Safe in Haiti

Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm here in Haiti now and things are settling in. We are planning, planning, planning and trying to prepare as best we can for the first day of camp. I was a sweet treat for the Haitian mosquitoes last night so yeah for callamine lotions :) I am staying at a missionary family's house and they are just great. Should be a good summer. I'll write more later.

goodbyes and snafoos

I was in Indy Wednesday to pack up all the crafts and t-shirts that my friends put together. It was a great time. We spent time praying and the group put together a scrap book for me with pictures and notes that touched my heart.

Today we have encountered our first snag on this adventure...and we haven't even gotten to the airport :) YIKES! We found out through an email from Haiti that there is a bag embargo which restricts us from taking more than 2 seventy pound checked bags from Miami into Port au Prince. NOT GOOD since I alone have 4 bags to check full of crafts, games, prizes, and camp t-shirts. Keri and I are looking into dispersing out 7 check bags out to other volunteers who will be coming early in the summer. Please be praying that this will go smoothly in the three days or so we have to get this taken care of. Also, that my guitar will fit in the overhead compartment and be allowed (as they say it is) as a carry on. Ahh, and the challenges begin. We trust that God has complete power and control over every detail and we rest in that. If we must, we will sing His praises without the guitar...and the sweet voices of the children will be heard.

Now...I'm off until Haiti...

Selling and Moving

With the help of my good friend Rochelle and the donations of several others the yard sale was a huge success this past weekend! We raised a good deal of money for Haiti and I couldn't be more happy about it. I sold all of most of my stuff with the exception of a couple peices of furniture that are family heirlooms. It feels freeing to simplify and get rid of stuff. Things are moving right along...literally...I moved what is left of my stuff to my parent's house and am working on finding places to stash and store it all. Fun Fun.

The picture below is Rochelle preping some of the crafts she is putting together for English camp. She and I cut material to make belts this summer with the kids for a craft. Speaking of crafts, I am headed back down to Indy one last time Wednesday to get together with friends to pack up all the crafts, games and other prizes and things that they have been working on. We will eat some food, pack the suitcases and spend some time in prayer.

Camp Shirts

Look at these awesome t-shirts that my friend April designed for us to take to the kiddos in Haiti. The kids are gonna look so cute in these!! Thanks for using your gifts and talents April. I love you girl!!

Moving, Packing, and Leaving the Country

So this is my last week in the "big city" (Indy). I am packing up the apartment, having a big garage sale on Friday and Saturday (15th) to sell most of my stuff, and moving back to Milford until I leave for Haiti. I fly to Haiti on Tuesday June 26th. Things are coming together. T-shirts for English camp are ready to be printed, crafts and games are being prepared and packed, and I am practicing all the childrens songs I can think of on the guitar :) I am wondering how in the world I will carry three or more 50 pound suitcases and a guitar through the airport, but it will have to be done. That will be a sight. I worked my last day at the Psych Hospital Friday. I am glad to be done with all that!! WOWZA! Just a little update for those of you who are a little behind. I will be in Haiti for 7 weeks this summer. I will be working with Heartline Minitries to teach english to about 50 kiddos. Check out my first blog to find their website. I don't have much of a plan for when I return mid August which is a freeing feeling but a bit scary. 26 and moving back with the parents...hmmm. I am thankful for parents who don't freak out about stuff like that. I trust that God knows what He is doing here. I know there is a purpose to the madness and instability. I will embrace it.
For those friends of mine who are wondering about this whole "armor of God" theme we will be using this summer in Haiti i will explain a bit further. I think the main idea here in using this is to introduce the children not only to the english language but also to their creator God and the power that He holds in this world. There is a spiritual component in Haitian culture (mainly voodoo related) that can be oppressive and create fear. Part of what I would love to do this summer is to empower young minds practically with English but also with a spiritual power. How this will all take place?? Well, we will have short 10-15 minute lessons and 10-15 minutes of songs to start every day at camp. I will be playing my guitar and leading songs and many of the lessons with the help of my friend Keri and our other leader Lisa. We will integrate the theme into the English lessons, games, and crafts. Please pray for a spiritual awakening to God's power, freedom and joy in such a desparate nation. Post a comment if you have questions. Thanks for the prayers and support.