Still coming.

More about Haiti to come. Must take a break for the day though.

Haiti #4: Day 2-5

Go back a few post to read those first!

It was rather strange to wake up on a couch in another country. You wake up to different sounds, sites, and smells. Rather than seeing walls around you I open my eyes to look over the balcony and see rubble in Haiti. I hear Haitian voices up and going as well as the goats and chickens that talked all night. My first night I slept like a rock.

Each day we woke up around 6:30 and started getting ready for the day. With no distractions of phone, internet, television, or really anything else spending time in the Word seemed easier. Being in a place where I knew I needed the Lord to get me threw also proved another reason to be in His presence. It wasn't an option, but a necessity.

Breakfast consisted of whatever granola bars you brought to eat. Brushing your teeth was done by water you used from your water bottle. They brought us big bottles of water each day that we filled our water bottles up with. Then as a group we gathered to seek the Lord through His word. These were amazing times each morning as 18 people form 18 different backgrounds gathered for a common cause. To know the Lord more fully.

There were a few people on the team that came with a friend, but as a whole no one knew each other before the trip. The youngest was 18 and the oldest was 52. Most were around my age group and still single. It was encouraging to see that. Being stuck out in the hills of Tennessee I often feel like I must be the only person living a crazy life like I do. I am not is what I learned on this trip. There is a generation of people out there who's desire is to serve the Lord through their years of singleness, yet still have a true heart's desire for marriage one day.

After our time together we prepared for the VBS with a school down the street. There was probably around 100-200 or so children the throughout the week and it was INSANE! There school seemed to be about 12 ft x 12ft building. I'm sure it was bigger than that but it was not very big at all. Whew, it was a small space!! Different groups prepared different activities such as songs, crafts, bible study, games. I didn't feel a strong pull towards any of the groups so when we got there I just went out among the children.

I sat among the children just holding them, giving them high fives and trying to communicate as well as possible. Mostly they liked to feel the hair on my arms the first day. On day 2 a few of the girls must have spent an entire hour playing with my hair. It felt totally different from their hair.

After an exhausting VBS time we would head back to our house for lunch which was peanut butter sandwiches and chips each day.

Afternoon times consisted of different things. A couple of the days we broke up into smaller groups and went door to door with a translator speaking to people about the Lord. One afternoon we went to an orphanage at a pastor's house. He and his wife already had six children and had taken in twelve more children. Then one afternoon I went a couple of guys to another community to play soccer. That was an incredible afternoon. One afternoon I went with a group to help remove rubble from their church that had basically collapsed during the earthquake. Lots of different things were done during our afternoons.

Dinner was cooked by the people who's house we were staying in. It was amazing! Basically it was a meat, rice/beans, fried potatoes, fried plantains and something else I'm not sure what it was. Looked to be a salad of some sort... Resembled my grandmother's jello salad stuff. Yeah, I didn't try it. The rest of the food was AWESOME!! One night I heard someone talking about how this meat tasted different. Then someone else said it was beef. I then ask if anyone had seen any cows since we had been in Haiti? Negative. It was goat. And it was good!

In the evenings after dinner we would go back to the church where they were actually having revival. Then we'd come home and usually hang out on the roof top with everyone talking about the day.

After the first night, Val and I slept up on the roof under the stars. It was BEAUTIFUL!! Especially on nights when all the power was out because the stars were so bright. Everyone learned to keep flashlights readily available as the power outages were often and even comical.

I have no idea how to write in words about each day but that basically hits the highlights. I'm going to explain the rest of the highlights through a few more post.

Haiti #3: Finally, Day 1

Read here, here, and here first. And to look at pictures go here.

Then move onto this post!

Just in case you were wondering... Yes, I was concerned about going on this trip. Riots, cholera, here's the biggest one though... People I don't know. Not a happy thought for me. It's been true since my younger days that I do not play well with others. Especially, strangers. It's Monday morning and I'm thinking the same thoughts I had been thinking for over a month.

What in the world am I doing?

WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?

I don't know anyone. I'm going to a place where people keep dying. I'm exhausted from my new job and would really like to take a week and just rest. What was I thinking??!!?

Then I remember the video I talked about in my last post about a boy named Hudson.

If a riot happens. God will take care of me. If I get cholera. God will take care of me. How will I see hurting children and not be able to help. God will take care of me. Amongst a group of strangers. God will take care of me. This trip is about the Lord, not me. Again... He says to be still and know that He is God.

