Our lives are cluttered. We have emotional clutter, relationship clutter, spiritual clutter, and of course material clutter.
Stuff.
We are overloaded with stuff. I was very aware of it before Haiti, but ever since I've been back it is even more apparent that we as a nation are consumed with consuming. We have to be buying something all of the time. Most of us (myself included) buy something every day, and a lot of that is not necessary. I look around at all of the things that fill our house, and realize that I could throw probably 60% of it away and still live my life exactly the same.
I want to change that. I don't want to buy things any more that are just things that we want for the moment, or something that will make me feel good for a little while. I want to think about how we spend our money and make sure it is put to good use. Now, I'm not saying we are going to live miserable, penny-pinching lives. I'm saying that when we buy something, it's going to mean something.
Sometimes we (especially women) can't seem to pass up a good deal, even though we didn't need that item to begin with. That is why I have quit going to garage sales for a while. They were an amazing resource when my kids were babies and I actually needed certain clothing items for them. But as I look at their full closets, and I know that there are even more clothes in storage for them as they get bigger, I realize that what I'm looking for at garage sales is not necessary for the time being. Shopping shouldn't be my pasttime anymore, and believe me, it is a fun pasttime that I miss at times.
I want to find the balance where money is not something I spend lots of time thinking about. I don't want to dwell of the "stuff" that I want, and I don't want to spend hours figuring out how to save 33 cents on a box of cereal. I want to live life to the fullest and not get bogged down with stuff. I want my children to see that what is in this house is nothing compared to who is in this house.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Summer of Our Youth
This summer I have had the privilege (and I know that sounds odd to some of you) of spending lots of time with high school students. First, I went with them to Haiti. I've also been teaching a Bible study on Sunday mornings with them. Last week, most of them headed off to church camp, and while I couldn't make it for the week, I did go up for a day to visit. Yesterday I got to help lead music for our jr. high/sr. high worship service. And last night I went with several of them to Kokomo Urban Outreach. On Sunday afternoons Kokomo Urban Outreach grills out and serves hot dogs, chips, drinks, and snacks in one of the low-income housing neighborhoods in our town. They also have a table full of fresh produce which they give away. While they are doing that, we come and play with the kids. It takes zero preparation and hardly any effort, but it makes for a fun-filled afternoon. We played baseball, drew with sidewalk chalk, blew bubbles, and jump-roped (is that a word?). And all I could think about was how proud I am to be a part of this youth ministry.
Teenagers are often stereotyped as lazy, selfish, materialistic, and shallow. And some definitely are. But aren't a lot of adults the same way?
Over my 10 years as a youth leader, I have come to see that teenagers rise to the occasion when given the opportunity. They are hard workers. They give of themselves. They bring laughter and insight. They aren't content to stop changing and growing. They have hopes and dreams, and (I hope) a goal to share God's love with those around them.
Some people think it's a chore to spend my summer with high school students. I consider it an honor.
Teenagers are often stereotyped as lazy, selfish, materialistic, and shallow. And some definitely are. But aren't a lot of adults the same way?
Over my 10 years as a youth leader, I have come to see that teenagers rise to the occasion when given the opportunity. They are hard workers. They give of themselves. They bring laughter and insight. They aren't content to stop changing and growing. They have hopes and dreams, and (I hope) a goal to share God's love with those around them.
Some people think it's a chore to spend my summer with high school students. I consider it an honor.
Friday, July 23, 2010
What I'm Diggin' Right Now
Swimming. This is the first year that Noel has really enjoyed getting in the water. He took some swim lessons at the beginning of the summer and loves to play. I've always loved to swim, so it is fun to see him learn to enjoy it. Elise is still on the fence about whether she likes it or not.
The Garden. Our garden isn't doing quite as well as last year, but we are still getting lots of good veggies. This week we froze sweet corn, got overloaded with cucumbers, and picked the first tomato of the summer. I can almost taste the fresh salsa.
Air Conditioning. It has been hot. And I am very appreciative that we have a cool house to live in.
Popsicles. We found these popsicles at Meijer that are kind of like Pop-Ice, but they come in a mesh bag. Anyway, the flavors are way better than Pop-Ice: Mango, Coconut, Pina Colada, etc. I have to remember to stock up every time I see them at the store.
Vacation Plans. Next week David and I are getting away by ourselves for the first time since Noel was a year and a half. We're leaving the kids with David's mom and heading to Traverse City for 2 days. Very excited to spend some time together and not have to wipe anything (a nose, a bottom, a face, a counter, anything!)
Music. I get to lead music for the jr. high/sr. high service Sunday morning. I love getting the chance to do that.
Reading. I've been reading some really good books lately. Right now I'm enjoying The Poisonwood Bible.
Bargains. I haven't done much shopping lately. Haiti has really convicted me about what I need versus what I want. But I did get some great deals on a couple of new work shirts for David, and I got a t-shirt for me that rang in at $1.06 after I used a coupon.
What are you enjoying this summer?
The Garden. Our garden isn't doing quite as well as last year, but we are still getting lots of good veggies. This week we froze sweet corn, got overloaded with cucumbers, and picked the first tomato of the summer. I can almost taste the fresh salsa.
Air Conditioning. It has been hot. And I am very appreciative that we have a cool house to live in.
Popsicles. We found these popsicles at Meijer that are kind of like Pop-Ice, but they come in a mesh bag. Anyway, the flavors are way better than Pop-Ice: Mango, Coconut, Pina Colada, etc. I have to remember to stock up every time I see them at the store.
Vacation Plans. Next week David and I are getting away by ourselves for the first time since Noel was a year and a half. We're leaving the kids with David's mom and heading to Traverse City for 2 days. Very excited to spend some time together and not have to wipe anything (a nose, a bottom, a face, a counter, anything!)
Music. I get to lead music for the jr. high/sr. high service Sunday morning. I love getting the chance to do that.
Reading. I've been reading some really good books lately. Right now I'm enjoying The Poisonwood Bible.
Bargains. I haven't done much shopping lately. Haiti has really convicted me about what I need versus what I want. But I did get some great deals on a couple of new work shirts for David, and I got a t-shirt for me that rang in at $1.06 after I used a coupon.
What are you enjoying this summer?
Thursday, July 22, 2010
In a pickle (subtitle: Is it illegal to poison your neighbor's dogs?)
I love my house. I love our back yard, the memories we've made here, the swing David made us, the big picture window where I can be very nosy. I love the fact that we fell in love in this house, became engaged in this house, brought both of our children (and Tee Dog) home to this house. I love walking on the sidewalks and being able to walk to a nearby park.
But I hate, I repeat HATE the dogs next door.
