Quote of the day, “I sweat in places I didn’t know I could.”

First day of camp today and it was but 15 minutes into camp and I was sweating from my arms, my legs, and everywhere on my face. The quote of the day became, “I sweat in places I didn’t know I could.” It is so hot here. So hot. We are doing camp in an old school room with a tin roof. During camp you could feel the heat radiating off the tin. I think one could fry an egg on the tin if she/he left it there for the day.

40 children filed in. Great day with the children. Arts and crafts, a bit of sports, drums, and a story acted out by the workers added up to be a good first day. Neat to see the team of workers mesh more and more. Today we had the same workers from the last three years and it was so encouraging to watch them work together as a team, laugh together, understand how to teach the children and not do it for the children. Two of our workers didn’t know each other three years ago and today I got to watch them interact like brothers. Laughing and being ridiculous together. Neat to see relationships that have cultivated over time.

Got to take a stroll through the market, which is always interesting. Love to embrace the culture, see the people out and about, learn the language more and more, and just embrace Haiti. It is in those moments that I am so thankful for the whole experience of Haiti. Favorite moment of today was running around in a circle with the children while the adults played the drums and we yelled, “Jericho, Jericho.” I think I am 28 years old...maybe not this week!

Day two tomorrow…here we go.

Quote of the day, “If We Don’t Get Cholera that would be…Awesome.”

Today was a relaxing day. Got to enjoy catching up with people. Great to see smiles, embrace hugs, and catch up. Had a hard conversation with one of my Haitian brothers. I want to share the story with you in hopes to reveal a bit of the spiritual warfare and realness of voodoo that still works in this country. Today we talked about how many people in the town give him a bit of trouble. To spare a bit of details, a particular family has been giving him so many troubles to the place that they have begun to threaten him with saying they would go to the voodoo doctor and put a curse on him so he can’t move. At first it seems to crazy to believe or understand, but then it became so dark and real in a matter of seconds as he described more and more details of the conversation. The nurses have told me stories of patients that come in and can’t move their legs or arms and there is no explanation, but voodoo. As my Haitian brother and I continued to talk I asked him if her was scared. He said he is not scared because he knows God is stronger, AMEN brother. But I still ask that you pray for my brother Wilfete in the days and months to come. I know God is using him as a leader, example, and disciple in this community and in that I know that Satan will work even harder to conquer him. He is an amazing young man, with a great heart, beautiful character, loves working with children, and has a heart to serve and love Jesus. Pray for his strength and that his heart would continue to adore Jesus. Pray that no weapon formed against him should prosper.

Quote of the day has become, “If we don’t get cholera that would be awesome.” There are a couple of people in the hospital that have cholera right now and two of the foreigners here just had it. So fingers crossed, prayers going up, hands washed, praying that cholera does not affect us. There are only two of us here this time. Two on our team that is. If one of us gets it, well….we told each other we will still come to camp and work..hahah. Might not be a pretty sight. Pray for us. Last minute I had two people that could not come over to Haiti with us. Our strength is in two this year. Pray for our health and unity. Camp tomorrow..here we go.

Pray for Wilfete. Pray for the camp. Pray for the strength of the team. Pray for Haiti.

God Paved the Way on a Moto

I am well at my final destination, but getting here was a process. Woke up and got on stand by this morning, first blessing. After flying for 45 minutes north had me a nice rocky landing on a dirt tarmac, but was greeted by faces that made me smile. My Haitian brothers had come to pick me up at the airport. Little did I know that we were NOT taking a tap-tap(a hired truck), but we were going to take motos. We had 245lbs of equipment equaling 4 large duffel bags and a total of 5 people. My first question to all of you is….do we think motos is the right machine for this job? I tried to ask that question over and over, but everyone, but me was in agreement that it was the only way. Tap-taps were not passing the river because it was too high. I lost it laughing, “Seriously….wait…seriously…if you guys drop these bags into the river there goes our camp.”

Off we went….one moto with two bags on the back and two people. Then there was my moto. Let me paint a good picture for you. The driver almost sitting up where the handles were, ME, then my Haitian brother, Lou behind me. I was holding a bag, Lou was holding a bag and then one of our duffel bags was buggy corded to the back. Sound like a good plan? Nope. We arrive at the river….here is the tricky part. Getting our bags and motos and us all onto a rowboat that will be pushed across the river. I am still laughing outloud while the men are pushing us. We all crawl out of the “boat” and reload the bikes. By now I am so tired, but also know that we have an hour and half ride ahead of us. Not a smooth, easy ride at that. It is almost too hard to explain. The road is so bumpy, so uneven that one usually descends the bike with a rip-roaring headache. About an hour into the ride I was ready to loose it, but then I looked around at the others to find them all smiling and laughing at the situation. Heck, if they can do it, so can I…about mile 8 we rode through the biggest puddle that smelled of cow dung…..and because I was crammed between the two people I could not lift my feet….a foot bathing of some nasty smelling water. By now I have let go….and am laughing uncontrollably. Got to love the essence of traveling in Haiti. We made it…laughing, with all my bags, and safely. I could not have asked for more. Everything went perfectly great today and that is never the case. Usually I don’t get my bags, the tap-tap breaks down, or someone forgets you…but today God paved the way on a moto. Safe and sound…happy…loving being home and with the people.

First day of camp on Monday. Children are excited…getting excited through their joy and expectations. Here we go….pray for us and the