I get up bright and early that morning and head to Atlanta airport. Once I get to the gate I meet up with the guy I'm flying with. He's an 18 yr old kid who seems to love the Lord. We fly to Miami and hang out for several hours. On the flight to Haiti from Miami he gets real nervous. I finally ask why...

He had lost his wallet.

Long story short someone in Miami turned his wallet in and called his mom! wow!!

The flight to Haiti other than that was great. I sat next to a couple who was going to work with Samaritan's purse to help with cholera. We had great discussions about the Lord that reminded me He had indeed sent me on this trip even for that moment.

When we landed in Haiti and my feet hit Haitian ground I felt one of those beautiful calm moments. I was suppose to be here. Despite the past few months of dramatics. I was right where I was suppose to be.

Praise the Lord for that feeling because little did I know the next few hours of chaos that were coming.

Adventures in Missions had 3 teams in Haiti the week I was there. When we got to the airport we met up with some folks from the the other teams. They eventually met up with their leaders. Alex (the guy I flew with), myself and Val another girl on our team were still at the airport looking for a bag of Val's. Turns out it didn't make it. Most everyone is gone now but us and some Haitians. In walks an American guy with an Adventures in Mission shirt on. He was like I think ya'll are suppose to be with us. We ask about our leaders. He then informs us that that trip (the one we were suppose to be on) wouldn't be starting until Wednesday because the rest of the team (other than us) was stuck up north in the blizzard. Oh great.

The three of us just kind of looked at each other like. Oh okay.

So we just loaded up and went with this guy.

The bus ride felt like it took FOREVER!!! It's well after dark now and we left Atlanta at 7:45am. The roads were not roads. They were paths with potholes big enough to sink a ship in. On this great ride we realize chaos moment # 2. One of the girls on this team talks about bringing her tent has a carry on. I look at Val and asked if she brought a tent. She said no.

You see, our team was not suppose to bring tents, but there team was. Awesome. Here we are with no team and now no tent. Still, I am suppose to be here.

We get to the house where the other team is. Well, we get close to it. Due to the rubble our bus can't actually fit down the street so we have to get off the bus and walk in the dark down the street a little ways to the house with all our luggage.

We get into the house and that's when I realize culture difference #1. The electricity there only works on occasion. So, we walk in this dark house and have to get out our flash lights. There is some food on a table and we go get some of that. Here I sit in a dark room with about 15 other people I don't know eating food I can't see. Then I have to pee.

Oh the bathroom is right there. Then I hear... (Culture difference #2) By the way don't flush the toilet paper, put it in the trashcan. I walk into the bathroom and shut the door. Looking for the light switch. Junk! there's no electricity and I left my flash light by my food. I manage to go and find toilet paper and the trash can in the dark. Then I get up to wash my hands and realize no wait you can't use the water or I might die of cholera! Last thing I want to do is poop myself to death. Oh dear it's going to be a long week.

I go back to my plate as I'm eating I hear someone talk about what it is. I comment that the piece of meat had a good spice to it. Then I hear someone say, "oh you must have eaten a piece of goat." Luckily it was dark so my expression wasn't seen. As I think my gag reflexes kicked in a bit. Then I realized. It tasted really good! Who cares if it was goat!

The night rolls on. We have to wash our dishes. In the dark. In a bucket of water with lots of bleach by using flashlights. Good times.

We load up 11 people. Luggage for 9 people. In a truck meant to carry 5 people. As many of us are sitting on top of our luggage in the back of our truck our leader tells us to try and not draw attention to ourselves.

I look at one of the people on my team and said. It's after dark. We have 6 white people hanging on for dear life in this truck with a Haitian driver... How do we not draw attention?

Finally we make it to the house we are staying at. Turns out Val and I found two couches under a covered "porch." We stayed here the first night because the locals said it was suppose to rain so we shouldn't be on the roof with no tent. I got my ear plugs out and passed out to the faint sound of chickens, goats, and Haitians scurrying about. Val borrowed stuff she didn't have in her carry on and we discussed the chaos of the day before we went to sleep. I realized through her God was already taking care of me. I do better with one on one. Had we been in our own tents that night Val and I wouldn't have shared the time together that we did. The chaos was a blessing.

What a day.

Oh and by the way... After I left Miami and had to tell my family I would talk to them on Saturday. There was no way for me to contact them once I got there. I was worried they wouldn't sleep all week. I fall asleep that night hoping they were resting because I was perfectly okay.

