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Sunday, August 26, 2007

Meet Danae...all 3lbs of her!
Danae came to us just over a week ago.She's a month old and despite her size she's doing great, and is a really nice baby to have around. Please pray that she continues to be healthy and gaining weight.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

New Happenings




It's been a while since I've posted anything, but we've been quite busy with things and I haven't wanted to be on the computer that much.

So, where should I start...

Well, Jean-Diny's mom arrived with his two adult sisters on Thursday. It took him a couple days to really figure things out I think, but he's quite enthralled with her now.It's been 7 years of waiting for him, and so hopefully the whole adoption process will go quickly. It's so neat to see him interact with her.

Then, on Friday we received a little baby who is about a month old and weighs 3lbs. She's incredibly tiny, but doing so great! Pat named her Danae and she's now the new little peanut around her.

A short while ago they built a little swimming pool and we took the kids in there yesterday...I think we got more tired out than them!

Hurricane Dean has been causing some havoc...we were affacted by some really cool evenings and a lot of rain...and I am NOT complaining! I actually slept with a blanket last night!

You should have seen the rain come down though...it was incredible!

We've been going through about 50 rubbermaids of clothes and blankets and such for the past few days, trying to get things organized as they've been left for a while! It's looking good, even though I know there are a few more places that things are hiding.

I'm hoping to be able to get the ladies that are here to help me finish setting up the schoolroom, cuz I could use the help! I'm really excited about that area and need to have it all ready for when we start!

Creole is coming along quite nicely, though I need to pull out my books and do some studying. There has just been too many things to do and people to visit with! I'm doing great...have a few bugbites and am finally getting rid of some heatrash. Annoyingly, I think I've got a cold!!!

Anyway, there's an update and I'll try again to attach some pictures! You can see some on facebook as well!

Monday, August 13, 2007

My things arrived...and those lamo's at AA totally messed up my suitcase!

Hurray!!! My things arrived in Port yesterday and the boys went to retrieve them today. I was really happy to see my suitcases, and know I would not have to send my mom on a mad shopping spree! I have underwear galore!!!
The only thing is that they obviously(riduculously so) went through one of my suitcases and it's actually totally wrecked!!! Arggh!!! I may have to write them a little letter...for a free ticket perhaps(I wish!)
Things went great today. We did some organizing in a storage room on the roof and I think I sweated a small bucket full...seriously gross! There is so much stuff here that needs to be organized and I am happy that I can help out with that which will help to know exactly what we have to work with...even with sweat dripping running flowing down my face!
The little girl that I have been taking care of has decided that I am her mother and as she's doing better, we are introducing her back to her group downstairs and there has been a lot of screaming! Kind of flattering but frusterating at the same time as I can't be downstairs without her attached to my hip! 
Kind if had a teary moment today when I was sitting with a boy who is six and was thinking about how he hasn't had a mommy to rock him to sleep and pat his back...and still needs one!
Anyway, I need to do as much as I can with the power on.
Sorry no pictures yet!

My things arrived...and those lamo's at AA totally messed up my suitcase!