There are dogs all over our neighborhood, and I don't mind the occasional barking. I know our dog does her fair share. But you haven't heard the likes of these dogs. They are owned by Wendy, our 40-some year old neighbor, and her daughter. I understand that Wendy wants to keep said dogs for security reasons or whatever, but I have never seen her interact with the dogs. Ever.
Combine that with the fact that they are fenced in the back yard 100% of the time and are surrounded on either side by other dogs (ours included), and you have yourself a recipe for some Barky VonSchnauzertons.
They bark when you are in the back yard.
They bark when you are in the front yard.
They bark when cars go by.
And for all of those barks I am more than understanding.
It's the barking at night that takes me over the edge. Most nights, some time around 1-3, they are just going bonkers out there. Bonkers. For hours. And it makes me crazy (not to mention my patient, loving husband, who is at this moment researching animal poisons and how to cover them up).
Over the past several weeks they have kept themselves busy by trying to dig out of their yard. Every time they are successful, Wendy blocks up their holes. But last night one of the dogs got himself in a pickle. He dug himself out, but then didn't know what to do. So he decided to stand right outside our bedroom window and bark. And bark. And bark. This was around 12:45 am.
David tried to put him back in, but he ran right back out and started barking again. He (David, not the dog) even resorted to knocking on Wendy's door at 1 am. No answer. Either this woman is never home or is dead to the world when she's asleep. Eventually, David used some old bricks and a battery for a toy car to block the spot and the dogs stopped barking. But we definitely don't want to do this every night.
Any ideas what we should do?? I'm trying to keep a look out for Wendy today to see if we can talk to her about it. Either that or heading to buy some poison. Whichever comes first.
But I hate, I repeat HATE the dogs next door.
There are dogs all over our neighborhood, and I don't mind the occasional barking. I know our dog does her fair share. But you haven't heard the likes of these dogs. They are owned by Wendy, our 40-some year old neighbor, and her daughter. I understand that Wendy wants to keep said dogs for security reasons or whatever, but I have never seen her interact with the dogs. Ever.
Combine that with the fact that they are fenced in the back yard 100% of the time and are surrounded on either side by other dogs (ours included), and you have yourself a recipe for some Barky VonSchnauzertons.
They bark when you are in the back yard.
They bark when you are in the front yard.
They bark when cars go by.
And for all of those barks I am more than understanding.
It's the barking at night that takes me over the edge. Most nights, some time around 1-3, they are just going bonkers out there. Bonkers. For hours. And it makes me crazy (not to mention my patient, loving husband, who is at this moment researching animal poisons and how to cover them up).
Over the past several weeks they have kept themselves busy by trying to dig out of their yard. Every time they are successful, Wendy blocks up their holes. But last night one of the dogs got himself in a pickle. He dug himself out, but then didn't know what to do. So he decided to stand right outside our bedroom window and bark. And bark. And bark. This was around 12:45 am.
David tried to put him back in, but he ran right back out and started barking again. He (David, not the dog) even resorted to knocking on Wendy's door at 1 am. No answer. Either this woman is never home or is dead to the world when she's asleep. Eventually, David used some old bricks and a battery for a toy car to block the spot and the dogs stopped barking. But we definitely don't want to do this every night.
Any ideas what we should do?? I'm trying to keep a look out for Wendy today to see if we can talk to her about it. Either that or heading to buy some poison. Whichever comes first.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
A bag of cucumbers is all it takes
Over the past few weeks, I have really tried to start teaching Noel about service. Throughout his life he has been with us when we serve in different ways, but I realized that I need to make sure he understands why we do the things we do and go the places we go. It has started some really good talks between us, and I'm excited to see him learn more about helping others.
For example, yesterday we took cucumbers to Kokomo Urban Outreach. Our garden is overflowing with cucumbers, and there's only so many you can eat (although my husband tries to break records in that area). We had several extras, so we put them in a bag and headed out. Kokomo Urban Outreach, led by Jeff Newton, is doing wonderful things to help the people in Kokomo, especially those in financial need. Their church is right across the street from a low-income housing unit, and they have several other sights where they have set up headquarters to help other neighborhoods in great need. They realize that children who usually get the free lunch at school have nothing to eat for lunch during the summer, so they provide lunch. Every weekday. All summer. All on donations and volunteering.
It's a beautiful thing.
So I feel kind of silly just coming in with a bag of cucumbers and some non-perishables for the food pantry. But I wanted Noel to see service in action. We had a conversation on the way there about how some families don't have any food in their fridge. He asks, "Not even fruit snacks?" He's trying to get the concept! So he carries in the bag of cucumbers, and we take them to the office. I explain to them what we have and hand them off, and the nicest lady comes over to Noel, leans down and says, "Did you bring these for us?"
He nods.
She says, "There are some people who are going to have a wonderful salad today, thanks to you."
And Noel gets the biggest smile on his face.
I know it wasn't much, and I know it's gonna take a lot more than a bag of cucumbers to teach Noel about loving others like God loves them.
But it's a start.
Do something today to share God's love.
For example, yesterday we took cucumbers to Kokomo Urban Outreach. Our garden is overflowing with cucumbers, and there's only so many you can eat (although my husband tries to break records in that area). We had several extras, so we put them in a bag and headed out. Kokomo Urban Outreach, led by Jeff Newton, is doing wonderful things to help the people in Kokomo, especially those in financial need. Their church is right across the street from a low-income housing unit, and they have several other sights where they have set up headquarters to help other neighborhoods in great need. They realize that children who usually get the free lunch at school have nothing to eat for lunch during the summer, so they provide lunch. Every weekday. All summer. All on donations and volunteering.
It's a beautiful thing.
So I feel kind of silly just coming in with a bag of cucumbers and some non-perishables for the food pantry. But I wanted Noel to see service in action. We had a conversation on the way there about how some families don't have any food in their fridge. He asks, "Not even fruit snacks?" He's trying to get the concept! So he carries in the bag of cucumbers, and we take them to the office. I explain to them what we have and hand them off, and the nicest lady comes over to Noel, leans down and says, "Did you bring these for us?"
He nods.
She says, "There are some people who are going to have a wonderful salad today, thanks to you."
And Noel gets the biggest smile on his face.
I know it wasn't much, and I know it's gonna take a lot more than a bag of cucumbers to teach Noel about loving others like God loves them.
But it's a start.
Do something today to share God's love.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Pray with me
I'm going to do something that I don't normally do on my blog. I'm going to ask anyone who is reading this to do something. Usually my blogs are just for you to read what's inside my brain, but I feel compelled, and I need you (all 3 of you who might read this!!) to join me.
My friend Ginny needs a truck.
And I mean needs.
