8-3-10
Let me share a little bit about World Race travel days because there really isn’t anything else like it. They typically involve vague time frames, unexpected stops or detours, language barriers and a lot of flexibility (or what we call “fluidity”). Our travel day from Port-Au-Prince, Haiti to San Juan, Dominican Republic definitely did not disappoint. Stacey (my fellow logistics partner in crime) and I were responsible for getting 27 people to San Juan. We left the bus station at 8:30am on a really nice air-conditioned bus, which everyone was stoked about. During our time at the border (which isn’t fun at all) I met Kelty, a really kind Dominican that helped translate for me so I knew what was going on. So, after two border stops we entered the DR; which greets you with long, winding, steep hill climbs. Our bus sounded like it was going to explode. We started climbing up our third hill and about ¾ of the way up the bus came to a sudden stop. We were going nowhere fast. Long story short, they had everyone get out of the bus and walk to the top of the hill while the bus backed down and tried again. Meanwhile, a bus from another company pulled over to help. We were informed that our bus was too heavy and some people had to go on the other bus. I let our driver know that my group could not split up, so he had all of us unload our gear and reload it onto the new bus.
So we get settled in and continue our journey. I’m exhausted because of lack of sleep. The night before I slept outside with a super loud nightclub next store blaring its music. (Side note: Haitians and Dominicans have only two music volumes: mute or extremely loud). So I finally get a chance to get some sleep and I’m really excited about it. I finally doze off when someone on my squad wakes me up informing me that the bus is not taking us to our original destination. Of course not. That would be too easy. So I head to the front of the bus (Did I mention my seat was next to the bathroom in the back of the bus? Awesome. I know. lol!) My friend Kelty was sitting up front (thank you Lord) and I explained to her what was going on. She was able to translate for me as I pled my case to the bus driver. Meanwhile, I have one phone with only a few minutes on it, just enough to get in touch with my contact who is waiting for us at the bus station in Santo Domingo, where we will catch another bus to San Juan. I explain what’s going on and she was really great about walking me through what to do and say with our bus driver. Oh and did I mention that I soon realized that we never had a chance in Hades to make it in time to make our connecting bus? Even if we didn’t switch buses we would have never made it in time. Awesome.
So we ended up at a different bus station. Both my contact and I were in the process of figuring out alternative transportation to San Juan. I was wheeling and dealing with the bus driver as he made some phone calls, while she was searching for another bus. What ended up happening is that she found two smaller buses to take us to San Juan at twice the price. Our original bus line met us at the different bus station and took us back to where we were suppose to end up in Santo Domingo. We unloaded our gear and loaded it back onto the two smaller buses. We finally arrived in San Juan around 10:30 that night and I could hardly see straight, I was so exhausted. If it sounds like I’m complaining, I’m not. Was it stressful? Yes. Was I exhausted? Yes. Did I know what I was doing? No. But I wouldn’t change a thing because I learned a lot through the experience. My attitude was challenged, my faith was increased, and I walk in a greater awareness of God’s protection and faithfulness. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
# of buses it takes World Racers to get from Haiti to the DR: 5
# of times loading/unloading gear: 5
Total amount of travel time: 14 hours
Total distance traveled: 343 miles
# of casualties: 1 bird that flew into the windshield while traveling to San Juan
7-25-10What inspires change? A positive word? An inner prompting? Inspired speech? Comparison? Competition? All of the above? As I sit and write this blog, the staff at Canaan are in the process of redecorating the dining hall and reinventing the way the children are served meals. They are choosing to leave behind the “cafeteria” feel and are providing a family style setting with place mats, table settings, potted plants, and flowers. This may not seem like a big deal to us, but for the children who call Canaan home, providing a warm environment with intentional place settings and an adult to help serve them a meal reinforces their value.
In a country like Haiti where poverty and disease is all around, the people have become a product of their environment. Quite honestly, how could they not? As I drive down the streets I see a lot of blank faces and I try to imagine what it would be like to wake up here day after day after day. I cry out to God asking, “What hope do they have, Lord?” And then a few nights ago while praying for the children at Canaan, the Lord gave me a vision. I saw Canaan as a dry and barren land, then the Lord spoke and said, “This land will no longer be under developed, I am cultivating it and it will bear fruit. The community will come and benefit from its fruitfulness and seeds will be planted throughout all the land.”
Later that evening we held a worship service for the older girls at the orphanage. In my first blog about Canaan I wrote about a disconnect between the hearts and minds of the children in regards to their relationship with the Lord. As my team began praying into this, one of them felt led to have a worship service for the girls. So we did. And God met us there. I witnessed girls cry out to their Father in Heaven, some of them lay on the floor weeping, others found victory and everyone was strengthened and encouraged, including my team. By the end of the evening the girls were leading their own worship songs a cappella and I’m pretty sure a choir of angels joined in the singing. There is tenderness in their hearts and softness in their eyes. They have a calling. A destiny. A purpose. They have HOPE. Of course, transformation is a process and this is just the beginning. But I know God is starting the cultivating process. The harvest is plenty and the workers are few, but now the Lord can add a few more workers to His roster. I believe it’s only a matter of time before the children of Canaan become fruit bearers, God’s HOPE for Haiti.
