Sunday, October 28, 2012

Birthday love in Haiti

**Photo's uploaded...(Tried post on October 26th from my phone with pictures but wasn't able to. Photos to come..Internet has been down for days..)
Feeling so blessed here in Haiti with all the birthday loving I've been getting! Got my hair done, massage, serenaded by many, goofy photos, chocolate, lunch made for me by Kathy, she even a mini pedicure and lots of wonderful pictures from the kids! Blessed to be able to spend my birthday here in Haiti but am missing my loved ones back home and all the loving from them! Thank goodness for Facebook ;)












Birthday dinner in Port au Prince in the next couple of days depending on the weather...hurricane Sandy has brought lots of rain and flooding please keep the people of Haiti in your prayers!!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Snapshots of Life Happening at Grace Village..


Snapshots of Life Happening at Grace Village....

So much has been happening its hard to keep up all the time!!

 School is underway and the kids love it! It is such a blessing to see all the kids come up from Titanyen to go to school! We have 306 attending school...for FREE! It's such a blessing that Healing Haiti can provide this for the community. We are in the process of getting the uniforms made and have been measuring kids for several days! :)
THE KIDS HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD!! 
THEY ARE EVEN GETTING IN A LITTLE         PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASS! :)



WE ALSO HAD A DAY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BLESS SOME OF OUR ELDERLY WITH FRESH HAIRCUTS! :)  
SCHNEIDER'S GETTING THE LESSON ON HOW TO PROPERLY CUT  HAIR.

WE BROUGHT 4 OF OUR ELDERLY UP THAT DAY TO KEEP THEM ALL LOOKING SHARP WITH NEW HAIRCUTS AND OF COURSE TO KEEP THEM NICE AND COOL TOO! :) 

 EDMUND LOOKING SHARP AS EVER!! :) 



WE HAVE EVEN BEEN HAVING A LITTLE BIT..WELL A LOT... OF FUN!!                    
WHO DOESN'T LOVE TO PLAY WITH SNACKS AND PRETEND THEY ARE TALKING ON THE TELEPHONE! 






WE HAVE TAKING SOME MORE OF OUR KIDS OUT TO SERVE THE ELDERLY...DELIVERING THEM MEALS, SINGING FOR THEM, PRAYING WITH THEM AND LOVING ON THEM!!

IT MAKES MY HEART SO HAPPY TO HAVE KIDS ASK ME ALL THE TIME IF THEY CAN COME WITH NEXT TIME I GO VISIT THE "GWO MOUN" (ELDERLY) :)

WE HAD SOME TASTY TREATS ALL THE WAY FROM MINNESOTA!! FROZEN APPLE CIDER! 

THEY WERE A HIT!! 

WE ALL LOVE COLD TREATS IN HAITI!! :)

EVEN WENT OUT TO EAT AT A REAL HAITIAN RESTAURANT!! 
SOME PLANTAIN AND A COCA COLA! 
IT WAS DELICIOUS! THEN BEST PART WAS I DIDN'T EVEN GET SICK FROM EATING "REAL" HAITIAN FOOD! I THINK I'LL FIT IN JUST FINE HERE! ;)
 


UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD TO TAKE ONE OF OUR ELDERLY DIEUFORT TO THE HOSPITAL. HE HAS BEEN NEEDING A SURGERY FOR A LONG TIME AND WE WERE JUST BLESSED WE COULD FINALLY GET HIM IN!  

THE KIDS DIDN'T HAVE SCHOOL ONE DAY THAT WEEK SO I DECIDED IT'D BE A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING A FEW OF THEM TO KEEP HIM COMPANY!


ALEX AND GERNO WERE SUCH A BLESSING TO HIM! THEM SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR JUST PRAYING AND SINGING TO HIM! IT WAS GREAT TO SEE HIM SIGING ALONG!
PRAYING OVER HIM AND LISTENING TO THOSE BOYS PRAY IS ALWAYS A GOOD REMINDER TO ME. THEY PRAY WITH SUCH MIGHT AND COURAGE! IT GIVES ME GOOSEBUMPS! THEY HAVE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IN THEM AND IT SHOWS!! 


THERE IS EVEN TALK ABOUT MAKING THIS INTO A NICE LITTLE "APARTMENT" FOR KATHY AND I! :) 

 
 WE WERE ALSO BLESSED BY HAVING THE BROBERG BOYS COME AND BUILD US A PIZZA OVEN! NOW WE JUST NEED TO LEARN HOW TO USE IT! :) THIS WILL BE A BLESSING NOT ONLY TO US BUT ALSO TO THE COMMUNITY AS THEY WILL BE ABLE TO USE THIS TO BAKE BREAD FOR THEIR FAMILY OR TO SELL AT THE MARKET TO EARN SOME MONEY! IT'S A WIN WIN FOR ALL! THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR HEARTS FOR HAITI!