Ginny is a missionary in Haiti. She lives there full time with her 18 month-old daughter, Odessa, who was rescued from a mother trying to get rid of her about two months ago. Ginny lives in Jacmel and works in Jacmel and in Peredo, doing about a hundred different things to help the people of Haiti, but mainly in the medical area (she's a nurse from the Columbus area). She goes to Tent City and brings them much needed medicine. She holds medical clinics. She teaches about nutrition and childcare. And that's just the beginning.
But she has no vehicle.
For the summer, she is borrowing another missionary's truck because he is in the states. But even that truck doesn't run well. Case in point: yesterday was the first day of a nutrition program she is leading for pregnant moms. The truck broke down, so she had to take a tap-tap. A tap-tap is a pick-up truck that holds about 25 people in the back and takes you where you need to go. The problem is that you have to wait on a tap-tap and you don't know when or where it's going. And Peredo is an hour drive.
She needs a truck.
I feel like God has put it on my heart not just to pray, but to do something to help Ginny get the transportation she needs. I'm not sure what that "something" is just yet, so I'm praying. Getting a vehicle in Haiti is much more of a process than here in the states. You can't get a loan for one, and you can't rent one. And they have to be very durable to go thru all of the areas you have to drive through.
So I'm asking you to pray, too. Pray for a way to get HCO another vehicle that Ginny (an whoever else needs it)can use to keep showing God's love all over Haiti.
My friend Ginny needs a truck.
And I mean needs.
Ginny is a missionary in Haiti. She lives there full time with her 18 month-old daughter, Odessa, who was rescued from a mother trying to get rid of her about two months ago. Ginny lives in Jacmel and works in Jacmel and in Peredo, doing about a hundred different things to help the people of Haiti, but mainly in the medical area (she's a nurse from the Columbus area). She goes to Tent City and brings them much needed medicine. She holds medical clinics. She teaches about nutrition and childcare. And that's just the beginning.
But she has no vehicle.
For the summer, she is borrowing another missionary's truck because he is in the states. But even that truck doesn't run well. Case in point: yesterday was the first day of a nutrition program she is leading for pregnant moms. The truck broke down, so she had to take a tap-tap. A tap-tap is a pick-up truck that holds about 25 people in the back and takes you where you need to go. The problem is that you have to wait on a tap-tap and you don't know when or where it's going. And Peredo is an hour drive.
She needs a truck.
I feel like God has put it on my heart not just to pray, but to do something to help Ginny get the transportation she needs. I'm not sure what that "something" is just yet, so I'm praying. Getting a vehicle in Haiti is much more of a process than here in the states. You can't get a loan for one, and you can't rent one. And they have to be very durable to go thru all of the areas you have to drive through.
So I'm asking you to pray, too. Pray for a way to get HCO another vehicle that Ginny (an whoever else needs it)can use to keep showing God's love all over Haiti.
Monday, July 19, 2010
On the agenda
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love a good to-do list. I feel such satisfaction crossing everything off as I "accomplish" tasks. Sometimes I even cheat a little by a)putting things on the list I've already done and b)writing down the most simple jobs (ie. eat lunch, change diapers) so that I feel more satisfaction.
Today is David's birthday. He is not much for birthdays, so we don't have anything huge planned. Plus, we had dinner with some friends Saturday night, which was SO MUCH FUN! (Thanks, Craws and Millers). Today, Noel and I are going to bake him a cake and decorate a card. Then we have some laundry and sweeping and mopping to do. Also on the list is getting a birthday gift for one of Noel's friends, so I get to check out the new Big Lots. Then there is the picking up, straightening, re-picking up, re-straightening of the house, which is an endless job with a 15 month-old and an almost 4 year-old.
But sometimes I get so focused on what "needs" to be done that I miss the fun and enjoyment of the every day. I miss the laughter my kids bring me, the time they want to spend playing outside, the sunshine and sweat and running and chasing and on and on and on. I've been trying really hard to leave our schedules open so that we can enjoy the summer, not just plow through it as fast as possible. So, today I'm reminding myself that even though there are lots of things that can be done, nothing is more important than being a servant to those around me, whether that is my kids, my spouse, my friends, strangers in need, or someone else.
Take time to look around today. Do something that's not on your list, and leave a comment about how it went.
Today is David's birthday. He is not much for birthdays, so we don't have anything huge planned. Plus, we had dinner with some friends Saturday night, which was SO MUCH FUN! (Thanks, Craws and Millers). Today, Noel and I are going to bake him a cake and decorate a card. Then we have some laundry and sweeping and mopping to do. Also on the list is getting a birthday gift for one of Noel's friends, so I get to check out the new Big Lots. Then there is the picking up, straightening, re-picking up, re-straightening of the house, which is an endless job with a 15 month-old and an almost 4 year-old.
But sometimes I get so focused on what "needs" to be done that I miss the fun and enjoyment of the every day. I miss the laughter my kids bring me, the time they want to spend playing outside, the sunshine and sweat and running and chasing and on and on and on. I've been trying really hard to leave our schedules open so that we can enjoy the summer, not just plow through it as fast as possible. So, today I'm reminding myself that even though there are lots of things that can be done, nothing is more important than being a servant to those around me, whether that is my kids, my spouse, my friends, strangers in need, or someone else.
Take time to look around today. Do something that's not on your list, and leave a comment about how it went.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Final (not really) thoughts on Haiti
I wanted to share a few overall lessons that I learned while on our trip to Haiti. This is by no means the end of my conversations about Haiti. I hope the people there, the mission, the school, the needs will always weigh heavy on my heart. But as I look back over my time, I took some things away from it:
*Lizards aren't as scary as they used to be.
*Language barriers are just challenges to communcation--don't stop trying.
*Patience. Patience. Patience.
*Throw your plan out the window and go with the flow.
*Missionaries are amazing people, and they make really good friends!
*Haiti doesn't need our junk. If you were going to throw it away or send it to Haiti, just throw it away. We threw out lots of expired food and medicine that people had donated that was wasted time, energy, and weight in someone's bags.
*My prayers are different now. I know names and faces. I've played with them, worked alongside them, laughed with them, even cried with them.
*We need to think globally--the world is much bigger than the U.S. and it's time we realize that.
*Some things we consider "needs" are not even necessary.
*I need to make every day count.
*Lizards aren't as scary as they used to be.
*Language barriers are just challenges to communcation--don't stop trying.
*Patience. Patience. Patience.
*Throw your plan out the window and go with the flow.
*Missionaries are amazing people, and they make really good friends!
*Haiti doesn't need our junk. If you were going to throw it away or send it to Haiti, just throw it away. We threw out lots of expired food and medicine that people had donated that was wasted time, energy, and weight in someone's bags.
*My prayers are different now. I know names and faces. I've played with them, worked alongside them, laughed with them, even cried with them.
*We need to think globally--the world is much bigger than the U.S. and it's time we realize that.
*Some things we consider "needs" are not even necessary.
