Ayiti Map Sonje W

Me and Jean Bertho at Port Salut

Photo by Paige Orlowski

Fishing Boats in La Savane

Photo by Wilson Jeanty

Haiti I will remember you...

I have had a great time in Haiti and will definitely be replaying most of these events in my mind. From our time driving around to different sites to take water samples and seeing how people live to hanging out with our kids at the beach. This trip was wonderful for reminding me of why I am here and why I keep coming back.

Sunday School

Playing games outside

Tama reading the Bible

This past Sunday I was able to go and visit Sunday School that I had started. It was amazing to see it still going and the kids still enjoying it! It changes, as everything does, but it was still them learning about God and the Bible and having fun too. They recited some of the things they had learned and sang for me when they saw me. I was very happy and it definitely made my day.

*photos by Paige Orlowski (thank you!)

Pictures!

Ok so Paige took all these pictures of the adorable children as we put socks on them. Little did I know that when you help a child put socks on that he puts his or her hands on your head! I was a little surprised when I started putting socks on this child when all of a sudden he was gripping my head! Oh well I enjoyed it just as much as the kids did!

Haiti at last!

So far already we have had many exciting encounters! My first time driving from Port Au Prince to Les Cayes, it was interesting to say the least! We met up with Fritzner and I was so excited to see him again! I also have gotten to see most of the kids I wanted to already and they were excited to see Paige and I. We have already started giving out some of the clothes and things that we received from so many generous people, their eyes lit up when we handed them something new... so thank you to all who have donated items and given me the opportunity to see your items making a kids day!

Pictures to come later, I couldn't get them to upload sorry!

Leaving tomorrow!

Tomorrow I will be starting my latest trip to Haiti! I am very excited and hope to make some good progress while down there. Paige and I plan on visiting with several organizations and taking lots of pictures! EDUplus is now being processed as a nonprofit and we hope to dive right in towards eliminating poverty in Haiti and hopefully changing a lot of lives! Pray for us and check back often to see new photos!

The Lords Prayer

God speaks to us in all sorts of ways, and lately He has been speaking to me. He has been telling me to focus on myself at a time when I try to think of others. When I pray normally I try to pray for all that I can think of who need the Lord, however often times I forget that Jesus taught us to pray and ask God to forgive us and help us forgive others. To lead us not into temptation but to deliver us from evil. So often we forget to spend time focusing on ourselves to make us better people. God has been telling me this week to look at myself and seek out the changes I need to make. I love all the small things that God sends me and all of a sudden I realize that all these small messages are really for one big message, I must just take more time than most to get the point =)

So Lord, now I'm listening! Help me to become the person I want to be, to be more Christ like and able to do your work!

Love!

Going to Haiti

In less than one week I will be on my way to Les Cayes Haiti! I am very excited and ready to be back in the country that stole my heart! I have been working with one of my friends I met down there, Paige http://paigeshaitipage.blogspot.com, to get a nonprofit called EDUplus off the ground. We are both very excited about this opportunity and praying that God will continue to do his good works for us! So far the Lord has opened many doors and proven He is with us! Pray for us as we go down and meet with some other organizations!

VISAS and more

So today I am about to turn in more 'evidence' for my VISA to get my fiance Fritz here! I am excited, nervous, and ready for this process to be complete! I cannot wait to go back to Haiti to see him and the kids!

About a month ago two of 'my boys' were going to be out of the project to go and live with a sister, which would be good news to anyone else but I was being selfish and wanted them to stay so I could continue to see them and be involved in their lives. It was then that I realized once again that my heart is truly in Haiti and that this is where I am called to be.

It is so easy to get caught up in the American dream of having a house and kids and a steady job! And I do want those things, but more than wanting these 'things' I want to be involved in the kids lives in Haiti, I want to continue to help them grow into the young adults I know they can be! I want to show them the Lord and that they do have hope for their future...

Long story short, eventually I will be returning to Haiti, and not only once but multiple times until I settle there, I believe it, even when I don't really want to, but that is my home.

