Haiti Trip ~ Day 5 ~ Thursday, March 10

Armed & Dangerous!

Prayer Partners of the Day: Debby Burt & Barbara Shaffer

I have never been so happy to be a girl!! As I write this, all five boys (Chuck, Bob, Ancy, Bertone, & Elian) are outside sleeping and I am comfy, cozy in a bed, indoors, and still being treated like royalty!

Let me start from the beginning! At 4:55am this morning, Bob woke me up to begin our day. (This is definitely getting me ready for the Navy!) After a quick cold shower and cup of coffee, we were off to Jacmel to another monastery. The road was rough but the view was gorgeous. We arrived at the Spiritan Sisters monastery & school, surveyed our work area & building, and quickly decided we needed another water tank. Ancy & I went back down the road to Jacmel, and so the adventure began!

It was market day in this little mountain area (Lavoute), and it took us thirty minutes to make it through the market... When we made it to Jacmel, we took a few wrong turns! Finally at the hardware store, we caused a bit of a ruckus! We are not certain...but I may have been mistaken for a celebrity! Everyone had out their cell phones and took pictures of me! They gave me a rocking chair to sit in, right in the middle of the store. Ancy kept a close eye on me, of course, and 45 minutes later, we came away with our 300-gallon tank and various other parts. It was crazy!

Ancy took me to a beachside hotel...just so I could use a nice bathroom! It was absolutely gorgeous. The beach, the palm trees, the crystal blue ocean. Magnificent. (I will post pictures on facebook!) Again, I stood in awe at God's beautiful creation. Simply amazing.

When we returned, we sat down with the sisters to work out the covenant. It was a really wonderful time, just chatting and getting to know each other. Thank goodness for Ancy! He is the best translator there is! I do love my Haitian brother!

Clearly, my prayer partners, Debby & Barbara, worked overtime today! It is true when they say there is always something new each day in Haiti! Each day, no matter what that new thing is, turns into a blessing. I am so thankful to be here. I will continue to live each moment with joy and spreading the love that each of my prayer partners is giving me!

Haiti Trip ~ Day 4 ~ Wednesday, March 9

Prayer Partner of the Day: Diana Grace

My prayer partner today started my day off with a beautiful text and prayer! It completely started my morning off perfectly and with a big smile! Thank you, Diana!

Today was a light day of work since we made so much progress yesterday. I built three ozone churns while the fellas finished up the final board. Tomorrow we will go to Jacmel to install the first system. We will spend the night there at another monastery and will come back to this monastery on Friday for the weekend.

Ash Wednesday Service

With it being a light day, we even had an afternoon naptime! This evening we went to the Ash Wednesday service at a local catholic church. They're trying to make a catholic of me yet! I even have me saying Hail Mary's and Our Fathers! I made a little friend today, a little 6-year old girl named Lucy. She's so cute! I can't figure out how to post a picture from my phone on my blog, so check her picture on facebook!

My Haitian brother Ancy arrived tonight! So much joy!! I love him so much and I'm so thankful for him!

We leave for Jacmel at 5:00am! Early to bed tonight! Peace be with you!

The Lucy...with bubble wrap!

Haiti Trip ~ Day 3 ~ Tuesday, March 8

Prayer Partner of the Day: Becky Memmelaar

Let me first start off by saying that last night, I could not sleep because I was....COLD! Who gets cold in Haiti!??? Well, I did. We're up in the mountains and sure enough it got chilly!

Oh wow. What a first day at the monastery! We were awakened this morning at 5:00am to ready ourselves for morning prayer, which began at 5:30! Since I'm not catholic, nor do I speak creole, I was lost. But, it gave me an excellent opportunity to lift up my prayer partner today, Becky Memmelaar!

We went to see the clinic they are rebuilding nearby. The view from the top of the mountain was absolutely gorgeous. Actually, I stood in awe for many minutes, not being able to speak, but only to give thanks for such beauty that only our God could create. The mountains, the ocean, the green. Simply amazing. I was so thankful to have been standing there in that moment.

After breakfast, we got to work. Our goal was to pre-build at least two, if not three, of the water systems. Our team of three, plus three local Haitians teamed up, and by 4:30pm, we finished FOUR systems! Tomorrow  we will have a light work day, as we simply need to complete the fifth board.