AND HOW COULD I FORGET......THE NEW BASKETBALL HOOP!! YES THIS REALLY IS A BASKETBALL HOOP....YOU KNOW HOW HAPPY THIS MAKES ME!! CAN YOU PICTURE IT NOW....BASKETBALL CAMPS AND PRACTICES ALL YEAR LONG!! START DONATING BASKETBALLS PLEASE!! :)
THIS WAS A PERFECT END TO A WONDERFUL DAY! THIS HOOP WILL GET LOTS OF USE I'M SURE OF IT!! :) 


  
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE OF YOU WHO MAKE THIS DREAM A REALITY FOR ME. I AM SO BLESSED AND FORTUNATE TO BE LIVING IN HAITI AT GRACE VILLAGE. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I AM IN MY 'HAPPY PLACE' EVERY SINGLE DAY!! 
JUST A FOREWARNING...WITH ALL THESE AMAZING BLESSINGS WE ARE GETTING HERE (AND OF COURSE MY KIDDOS AND MY ELDERLY) I MIGHT NOT BE COMING BACK TO THE STATES FOR AWHILE :) 

BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING AND LOVING ME!! 

Sunday, October 21, 2012

the difference..


Sharing this from my dear friend here in Haiti. I can relate all to well to her feelings...

the difference

by touchofhopehaiti

There I am standing on a platform, about 8 stair steps off the ground, waiting outside of the doorframe of a little shop, wanting to make some photocopies.  I greet the people inside with “bonjour” and mind my own business. I suddenly feel a light tap on my calf to realize it is coming from a man standing on the ground, eye-level with my feet. He begins a game of charades with me, motioning his hand to his stomach then to his mouth. He repeats the phrase “mwen grangou” (I’m hungry) several times and I act like I speak absolutely no Creole and am the world’s worst charades player. I continue to mind my own business, and he continues to tap my calf. I want to turn around and begin an argument with him, asking why he chose to intrude my personal bubble? Is it because I’m the only white person you see? Is it the color of my skin that makes you believe it is all right to ask me for money? I want to yell at him and tell him it is not all right. I want to plead my case and tell him how I have two children of my own that I need to feed. Tell him that I have already given my money away to three other people. “I don’t know you sir and sorry, you can’t have my money today,” I think to myself. Instead, I don’t say anything. I bite my lip and begin to feel extremely awkward as everyone inside begins to stare at me now, too. Finally it is my turn. I pay the 200 goudes to make 50 photocopies of a paper I need for work. I walk away from the man, who is continues to play charades with me, and head towards my truck so that I can just go home.
You see…the color of my skin is beginning to trouble me in this country. I have learned that in the past (and still happening today), white colored people have come in, with all their riches, left behind “things” and now all we have taught these people that it is okay to continue to ask and expect “things” in return. My heart is becoming wearisome because I don’t know who to give to and who NOT to give to anymore. It’s not only affecting my heart, but it affects my attitude and temper as I continue to interact with these people.

There is this story in the Bible about a man named Lazarus. On earth, Lazarus was a beggar. He lay outside the gate of a rich man; a man who dressed in fine linens and lived in luxury everyday. Lazarus was covered with sores and only hoped to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.
The time came for the beggar and the rich man to die. The difference was that the angels carried Lazarus to heaven and the rich man was buried and sent to hell. In hell, he looked up and saw Abraham in heaven, with Lazarus by his side. He begged Abraham to have pity on him and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue, because he was in such agony from the fire.
But Abraham replied, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received his bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.” (Luke 16:19-31)
You see…my life is full of Lazaruses now. Although I don’t dress in fine linens, I know I’m here to help the Lazaruses that Jesus places in my life.

My new friend is pregnant for the 8th time, having had 4 previous miscarriages, she is in high hopes to give birth to a healthy baby girl. She has had recent pains and is worried. I gave her money to see the doctor.
After buying bread, a lady came rushing to me, asking if I could see her baby. “Of course,” I said. She brought to me a one-year-old naked baby boy, who was covered in open sores. Covered so severely in fact, I was afraid to pick the child up. I gave her money to see a doctor because I had never seen such an infected child and was worried this infection may enter the blood.
Afterwards, I visited Mama Noel. Although the visit was nothing short of hugs, thanksgiving and laughter (the lady is always making me laugh), she was short on food and has no money to buy new shoes to go to church. I emptied my pockets.
Then I went to Cabaret to make photocopies. And that man started tapping my calf.

You see…there are Lazaruses everywhere. But, how do I know which people truly and desperately need me. How do I distinguish who is trying to take advantage of the white girl and who is depending on me?
You see…I don’t want to be like the rich man in the story. I don’t want to go around thinking I’m doing right, when in fact I may be doing complete wrong. What if that man tapping my calf was in fact my Lazarus?

Last night I laid in the darkness of my room with Webert at my side and told him how this was all beginning to wear on me. In the darkness, I stop seeing the color between white and black, in the darkness I forget the differences in the ways we were raised and how we come from completely different places, in the darkness I hear the voice of my best friend, Webert. He begins to pray, “Jesus, give her wisdom.”

