Settling In

After two weeks in my new home in Haiti, there is much to talk about and even more to personally process. From the moment I found myself here I felt at home and that sense of home is only getting stronger as I find my place here.

We have finally been getting into the school more and have started the process of getting our rooms ready for the students. With only a week before school starts, there are plenty of obstacles to overcome. Slowly, my books and supplies are making their way to my classroom along with plenty of dust and mess. There are still several key elements to my curriculum that need to surface from the many boxes that were packed from the earthquake but I have high hopes that they are just around the corner. Please keep me in your prayers as I have my first day of class next week and for the students who will be coming back for the first time since the earthquake.

Other than being busy with school, we have found ourselves very well taken care of by our friends here. The hospitality shown to us by some of our friends from the school has been unbelievable. Last week we took a trip out to the beach and had a wonderful time enjoying not only the amazing beach, but the great company as well. This weekend we found ourselves at the receiving end of more hospitality again when a fellow teacher took us all to her family's place up in the mountains surrounded by a breath-taking view, delicious food, and overall just a time to unwind and enjoy each others' company.

This weekend also brought about the opportunity I had been praying about long before I ever stepped foot in Haiti. My friends Steve (a former teacher at Union) and Michele (a current teacher) have started a non-profit called H.E.R.O. (Housing Education and Rehabilitation of Orphans) and have asked for my assistance with what they are doing. I am excited for what lies ahead and how we can reach out to a country in tremendous need. Please take the time to visit the website and see how you can get involved as well (http://www.haitihero.org/index.html).

Continue to pray for Haiti and all that continues to go on here. There is more need and devastation than I can even begin to describe through text or photo. Every rattle of a window or the sound of a large truck driving by puts people on edge as they worry another earthquake could tear apart their lives again. Every rain brings fear as a large portion of people are living in tents and the Haitian rain never falls lightly. As the elections draw nearer, so does the anticipation of not knowing if a worthy leader will be stepping into office or not. These are just a few of the many examples of the state of Haiti right now and your prayers and support are very much in need.

Thank you all for the support you have given me and will continue to give me as I live my new life here in Haiti. I thank the Lord for you and I hope I can do my best to keep you informed on on what is going on here. Also, some long over due photos are here and can be found at the following link.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2044091&id=67600728&l=2e89a5e39c