First Year... Check!

It seems like only yesterday I landed here in the beautiful country of Haiti. My mind was full of wonder and my heart could not contain more emotion. I remember before I even stepped off the plane, the overwhelming feeling of Haiti in the state it is in. There were no more than a few words of Creole on my lips and I was sweating more than I thought was possible. Through all the adjusting and learning, I know now more than ever that I am right where I am suppose to be.

Last week I completed not only my first year as a full-time teacher, but also my first year teaching here in Port-au-Prince. I owe a lot of thanks to all of you who were there to support me both here in Haiti and from all over the world. The group of second graders I had this year were an amazing and unique bunch and defiantly made for an exciting year. I am proud of the progress my second graders made this year even through the recovery from the earthquake, the closings due to hurricane threats, and evacuating the school to be locked up in our homes for days during the political riots.

If my teaching year was not enough excitement, I have also found myself as the country director of an incredible organization called H.E.R.O. (Housing, Education, and Rehabilitation of Orphans). We are now proudly providing education, school materials, meals, and uniforms to over 70 street children and housing 5 orphaned children in our transition home for orphans! Everyday is a new challenge and is also filled with its new rewards. I cannot thank all of you enough for being there for us as we continue to offer opportunity to those who need it most.

I currently have two volunteers on the ground here with H.E.R.O. and things are going full speed. Tyler Fair is one volunteer here who I have interned with in South America and he is already speaking Creole and making a lot of great relationships here. Our other volunteer is Toni Burns from the cold state of Alaska. Toni is an amputee who does not get slowed down by it. Yesterday she was ripping through boards with a handsaw and diving right into all we have been doing. It has been an incredible week so far and the adventures just keep on coming.

Every day that passes here I feel more and more blessed. My life here is surround by some of the most incredible people I have ever met and I love waking up every day ready for what is next. I have fallen in love with the people and culture of Haiti more than I ever thought I would. I am days away from my summer travels to Chicago and Peru and I really cannot wait to see all my friends and family that I miss so much. The reality is that I will also be missing Haiti during that time and knowing that I will be back here soon is comforting. My life has been torn by so many places, but I only feel more complete through it all. Thank you for keeping up on my life and I look forward to updating you all on the up coming travels ahead!

Here are some photos from the week so far:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.565286070697.2056219.67600728&l=7f1a5937ec

A Growing Home

My life is Haiti is one that is always busy, but also very rewarding. It is very easy to just be go, go, go here and forget to take a second to take it all in. Times like these when I sit down to update all my friends and family all over the world are when I really can’t help but count my blessings as I hear the sounds of laughter from the children in our home.

We now have six beautiful children living in the care of our home for orphans here with H.E.R.O. They keep things every exciting as they play games, do their school work, try their best at English, dance, take karate classes or just be kids having a great time. I also get to see my Creole skills improve daily in a way much more exciting than any class and all while getting to know the children more and more.

This weekend was one of sorrow and celebration. Yesterday I attended the funeral of a mother of one of my students. It was a tough week in second grade and there were a lot of moments that I was really impressed with my students. Death is a more common topic here in Port-au-Prince, but is still never easy, especially when dealing with children affect by it.

The celebration came today as we loaded up the children and headed up the mountains for a birthday party of a third grader at my school. We all had an amazing time and the kids had their fair share of fun. It always amazes me the amount of languages spoken at these events while four languages will be used in one conversation and I do my best to keep up. Haiti is definitely an interesting place to be right now.

Please keep Haiti in your prayers this week, as the announcement of the new president should be released in the next couple of days. This could bring more riots or the kind of change that Haiti needs. Only time will tell, but I know that the Lord is in control and we must continuously pray for this country.

Thank you all for your continued support and interest in what is going on here in Haiti. You all give me strength when I need it and I see your prayers being answered here every day. As always, please head over to www.haitihero.org to see how you can continue to stay involved with our projects!

Six Months

Today marks six months of life here in Haiti. I could never express in words all that I have learned and experienced in these six months that have gone by so fast. Even in the face of the struggles that exist here, all I can think about are all the blessings that have been poured out. We now have two children living in our home for orphans and our school program for street kids has doubled in size!

Yesterday we were able to give our students with good attendance a trip to the beach. Everything ran smoothly and everyone had a fun time. Even though these kids have lived in the Caribbean their entire lives, this was their first time at the beach for most of them. It was much more than just a day at the beach, but a chance to give these children a day just to enjoy life and be kids.

I am filled with so much hope for Haiti when I see these kids coming out day after day to class. I truly believe that education is the key to changing Haiti long term and it is incredible how much the kids also believe in education. This is the first time for these children to receive steady, formal education that doesn’t have to halt every time their families run out of money for school because they are just trying to provide food for their families. I always am reminded of Nelson Mandela when he said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

I want to thank you all for your prayers and support that has made all of this possible. It does not go unnoticed and I am constantly reminded of all the blessings in my life. I can’t imagine life here in Haiti without all of you to support me and the Lord surrounding me.

Enjoy the photos from the beach and around the house with the children!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2052360&id=67600728&l=09dab2ef20

Meet Robenson!

After much hard work and dedication, the first orphan has moved into our home! It almost feels surreal as I write this. What an incredible feeling it is knowing that there is a child sleeping in a nice bed tonight with a full stomach instead of being in the slum he came from. What is even more exciting, is knowing that we are providing for him so much more than food and shelter. The opportunities now in front of Robenson are far greater than I’m sure he or even I are able to grasp at this point. More than anything, we are providing for him a loving family that I am so blessed to be a part of.

There were times over the past several months when I wondered if I would ever be able to write this blog. But the Lord is good all the time and has seen us through it all. Some days were filled with so much frustration that comes along with working here in Haiti and all the different things that can fall through one after another. Looking back now they don’t seem to matter at all. The time and work put into this line of work can never be matched by a paycheck, but is paid in full and then some when I look at Robenson and see him smile.

I can’t help but let me mind wander where life will take Robenson and all of the other children that will pass through our care. Will they be doctors, teachers, engineers, photographers, or the president of Haiti? The possibilities are endless and they give me hope for Haiti more than anything else.

As always I ask for your continued prayers and support. Our home is now up and running, our after-school street children program is growing, another quarter is ending at school, and the list goes on. The blessings are too many to count and I can’t thank the Lord enough for the opportunities he has given me. Please continue to follow us on www.haitihero.org and contact me if you would like to be put on our mailing list. Thank you all so much for your support and I look forward to keeping you all informed as our programs continue.