*I need to make every day count.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The American Dream
I've been reading this book by David Platt called Radical. I'm not going to lie, it's a tough read. Not because it's confusing or boring, but because it is convicting to the point where I have to stop and digest what I've read before I move on. It's challenging me to change not only my ideas but my actions. And I want to change.
The book as a whole is about how we as Christians in America have gotten those 2 things all mixed up together, and in doing so have watered down what it means to be a Christian. Somehow we have come to believe that it's okay to have everything we want, live comfortable lives, enjoy everything we've earned, and then add church attendance to the end of that list.
But is that really what God wants?
Is that what the Bible is about?
Are we really studying and living out the Bible and what Jesus said to us while He was here on earth, or are we doing what we do because that's what all of the Christians around us are doing?
The "American Dream", in a nutshell, is all about working hard and achieving whatever you dream. And while there is nothing wrong with working hard, we need to be focusing on what God is doing and how He can work through us, not what we can achieve at our church with more programs, different songs, better preaching, etc. We have lost our need for faith in a God so much bigger than a church service or youth program.
And our faith should be taking us outside of our comfort zones. Probably even outside of our country.
Here are just a few quotes from his book that I found thought-provoking:
"God has designed a radically global purpose for our lives. . .to spend all of our lives for the sake of all of God's glory in all of the world."
"There are 4.5 billion people who, if the gospel is true, at this moment are separated from God in their sin. . .and most of them live outside the United States.. .Our hearts should be consumed with making the glory of God known in all nations."
"Would you say that your life is marked right now by desperation for the Spirit of God? Would you say that the church you are a part of is characterized by this sense of desperation?"
"The resources of heaven are ready and waiting for the people of God who desire to make much of Him in this world."
I want to make much of Him. I'm tired of making much of myself. I want to turn away from the American Dream and live God's dream. I want to take the blessings I've been given and use them to bless others. I hope you'll join me.
The book as a whole is about how we as Christians in America have gotten those 2 things all mixed up together, and in doing so have watered down what it means to be a Christian. Somehow we have come to believe that it's okay to have everything we want, live comfortable lives, enjoy everything we've earned, and then add church attendance to the end of that list.
But is that really what God wants?
Is that what the Bible is about?
Are we really studying and living out the Bible and what Jesus said to us while He was here on earth, or are we doing what we do because that's what all of the Christians around us are doing?
The "American Dream", in a nutshell, is all about working hard and achieving whatever you dream. And while there is nothing wrong with working hard, we need to be focusing on what God is doing and how He can work through us, not what we can achieve at our church with more programs, different songs, better preaching, etc. We have lost our need for faith in a God so much bigger than a church service or youth program.
And our faith should be taking us outside of our comfort zones. Probably even outside of our country.
Here are just a few quotes from his book that I found thought-provoking:
"God has designed a radically global purpose for our lives. . .to spend all of our lives for the sake of all of God's glory in all of the world."
"There are 4.5 billion people who, if the gospel is true, at this moment are separated from God in their sin. . .and most of them live outside the United States.. .Our hearts should be consumed with making the glory of God known in all nations."
"Would you say that your life is marked right now by desperation for the Spirit of God? Would you say that the church you are a part of is characterized by this sense of desperation?"
"The resources of heaven are ready and waiting for the people of God who desire to make much of Him in this world."
I want to make much of Him. I'm tired of making much of myself. I want to turn away from the American Dream and live God's dream. I want to take the blessings I've been given and use them to bless others. I hope you'll join me.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
My Friend, the Library
I must confess, I'm in a love affair. With the library. I love the library. All of the books, movies, magazines, all at the tip of your fingers for little to nothing. If you don't lose anything (which I've come close to, but that's a subject for another post).
Anyway, here are some things that I love about the library.
1. Story time. Most libraries offer a free story time for kids of all ages, and we definitely take advantage of it. It's fun, it's a place to meet people with kids the same age, and everyone loves our story time lady, Jo Kay.
2. Computers. Noel loves playing on the computer. It's the only activity in the house that I actually have to set a timer for, or else he would play all day on it. However, since he can't read, it's hard to find lots of different programs for him. However, the library has tons of games and programs that he can play on while I look for books. Plus, there are headphones. Need I say more?
3. Games. Both libraries we visit have lots of actitives out for the kids: puzzles, legos, and a reading loft to name a few.
4. "Request this Item". If you haven't taken advantage of your library's website, you should. You can look up where anything is, but more importantly, you can click a little button called "Request this Item" and they will hold it for you at the front desk. It's awesome. I can find all of my books and they call me when they're available.
5. Summer Programs. This summer we have had the chance to do several different summer activities that the library has planned. Noel has won prizes for reading books, we went to an animal show where we got to pet an alligator, and they had a bubble truck (you'll have to ask Noel about it--highlight of his summer--but I was in Haiti). It gives us fun stuff to do that's free and educational. Okay, the bubble truck might not have been the most educational, but you get the idea.
Now, there are a few things I don't like about the library (they charge for movies and music, they don't have a great selection of the newer books I'd like to read, due dates), but overall it is a great place to go. I'm trying to instill a love for reading into my son, and the library is helping me do that.
Read on!!!
Anyway, here are some things that I love about the library.
1. Story time. Most libraries offer a free story time for kids of all ages, and we definitely take advantage of it. It's fun, it's a place to meet people with kids the same age, and everyone loves our story time lady, Jo Kay.
2. Computers. Noel loves playing on the computer. It's the only activity in the house that I actually have to set a timer for, or else he would play all day on it. However, since he can't read, it's hard to find lots of different programs for him. However, the library has tons of games and programs that he can play on while I look for books. Plus, there are headphones. Need I say more?
3. Games. Both libraries we visit have lots of actitives out for the kids: puzzles, legos, and a reading loft to name a few.
4. "Request this Item". If you haven't taken advantage of your library's website, you should. You can look up where anything is, but more importantly, you can click a little button called "Request this Item" and they will hold it for you at the front desk. It's awesome. I can find all of my books and they call me when they're available.
5. Summer Programs. This summer we have had the chance to do several different summer activities that the library has planned. Noel has won prizes for reading books, we went to an animal show where we got to pet an alligator, and they had a bubble truck (you'll have to ask Noel about it--highlight of his summer--but I was in Haiti). It gives us fun stuff to do that's free and educational. Okay, the bubble truck might not have been the most educational, but you get the idea.
Now, there are a few things I don't like about the library (they charge for movies and music, they don't have a great selection of the newer books I'd like to read, due dates), but overall it is a great place to go. I'm trying to instill a love for reading into my son, and the library is helping me do that.
Read on!!!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
We interrupt this blogging
I know, I know, I've been blogging about Haiti for what seems like forever. So, for a change of pace, I need to share about one of the highlights of the summer for all of us Wittenbachs. You know you want some: I'm talking about the Howard County Fair.
