Haiti pictures

Enjoy the trip!

Drops in the Bucket

You know how dreams are. They are supposed to be subconscious representations of what's going on in your life. I believe it! I had a dream(nightmare is a better word)on Tuesday morning that made me sit up in bed in a panic. I dreamt I was taking care of a disabled child for a friend. Her name was Sarah. Some waiter came along and offered me a sandwich then left. Someone else showed up after mr. waiter, and asked how come I didn't have any food for this child. (Slap my forehead) what was I thinking? So I wandered off hunting for food for Sarah. Of course, when I got back she was gone. I briefly saw her down by the road where the traffic was roaring by, but she for some reason she couldn't understand my calls for her to get away from the road. Then she was near the pool and I rushed over there. I couldn't see her anywhere so I stepped into the water covered parking lot and immediately sank in the water. There was Sarah. Suspended in the water. Not moving. I knew I could still save her. If only I could get to her. I woke up about then, never having the chance to save her. I think that's what made me feel so bad.
All the things we did in Haiti, from helping at the feeding center, to VBS with kids, teaching, fixing, sharing were like a drop in an ocean. The need is so great and my ability to help is too small for such need.
And now we're home. Oh don't worry, I'll have more to tell you in general, but for now, as I come down from this experience I find myself feeling ashamed of my materialism and waste. This morning (Friday) I find myself crying at odd moments like when I woke up in my soft comfortable, air conditioned bed/room. Or when we were flying towards what I knew would be my warm cozy home. Crazy tears. I am overwhelmed with thankfulness. God has been so good. But in the middle of all that is a greater requirement for me..."and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God."

The Road in Haiti

The roads here are ... well, it's the dry season, and I guess they're in the best shape you could hope for. But let me tell you that's not much to brag about! Some have been graded recently according to the locals. Wow. I'd hate to see them in worse shape. The ruts are often 2 or 3 feet deep and the rocks are everywhere. Actually there's no rhyme or reason for most of the rut placement. But put a pickup on it and go with 12 to 14 people in the back of the truck and you're in for an exciting time of the kind that you don't necessarily want to have! I made the mistake of riding in the back of the truck when we came from the plane to the house. EEEK! I wanted in the worst way to take pictures, but alas, it was not to be. I could barely sit and hold on to the camera. IT gave new meaning to 'bone jarring'! I was never so glad to finally be somewhere! And sadly, I had to satisfy myself with pictures in my head and writing down the first impressions: cows and goats being led by young boys, women with loads on their heads, dirt over everything from the dusty road, houses surrounded by cactus fences, clothes drying on the fences, thatched huts, swept dirt...
I can only imagine what it must be like in the rainy season. The mud must be tremendous. They have one big hill near their house that is packed and firm and must be as bad as trying to run up a snowy icy hill when they have rain. Wow.

A View from Haiti

I wish I could take a picture of the Sound here. The first thing that wakes me up in what seems like the middle of the night is the singing voices. And they are amazing. I can't understand what they're saying, but I can sense the joy in their voices. Then the sounds of the roosters, cows, goats, birds comes into focus. It is constant.
It has been warm. We have already done a lot, and met a ton of people whose names I struggle with. We sat with a class of girls just to speak English with them. We have been to the feeding center every day where they feed about 100 children 3 days a week. We have been out to the soccer field to play, and we have painted, swept, taught, fixed, sorted and gone. There is tons more to do, and in the short time that I have to write this I will never get it all in.

From Florida

(this is from the computer I'm on. I love to share)
Oh how I wish I had my own pictures to post today, but you'll just have to go with me on this one. Today was a travel day and I could absolutely bore you with the waiting, the lines, the rough air and the what not of traveling. But then You've all been there, done that, so I will just suffice it to tell you that we are safely in Florida. It's warm. It's sunny. We've eaten. Bed time just around the corner. There is internet at the motel. This is good. (I love conveniences) We leave for Haiti in the morning (6 a.m.) I am ready!

Conversations from the Corner

What I wouldn't give to be a mouse over in the reading corner. In quiet moments I can hear the discussions that go on over there. But when you only catch snippets here and there, well, that makes for interesting interpretations! The men sit around and read the paper, talk about politics, church, the weather, kids, health, sports, and business. Today, it's politics...Obama and Hilary. John McCain. You can be sure, in this Republican enclave that there isn't too much favorable to be said about Hilary and Obama. One day I heard an elderly gentleman talking about the telephone company. That always perks my ears up. It seems that an unamed phone company promised some good deal on cable tv installation. He didn't get what was promised. Whatever happened he was sorely disappointed and still pretty angry about it! Don't know if he was talking about Orange City Communications, though. (I seriously doubt it!)

I've heard lots about cancer, the state of Iowa football and basketball, Northwestern doings, church struggles!

Today, I read a review about a book that I thought I should have written had I'd been recording these corner conversations since I started here: Free for All: Oddballs,Geeks and gangstas at the public library by Don Borchert. Well, maybe I couldn't describe the drug dealers in the bathroom, but I could talk about obnoxious wanna be gangsta's on the internet. (no need to be racist here, but it ain't the dutch kids) Anyway, who'd a thought the librarian's job could be even remotely entertaining! I'll keep my ears peeled and I think I'll start my notebook now.


Last post till Haiti!

Moment by Moment

I can tell there's more stress in my life right now. I haven't been sleeping well. Last night I lay awake for a long time and then woke up many times in the middle of the night to hear the furnace running. Usually that means it's early morning since our thermostat is on set back at night. In this case, it just meant that 'baby, it's cold out there'. Even the dog didn't bother to get up in the middle of the night like he normally does. Ron told me though that he woke up once to find me sitting up with all his covers pulled off. He asked what i was doing and I told him I was getting baggies. And I did toss and turn and dream strange things. I dreamt that I was trying to get gas into the airplane and was having trouble with that. But this will soon go away. I am hoping to have a second or two to blog while in Haiti. I will definitely be sending an email or two while I'm there. Keep us in your prayers.