Big memory of the day...I used a drill! It was pretty fantastic! Tomorrow Ancy will come! While I've spoken to him on the phone several times, I haven't seen him yet! It will be a great day!!

Hopeful to bed early this evening! Peace!

Haiti Trip ~ Day 2 ~ Monday, March 7

Prayer Partner of the Day: Becky Field-Ross

Welcome to Little Brothers of St. Therese Monastery in Palmiste A Vin

Greetings from Haiti! It was a long 24-hours of travel, but we have made it! Our team is happy, our luggage is here, and our hosts are amazing! It's carnival time, with fat Tuesday approaching and there are lots of people out! We are thankful to be with the brothers at the monastery and our accommodations are luxurious.

Becky, your prayers were most certainly felt today! Thank you!

Much love & good night!

Haiti Trip ~ Day 1 ~ Sunday, March 6

Did you know that you can't get to Haiti in one day from the west coast? Or at least that's what American Airlines tells me! Today the adventure begins, and though I will only make it as far as Dallas today, I consider today the first day of trip #5 to Haiti. The bags are packed, all 150 pounds of supplies, and now we are watching the clock tick away until time to go to the airport.

Tomorrow I will leave Dallas and meet up with my two pals, Chuck Arnold and Bob McCoy. It's a very light team, and we will have a lot of work cut out for us, as we install FIVE clean water systems.

Each day, someone has graciously agreed to pray for me, my trip-mates, and our work. Today's Prayer Partner is Carl Jones, my former Youth Pastor. I feel pretty honored to have him praying for me, and perhaps this is why the feelings of anxiety have vanished to be replaced with excitement and peace. Thank you, Carl, and thank you to everyone who will be praying for our trip. Though I wish you could all come with us, I cannot wait to share the stories and tell you how you were a part of each day.

Bon Voyage, and I hope to update you as much as possible!

God is good...all the time!

UNC-Duke, Part Two

Yesterday was another one of those days where nothing could be accomplished with the great anticipation of the UNC - Duke game! This game had so much riding on it... The winner would become the Regular Season ACC Champs. But even more than that, our boys have come such a long way, they deserved this monumental win over their arch rivals.

The game lived up to all the hype! It was senior day, and as is the custom of the day, the senior class would be the starters. Despite the magnitude of the game, and the fact we were playing Duke, Roy Williams acted with class and awe and started three senior walk-ons. They played with heart and enthusiasm, and the crowd was on their feet from the moment the ball went into the air! We took an early lead, and pretty much kept it the entire game! Oh, what a game it was. Fast-paced, heart-pounding, crazy-shot-making, UNC basketball.

With this win, all was right with the world, and UNC gave me the best going away present possible.

Just check out this video... If you're not jumping up and down...well, you're not human!

Anticipation

It was truly a great weekend with the boys. I had forgotten how much fun it was to have them both in the same house together! There was rowdiness and excitement, and the chicken pot pie was eaten in ONE sitting! Our final night with Clint & Arlene was spent at the MGM. We had never been there before, and it was so exciting to watch Clint win at blackjack, and Arlene jump up and down at "Deal or No Deal!" Truly wonderful memories were made, and I can hardly wait for the next time we're all together.

My "Boys"

With the boys gone it is uber-quiet in our house! Yesterday, I was able to knock out the final paper for this session of classes....all 3092 words! It feels like quite the accomplishment to have finished my first seminary classes, and I'm really looking forward to the next session starting when I return from Haiti.  On another front...still awaiting word from the Navy. Apparently my packet did not go in front of the board on Wednesday, and it's scheduled now for the first Wednesday in April. Hurry up and wait... Goodness.

Now that the boys have left, the final paper is turned in for school, and the packing is complete, I am left with great anticipation! Sunday will begin the adventure to Haiti! For the first time in awhile, I am wee bit nervous about the trip! Perhaps it is because I am not "in charge!" Perhaps it is because I am traveling with a couple of guys that I have never traveled with before. Perhaps I am unsure of spending a month in Haiti. Whatever the case, I know that God is with me, and I have a HUGE amount of Prayer Partners engulfing me with love and care. I am so thankful to each one who will be joining me on this mission trip, and I can already feel your prayers. 

Two days and counting...