Now, the fair is an amazing place. And when I say amazing, I mean that I'm amazed at the people, things, food, situations I encounter while I'm there. It's so much that I really can handle it for just one day a year. Any more and I'd be on fair-overdose. I love the collision of the different worlds: On one side you have the 4-H'ers. They are there to show animals or exhibit their projects. On the other side you have the carnival people. They are there to ride rides, find dates, show off new tattoos, and get some meat on a stick. And then there are the many of us stuck in the middle, watching it all transpire.
Here are some highlights/lowlights (it's all the same) from this year's fair:
*Tractors.
Of course, for both David and Noel the tractors are the first things you have to see. Noel sat on or climbed on nearly every moving piece of machinery in the entire fair. Our tradition is to have him sit in the wheel of the combine for a picture, noting his growth from the year before.
Noel also got to ride on the Bumpy Barrels, which was pulled by a tractor. Noel LOVED it.
*Food. We made some critical errors this year in the dining experience at the fair. First, we sat outside to eat, which completely sucked the life out of us for the rest of the evening. Nothing like hot brisket in your gut while you're looking at pigs. mmmmmmm. Secondly, we ate too much at the first stop, leaving little room for "extras". However, we did enjoy our sandwiches and of course relished the lemon shake up. Noel was more excited about the free popcorn from the big barn. And speaking of the big barn,
*Free Stuff. We got popcorn, suckers, coloring pages, balloons, a tractor keychain, and as much fair dust as you can carry home on you, all for free.
*Last, but not least, Granpa Crachit. Now I've seen this puppet for many years driving around telling kids about the show, but this was the first year I had a child begging me to see him. So we got to watch good ol' Granpa Crachit and all of his antics, which for some reason, every child is completely enthralled by. And then at the end, Granpa gives a sales pitch for his DVD, which is only $5 and you can enjoy all year long! Needless to say, the show ended in tears because we wouldn't get Noel a video.
By the end of the night, both kids had cried, we were sweaty and dirty and way too full, and a little poorer for the wear, which means our trip was a complete success.
Happy Fairing!
Now, the fair is an amazing place. And when I say amazing, I mean that I'm amazed at the people, things, food, situations I encounter while I'm there. It's so much that I really can handle it for just one day a year. Any more and I'd be on fair-overdose. I love the collision of the different worlds: On one side you have the 4-H'ers. They are there to show animals or exhibit their projects. On the other side you have the carnival people. They are there to ride rides, find dates, show off new tattoos, and get some meat on a stick. And then there are the many of us stuck in the middle, watching it all transpire.
Here are some highlights/lowlights (it's all the same) from this year's fair:
*Tractors.
Of course, for both David and Noel the tractors are the first things you have to see. Noel sat on or climbed on nearly every moving piece of machinery in the entire fair. Our tradition is to have him sit in the wheel of the combine for a picture, noting his growth from the year before.
Noel also got to ride on the Bumpy Barrels, which was pulled by a tractor. Noel LOVED it.
*Food. We made some critical errors this year in the dining experience at the fair. First, we sat outside to eat, which completely sucked the life out of us for the rest of the evening. Nothing like hot brisket in your gut while you're looking at pigs. mmmmmmm. Secondly, we ate too much at the first stop, leaving little room for "extras". However, we did enjoy our sandwiches and of course relished the lemon shake up. Noel was more excited about the free popcorn from the big barn. And speaking of the big barn,
*Free Stuff. We got popcorn, suckers, coloring pages, balloons, a tractor keychain, and as much fair dust as you can carry home on you, all for free.
*Last, but not least, Granpa Crachit. Now I've seen this puppet for many years driving around telling kids about the show, but this was the first year I had a child begging me to see him. So we got to watch good ol' Granpa Crachit and all of his antics, which for some reason, every child is completely enthralled by. And then at the end, Granpa gives a sales pitch for his DVD, which is only $5 and you can enjoy all year long! Needless to say, the show ended in tears because we wouldn't get Noel a video.
By the end of the night, both kids had cried, we were sweaty and dirty and way too full, and a little poorer for the wear, which means our trip was a complete success.
Happy Fairing!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Worship
One of the absolute highlights of our trip to Haiti was worshipping with Emmanuel Christian Church in Peredo. I wish I had some video footage of it, because words can't describe this. We pulled in (still riding in our cattle car--the church clothes were a nice touch) and church had already been going for quite a while. They had finished up Sunday School and were singing. There are no instruments, no p.a. system, no graphics on a screen. Just Toto leading 100+ believers in song. As soon as we came in, people moved children to the sides so we could have a seat (everyone is in church together--there aren't any other rooms!). I ended up sitting by Fanny and Cosine, two of the girls I had spent lots of time with so far on the trip. That turned out to be a bad thing, since they were both fighting so much that Gerard separated them during the sermon--yikes!
We sang a few hymns, most of which I could sing along to because they were old hymns I had grown up with. Then one man stood up and sang a song in Creole. It was really nice. Then another man came up. I found out later that this man was a new believer whose wife had been practicing voodoo until just a few months ago. He sang the song "He Touched Me" in English and then in Creole. I can tell you, there was barely a dry eye in the room. To look at this man and imagine all of the things he has gone through, and now finding out there is a Savior who loves Him and wants Him, it was completely evident on his face. I don't think I'll ever forget that.
Another "time-for tears" moment came when the students from our group got up and sang a worship song, led by my nephew on guitar. To see them all up there, singing with all of their hearts, about God changing them from the inside out, I don't think I've ever been more proud to be one of their leaders.
After communion and some more singing, Steve Allen, our preacher who came with us, preached while Gerard interpreted. It was great watching Gerard, because he is so animated, and you could tell that he was adding to what Steve was saying. The funniest part was when a cell phone went off. Gerard stopped the service to give a lecture to the church, but he was being really comical, telling them, "nobody cares what your ringtone is." I love him.
The whole service was beautiful, uplifting, emotional, and unforgetable. I love knowing that when we are in worship here in the states, that they are worshipping God all over the world, too. We can get so caught up in the latest songs, technology, etc. to try and wow the crowd, but if it's not from the heart, it's garbage. What matters is a heart focused on one thing: God.
Friday, July 09, 2010
That's the night that the lights went out in Jacmel
Let me tell you a little bit about our house and its ammenities. First off, we are in one of the nicest areas of Jacmel, so when you see the pictures, realize that this is not the norm for Haiti.
HCO (Haitian Christian Outreach) is currently renting the house, which they call L'Abri (I think it means rain). The house has a name because there are no street names or street signs. In facts, during my whole stay in Haiti, I saw one stoplight, and that was in Port-au-Prince.
