Good morning to everyone back home in the states! It is our third day waking up here in Haiti, and it has become comfortable and dare I say easy. The sights, the sounds, and the smells of Haiti which just a few short days ago provoked pity and despair have begun a sort of internal transformation for me personally. In a prayer of gratitude today at daily Mass, I was overwhelmed with a sense of hope and joy. God's people here in Haiti have not been forgotten, they do not need my pity. They are in need of so many things, but worry seems to escape them. There is so much for me to learn from them, and God in his infinite patience is walking me through the process. I look in the eyes of the children here, and I feel their tiny hands gripping my own and I am reminded that I am not in control. What is it I can offer here? What is it I can do to make a difference? Cleaning? Organizing? Are those my strengths? What does God expect from me? What is it I expect? Am I capable of letting go of all my expectations? I ask your continued prayers, that each of us may uncover during the week exactly what God wants us to learn from these beautiful people. Peace and Love.
This is the day The Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it! Good Sunday morning everyone, after Mass this morning we are off to the beach. I am joy filled. Not because of our beach plans (although that makes me pretty happy too) but because of the new relationships this trip has afforded me. The teens with us on this trip and their willingness to love is nothing short of awe for me. Getting outside of our comfort zone is never easy, but the kids here with us have been open and willing to do just that. As I have watched them during the week, the transformation is unfolding before my eyes. As a group they have worked, played, prayed and grown in love and respect not only for each other but for the people here and their circumstances. I am truly so blessed to be having this experience.
One of the highlights of our days has been the evening lacrosse game with the older boys here at Espwa. Last night I witnessed one of the Haitian boys sacrifice his opportunity to score, passing the ball to one of our girls so she could have the glory of the goal! And then before games end when one the boys cut his knee and needed sutures, our kids demonstrated genuine love and concern. I am not exactly sure of the details, but I know God is doing special things here for each of us. My joy comes from my God, who is my model of love, and I am so deeply grateful for the chance to witness that same unconditional love grow in the hearts of the youth with us this week.
My closing thought for this post I would like to share with you just how awesome cold showers feel here! I have had some of the best showers of my entire life here in Haiti. It's amazing how God can use dirt, sweat and hard work and turn it into gratitude. Our God is so good! Praying daily for all of you back home.
So today is Monday and it's our last day at Espwa. I awoke today with very mixed emotions, about returning home. While I am anxious to see my family, there is such reward in our work here. It is not the type of reward that we would expect. After one week we will leave Haiti and for the most part there is no physical evidence of our presence here. Sure we painted two homes and they are truly visible ( bright pink houses tend to stand out) however, there is still so much to be done. There are still babies crying out to be held, there are still young girls who desire to be recognized and loved, and there are still so, so, many young boys who seem to be lost among the numbers. As the week has unfolded, I have asked God to leave an indelible mark on my heart, that I may never forget. The names and the faces will be lost in my head, but Lord allow the desire to love, totally and without conditions live in my heart. Help me to live daily the model of joy that we have witnessed here and give me the strength to continue these good works for the poor, the elderly and the forgotten brothers and sisters in Christ that will cross my path in the future. Our visit to the Sisters of Charity mission house today was just another example for me of how Christ is alive and well in Haiti. We visited with men and women who are dying alone, we spent time with the severely handicap children who have been discarded, and we took the time to visit with the elderly. In almost every instance, as soon as our hands touched, smiles emerged. I for one will never forget just how little of ourselves it takes to brighten another's world. I am looking forward to the challenge of being the missionary I am called to be, and all of the amazing moments of reward ahead for me. Thank you Jesus for loving me, and giving me this amazing opportunity to love in return.
We awoke today at 5am to begin our journey home. The bus ride was a little shorter on the way back to Port A Prince, it only took us 4 hours to reach the airport. Most of the ride is very scenic, until you pass through the cities. The road then suddenly becomes crowded with people, livestock, and a variety of things they are selling. The most astonishing of the sights for me was the amount of trash in Haiti. As you come into Port A Prince you begin to see river ways overflowing with trash. In some places the trash is piled waist deep, and the locals simply walk over it. Much of the ocean and coastline in this area looks very polluted as well. During the week we became accustomed to the stench of burning trash, as some Haitians try to dispose of it. What also surprised me was the amount of earthquake damage still visibly untouched. We passed along a long stretch of road that the front and the roof of the buildings were collapsed, and indications that they were still inhabited. I spotted several homes entirely filled with stones and broken cement piled to the edges of what remained. It was a long, sweaty ride and I was happy to daydream about the cooler temps back in New England. The check-in process and security was the most disorganized airport I have ever been in. From the time we entered the airport we passed through 5 different security checks. From my observation the personnel seemed to be giving the Haitians who were traveling more difficulty than the Americans who obviously stand out. Boarding the plane was also quite the circus and took quite a long time. As I write this entry we are about a an hour outside of New York's JFK airport and now that we are on our way I cannot wait to return home. Things I have missed while I was away: family, pets, AC, padded seating, junk food and late night snacks, and so many, many more things too many to mention. Today I am thankful that our visit was to Espwa, as it is somewhat more sheltered from the things of the city. I am leaving Haiti, happy to be returning home and I will always be grateful to Linda & Peter Fafford for sharing their love of Haiti with all of us. They are such shining examples of how Christ calls us to live each day and I look forward to building a continued friendship with them both. Thank you Lord for all the blessings in my life.