Sunday, August 12, 2007

One adventure after another...after another after another...etc

I'm here!! It's hot and I have so many things to tell you already! The trip was fine, even though once we got to Port-au-prince(Port) we realized that no matter how long we waited, our luggage was not going to show up. Oh, and it still hasn't!! And American Airlines has no idea where it is! So, I have been washing my one set of clothes every night and wearing them everyday...the Haitian way I suppose!
So, where to begin on the rest of the last couple days! After the luggage fiasco, Thym picked us up and we went to a place called Blue Ridge which is a mission run by Mennonites to wait for Melinda to fly in. It was so nice to see Pat and a few kids and let it sink in that I was finally in Haiti. Pat immediatly bestowed me with a beautiful little 2 year old girl who is temporarily at the orphanage as she's quite malnourished and had actually been rushed down the mountain to stay with Pat in Port as she took a turn for the worse. It was kinda nice actually because it gave me a focus for the next couple crazy days. So, we picked up Melinda and witnessed a UN truck flip over...you should have seen the hype that caused!! Only in Haiti! It was already late in the day, and since we were planning to take the much longer route home as the road is better, we decided to stay overnight in Port. It was nice to have a moment to breathe, and enjoy the pool there...yes I was spoiled!
We headed home after a few stops, and after about 1 1/2hrs we had to turn around because the truck started acting up and it was 4 more hours home. So we headed to another mission called Christian Service Int'l (CSI) and got a suite in one of their guest houses while the guys took the truck to get fixed. Shortly after supper, we got a call that one of the babies was really sick and had been taken to the hospital in Mirebalais, which as I have learned is not the greatest option.
So, after some discussion, we decided to load up the truck and head up the mountain road...in the pitch dark! Not a super great idea for many reasons, but a necessary one! There were some groups of people that we drove by really quickly...imagine what you will... The road is looking a lot better however, and the 3 hour trip now takes only 1 1/2 hrs!! Amazing!! And the Lord kept us safe and we made it home by 11pm. There was a nurse at the hospital who did a really great job and the baby was looking good as could be expected, which really surprised Melinda and Pat.
We arrived at HCH and after unloading, feeding some hungry kids, and getting settled, I went to bed. And I woke up sore knowing I must have slept like a log!
I am sleeping downstairs and the noise of the kids woke me up early this morning. It was so great to see them! They are all so big and I was surprised how many remembered me. They also kept asking where Ingie was and saying that we are supposed to come together! The babies I cared for last year are all walking and doing great, and the sick little guy that came right before we left last year is looking amazing and is so cute and totally cuddly!
It's hot, and my one shirt has been quite, shall we say, moist!
The classroom/play area is looking amazing so far. A team was just here and they did a bunch of painting and I am so excited to get things set up amd seeing what God has planned to happen in that room in the next year!
I am really happy to finally be here...admittedly there were some teary moments on the way here, but some really happy ones mixed in there!
So, I'm here, I'm happy, I'm sweating alot, and receiving lots of hugs and kisses.
Lots of pictures to come.

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Sign my Guest Map!

So, on the left of this page and down a little there is a "Guest map"...it's for me to know where people are from when they check my blog...and so I can know who's scrutinizing every word I write and wondering why in the world I chose to be a missionary...in Haiti, in the heat, admist the bugs and tarantulas...yes, you will hear about all of the above...numerous times...but I am so happy to be going!

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

One Week and Counting


It's been a long time since I've blogged, and it is because I have been enjoying a very busy summer! I spent two weeks at camp, as well as some random days in between helping out there. Then I spent some time with the youth centre kids before I leave...it's kind of a bittersweet thing...being so happy to be going to Haiti, and yet wondering what's going to happen to "my kids" that I have invested the last three years of my life into. It's kinda hard to realize and accept that my time with them is done and I have to leave them to the the next youth workers at Youth For Christ...I'm glad that Mark is still there and that will be a constant for them... and knowing that those seeds are going to be continued to be watered.


Then, I spent some time camping all over the province for the last week and a bit...saw a bear, helped rescue some lost hikers(long, crazy, amazing God timing story!), saw some more bears, enjoyed the beauty and majesty of God's creation, went white water rafting(and pulled our guide out of the rapids after he got flipped off) saw a bear and her two cubs, shared some concern with fellow campers about the bear population, and had a really nice time with some good friends before I leave!


I spent the last couple days doing some more camping with another friend, and we spent lots of time talking about how soon I was leaving and how I'm processing that. I'm really excited, all the while having a hard time believing how soon I am leaving! I have no idea where the last month went...I was having "whoa!" issues when the count was at 40 days!! It's kinda weird, because I don't feel at this point that being away is going to be that diffficult, but having so much freedom and spending so much time with friends that last two weeks has really reminded me how much I love my friends! And that kinda makes it sucky that I am leaving so soon! But, I also know how much I love Haiti, and the people and kids at the orphanage, and I am so happy that I am leaving soon! It's weird to feel so many things at the same time!

Anyway, I'd appreciate your prayers this next week as I make the final preparations to leave.