The house has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a balcony, two meeting area, and a flat rooftop with an amazing view. It would be a great vacation condo. However, there are some factors in this house that make it very different from the usual house in the states. First of all, due to the poor plumbing situation, you can't flush any paper down the toilets. So everything goes in the trash. And while we're on the subject, every drop of water costs money. So you should only flush when absolutely necessary :) and showers had to be military-style: get wet, turn shower off, scrub down, turn shower back on, rinse.
Also, the water out of the faucet is not safe to drink, and there is no water heater. So you have to heat water to do dishes and you have to buy bottled water to drink. In fact, many Haitians drink water from plastic pouches instead of bottles to cut down on trash (by the way, there is no trash collection in Haiti. The trash just piles up until someone burns a pile of it.)
Electricity is not on all of the time. Some man has control over when the power comes on and goes off. Luckily, we were there during the World Cup, so he kept the power on pretty late into the night. Once the power goes off, you have to rely soley on a generator, which can be tricky sometimes. For example, one night at around 2 am, I start hearing this beeping. It came every few seconds for about a minute. Then, all of a sudden, all of the fans stopped and the beeping became one, long, constant beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. After a couple of minutes, Tessa finally spoke up, "Am I the only one who can hear this??" Apparently the batteries on the generator were not completely charged, so we were out of power until city power came back on (around 9 am).
Another thing I was not prepared for was the little creatures we came to know during our stay at L'Abri. There were at least 3 lizards who stayed with us, along with some spiders and lots of ants. I definitely had to get over my fear of these things, since I was sleeping on an air mattress on the floor.
All of this said, the house was great. We had a wonderful stay there, and were so thankful that we had such a nice place to stay. Not to mention that the beach was about a 10-minute walk away and there were lots of beautiful neighborhood kids to play with whenever we went outside. I think everyone's favorite part of the house was the roof, where we hung out to meet in the evenings and take in the amazing views.
HCO (Haitian Christian Outreach) is currently renting the house, which they call L'Abri (I think it means rain). The house has a name because there are no street names or street signs. In facts, during my whole stay in Haiti, I saw one stoplight, and that was in Port-au-Prince.
The house has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a balcony, two meeting area, and a flat rooftop with an amazing view. It would be a great vacation condo. However, there are some factors in this house that make it very different from the usual house in the states. First of all, due to the poor plumbing situation, you can't flush any paper down the toilets. So everything goes in the trash. And while we're on the subject, every drop of water costs money. So you should only flush when absolutely necessary :) and showers had to be military-style: get wet, turn shower off, scrub down, turn shower back on, rinse.
Also, the water out of the faucet is not safe to drink, and there is no water heater. So you have to heat water to do dishes and you have to buy bottled water to drink. In fact, many Haitians drink water from plastic pouches instead of bottles to cut down on trash (by the way, there is no trash collection in Haiti. The trash just piles up until someone burns a pile of it.)
Electricity is not on all of the time. Some man has control over when the power comes on and goes off. Luckily, we were there during the World Cup, so he kept the power on pretty late into the night. Once the power goes off, you have to rely soley on a generator, which can be tricky sometimes. For example, one night at around 2 am, I start hearing this beeping. It came every few seconds for about a minute. Then, all of a sudden, all of the fans stopped and the beeping became one, long, constant beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. After a couple of minutes, Tessa finally spoke up, "Am I the only one who can hear this??" Apparently the batteries on the generator were not completely charged, so we were out of power until city power came back on (around 9 am).
Another thing I was not prepared for was the little creatures we came to know during our stay at L'Abri. There were at least 3 lizards who stayed with us, along with some spiders and lots of ants. I definitely had to get over my fear of these things, since I was sleeping on an air mattress on the floor.
All of this said, the house was great. We had a wonderful stay there, and were so thankful that we had such a nice place to stay. Not to mention that the beach was about a 10-minute walk away and there were lots of beautiful neighborhood kids to play with whenever we went outside. I think everyone's favorite part of the house was the roof, where we hung out to meet in the evenings and take in the amazing views.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Roll with it
So if there's one lesson I've learned about life in Haiti, it's this:
All plans are subject to change. And usually do.
We learned this lesson very well on our second full day in Haiti. After most of us didn't get to travel to Peredo the first day, we were very excited to go. First, let me explain the transportation: Almost every time we traveled to Peredo, it was standing up in the back of a truck that resembles a cattle car (see picture). I laughed every day coming up with conversations Haitians must be having that day.
"Did you see Genio (the driver)? He went and found himself a load of Americans!!"
Anyway, this trip is about an hour long, but it also includes some beautiful scenery of the ocean and a couple of small towns (Kapotier & Peredo). The most exciting part of each ride was crossing two different rivers by driving through them, as I mentioned in my post yesterday.
As we pulled into the camp at Peredo, we were greeted by the school children, who are just about as adorable as it gets. Talk about melting your heart. They lined up and sang some songs for us, and then we started working. And by working, I mean that most of us carried rocks by hand. Big rocks. By hand. To fill up a hole that will eventually become a basketball goal.
(Did I mention that the students on my trip are awesome? Because they are. They could have moaned and groaned all day about having to carry rocks in empty cement bags and on rusty wheelbarrows in the sweltering heat, but they didn't. I was so proud as a sponsor to be with them.)
After we had been working for about an hour and a half, we noticed the school children all disappeared. Then it started to rain. Then it started to pour. And we all ran for cover.
As we're waiting it out in the camp gazebo, Toto (who works there) is telling Ginny something in Creole that doesn't sound good. He is concerned that the rain will make the rivers rise too much, and we will get stuck here. We need to leave.
No problem, right?
Problem: Genio (our driver) took the big truck back to Jacmel.
Plan B: We take people one load at a time in HCO's pick-up truck across the two rivers to wait for our big truck to come back and get us. I don't think I'll ever forget riding in the truck as Toto is driving, heading towards the river. I ask him, "How can you tell if the river is too high?" His reply? He just laughs!!!
Thankfully, the first group made it across the rivers. Then we had to wait. The only place we could find was a lean-to, and I use that word lightly.
In hindsight, I'm not sure it was any better than just standing in the pouring rain, but that's where we stood and waited for what seemed like forever (probably 40 minutes or so). Then the second load of people came. Of course, only then did we realize that there was a shelter just up from the lean-to that was much nicer. I'm guessing it was a bar during the evenings, but was not in use at the moment. The owners were very kind to let us stay there as we waited some more. While we were waiting, Ginny, Laura, and Lesley were making sandwiches in the pick-up truck for us to eat. I went out to check on them, and right as Genio pulls up with the big truck, we realize that now the truck Ginny is driving has a flat tire. Her reaction? She just laughs (I think there's something to this laughing thing). But with help from some locals we were back and ready to head home.
