Haiti. Crafting wood is a popular thing in Haiti and it is sold everyone. When I opened this, they were all so happy and said, “please, come back home to us.” At that point the tears came. I had no idea just how big of an impact I had made on my students. These students don’t have much money, they live in dirt homes and yet they all pitched in to give me a good going away present. I was touched and incredibly humbled. 

After that I wasn’t so sure about leaving. I thought I was ready to leave but, now I am realizing all that I am leaving behind here in Haiti. It’s hard to believe that in less than 12 hours I will be at the airport waiting for my flight to leave. I am excited to see my friends and family but this afternoon was hard to say bye to my students. God knows if and when I will come back to Haiti and for that, I am so very grateful that HE knows my future and all that it will hold. 

Please PRAY for safety as I travel back home tomorrow. That I would catch all the planes and not be rushed or lost throughout the day. PRAY that I can emotionally re-adjust as I get back into the states and all that that entails. 

Next blog update will be from HOME! :) 

I just LOVE my Students!

6/25/12

Today I gave my students a quiz over the material that we covered last week. They all did really well and compared to last weeks' quiz, they improved so much this past week. Last week their sentence structure was awful and they had nearly no punctuation. They are the advanced class so these mistakes should not be in the papers at all. So, after last weeks quiz I grilled them a bit and said 'Stop making these silly mistakes...READ your sentences before you finish.' Well, they sure did listen! Today's quizzes were so much better and it made me proud reading their well developed sentences. 

For part of the quiz I had them write a dialogue about purchasing something. (We talked about buying and shopping this week). There were two dialogues that made me laugh out loud and I thought I would share them with you. [Please ignore their minor grammar errors]

By: Jolene

Jolene: Do you want to go with me? 

Irma: Where? 

Jolene: Shopping, today I'm free, I will take advantage to buy a pair of red shoes. 

Irma: My husband isn't there, I can go with you. You will buy something for me? 

Jolene: Ok, it not will be an expensive thing. Agree? 

Irma: Ok.                          (In the shoe store)

Irma: Remind me, what do you want exactly? 

Jolene: I need a red shoes. 

Irma: Ok do you like this one? 

Jolene: Let me see, I think it's so big. 

Irma: Oh! You are right, it's 8.

Jolene: What do you think about that one? 

Irma: Which.

Jolene: The red, after the black next to the blue. You see it? 

Irma: Let's go to see it together and you can try it. 

Jolene: Ok, it's very nice. 

Irma: How much you are available to buy it? 

Jolene: It's affordable, I can buy it. What do you want? 

Irma: It was a joke, let's come back home. 

Jolene: Ok, thank you for your help. Let's come back home. 

By: Moline

Moline: Hello Dioro! 

Dioro: Hi Moline. 

Moline: Can you help me to buy a new car? 

Dioro: Oh! Yes, let's go to the sun auto. What kind of car do you want? 

Moline: I want to buy a jeep. 

Dioro: I advise you a white tucson 2010. 

Moline: No, I prefer a red tucson. 

Dioro: I don't agree, the red car is for woman.

Moline: Oh! No, it's not true, it's depends on the person. 

Dioro: Don't lost time, let's go and you'll see which you want exactly! 

Moline: Ok! 

This is the group of girls that literally attacked me

and wouldn't let go...we had so much fun dancing and

playing!

This morning we were able to go to Mergee to visit a school where Lauren used to teach. We got there while the students were on a break and so we got to just spend time playing with them. The entire time I had kids hanging all over me and I got so lost in the crowd! It was awesome to see the little kids and give them the attention that they so desperately need. 

Tonight I took my last malaria pill while I am in Haiti. It still doesn't seem real that I am coming home in just a few short days. God has been faithful during my time here and I know he will continue to be faithful in the coming days and months ahead. Praise God for his faithfulness! 

Please PRAY that I would stay focused and teachable during my last few days here. PRAY that God prepares my heart for a drastic transition back to the States. And PRAY that I can continue to listen to and learn what God wants me to learn both here in Haiti, as well as adjusting back to life in the States. 