7-21-10
Today was a great day. I spent the entire day working on clearing a path for T-Yoldy (she is the little girl who uses a walker to get around). As I started digging I soon realized it was becoming a multi-process project. Digging in rocky dirt provides it’s own challenges (and energy) ,but the area where I was working had no drainage. Therefore, anytime it rains the water pools in certain areas turning the dirt black and creating a swine-like smell. So, I ended up digging up all the black dirt to get rid of it and then the rest of the good dirt I sifted to get rid of the big rocks. I also dug a drainage ditch to help move the water away from the low-lying areas and into a larger space away from the path. Since it rains here everyday it won’t be difficult to test whether or not it will work.
I worked alone from morning until lunchtime, which gave me some time to pray, think and listen to my iPod. Then after lunch a ton of the younger kids came over and were really interested in what I was doing. They brought some more shovels and started digging and sifting with me. It was so great! We had so much fun and it was such a joy to watch kids do what they do best…play in the dirt! T-Yoldy eventually came over and helped out too, which was so awesome! She helped me pack down the sifted dirt back onto the path. I could tell she was really excited about what was happening. It will be interesting to see if the children return to the project tomorrow and whether or not it will cause the children to become more aware of people with disabilities.
7-20-10
Here is a glimpse of our daily schedule:
Monday- Thursday:
5:30am- Wake up
5:30 – 7:00am- The children do chores. I spend this time alone with the Lord.
7:00am-7:45am- Breakfast
8:00am – 8:45- The children have devotions. If the Internet is working, I use this time to catch up on emails, post photos, or write a blog.
9:00am – 12:00pm- The older children are in school and the younger children play. Some people on my team play games with the kids, some tutor in the school, and I work in the library.
12:00pm-12:45pm- Lunch
1:00pm – 4:30pm- The children have free time. I will work in the library, hang out with the kids, and /or give Mackenson a guitar lesson.
2:00pm – 4:00pm- Optional study hall
5:00pm – 6:00pm- Dinner
6:00pm – 7:00pm- The children have evening devotionals. During this time my team has feedback time. This is when we meet to talk about the day, discuss anything that may be on our hearts regarding each other, and pray. Feedback plays a vital role in maintaining team health.
7:00pm – 10:00pm- More free time, homework, reading, and getting the kids ready for bed.
Friday’s Schedule:
The children still do their chores in the morning and have devotionals. But they don’t have school. Friday’s are the designated “outing day” for the children who have been in school. We will take them to the beach, go for a hike, or hang out in Saint Marc.
Saturday’s Schedule:
The children get to sleep in as long as they want. It’s also the day the children do major cleaning in the dorms. My team takes the entire day off. Last Saturday we went to the beach all day and relaxed. We played a fun game of beach volleyball too!
Sunday’s Schedule:
Church is at 9:00am and ends around 10:30…or 11:00….or 11:30 (like this week). It’s a very relaxed day hanging out with the kids, or taking a nap. It’s amazing how much the heat zaps your energy!
7-16-10
Let me state the obvious: It’s hot. I sweat when I sit, stand, sleep and I’m pretty sure I even sweat when I shower. There are flies; in fact, there are so many flies that when you walk across their path they sound like a swarm of bees rising up from the ground. The mosquitoes are microscopic, stealth bombers that show no mercy. Instead of lotion, I lather myself in bug spray. The dogs on the property are like a pack of playful wolves and they love to nip at my skirt (which I’m secretly hoping will get ruined so I won’t have to wear them anymore…haha!). They long for affection, human interaction and a bath (desperately). The pigs on the property usually go unnoticed until the evening rainstorm passes through and causes the stench of wet pig to rise and fill the air. It literally stops you in your tracks. And I don’t even want to talk about the spiders that are the size of the palm of my hand.
Let me state the not-so-obvious: At 5:30am when everyone wakes up, there is a stillness and peace. When I step outside to spend time with the Lord, the air is the coolest it will be all day, there is a gentle breeze and God whispers tenderly to me, calling me His Beloved and speaking life into my day. When the children laugh and smile it fills our hearts with joy. The hearts of the older girls are becoming tender as they gain our trust. The walls they have built in order to protect themselves are slowly being broken down. There is a little girl named Yoldy who has braces on both legs and uses a walker to get around. There is nothing at this place that accommodates a disabled person. The ground is dirt and rocks, there aren’t any ramps and the orphanage is built on a hillside, so there are very few places that are flat. But you will never hear her complain. She smiles incessantly and has the upper body strength of an Olympic swimmer. When the children sing it sounds like a choir of angels.
It has become evident that the children at Canaan have memorized a LOT of Scripture. They have morning and evening devotionals and they know a lot of Western Christian worship songs. However, there is an obvious disconnect between their heart and mind. Their heads are full of knowledge of the Gospel, but many of them have yet to experience a heart transformation. Everyone on my team has recognized this and we are in agreement that the Lord will use us to pour out His Holy Spirit upon these children. We are planning to have a worship and prayer service with the older girls next week. Please keep that in your prayers.
It’s a privilege to be here. Every day has its own set of challenges and rewards, joys and heartache. I live only for today, for I do not know what tomorrow holds. I live with hands opened wide and palms facing up, ready to freely give and receive.
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