After the rain eventually stopped, we went outside and played with the neighborhood kids in Jacmel. We were thankful that everything turned out okay, and that God took care of us. In the states, it would have been easy to be upset that we didn't get much "done" that day, but consider what we did "do":
*met and encouraged the school children
*started working on the camp
*relied on God (and Toto) and learned about faith
*met and hung out with Haitians in a bar in Peredo, who we probably would never have met.
*spent a rainy evening doing the Hokey Pokey with Katia, Bernadine, Rosalund, and many others
I think some days God looks at our "plans" and laughs. He has so much in store for us that can't be contained on a check list. Thank you, God, for showing us that.
All plans are subject to change. And usually do.
We learned this lesson very well on our second full day in Haiti. After most of us didn't get to travel to Peredo the first day, we were very excited to go. First, let me explain the transportation: Almost every time we traveled to Peredo, it was standing up in the back of a truck that resembles a cattle car (see picture). I laughed every day coming up with conversations Haitians must be having that day.
"Did you see Genio (the driver)? He went and found himself a load of Americans!!"
Anyway, this trip is about an hour long, but it also includes some beautiful scenery of the ocean and a couple of small towns (Kapotier & Peredo). The most exciting part of each ride was crossing two different rivers by driving through them, as I mentioned in my post yesterday.
As we pulled into the camp at Peredo, we were greeted by the school children, who are just about as adorable as it gets. Talk about melting your heart. They lined up and sang some songs for us, and then we started working. And by working, I mean that most of us carried rocks by hand. Big rocks. By hand. To fill up a hole that will eventually become a basketball goal.
(Did I mention that the students on my trip are awesome? Because they are. They could have moaned and groaned all day about having to carry rocks in empty cement bags and on rusty wheelbarrows in the sweltering heat, but they didn't. I was so proud as a sponsor to be with them.)
After we had been working for about an hour and a half, we noticed the school children all disappeared. Then it started to rain. Then it started to pour. And we all ran for cover.
As we're waiting it out in the camp gazebo, Toto (who works there) is telling Ginny something in Creole that doesn't sound good. He is concerned that the rain will make the rivers rise too much, and we will get stuck here. We need to leave.
No problem, right?
Problem: Genio (our driver) took the big truck back to Jacmel.
Plan B: We take people one load at a time in HCO's pick-up truck across the two rivers to wait for our big truck to come back and get us. I don't think I'll ever forget riding in the truck as Toto is driving, heading towards the river. I ask him, "How can you tell if the river is too high?" His reply? He just laughs!!!
Thankfully, the first group made it across the rivers. Then we had to wait. The only place we could find was a lean-to, and I use that word lightly.
In hindsight, I'm not sure it was any better than just standing in the pouring rain, but that's where we stood and waited for what seemed like forever (probably 40 minutes or so). Then the second load of people came. Of course, only then did we realize that there was a shelter just up from the lean-to that was much nicer. I'm guessing it was a bar during the evenings, but was not in use at the moment. The owners were very kind to let us stay there as we waited some more. While we were waiting, Ginny, Laura, and Lesley were making sandwiches in the pick-up truck for us to eat. I went out to check on them, and right as Genio pulls up with the big truck, we realize that now the truck Ginny is driving has a flat tire. Her reaction? She just laughs (I think there's something to this laughing thing). But with help from some locals we were back and ready to head home.
After the rain eventually stopped, we went outside and played with the neighborhood kids in Jacmel. We were thankful that everything turned out okay, and that God took care of us. In the states, it would have been easy to be upset that we didn't get much "done" that day, but consider what we did "do":
*met and encouraged the school children
*started working on the camp
*relied on God (and Toto) and learned about faith
*met and hung out with Haitians in a bar in Peredo, who we probably would never have met.
*spent a rainy evening doing the Hokey Pokey with Katia, Bernadine, Rosalund, and many others
I think some days God looks at our "plans" and laughs. He has so much in store for us that can't be contained on a check list. Thank you, God, for showing us that.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Charlotte
June 23 was our first full day in Jacmel. Our original plans of heading to Peredo were changed because they thought it would rain, so a small group of the guys went and the rest of us stayed back. We would later figure out why the amount of rain is so important: the road trip to Peredo, which is about an hour, involves crossing two rivers. Not on bridges. Not on boats. Just driving straight through the rivers. If the river is up too high, you're stuck on whatever side you're on. More on that tomorrow.
The rest of us who were left behind were put to work doing various jobs. We sorted medicines and donations and painted bunk beds. During a lull, Alex, who works at the house, took us on a walk down to the ocean. Most of us were a little discouraged because we didn't get to do much, but that is part of Haiti--learning to deal with changes whenever they pop up. I kind of thought the day was a waste.
And then I met Charlotte.
During her stay here in Haiti, Ginny (the missionary we stayed with) has formed many connections with people all over Haiti. We teased her because she has "a guy" for every job you can imagine. "I have a lobster guy", "I have a generator guy", "I have a UN guy", etc. Anyway, one of Ginny's connections is in Tent City, and her name is Charlotte. After the earthquake, hundreds of thousands of Haitians lost their homes, their land, and their families. Jacmel has several different Tent Cities throughout the town, and Charlotte lives in one of those Tent Cities. Charlotte has basically taken it upon herself to be what I would call the mayor of her Tent City. She looks out for everyone. She makes sure people who are unjustly arrested are pleaded for. She finds medical help for the hurting. And in the course of this, she found Ginny. Now, when Charlotte has a medical need, she contacts Ginny, who is a nurse, and Ginny comes out to Tent City to help.
The day I went to Tent City with Ginny, she was headed there to give a young child a shot. They had a swolen lymph node, and needed antibiotics right away. Here in the U.S. a problem like this would have never even become this bad of an issue, but this is common in Haiti.
I'm guessing that this Tent City is about the size of two football fields, rowed with military style tents, attached right next to each other. The tents actually create "roads" within the city to walk. Along one wall of the city is a row of outhouses, which I learn are the second set built since the earthquake (the others are completely full!) There is a huge bladder of water under a tarp, which is for those who live in the tents, but the water still has to be boiled. There is little food, no running water, and no electricity. The people there have hardened faces. They seem to look right through you, and it takes your breath away for a minute, knowing this is their reality. Not a temporary fix; a permanent reality for them.
As we pull in, we wait for Charlotte to meet us, and Ginny's only directions are, "Please try not to cry." She takes us to the sick child, and while we walk, little hands grab onto ours, sometimes two and three to a hand. The children, despite the circumstances are filled with joy. One boy came up to us and practiced what little he knew of English. Many kids wanted you to take their picture. Almost all of them were smiling. It was too much to take in.
As we leave, Charlotte talks with Ginny about some other concerns she has, and while we are there for the next week Ginny will go several more times to Tent City. Every time, Charlotte is there, fighting for her people, people who have no one else fighting for them.