I'm thinking of you and sending continuous prayers your way!! I'm loving all the pictures I've seen so far on Facebook!! xoxo
ReplyDeletexo
ReplyDeleteGood morning to everyone back home in the states! It is our third day waking up here in Haiti, and it has become comfortable and dare I say easy. The sights, the sounds, and the smells of Haiti which just a few short days ago provoked pity and despair have begun a sort of internal transformation for me personally. In a prayer of gratitude today at daily Mass, I was overwhelmed with a sense of hope and joy. God's people here in Haiti have not been forgotten, they do not need my pity. They are in need of so many things, but worry seems to escape them. There is so much for me to learn from them, and God in his infinite patience is walking me through the process. I look in the eyes of the children here, and I feel their tiny hands gripping my own and I am reminded that I am not in control. What is it I can offer here? What is it I can do to make a difference? Cleaning? Organizing? Are those my strengths? What does God expect from me? What is it I expect? Am I capable of letting go of all my expectations? I ask your continued prayers, that each of us may uncover during the week exactly what God wants us to learn from these beautiful people. Peace and Love.
ReplyDeleteThis is the day The Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it! Good Sunday morning everyone, after Mass this morning we are off to the beach. I am joy filled. Not because of our beach plans (although that makes me pretty happy too) but because of the new relationships this trip has afforded me. The teens with us on this trip and their willingness to love is nothing short of awe for me. Getting outside of our comfort zone is never easy, but the kids here with us have been open and willing to do just that. As I have watched them during the week, the transformation is unfolding before my eyes. As a group they have worked, played, prayed and grown in love and respect not only for each other but for the people here and their circumstances. I am truly so blessed to be having this experience.
ReplyDeleteOne of the highlights of our days has been the evening lacrosse game with the older boys here at Espwa. Last night I witnessed one of the Haitian boys sacrifice his opportunity to score, passing the ball to one of our girls so she could have the glory of the goal! And then before games end when one the boys cut his knee and needed sutures, our kids demonstrated genuine love and concern. I am not exactly sure of the details, but I know God is doing special things here for each of us. My joy comes from my God, who is my model of love, and I am so deeply grateful for the chance to witness that same unconditional love grow in the hearts of the youth with us this week.
My closing thought for this post I would like to share with you just how awesome cold showers feel here! I have had some of the best showers of my entire life here in Haiti. It's amazing how God can use dirt, sweat and hard work and turn it into gratitude. Our God is so good! Praying daily for all of you back home.
Peace, K
WOW Kathy -- thanks for sharing. I really enjoy reading your blog...xoxo
ReplyDeleteSo today is Monday and it's our last day at Espwa. I awoke today with very mixed emotions, about returning home. While I am anxious to see my family, there is such reward in our work here. It is not the type of reward that we would expect. After one week we will leave Haiti and for the most part there is no physical evidence of our presence here. Sure we painted two homes and they are truly visible ( bright pink houses tend to stand out) however, there is still so much to be done. There are still babies crying out to be held, there are still young girls who desire to be recognized and loved, and there are still so, so, many young boys who seem to be lost among the numbers. As the week has unfolded, I have asked God to leave an indelible mark on my heart, that I may never forget. The names and the faces will be lost in my head, but Lord allow the desire to love, totally and without conditions live in my heart. Help me to live daily the model of joy that we have witnessed here and give me the strength to continue these good works for the poor, the elderly and the forgotten brothers and sisters in Christ that will cross my path in the future. Our visit to the Sisters of Charity mission house today was just another example for me of how Christ is alive and well in Haiti. We visited with men and women who are dying alone, we spent time with the severely handicap children who have been discarded, and we took the time to visit with the elderly. In almost every instance, as soon as our hands touched, smiles emerged. I for one will never forget just how little of ourselves it takes to brighten another's world. I am looking forward to the challenge of being the missionary I am called to be, and all of the amazing moments of reward ahead for me. Thank you Jesus for loving me, and giving me this amazing opportunity to love in return.
ReplyDeleteWe awoke today at 5am to begin our journey home. The bus ride was a little shorter on the way back to Port A Prince, it only took us 4 hours to reach the airport. Most of the ride is very scenic, until you pass through the cities. The road then suddenly becomes crowded with people, livestock, and a variety of things they are selling. The most astonishing of the sights for me was the amount of trash in Haiti. As you come into Port A Prince you begin to see river ways overflowing with trash. In some places the trash is piled waist deep, and the locals simply walk over it. Much of the ocean and coastline in this area looks very polluted as well. During the week we became accustomed to the stench of burning trash, as some Haitians try to dispose of it. What also surprised me was the amount of earthquake damage still visibly untouched. We passed along a long stretch of road that the front and the roof of the buildings were collapsed, and indications that they were still inhabited. I spotted several homes entirely filled with stones and broken cement piled to the edges of what remained. It was a long, sweaty ride and I was happy to daydream about the cooler temps back in New England. The check-in process and security was the most disorganized airport I have ever been in. From the time we entered the airport we passed through 5 different security checks. From my observation the personnel seemed to be giving the Haitians who were traveling more difficulty than the Americans who obviously stand out. Boarding the plane was also quite the circus and took quite a long time. As I write this entry we are about a an hour outside of New York's JFK airport and now that we are on our way I cannot wait to return home. Things I have missed while I was away: family, pets, AC, padded seating, junk food and late night snacks, and so many, many more things too many to mention. Today I am thankful that our visit was to Espwa, as it is somewhat more sheltered from the things of the city. I am leaving Haiti, happy to be returning home and I will always be grateful to Linda & Peter Fafford for sharing their love of Haiti with all of us. They are such shining examples of how Christ calls us to live each day and I look forward to building a continued friendship with them both. Thank you Lord for all the blessings in my life.
ReplyDelete