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

Can You Say Caribbean?

6/23/2012

Today was an AMAZING day! Cindy wanted to take us to see the beach as a ‘thank you’ for coming to teach the summer english program. Of course we said yes...so we loaded up the truck...girls in the cab, guys in the bed and we headed out to the beach this morning. The drive to the beach wasn’t as bad as I had expected it to be. It was fairly easy-going the whole way. It took about an hour and a half to get there and we wasted no time getting into the water. 

The beach is NOTHING like I have ever been to before in my life....and duh, it never would be. The Caribbean and the western coast have NOTHING in comparison! We got to the beach around 9:30 or so and went straight into the water. And I am not talking toes in like the Washington or Oregon coast....we were all in...for hours. It was amazing! I have never swam in such blue water or in any ocean for as long as we did today. It was such a relaxing day and a fun way to celebrate the ending of the summer english program. 

This is the beach when we first got there in the morning. No
one was there! Gorgeous! 

We spent the morning in the ocean, which was nearly deserted because most people didn’t come until the afternoon times and even then it wasn’t that bad. The coast has several different resorts that you pay to use their beach and then you get access to their pool as well. That is why the beach area was more deserted...less people can afford to go to the resort beach when the public beach is in the next alcove. 

We went up for lunch around noon or so and played a card game while we took a break from swimming. Lauren and I went to swim in the pool a bit but didn’t last long because...it was too warm. Something else I have never experienced before....a pool that is too warm! :) 

We had lunch which was actually really good then went back down for more beach and ocean time. A couple more hours later we decided it was time to go back so we could get home before dark. It was sad to see the day come to a close because swimming in the ocean...with gorgeous views, blue skies, crystal clear water, perfectly sandy beaches and friends...but it was time. I don’t know if I will ever again swim in the Caribbean but if you ever have the chance to go...DO it! It is AMAZING! :) 

"How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number-living things both large and small." Psalm 104:24-25

Ten Days...REALLY?

6/20/2012

I can’t believe how fast time is going. After so many weeks and so many experiences it is almost time to go home. I can’t even believe it! Ten days from today I will be waking up in my own bed. Drinking a cup of coffee and spending my first day back in the States with my family. I can’t even begin to describe how happy this thought makes me feel! I am so excited! 

But, on the other hand, I am not ready to leave. I don’t want to say goodbye to my friends and my new students. I do not want to say goodbye to Haiti and the country that I have grown to call ‘home.’ It is a total whirlwind and I can’t even describe the thoughts I am thinking and the emotions I am feeling. It’s all just one big bittersweet mess of emotions! 

This is what the market looks like. All
over the place people are selling their
produce on the streets like this. 

Yesterday was a super long day. We got up and headed to Pettionville early in the morning to do some shopping and to go to the doctor. Lauren is pregnant so she has her doctor up in Pettionville. It was quite the experience. Being in Haiti, you really need to plan ahead in terms of meals. You can’t just run to the store real quickly if you forget something. Everything is written out exactly what is needed and how much is needed because you never know when you will be going to the market again. We spent time getting groceries from the ladies on the street. We then went to Carribean. This blew my mind. For so long I have had a preconceived idea that Haiti is poor and doesn’t have anything that the United States does. Well, to some extent, yes Haiti is a very poor country. There is no doubt that these people live on nearly nothing. But, they do have basically anything you can ever want from America...just a million times more expensive. This grocery store was beautiful and it was massive. They had anything you can think of...Starbucks coffee, Doritos, Chocolate Milk, anything. It is incredibly expensive compared to the states, but you really CAN get whatever you want if you are willing to pay the price. It was amazing and for a brief hour of shopping I didn’t feel like I was in Haiti. Until we walked back outside to the humidity and 97 degree weather I had forgotten I was all the way in Haiti. It was crazy! 