Yes, Jesus, that’s all I ask for. Please give me wisdom.

Life here in Haiti is just so different. I see a lady who lies on a piece of cardboard everyday. I see children wearing rags, covered in dirt from head to toe. I see children with orange hair because they go days without eating, children covered in sores and children who have never gone to a day of school. I see people working long days in the field with only a plow, people selling fish from the sea and people washing all their clothes by hand in the stream. I see people just trying to survive. I see the unexpected, I see sadness, I see Lazaruses everyday.

Today my prayer request is for myself (and for Webert and for missionaries around the world working with those living in poverty) to have serenity to accept the things I (we) cannot change; courage to change the things I (we) can; wisdom to know the difference between who I (we) can and who I (we) cannot help, wisdom to know the difference between what I (we) can and cannot change; and strength to say no when I (we) have to.
Now, O Lord my God, you have made me your servant.
But I am only a child.
I do not know how to carry out my duties.
Your servant is here among the people you have chose, a great people, too numerous to count.
So give your servant a discerning heart to distinguish between right and wrong.”
-1 Kings 3:7-9 (some words omitted)

http://kaylagrooters.com/2012/10/21/the-difference/


Thursday, October 18, 2012

A quick night at the guest


These are the things that I love about having a quick night stay at the guest house....


who wouldn't love seeing these smiling faces....






 Who wouldn't love hanging out with these two lovely boys




And of course seeing my buddy Mackenley....







Hanging out on the rooftop with his family and friends and enjoying this wonderful view...
and of course being able to spend the morning in the kitchen with Fonese and her beautiful self! She is such a joy and a fantastic cook as well!! 








Look at that beautiful smile! :) 










Needless to say....I basically love every place I stay and the people there!! So thankful for such wonderful people in my life!!! 

Sunday, October 7, 2012

A little rest and relaxation...


WELL WE MADE IT TO AND FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FOR A LITTLE REST AND RELAXATION...BUT MAINLY BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN IN HAITI FOR 90 DAYS AND IT WAS TIME FOR US TO GET OUR PASSPORTS STAMPED. 

WE GOT TO THE BUS STATION AT ABOUT 7AM AND BOARDED THE BUS AROUND 8:15 WE FINALLY TOOK OFF AROUND 9....

THE BUS RIDE WAS DO-ABLE ONE...IT WAS QUITE CHILLY BUT OVERALL IT WAS GOOD; THEY EVEN GAVE US SOME FOOD AND DRINKS. WE STOPPED AT THE BOARDER GOT OUR STAMPS AND CONTINUED TO HEAD INTO SANTO DOMINGO. OVER ALL IT WAS ABOUT 7 HOURS TO GET THERE. 

ONCE WE ARRIVED WE TOLD THE LADY WE NEED A TAXI. SHE POINTED US TO THIS GUY WITH A TAXI SHIRT. HE HELPED US WITH OUR BAGS AS WE GOT INTO A RUGGED OLD CAR. IT WAS A LITTLE SKETCHY WHEN WE GOT INTO THIS BEATER OF A CAR AND THEN HE TOOK HIS 'TAXI' SHIRT OFF....WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND WERE A LITTLE CONCERNED....

ALONG THE WAY WE HAD ENCOUNTERED ANOTHER LITTLE ADVENTURE....WE OF COURSE HAD A FLAT TIRE..THANKFULLY IT WAS ON A BUSY ROAD SO WE WEREN'T TOO CONCERNED. HE GOT IT ALL FIXED UP AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY..




WE WERE BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY THIS VIEW EVERYDAY...




YEP WE DID IT....WE KNEW THE KIDS WOULD LOVE IT SO IT WAS WORTH IT. I DEFINITELY FELT LIKE I WAS 15 AND WAS 'THAT GIRL ON VACATION' :) IT WAS ALL GOOD THOUGH. HAIR BRAIDED AND A MASSAGE ON THE BEACH WAS A GOOD DEAL TO ME!  










WE SOAKED UP THE SUN EVERYDAY....





EVEN DID A LITTE KAYAKING AND SNORKELING IN THE LITTLE BAY....IT WAS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE LITTLE ADVENTURES FOR US AND GAVE US MANY GOOD LAUGHS!





     
                             THIS BASICALLY SUMMED UP OUR EVERYDAY ROUTINE..                                                                                                                         


WE ENJOYED THE LITTLE THINGS AND TOOK IT ALL IN...WE LOVED BEING ABLE TO TAKE SOME TIME TO REST AND RELAX BUT I WAS DEFINITELY READY TO COME HOME AND SEE THE KIDDOS! WHILE WE WERE GONE THE KIDS STARTED SCHOOL...I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD BE SO BUMMED THAT I MISSED THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL BUT WE WERE AXIOUS TO GET BACK HOME AND CHECK IT OUT.


THANKFUL FOR A SAFE AND RESTFUL TIME IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND ALL THE LITTLE ADVENTURES ALONG THE WAY.