Haiti #2: Pre-trip dramatics

Refer to previous post of Haiti #1 prior to reading this one.

So, I know I'm going to Haiti. I don't remember the exact timeline of everything but I remember not telling many people at all at first. I'm pretty sure I paid for the trip before I told hardly anyone. Then I had to get shots, shots, and more shots. A physical so I could say I had a doctor since I never go to one. All I kept thinking was this is getting pricey! Then I would have a random person from here and there hand me cash which oddly enough seemed to pay the bill that I held in my other hand. Between what I had in savings and other money God provided the trip was paid for.

Then comes the cholera in Haiti.

Not good...

Then come the riots in Haiti.

Again, not good.

Oh and did I mention I started a new job during all this process too at the Boys and Girls Club. Originally had trip scheduled for November, but backed it up to December because of new job. Just in time for the riots to get good and heavy! That change in date made my plane ticket go from 350 up to $800. Awesome.

One day I thought who would have ever believed it would be safer to go to Africa...

I was questioning the Lord about this trip one day and I went back to Psalm 46 where He spoke again.

Psalm 46:6-9a "The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah. Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth: he breaks the bow and shatters the spear: he burns the chariots with fire. Be still and know that I am God..."

He makes wars to cease. It didn't matter that a couple of weeks prior to my departure, flights were cancelled because of war. I was still suppose to go.

I planned it to where I left for Texas on December 19-26. The 26th I flew back to Atlanta and changed my bags that were already packed in my car. Spent the night in Atlanta and got up early Monday morning December 27th the fly to Haiti.

So, I am packing for two weeks going to two totally different places on Dec. 17. My house was destroyed!

And I can't find my passport.

I thought it was in a certain spot earlier in the week. I think I kept avoiding looking for it because I had no idea what I would do if I couldn't find it. Wednesday I looked where I thought it should be. It was not there. That's okay it's probably in my office. Thursday revealed it was not in my office. Oh crap! The secretary at camp even went through my office too. No luck. I'll find it. There is one more place it could be in my house. Friday night revealed it was not there either. OH CRAP!!

Late Friday night or should I say early Saturday morning I go to bed with tears in my eyes. I said okay God if I haven't found it by tomorrow at lunch I will email and tell them I cannot make it on this trip. Saturday morning I search my entire house AGAIN!

In a wicker box next to my TV was a stack of Southern Living Magazines. In the middle of that stack of magazines I found my passport. First thought? Who in the world put that there??

Whew passport found. Rejoicing was heard throughout my house! I finished packing that day for both trips. Two bags, two carry ons, two different trips.

Sang with the choir for Christmas Sunday morning and headed to Atlanta then Texas on Monday morning.

Tuesday got up and started calling around because I still don't have my Malaria pills or the 47 other pills and precautionary things my dear sweet mom wanted me to have. They can't get me an appointment until the next day and it's in Dallas, ugh. Wednesday I load up my niece and nephew and we venture to Dallas! What a fun day.

Get back that night and the company I am going with sends out an email that basically says... Hey things are still unsafe in Haiti so if you want to cancel your trip please feel free to do so for a full refund. What?? Sorry, but no I didn't inform my family of this one. I had to pray about this. At this point I am still concerned too because it's just dangerous. I feel the Lord use Psalm 46:10 again for me to be still and know that He is God. And I remember a video shared by another sweet and wonderful friend of mine and thought about a little boy named Hudson.

Friday night my brother calls and said, "Sis you need to check the weather in Atlanta, I just heard they are canceling flights." I was suppose to fly out on Sunday. I thought you have GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! Sure enough I check the weather. Atlanta is suppose to be having their first white Christmas on Saturday since 1882. YES, THE YEAR 1882!

What do I do? I sat in awe for awhile. Then finally decided Saturday I would get up and pack my bags assuming that Sunday I will fly out. Sure enough they were canceling flights on Saturday. Actually most all flights other than American Airlines were canceled for the weekend.

I flew to Atlanta Sunday and landed amidst snowflakes. I got to the place where I parked my car and found a nearby hotel. It had arrived. I would be leaving for Haiti in just a few hours.

Whew... I sat alone in a hotel room amidst my thoughts.

There was still potential for riots to outbreak while I was there. There were still people dying from cholera which is found in water that I would be in contact with. The snow was falling in Atlanta at the airport. As I tried to lay down to sleep that night I kept sneezing and coughing. Apparently, I was allergic to whatever the bedding was made out of. So, I got out my sleeping pad I would be using in Haiti and my blanket and slept on the floor that night of this swanky hotel. Preparing my mind and body for the week ahead.