The doctor was a lot different than what I expected too. I expected a tiny whole-in-the-wall home that was super sketchy. But, because we were in Pettionville (where the elite live), the doctors office was much more advanced than what I originally thought. We sat forever in the waiting room because one of the Dr’s patients had actually gone into labor, so they shuffled their schedule and moved the others back so that this lady could be brought in right away. After a while in the waiting room it was Lauren’s turn. They took her back then a few minutes later they came for me and Jamie. We got to meet Baby James! I have never seen an ultrasound before so it was a neat thing to experience and can’t help me wonder what it will be like to look at the little screen and someday know that it is my baby! It was a neat experience. 

We came back home after shopping and unloaded the groceries. I took a quick nap and then it was time for class. Class yesterday was harder. Everyone was tired, it was REALLy hot and talking about food and American Hamburgers was getting everyone hungry. We made it through our 3 hour class and the day was done. 

There isn’t a lot to do here in Haiti in the evenings so we watched some more TV and then headed to bed exhausted. Yesterday was 10 days until I finally make it home. I only have 8 full days left in Haiti. I can’t even believe it. And, I know that the days are going to go faster and faster. Tomorrow we have Bible Study, then Gail arrives (another family friend from back home), we will teach and the day will be over. Friday we are going to go visit a ministry called ‘A Parent Project,’ then we are having a party with some of the neighbor kids. Saturday we are going to the beach! Then Sunday is here and my last week of being in Haiti. 

The days are going to be busy but I know that God is with me non-the-less and that He has everything planned out from my daily happenings, to my life-long adventure ahead. God knows and because of that I am content. 

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4

Adjusted to ANOTHER New Home!

6/17/2012

Well I have officially been in Port-au-Prince for a week now. A new home. A new ministry. A new atmosphere. A new city. A new temperature. After being here a week I am finally feeling adjusted. I feel like I am now adjusted to a new routine. I am used to teaching now. My students know me and I know them. I am slowly but surely learning names and making memories with my students. 

Fridays we don’t have classes which is nice to have 3 day weekends. Friday morning we had a Bible Study...Lauren, Jamie, Cindy and me. We talked through Colossians and all the good things in there. It was a refreshing morning but being around a ‘mom’ figure made me realize just how much I am missing my family back home. The longer I am here the more I am loving Haitian culture. I am loving the relaxed feeling. I love how close I am with God here. I am not ready to readjust to American culture again. I don’t really want to have all the material things I have because I have gotten used to not having them and it was been much nicer than what I thought it would have been. But, I AM ready to see my family again. I am ready to get big hugs and spend time with them...that will come in just a few weeks. 

Saturday we went to downtown Port-au-Prince and went souvenir shopping and saw more of the city. We drove by the Presidential Palace that is still ruined from the earthquake so many years ago. The devastation the building still has is just incredible. After that we came home and Jamie and I baked cookies. Then I got to Skype with my family! Dad figured out how to download and work Skype all by himself and we had a Skype date for an hour. I got to see their faces and hear their voices for the first time in 4 weeks! It was seriously a drink of refreshing water to a super dehydrated body. It made me tear up a bit realizing just how much I miss them but it was so worth it and it was the energy I need to make it through the next 2 weeks. 

This is the outside of the Church building. It reminded me of the
Haunted House at Disneyland! 

Today we went to church at a local church here in Port-au-Prince. This was a very wealthy church with Middle-Upper class attendees. This week there was a choir seminar so there was two large choirs that sang for us. They took offering, then a special offering for the building project. After some announcements, prayer and congregational singing, it was finally time for the sermon. The Pastor couldn’t preach today so it was the Choir Director that preached. After 50 long minutes of fist pumping and nearly yelling into the mike, the pastor said amen and sat down. I have no clue at all what he said, but I could tell the man was incredibly serious and super intense with the message he was delivering. The service was a total 2 hours and 30 minutes long. Later I found out the service was a typical service in terms of length and that the preacher today wasn’t even the screamer. There is ANOTHER preacher who screams even louder and longer than todays! Oh boy, sure makes my Dad seem very passive and mild tempered! :)

This is the inside of the Church building...the LARGEST
building I have been inside during my time in Haiti.

