Hi everyone!
I have been blessed enough to experience some of the best times of my life this summer in Haiti. Initially I had some reservations about coming here, but they all melted away before the end of my first week in this country. Yes, there are times when I miss home. Yes, I have gotten frustrated about toilets that don't flush, and taking three hours to travel 30 miles, and yes, there has been one time where I did not feel safe, but all in all, these nine weeks have been the best of times for me. I have learned so much about myself. I have grown in patience, discipline, empathy, and love for all of the new people that I have met. I will be on my way home in just two short weeks, and I honestly don't know what to think, or how to feel.
One day last week, some of the interns were taking a taxi to the beach. We had agreed on a fair of 10 American dollars, but when we arrived at our destination, the driver demanded that we pay him 50 American dollars. Tammie began to discuss the price with the driver, and his helper, and another American who spoke Creole also jumped in to help negotiate. Tammie offered to pay the driver, but he refused to take the money. I don't understand how the episode got so blown up, but before I knew what was going on, our truck was surrounded by quite a few angry Haitians who had sided with the driver. The group said a quick prayer, and before we could even finish praying Brian had payed the driver the 50 dollars, and we were leaving.
One of my favorite memories also happened on a Haitian taxi. We were heading to the same beach, and got a flat tire. We discussed leaving the taxi driver, and walking to the beach, but before we could talk it out the driver jumped out, whipped out a tire that looked worse than the now flat tire, and put it on the truck. He insisted that the tire was as good as new. We hesitantly got back in the truck, and hauled it to the beach.
I love this crazy, unexpected, ever changing life in a new culture. I want to see everyone back at home, but I just don't want to leave Haiti. Some days have been tough, and I'll be glad to tell everyone about them when I get home, but for now, just know that I have loved every day of these past nine weeks. If your a praying person, please pray for our safety, strength, and ability to stay focused these next two weeks. If not, just keep all of our team in your thoughts. I will see you in about two weeks!
Be strong and courageous,
Felicia
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Comier Plage
Today has been one of those rare, work free days for us here in Haiti. Our group woke up early this morning, and loaded up onto the Diahatsu to head to the beach. We go to a beach called Comier Plage. Its quite beautiful, and the difference between the places that we work, and this paradise is like night and day. To get to the beach, we drive through Cap-Haitian, and see the people selling theirr wares, the taxi drivers calling out for people who need rides, and the ladies carrying all sorts of things on their heads. I know that there is so much work that needs to be done, and so many people who need to be reached, and because of this I feel slightly guilty about taking the day off, and lounging in a beach chair. On the other hand, we work with people all day for weeks on end, and I know that the occasional trips to the beach serve to combat being burned out. I really do appreciate seeing God's creation and being able to recharge my batteries. It is soooo nice.
If you are a praying person, please pray for everyone who works with the Haitian people, and the groups that come from the states. Pray the we are able to stay positive, and alert throughout the summer. Pray that God will keep pouring into us, and that we will use the overflow to bless those around us.
Be strong and courageous,
Felicia
If you are a praying person, please pray for everyone who works with the Haitian people, and the groups that come from the states. Pray the we are able to stay positive, and alert throughout the summer. Pray that God will keep pouring into us, and that we will use the overflow to bless those around us.
Be strong and courageous,
Felicia
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Tidbits
Here is just a tidbit that I thought I'd do since I have reliable Internet.
People I miss
My mom
My dad
P.J, Dione, Lavar, Tamarra, Micah, Rain, Jared, Morgan...and everyone attached to them
The rest of the family...There are kind of too many people to name
Herb and the TOI crew
Louvenia Gainey, Paul, Chris, Eric, Carol, Robbie, John, and the rest of the CoC crew
My two best friends in the entire world: Lindsey Braun and Jamie Russell!!!!!!
Things I miss
FOOD!
My car
My cell phone
My computer
My T.V (even though I don't have cable)
Meh...This is totally not important, and I've said "my" waay too much.
I love and miss yall a whooole lot! If your not a praying person please just keep my family and friends in your thoughts. I know that people think I'm in a crazy place, but don't forget about everyone in the states. If you are a praying person please pray for everyone back at home that I am not able to be with. Not that my absence takes that much out of their lives, but I am a pretty big deal.
Be strong and courageous and do not be afraid. The Lord goes with you each and every day.
Felicia
People I miss
My mom
My dad
P.J, Dione, Lavar, Tamarra, Micah, Rain, Jared, Morgan...and everyone attached to them
The rest of the family...There are kind of too many people to name
Herb and the TOI crew
Louvenia Gainey, Paul, Chris, Eric, Carol, Robbie, John, and the rest of the CoC crew
My two best friends in the entire world: Lindsey Braun and Jamie Russell!!!!!!
Things I miss
FOOD!