As I went to bed that night, I could barely remember the walk to the beach and the jobs we had done around the house. All I could see in my mind was Charlotte and her heart for the lost.
I want to be like her.
Monday, July 05, 2010
Reality Check
I am rich.
And so are you.
Don't think so? Drive through Port-au-Prince sometime. You'll think differently.
We left Chicago early on June 22. Both of our flights went very well, except for one small delay. As soon as we landed in Port-au-Prince, we realized that there was no turning back. As you leave the terminal, you are taken by a bus to customs, which went really smoothly (especially considering the two sisters on the trip accidentally used each other's passports!!). Baggage claim was a chaotic mess, since we had 48 bags (half of which being supplies and tools we were bringing with us). After all of the bags were counted, we realized we had lost three. But thankfully they were not anyone's personal bags. Just another lesson that we need to be ready for the rules to change at any minute.
Then the craziness really began. We had a caravan of luggage carts overloaded with our bags, and we had to push them to our truck, which meant going through a crowd of people and over a rocky path. One of our carts kept falling over, spilling the bags out, but we eventually got everything loaded up and we got into the vans. The highlight of this day for me was seeing Gerard, a missionary and friend whom we have been praying for. He lost his house and all of his belongings in the earthquake. It was very emotional for me to finally see him after we have been praying for him for so long.
The drive through Port-au-Prince is indescribable. The area surrounding the airport was not really affected too badly by the earthquake, but as soon as you get close to the city, all you see is devastation. About every other building is just rubble. It was hard to take it all in, especially since we were driving quickly and the sun was going down. The one image that will stay in my head forever was looking at a little girl, who couldn't have been much older than Noel, filling a bucket with water from a mud puddle and using an old shirt to strain it. I realized that she was gathering water for her family to use.
And I complain when our power goes out for an hour.
After our ride, which was about three hours and included going over a mountain, we arrived at L'Abri, which is the house HCO has rented for Ginny (one of the missionaries) and any missions teams who come to work. It is a really nice house, with room for everyone to sleep. We were given our first taste of local food with some Haitian spaghetti, which is kind of like our spaghetti, but with hotdogs and a thinner sauce. We had a short orientation and got the house put in order for the night. I don't think I've ever slept so hard in my life.
All in all, our first exposure to Haiti was a reality check. All of the pictures and videos we'd seen over the past several months were now right in front of us, and we would never be the same.
And so are you.
Don't think so? Drive through Port-au-Prince sometime. You'll think differently.
We left Chicago early on June 22. Both of our flights went very well, except for one small delay. As soon as we landed in Port-au-Prince, we realized that there was no turning back. As you leave the terminal, you are taken by a bus to customs, which went really smoothly (especially considering the two sisters on the trip accidentally used each other's passports!!). Baggage claim was a chaotic mess, since we had 48 bags (half of which being supplies and tools we were bringing with us). After all of the bags were counted, we realized we had lost three. But thankfully they were not anyone's personal bags. Just another lesson that we need to be ready for the rules to change at any minute.
Then the craziness really began. We had a caravan of luggage carts overloaded with our bags, and we had to push them to our truck, which meant going through a crowd of people and over a rocky path. One of our carts kept falling over, spilling the bags out, but we eventually got everything loaded up and we got into the vans. The highlight of this day for me was seeing Gerard, a missionary and friend whom we have been praying for. He lost his house and all of his belongings in the earthquake. It was very emotional for me to finally see him after we have been praying for him for so long.
The drive through Port-au-Prince is indescribable. The area surrounding the airport was not really affected too badly by the earthquake, but as soon as you get close to the city, all you see is devastation. About every other building is just rubble. It was hard to take it all in, especially since we were driving quickly and the sun was going down. The one image that will stay in my head forever was looking at a little girl, who couldn't have been much older than Noel, filling a bucket with water from a mud puddle and using an old shirt to strain it. I realized that she was gathering water for her family to use.
And I complain when our power goes out for an hour.
After our ride, which was about three hours and included going over a mountain, we arrived at L'Abri, which is the house HCO has rented for Ginny (one of the missionaries) and any missions teams who come to work. It is a really nice house, with room for everyone to sleep. We were given our first taste of local food with some Haitian spaghetti, which is kind of like our spaghetti, but with hotdogs and a thinner sauce. We had a short orientation and got the house put in order for the night. I don't think I've ever slept so hard in my life.
All in all, our first exposure to Haiti was a reality check. All of the pictures and videos we'd seen over the past several months were now right in front of us, and we would never be the same.
Sunday, July 04, 2010
This is really turning into an adventure, and we haven't even left Indiana yet.
At around 1:00 on Monday, June 21, 13 students, 7 adults, and around 45 bags packed up and headed towards Chicago to prepare for an early flight for the next day. Emotions were all over the place. Some tears, lots of laughter and card playing, and a few worries. We didn't know what God (and Haiti) had in store for us over the next 10 days.
Our first adventure began before we even left the state. As we were driving up 65, one of the tires blew on a church bus we had borrowed from another church. Tanya, our driver, was so calm as we pulled over. We immediately started looking for a spare, and then realized that this was a bus with dual tires in the back, and that there was no way to jack up that kind of vehicle and replace a tire. We called the van ahead of us to let them know what was going on. They stopped at the next exit, and wouldn't you know it? The very first building at that exit was a tire store. The store had one tire that fit the bus, so after coming to get the kids (who had been running around in the woods and acting like hooligans) , Tanya and my brother Dave got the bus to the tire store and had it changed while the rest of us waited at a Burger King.
I was so impressed by everyone throughout this situation. It could have been so easy to already be frustrated and upset, but the kids (and the adults) were in great moods. Some of the kids made a "Honk 4 Jesus" sign and tried to get trucks to honk while we waited. Those who were waiting at Burger King sat and talked, not complaining about the time they had to spend. And about an hour and a half later we were on our way. As the rest of the trip played out, I'm glad this group was okay with things not going as planned, as you'll see in upcoming posts.
After finally getting to Chicago and waiting for Mac, our Haitian Christian Outreach leader, to arrive, we had our last "American" meal: pizza and ice cream drumsticks, and settled into our plush hotel rooms for one last night of air conditioning, long showers, and cell phones for quite a while. We were about to be taken out of every comfort zone we could imagine, and it was, as our Haitian friend Alex says, "Very good."
Saturday, July 03, 2010
In my mind I'm going to . . .Jacmel?
Well, our group made it back safe and sound from our 11 day adventure to Haiti. Over the next several posts I'd like to share some stories from our trip. There is so much still in my brain that I'm trying to process, but I want you to know about the people of Haiti, the work being done there, and the power of God.
More to come. . .
More to come. . .
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