This afternoon I am reflecting on how I even got to Haiti in the first place. Yes, God prompted my heart and got me here but there is more. My Dad has always had a heart for missions and he has always challenged us to be bold with the Gospel and our faith. He has encouraged my sisters and me to listen to and obey God’s word even when it might mean doing something hard. When I first brought up the idea of going on a mission trip to Haiti to work in an orphanage my Dad’s eyes lit up and a smile crept across his face. He said, ‘if you want to do that we will fully support you. If God wants you to go and do this, he will make it happen.’ It was then I knew that no matter what happened with my trip to Haiti, it was all going to be ok in the end. That’s always what my Dad has been, the reminder that even when things are bad and not fun, it will all be okay and soon everything will be better again. I wish I could be spending my Father’s Day with my Daddy. Listening to him preach, taking our traditional afternoon naps, celebrating, laughing and making new memories with him. But I know for a fact that this is where God wants me to be...and I also know that this is where my Dad wants me to be also. 

In just 11 days I will be experiencing my last full day in Haiti. I will finish teaching my last English class. I will be re-packing my bags again to finally be preparing for the long awaited trip home. I will be going to bed in another country for the last time. My time in Haiti is coming to an end and I can’t help but wonder what the rest of my summer and year are going to hold. I am learning to enjoy and live-up as much as I can in each of my days because we never know if this will ever happen again. 

PRAISE God with me for a wonderful Heavenly Father who calls us his children and speaks to our hearts, directing my paths...daily. And PRAISE God for my Earthly Father who is such a great example of a loving parent. He loves me and challenges me to be all that God is calling me to be! I am one blessed child!

Please PRAY that I can remain grounded here in Haiti and focused in my last few days here. PRAY that my teaching continues to go well and that my students can learn from me. 

Happy Fathers Day, Daddy! I love you! <3

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3

Day Three: Success!

6/13/2012 

Today was a very relaxing day. I spent most of the morning reading. Then showered and read some more. We had a Haitian lunch and then got prepared for teaching. This afternoon the thunder and lightening began. There was no rain in the forecast but...it was raining ‘cats and dogs!’ (I taught me students what raining cats and dogs meant this week...so once we got to class, they proudly announced, ‘Teacher! It’s raining cats and dogs!) 

On our 30 second walk from home to class, we got drenched. Everything was sopping. I have never seen so much rain come down for so long...about 20 minutes of dumping rain. It was actually really awesome! Part of me wanted to go and run around in it because it was so cool it felt amazing! The other part of me couldn’t help but think about the homes we visited on Sunday. Walls made out of scraps of tin and old clothing and roofs made out of tarps. The people in these homes were no doubt getting drenched. There is no way to keep the rain out and there is nothing they can do to dry their things off. Everything they own has been dumped on. This thought saddened me. Here I am thinking how awesome it is to experience a rainstorm like this, when the people on the other side of the wall are experiencing the opposite...how awful is this. And, it is something that happens regularly, especially in Hurricane season. I was incredibly humbled in this moment and am so very grateful that I never have to experience rain like this in a tarp covered home.

Class time started a bit late because of the rain. Most of my students showed up late drenched. And, it was hard to hear each other speak because of the rain beating on our tin roof. After awhile I decided we needed to get started anyways so I spoke as loudly as I could and we began. Again, the whole being flexible really comes into play here! We spent 2 hours working on Money....money vocabulary and sentence structure including numbers and money. Then we took some time to sing with Jamie’s class. Something about Haitians, they LOVE to sing. It’s a hobby of many of them and most of them have incredible voices. So, we spent some time singing today, something my students have been asking for all week. We sang, ‘Father, I Adore You,’ and the favorite little kid song, ‘Oh be Joyful, Oh be Jubilant...’ That was a hit and they wanted to sing it over and over again! It was beautiful hearing these amazing voices praising Jesus. Singing is something I might have us do more often! :) 

Tonight we had dinner then watched some tv and I went back to my room to read some more. It’s days like these, very relaxing, not much planned that make me love being in Haiti. The slower lifestyle. The not constant go, go, go. I need to get this done and this done and this. That doesn’t exist for my Haitian lifestyle. It might if I was here long-term but not now and I am basking in it! It’s hard to believe that we only have 9 more class periods before we are done. That’s just two weeks of classes. Crazy! 