Haiti Pictures

Check out my pictures HERE!

Will work on videos later.

On this page you can also see other pictures from people that were on the trip. Take time to look at those as well! they look way more than I did.

Haiti #1: Who, what, when, where and why of Haiti

Since high school I can remember having a desire to go on an international mission trip. I didn't really know anyone who had ever been, but I knew it was something that would be part of my life. A few years ago I was able to go to Egypt and it was a great experience. Traveling across the world by myself was a little tough, but still awesome. Especially my spur of the moment bus trip into Paris. Anyways... Back to Haiti.

For several years I have looked off and on for another mission trip to go on. It had been a long time since I could remember sitting down to search for a trip online before this past September. Summer had come to a close and I was landing from that ride when I spent one evening looking up a possible trip. I knew my schedule was soon to slow down and I felt the desire to go... That night it had also been awhile since I had had uninterrupted time with the Lord so I turned off all electronics and spent time with Him. Later that night is when I turned on the computer to look for a trip. In my search I found two different trips with groups I knew people had had good experiences with.

One trip was to Haiti and one was to Africa. The Africa one cost ALOT more money, but I've always wanted to go to Africa. I was torn. Money wasn't an issue. Not because I have a large amount, but because God has never not provided for me. I knew He would. I turned off the computer and got back to His word. Somehow I ended up on Psalm 46. You should go read it. I will tell you the verse where I knew I was being told where to go...

Psalm 46:1-3 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at is swelling."

Haiti had be ravished by an earthquake (vs. 2)! All they have left is to know that God is their refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (vs.1). I knew I was going to Haiti at that moment. Then came the flood of questions of how, when, why, etc...

I got off the computer and turned my phone back on to which I had a voicemail. It was the voice of a summer missionary who has turned into an amazing friend. She was leading worship for her church that night and decided to sing one of her songs for me. Since I didn't answer she left a voicemail. She was singing "Our God" by Chris Tomlin.

I wept as I heard her singing because again I knew God was answering my questions of how in the world I would go on this trip and why I would go. I would go because our God is greater! And I felt that I was going to encourage Haiti to look to our great God! I cried alot that night because I knew the Lord had spoken to me. And I cried because I knew I was going on an international trip which was a long standing request I had made to the Lord. This all happened the beginning of September...

Finally... Haiti.

I know it's been far too long with no words on Haiti. Today I am working on putting pictures online for you to see. I didn't take tons, but I do have a good bit of videos. Now, I'm trying to figure out the best way to put those online cause I got a loooot of them.

It's crazy to think that this time one month ago I was sleeping on a roof in Haiti...

To be honest I haven't really even looked back at my pictures very much since I got back. The trip was awesome I just can't figure out how to put it into words to where it would make sense to anyone. Due to my cheapness I brought back some rocks from Haiti. I'm not sure if that was completely legal, but I didn't see any signs that said I couldn't. Part of me thinks that re-telling what happened will be like looking at those rocks. To me those rocks say a million different things. But to everyone else, they are just rocks. Similar to what you can pick up out of your driveway. For me those rocks represent sites, sounds, smells, and faces that will never be forgotten. Bare with me as I try to explain some of that to a few folks who have patiently waited to hear.

I jotted down notes from each day so I suppose I will just do a blog entry per day...

So for the next little while...

Welcome to Haiti from my eyes.

Winter wonderland

Not a drop of precipitation on the ground when I went to sleep last night.

Below is what I woke up to this morning! It was beautiful!

Nine days ago I was wearing sandals in Haiti... Today I put on my

knee high mud boots to keep my feet dry when a friend came to pick me up.

Desi update

Two months later and Desi's heart is beginning to have glimpses of a softness. Before Christmas break one day I walked into the Club from picking up kiddos and I hear Desi call my name. She comes over to me and says, "Guess what!?!" So I ask, "What?" Then this is what she says with a huge smile...

"I had a great day today!"

I just grinned and hugged her! A day that was not miserable for Desi. What a joy...

After Christmas break I come in after picking up kids again and find 3 pictures on my desk all by none other than Ms. Desi! Still not 100% sure what I'm doing at that place, but Desi does not feel miserable everyday.

Yes, I went to Haiti over Christmas break. I have pictures and videos that I am working on getting on my computer as I type this blog.

Stay tuned for more...