Missing Haiti and plans to return

Today I am really missing Haiti. Looking through pictures on other people's blogs has really made me sad seeing boys growing without me :(

I hope to return sometime before next year but I am unsure more and more if that is a possibility. I am still trying to get a grant for the Sunday School program and hopefully a youth group type of program as well.

Ayiti mwen sonje ou...

The Future

Ok so I know that I said that I wouldn't be trying to make my own plans, but that was really hard, and hopefully God is the one guiding me this way, because these are my thoughts right now;

I want to start school in the spring semester of 1010 in Kansas at Central Christian College, after that I want to spend my summers in Haiti until I am finished, hopefully within two years.  I want to start a Christian farm camp on some of my Dad's land so that I have a job here in the States that allows me to travel back and forth to Haiti.  Hopefully after two years of getting it established I can continue to travel back to Haiti and work with the Sunday School Program.  I want to build it up to include a youth group for the older boys so that they are continuing to learn and grow as well.  These are my dreams at present, only God knows how they will pan out!

Summer = camp!

I am not working at camp this summer, like I have the past three, which makes me a little sad.  So in order to get my fill of camp I have been advocating for it in our church and have successfully gotten four of our kids to go!! This to me is amazing!  I am working on a fifth and hoping that they have a great time and come back and talk about it with all their friends!

I am very grateful that the Lord is providing a way for these kids to go to camp and so thankful for the people who have helped me accomplish this! I am hoping that I can get more but unsure if I will be able to get everyone scholarships or sponsors.  Please Lord be with your hands and feet right now as we make it possible to send some children to learn about you,  help me to appeal to the hearts of your servants to be able to send all that want to go.  Amen

Busy Days

Busy days back home help to distract me.  Lately I have been working my new job, helping my family on the farm where needed, and getting in contact with friends.  I'm glad for the distraction, because when I talk to friends from Haiti it makes me miss it that much more!  

I have no plans for my return of Haiti at this point, I am seriously considering transferring schools and getting the degree I want, to become a Youth Pastor.  I think now might be the right time, am I with you on this one God? :)

TOMS Shoes

So today I was watching tv and the AT&T commercial came on for TOMS Shoes and I got really inspired.  The first thing I did was buy a pair of shoes and check out their site.  I needed new shoes for work anyway so I figured it wasn't too spur of the moment!

So I found out just how cool TOMS is, and I even applied for a position with them!  I think that everyone should check them out because really what better way to help change the world, by doing it one pair of shoes at a time!  Anyway here is all the info, hope you all get as inspired and motivated as I did!

www.tomsshoes.com

Community - Purchase TOMS Shoes & A Pair of Shoes is Given to a Child in Need - One for One - Official Store - TOMSshoes.com 

Community - Purchase TOMS Shoes & A Pair of Shoes is Given to a Child in Need - One for One - Official Store - TOMSshoes.com

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Love!

Green and still

So I titled this green and still because Iowa is so absolutely green right now it amazes me every single day.  For anyone who has not been here in the spring time, it's worth a trip, I love the country, I'm sure I am a little bias but it really is beautiful!

As for being still, I am learning to be still.  I have been keeping my mind running the past weeks trying to 'figure things out' when really all I should be doing is living in the moment and letting things work themselves out, no matter how much I try and alter my course in the end I do a lot of worrying than need be.  So I am being still at the moment and enjoying what comes.

I will post pictures later of this wonderful place I call home.

Following God

So my struggle with where I am supposed to be is very evident.  So I am turning to God to lead me and show me where I am supposed to be.  I am trying to look for signs and be patient.  Maybe I am just too intent of figuring it out, or maybe I just want to influence my own decision, but I am constantly torn.

On one hand, doors have closed in Haiti where the grant is concerned.  The people I worked with didn't want me to leave and want me to come back.  But whenever I try to find out information about money I get nowhere.

