Here and there and everywhere!

I made it! I am in Haiti! I arrived late Monday evening as my flight from Miami was delayed due to lightening. I got to Pastor's house around 7:30 and had a fabulous dinner of fried chicken and plantains! So much for my diet plan...anyway the first few days have been mostly about settling in, catching up with some old friends, and resting.

Friday, I went with Grace to the clinic to see a doctor. She hadn't been feeling well for a few days: fever, aches, sneezing...the works. She was given an antibiotice and some vitamins and seems to be doing much better today!

In the afternoon yesterday I went with a group from Alabama to a tent city not too far from where we are. It was built and organized by a different organization and since then Phyllis and her groups have been doing a lot to support it. We went with familiy bags of rice and beans and some clothing. I was sure we would be mobbed with what we had when we got there but the people amazed me. We went door to door passing out the supplies and the people waited calmly for us to arrive at their home. There was no pushing, no shoving, no fighting, just calmness and peace as we distributed.

Several other translators and I were talking about what we saw that day. One said to me when I come here it amazes me just how much God has blessed me, and I ask myself why me...

Emotions

So, here it is just 2 short weeks before I leave for Haiti. I am so excited about my trip I can hardly stand it! 5 more student days, 1 teacher workday and then 2 days of in-service training, 2 days to spend with friends and then a weekend at my grandparents before I get to enjoy Teem, pates, spaghetti with ketchup and eggs, rice and beans, keneps, my friends, my Haitian family, the children at the orphanage, Mama Miss, Mark and Sandra, the craziness of the roads, the heat, the smells, the sights...so much fun to look forward to!

Yet deep down inside there is an incredibly sad and anxious part of my trip. Missing the next 2 months of Lucas, Paislee Kate, and Vivian...tough. How much will they grow, what will they be able to do, what will I miss of their firsts? 2 months without seeing my friends, no girls nights out, no Supper Club, no mall trips, no CBC at Tiffany's...tougher. 2 months without my family...no multiple phone calls daily to my mom, no long conversations with my dad about all the problems in my life, no hanging out at Lori's. Missing family cookouts and weekend trips to my grandparents...the toughest by far.

I ask for your prayers of protection while I am away. I ask for your prayers of peace and comfort as I will miss the things here. I ask for prayers of productivity that I may accomplish the things the Lord has planned for me. I ask for prayers of strength as Haiti is no easy place to live. I ask for prayers of good health. I ask for prayers for my family as I think they will miss me too!