My car
My cell phone
My computer
My T.V (even though I don't have cable)
Meh...This is totally not important, and I've said "my" waay too much.
I love and miss yall a whooole lot! If your not a praying person please just keep my family and friends in your thoughts. I know that people think I'm in a crazy place, but don't forget about everyone in the states. If you are a praying person please pray for everyone back at home that I am not able to be with. Not that my absence takes that much out of their lives, but I am a pretty big deal.
Be strong and courageous and do not be afraid. The Lord goes with you each and every day.
Felicia
Its Been a While
A great big Bonjou to everyone out there who has been keeping up with/ following/ stalking my blog just waiting for a new post. Well, here it is!
Life has been crazy here in Haiti. As you can guess we all made it to Lagosette, Haiti safely. Our plane ride was an adventure. In mid air after leaving Ft Lauderdale, the pilot of our small rickety 30 passenger plane announced that we were having engine trouble. We had to turn around and head back to Ft. Lauderdale. After killing two hours in the airport we took off, AGAIN, and finally made it into Haiti. We traveled through Cap- Haitian to get to Lagosette. Cap-Haitian is the second biggest city in Haiti, and I can understand why. There were so many people walking, driving, riding horses and donkeys, pulling wheel barrows, and recklessly driving. I was completely over whelmed by the sights, and sounds. Trash burning, horns honking, goats bleating, and people yelling "blanc, blanc," as we drove down the road.
Here in Lagosette there is our camp, a school, a church, and an orphanage. Our camp has a kitchen, guys and girls dorms, and plenty of clothes lines to hang our hand washed laundry. The school has over 300 kids that come to school. As the summer months approach we plan to start a feeding program so that the kids will still get at least one meal a day. This is special because if not for the school, they probably wouldn't eat every day. Church is hot, and stuffy. We sit in school desks, fan ourselves, and try our very hardest to understand the 2.5 hour Creole sermon. However, to hear the way that the members of the church worship is absolutely incredible. The orphanage has almost 30 babies ranging from birth to four years old. We get to spend a lot of time just holding and loving on the babies who wouldn't usually get that kind of intimate care. I'm settling in quite well here in Lagosette. The groups from the states are all really cool. Our second group came in today and we are in for a busy week. Mixing cement, painting, visiting the orphanage, hiking up to the Citadel, and heading to the local beach are all on the schedule. The only bad things so far are the bugs, and the rats. Yes, I said it: the bugs and the rats.
I know that this post is long coming. Thank you guys so much for checking this out. I really appreciate it!!! Hopefully I'll be back on here before too long. If your a praying person, please pray for the babies in the orphanage, the kids here in Lagosette as they all have really tough situations, the missionaries, and all the people in Cap-Haitian. If you aren't, just keep us in your thoughts. I miss you all! By the way, thanks for the comments. I really LOVE reading them. Who ever wrote the story about the ogres, I love you and I think that your hilarious. PLEASE reveal yourself.
Be strong and courageous and do not be afraid. The Lord goes with you each and every day.
Felicia.
Life has been crazy here in Haiti. As you can guess we all made it to Lagosette, Haiti safely. Our plane ride was an adventure. In mid air after leaving Ft Lauderdale, the pilot of our small rickety 30 passenger plane announced that we were having engine trouble. We had to turn around and head back to Ft. Lauderdale. After killing two hours in the airport we took off, AGAIN, and finally made it into Haiti. We traveled through Cap- Haitian to get to Lagosette. Cap-Haitian is the second biggest city in Haiti, and I can understand why. There were so many people walking, driving, riding horses and donkeys, pulling wheel barrows, and recklessly driving. I was completely over whelmed by the sights, and sounds. Trash burning, horns honking, goats bleating, and people yelling "blanc, blanc," as we drove down the road.
Here in Lagosette there is our camp, a school, a church, and an orphanage. Our camp has a kitchen, guys and girls dorms, and plenty of clothes lines to hang our hand washed laundry. The school has over 300 kids that come to school. As the summer months approach we plan to start a feeding program so that the kids will still get at least one meal a day. This is special because if not for the school, they probably wouldn't eat every day. Church is hot, and stuffy. We sit in school desks, fan ourselves, and try our very hardest to understand the 2.5 hour Creole sermon. However, to hear the way that the members of the church worship is absolutely incredible. The orphanage has almost 30 babies ranging from birth to four years old. We get to spend a lot of time just holding and loving on the babies who wouldn't usually get that kind of intimate care. I'm settling in quite well here in Lagosette. The groups from the states are all really cool. Our second group came in today and we are in for a busy week. Mixing cement, painting, visiting the orphanage, hiking up to the Citadel, and heading to the local beach are all on the schedule. The only bad things so far are the bugs, and the rats. Yes, I said it: the bugs and the rats.