But on the other hand, doors are starting to open back up to go back to Haiti and work for a company instead of trying to live off grants, which is what I want and a more sustainable way to live in Haiti.

However, I just got a job yesterday and I start today.  I have been excelling in my schoolwork now that I have more time and constant internet connection.   I am also starting to get involved in my church again and taking over our VBS program for the summer.    

Iowa is beautiful and where my roots are, but Haiti is equally as beautiful and where I can see my future...

More later, I'll keep praying

Iowa

Back in Iowa.  I seem to have two homes now, and sometimes it's amazing, but sometimes its very difficult.  I miss everyone back in Haiti, I even have been tempted to buy a ticket and go back.  But I realize that there were reasons I came back and I need to stick to my decision.  

It has been nice to see family and friends again. The internet has been wonderful and I am even ahead of schedule on my classes instead of constantly behind.  So I can't say that I don't like being back and taking nice hot showers!  However I am constantly thinking of Haiti and remembering everyone that is there at this moment.  I think part of it is that my relationships with them are so new and still fragile, whereas I know I can always come back here and re-connect with my friends and family.

Lord, help me to know I am doing what is right in your eyes.  Help me to see what it is that you want me to be doing and where because that is where I know I will truly be content.  Mesi.

What is Pwoje Espwa

On the plane ride back to Iowa, all I could think about was Espwa.  I kept thinking of the family that is has grown to be for me.  I really can't describe to you the feeling each day when kids come up and hug and kiss you and the love that I have for them.  I guess parents would understand, and maybe that is just how I think of myself, and a mother to these children.  It has been the biggest culture shock yet coming back into the States.  Everything here is so fast and busy.  The first time I see everyone they say hi and then rush off to do whatever it is they need to do.  I understand, but it just makes me wonder why I want this life, or if I do?

Maybe I am just missing my kids, maybe I expected more of a welcome home, or maybe my heart is right and God really wants me to be back home at Pwoje Espwa.  My home here in Iowa is beautiful and luxurious, it has warm showers and plenty of chocolate.  But it is missing something, its missing the boys, their love, its missing purpose.

Haiti has stolen my heart, mwen sonje ou Ayiti

Confused

Today I am lost.  I financially cannot return to Haiti after I leave May 12th.  I know that this is where my heart is and where I should be.   It seems like I am making the right decision by leaving to go take care of my finances... but is it?

Jacob and Esau

This past Sunday we talked about the story of Jacob and Esau.  We read the story and then talked about how we should act with our brothers.  We also did some coloring, singing, and praying.  Right after we dismissed two little boys started fighting about their place in line... I'm hoping at least a few got the message

Meetings

Lately all I have been doing is attending and setting up meetings!  At least that is what it seems like.  We have gotten together and started to figure out what needs to be done to really jump start this grant.  We have been making due without any funding so far, but hopefully that changes!

Sunday School went well again last Sunday.  I am really excited that the kids are going to be getting more out of their time with God each week.  Last Sunday we gave them crackers and my helpers have notified me that our numbers will increase this week because of it.

This morning I made hash browns and eggs for breakfast!  I am finally starting to get used to my apartment and feel more comfortable in it.   Last night Tigre, one of my friends made a meal for Fritzner, Jah Roro, and myself.  It was fun and it was like a rice stir fry he learned to make by working for Father Marc. 

Back in Haiti

I have been volunteering/working in Les Cayes, Haiti since January of 2008 off and on.  I love the kids here and I really enjoy doing what I feel God has called me to do.

Right now I am working on a couple different projects.  I am down here mainly because of a PEPFAR grant to do HIV/AIDS prevention education.  However I have just started a Sunday School Program for our youngest boys, ages 6-8.  We started our first class last Sunday and had about 75 little boys.  We learned the Creation story and had fun coloring and singing.

Since I first came here I have been doing small English classes.  Right now I have about 7 boys in my advanced class.  They are starting to do really well and really love learning.  If I have time I want to start another beginner class.