Thank you for continuing to Pray for me and my journey here in Haiti. PRAISE God for a smooth transition into teaching. PRAISE God that He has kept me safe so far on this journey. PRAY that my classes continue to run smoothly and despite the language barrier, we can communicate. PRAY that I am open to being taught what God wants me to learn. 

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 

God Equips the Called

6/12/2012 

Today was a great day! We woke up this morning and got ready for the day then headed out for an adventure in Port-au-Prince. We went to the market to try and find some produce and wow...what a different experience that was. We drove to the place where they normally find good produce and they didn’t have much. So, we piled into the truck and went to a new place. Each place we went didn’t have much to pick from and they were wanting ridiculously high prices for things. After stopping at 3 different stands, we went to a larger market area that was way sketchier. Again, there wasn’t much there and the prices were too high. After that we went to the real grocery store with the armed gun-mans standing by the door. We got a few things there and went to a couple more stands on the way home. It was a several hour event for only a few items. It made me realize how much we take it for granted hopping in the car and running to the store to be back in 10 minutes with everything on the list. 

We came back and had lunch. Then I spent a few hours going over my lesson for the day. I got online and was able to chat with Larisa for a long time and that was just the encouragement I needed to get me through my day! Amazing what a few minutes with a good friend can do to encourage your heart! 

Then it was time for class. We talked about routines and schedules and why we like to have daily routines. Today’s class was 3 hours long and I thought it was going to be really hard. But, thankfully, I was more confident and relaxed and so were my students. They were in a very chatty mood which helped to get us going. My students are in the advanced class, so they know a lot of words. They understand a lot. They just need practice speaking with each other...so that is what I provide them with the most. Topics to discuss and time to talk with one another. We ended our class and I felt so much better about what I was doing and I felt like God had prepared me for this even though yesterday I felt totally inadequate. 

After class we watched a movie and now I am resting in bed. I am tired tonight but I feel so much more at peace being here than I was yesterday at this time. I am so grateful that the Lord has prepared me for this and He knows what is in store for my upcoming days and weeks. If this weren’t so there is no way I would be surviving. Praise the Lord! 

Instead of a Bible verse, I am going to end with this quote. My sister Jori Anne always had this quote up in her room and it is perfectly fitting for what I am feeling tonight: 

“God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called.” 

Praise the Lord! 

"Hello Teacher Jennica"

6/11/2012

Wow. What an experience today was. This morning was wonderful...had a slow morning and did some reading. Then Jamie and I got a kitchen lesson from Lauren. We have now been enrolled in ‘Lauren’s cooking school’ for the next three weeks. We made homemade french bread; beef stroganoff; a salad and a banana pudding dessert. It was amazing how much food we made in the little kitchen this morning! 

Port-au-Prince is much different than Pettionville. Being in the city means much busier streets, more homes built like shacks and worst of all...HEAT. The temperature is no where NEAR what it was in Pettionville. Here, in Port-au-Prince it is HOT. All the time. I am continually drenched in sweat and everything is sticky. It is neat to see a different part of Haiti and to have a different experience than what I did for the last 3 weeks with my babies, but man...it was MUCH different!  