I know that this post is long coming. Thank you guys so much for checking this out. I really appreciate it!!! Hopefully I'll be back on here before too long. If your a praying person, please pray for the babies in the orphanage, the kids here in Lagosette as they all have really tough situations, the missionaries, and all the people in Cap-Haitian. If you aren't, just keep us in your thoughts. I miss you all! By the way, thanks for the comments. I really LOVE reading them. Who ever wrote the story about the ogres, I love you and I think that your hilarious. PLEASE reveal yourself.
Be strong and courageous and do not be afraid. The Lord goes with you each and every day.
Felicia.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
In Just One Short Week!
I was talking to a friend and she suggested that I keep up a blog while in Haiti throughout the summer. A few things came to mind when she said this. Ive never kept a blog before, so I wasn't sure how difficult it would be to make a successful post. I guess now is the time to say that my tech skills are pretty much non-existent. :) I wasn't, and still am not sure that I will have access to the Internet, or even electricity while in in Haiti. And lastly, I am kind of blown away by the fact that people would actually care to read what I have to say. So hopefully as I go through the summer, all of these issues will be addressed. I know my Internet access will be limited, but I'll try really hard to keep everyone updated as much as possible. As I post I'm sure I'll get better at navigating the treacherous Internet blogging waters. I also hope that some people out there will randomly think about me, or want to know how I'm doing, and will take a peek at this amazing blog specimen.
I will be leaving for Haiti in just one short week!!! I've heard that life (or in my case, time) is like a roll of toilet paper: the less you have the faster it goes. I know that this saying is cheesy and ridiculous, but its true! In the last couple days I realised that I need to order a new licence, debit card, and vehicle registration. I need to finish up registration at for a few classes at Santa Fe, while planning a pre- wedding party for my best friend and the Senior Banquet at church, and packing for three months in a foreign country. In the mean time I've been desperately trying to spend time with my friends and family, because, news flash: I'm terrible at saying good-bye, even if it is just for a short time.
I'll be in Cap-Haitian, Haiti. Its a city in the Northern part of the island. The earthquake hit Port-Au-Prince, which is in the Southern part if the island, but I'm sure that there will be a lot people in Cap-Haitian who were displaced by the earthquake. I can only hope that our interactions and ability to help will bless someone who was effected by that tragedy. While in Haiti, I will be a part of a team of missionaries. Brian and Tammie Wallace; missionaries extraordinaire, will lead myself, and six other students as we host groups that come from the states from week to week. The teams will come from all over the US to work with us and the Haitians to build class rooms for a local school, restart a feeding program for the kids in that school, re-vamp an elderly living facility, reach out to other kids in a local orphanage, and the list goes on and on. There is just so much to do. Honestly, I'm overwhelmed. So, if your not a praying person, just keep us in your thoughts. But if you are a praying person, please pray for everyone who will be working in Haiti this summer. Pray that God will help us to be safe, healthy, patient, effective, flexible, and open to all sorts of unexpected blessings.
Be strong and courageous and do not be afraid. The Lord goes with you each and every day.
Felicia
I will be leaving for Haiti in just one short week!!! I've heard that life (or in my case, time) is like a roll of toilet paper: the less you have the faster it goes. I know that this saying is cheesy and ridiculous, but its true! In the last couple days I realised that I need to order a new licence, debit card, and vehicle registration. I need to finish up registration at for a few classes at Santa Fe, while planning a pre- wedding party for my best friend and the Senior Banquet at church, and packing for three months in a foreign country. In the mean time I've been desperately trying to spend time with my friends and family, because, news flash: I'm terrible at saying good-bye, even if it is just for a short time.
I'll be in Cap-Haitian, Haiti. Its a city in the Northern part of the island. The earthquake hit Port-Au-Prince, which is in the Southern part if the island, but I'm sure that there will be a lot people in Cap-Haitian who were displaced by the earthquake. I can only hope that our interactions and ability to help will bless someone who was effected by that tragedy. While in Haiti, I will be a part of a team of missionaries. Brian and Tammie Wallace; missionaries extraordinaire, will lead myself, and six other students as we host groups that come from the states from week to week. The teams will come from all over the US to work with us and the Haitians to build class rooms for a local school, restart a feeding program for the kids in that school, re-vamp an elderly living facility, reach out to other kids in a local orphanage, and the list goes on and on. There is just so much to do. Honestly, I'm overwhelmed. So, if your not a praying person, just keep us in your thoughts. But if you are a praying person, please pray for everyone who will be working in Haiti this summer. Pray that God will help us to be safe, healthy, patient, effective, flexible, and open to all sorts of unexpected blessings.
Be strong and courageous and do not be afraid. The Lord goes with you each and every day.
Felicia
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