the journey thus far

Here is find my self again!  OK wait, before i get ahead of my self.... i got out of Seattle safely and with only minor glitches. Turns out i was misinformed about the bags and so with help from Jessi and my mom we did some repacking. See you later's turned slightly tearful but i had to get a move on to get to my flight. The sound of airport announcements caught my attention when they called a final call for my flight. Soon my walk turned to a slight trot.  I made it and settled in. Turns out the owner of Lee's jewelry in Abbotsford and his friend where sitting in my row.  The flights and the wait in Miami went well. Soon i found myself just minutes away from touching down in Haiti! i was THRILLED! i tried to be all business in the airport and get through as soon as possible, but like usual that is not possible. I am not accustom to the style here and i have yet to make my connections to get to the fronts of line and such. So i waited, and got a cart and was happy to see all my bags waiting for me already. i then knew i was so close!!! out the doors and down the outdoor hallway, it felt like and endless tunnel and all i wanted to do was sprint! i held back, but i think the man pushing my cart was unsure why i legs where moving so fast. I had a wonderful welcome on the ground in Haiti. 2 of my favorite people where there to meet me!  Carlo, and Evens!!!

I had a wonderful first day in Haiti, and that has turned in to many more wonderful days.  Saturday late afternoon Christine met up with us! She has spent 6 weeks in Haiti and this was her last weekend here. Good timing, I know!  Sunday morning we had the privilege of joining Carlo’s kids at the pool for a few hours! it was SO much fun! A perfect way to say hello to them all again! It was a lot of fun to get back in to the swing of life down here quickly. Don’t get me wrong, i have been adjusting at my own pace, but it will come.  It was fun to show a friend from Canada the places that i have been hanging out, and working.  

working in the back yard, prepping for some building

 
 the faces that welcome me!!!

Monday morning i checked in with EDV, the organization that i worked with for 2 months in april and may of this year.  I was recieved warmly and jobs where waiting for me.  Monday i spent the day out at a school, helping getting a roof on for new school rooms.  It was COOKING hot, and i had to really pace myself out there.  They list of jobs started pilling up and the week filled quickly. I was sent out on a motto to Val’s orphanage to check out some needs and make some measurements. It felt good to be back on a motto on those roads and side streets i remember well.  Again my welcome was warm! i made some notes on the fence that needed to be built and had a chat with Val.  This one was going to be a challenge... i was to build it all out of scrap wood... and if you have followed my past blogs you know that scrap wood is the stuff that is usually worse then trash wood in canada.  I was correct... it did turn into a challenge, between finding that there was next to no wood at the house, the wood we did have was covered in tiny fire ants or was torn apart pallets. then we got some wood, that went missing for a day and a half, then the trip out to Val’s on friday on a tap tap that seemed to take forever, only to discover that the 3 batteries for the cordless drill we brought seemed to have very little life in them( and we where on a site with no power to recharge them). Finally, a week later the fence is up, and the tables and 8 benches are built! i am proud of the work and so thankful to all my little helpers at Val’s, and my big helper Munib. 

It was a process, but we where blessed with an overcast day yesterday, and that allowed us to work a very long day with next to NO breaks. 

A favourite moment from the process was when we had finished the gate on the fence and had moved on to working around the corner from it all. I went back to get some tool only to find a small orphanage boy standing in front of the the gate... confused... i understood his mind at that moment. It seemed to him that he had be fenced out of his home, with no way around this new structure, he was much to small to climb over, and had yet to discover the latch system we had constructed. I took in this moment for a moment, and then took the young boys hand and showed him the latch. He was so proud then! and for the rest of the day i found him opening and closing the gate for others that wanted though 

 I feel like at the end of the day... i head home. My space, to be tired, to relax, to reflect, to plan. there are many plans in the works, and i am remembering that they work on Haitian time. I am often surprised when things happen quickly, but i am getting more used to them not.  i have learnt so far to do without many things that i am accustomed to in Canada. i am embracing them all, some tougher then others.

As for the plans for the art program and such that many of you have helped me with. It is coming!!! BUT we again are working on Haitian time. Our plan is to run the art program in a school that has JUST started this week. so we are having to work our program this time around into the school program. it will be a little different, but that is what life here is all about. Being Flexible!