Today around noon I got my binder of lesson plans. I got a first look of what I was supposed to be teaching in 3 hours. I read through the lesson a couple times and prayed a few times and a short few hours later I found myself at the front of my classroom with 12 eager sets of eyes looking at me. I introduced myself and asked if anyone had questions. The first question came right away, “are you single? or married?” haha I was warned about this but I replied and everyone laughed. My class has 2 girls in it...thank goodness for these ladies! :) 

After spending some time introducing ourselves, we got into our lesson. I was teaching today on weather. That doesn’t sound too difficult right? Well, how would you describe windchill or blizzard to a country that hasn’t seen or experienced this before? It is a lot more difficult than what it seems! After getting those ‘deer in the headlights look’ I stumbled my way through and we survived the first day! 

We made it. Beyond the language burier and the strong accents, we somehow managed to communicate...at least a little bit. And, today was the first day so it could only get better right? That’s my hope at least! :) 

This is such a different experience than my daily time with my little ones, but I am grateful that I am experiencing this as well. I can talk with my students and with time I am confident that it will get even better. I am praying it will! 

Tonight we are going over to have dessert with Bruce and Cindy...then will hang out and go to sleep. I love that my Haitian lifestyle is so much more relaxed and much more enjoyable with it not being so fast-paced American. Evenings of just rest and friends are so refreshing! 

Please PRAY that I can learn better what it means to teach. PRAY that I am patient with my students. PRAY that I can be creative in describing words and concepts they have never experienced before. PRAY for good rest and preparation time each day and PRAY that the students catch onto my speaking and teaching style. 

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

My Turn to Say Goodbye

6/10/2012 

Today was a very bittersweet day. I had a hard time sleeping last night because I knew I was just a few hours away from saying goodbye to my new friends and my beautiful babies. This morning we went to Haitian church then to english church...it all went by way too fast. We had lunch and the time came for me to say bye to my little angels. We spent 30 minutes together in the nursery before my friends came to pick me up. It was nice to be able to hug and kiss my babies one last time. I felt the tears coming but tried hard to hold them in. The babies acted as if they knew I would be leaving them...they kept hugging me and didn’t want to let me go. When I finally put Miss W. down she fell apart and that’s when my tears came. Not just a few...LOTS. The thought of never seeing these little ones again breaks my heart. The thought that only 1 of my 6 babies has a forever home is heartbreaking to me. I had no idea that after just 3 weeks I would be so bonded to them. I so badly want to come back...those darlings wrapped their fingers around my heart and are clinging tightly to it. 

Despite the hardness of saying goodbye to my new friends and my angels, it was great to be reunited with friends from back home again. Mason, Lauren and Jamie came to pick me up and after a bumpy ride home, we made it to Port-au-Prince, where Mason and Lauren serve. We unpacked and got settled in some then Mason, Jamie and I went visiting in the town. We met so many people, beautiful people, lots of children in their small homes...made out of any scrap material they can find. Most of the homes in this area were wiped out from the Earthquake. People still can’t afford to fix their homes well so they are living in shacks with tarps over their heads. There is no way to even begin to describe the devastation these people call home. It was fun to be able to see the town and see homes. My Vancouver church, Evergreen Bible Church, just sent a team of men to build a house for a family in need and I was able to see the finished product! It is awesome to see how much progress can be done in terms of building homes for the people with help from Haitians and Americans. 

After several hours out in the community, we came back home. We got some food then watched a movie. Tonight I am going to be exhausted. So many emotions are flooding my heart and mind right now and I can’t sort them through. I am happy to see old friends again and to start the second part of my journey here. But I am also heartbroken from saying goodbye to my babies. Wondering if I will come back is floating around in my mind. I don’t even have words for the emotions I am feeling now. Hopefully with time and prayer I can begin to sort my feelings out and decide what my heart is telling me to do. 

Please PRAY that I can process these hard goodbyes well. Please PRAY that tomorrow as I begin teaching (5/11) I can fight off nerves or any fears I might have. PRAY that as I adjust to a new part of Haiti I can find my rest and peace in God. 

PRAISE God that we were safe in our travels today. PRAISE God that I have made it this far in my journey...He will continue to be faithful each and everyday. 

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23