SO blessed

Monday April 12th 
You know, i was reminded today and a few times over the past few days that it really is true, ONEBYONE that is. I am so small in a big world. But i serve the All Mighty that is so BIG in a small world. He did create perfection in 6 days, and continues to create perfection all around me. I am again so blessed to be a hands-on part of loving these Haitian people. I have fallen more and more in love with this place everyday. The mountains that surround me on all sides, the lightening that fills the skies tonight, the tiny hands that reach out to lifted into my arms, the cries of beautiful children that i have bonded with, with slow pace, the markets that fill the streets, the ladies selling snacks under a small shack coverings, men that slowly work on the latest construction.

My desire to stop and talk with the faces that meet mine, to be more then just a white face that makes heads turn upon the sight of a foreigner.  My desire to be an encourager, a friend, and a neighbor, a local even though i am not a national. 

Today i experienced the events of YHWH’s divineness. It started last night with a outside visitor last night, who as it turns out knows many people that i know, and might have a part in my future days in Haiti. OK lets make that clear, i am not speaking of marriage or anything here. JUST actually being a  part of planning what i might end up doing here in the fall, and i thought it was tough getting ahold of people while i am in Canada, turns out i was brought right here to the place i love and got to talk in person. Mysterious ways.  As my dreams and my life unfolds i am in AWE of the hands that hold it all.

I have been blessed to spend the last 2 weeks getting to know 5 precious children, My oldest just turned 2 in Nov. i think about the 2 yr old that i take care of at home, and how different their lives are. My little Boy in Haiti, Sony know my face when i walk in to the nursery, he wraps his little arms around me as far as he can reach, he rests his head on my shoulder, he giggles as i tickle his adorable little face, neck, arms and feet, he listens to my heart as he falls asleep feeling comfort, safety and love. He has taken a piece of my heart that i am happy to give him forever. I have found a piece to give each of them. My beautiful dainty Jasmin and her big and strong twin brother Jeremy. my active MiKerline, who has grown from a tiny immobile girl just a year ago. now FULL of personality, and expressions. My precious, tiny Blanco who seems to fit perfectly in my arms. I give them each a piece of me. I ache a bit for leaving them, for selfish reasons mostly... i know that they will be cared for, and provided for, and loved. but i am sad i think about it not being me. 

 I have known peace to say ‘see you later’ in the past, but i struggle for that same peace this time.  I am so rich with friendships that have changed me, and who inspire me. 

May i be aware, of the lives around me. 

Of the people that could enrich me, and influence my life.

Blessed am i to be the current hands and feet. Please i pray, be blessed future hands and feet. 

here is a song i have listened to often over the last couple weeks. wanted to share it with you all.

What if there’s a bigger picture

what if I’m missing out

what if there’s a greater purpose

i could be living right now

outside my own little world

so i would break my heart for what breaks yours

give me open hands and open doors

put your light in eyes and let me see

that my own little world is not about me

i dont want to miss what matters

i want to be reaching out

show me the greater purpose

so i can start living right now

out side my own little world

--matthew west--

Much love, Angela

me and my gangster Christof

 My little beauty!

 The moon, looking amazing... it was only a sliver, BUT my camera rocks!

Sony and Berline! LOVE THEM!

bruises

wow i find my self bruised and TANNED! that is what you get when you work up at Fort Jaque for a few days! i will tell more about that later.  but i have a smile on my face this evening once again, like the end of most days. I am really enjoying myself!

I sure miss my babies though, today i was gone all day and when i got back i was doing some work around the main house. One of girls on staff had my baby Sony, and was doing an assessment on his development. so i sat down with there with her and him. First he reached over and took my hand while i told the staff member what i had noticed about him since being his volunteer.  only a couple minutes later he reached over and wanted me to take him. I did and he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and clung on. I had some more work to do, and so placed him near me to watch, and he did just that. It was a sweet moment every time i would look at him and see he was watching me. CUTIE!!!

RAIN!

We have gotten some rain some evening since i have been here, we have also had some SMOKIN hot days! last night it POURED! unlike i have seen, we drove up the hill to the house and it was like we where driving up a river! and from the house to the truck we where SOAKED. SO Micaela, Melissa(from france) and I decided to dance in the rain for awhile. we figured we where soaked anyways, so why not. i should have grabbed some soap.

 Yesterday a group of us went to "the waterfall" really just a walk/ hike/ rock jumping! which some of you know that i LOVE! and it was great. i have been to the water fall 2 times before, and this time there was next to no water.  but i am thinking that after the rain we had last night there might now be some more.  we scaled the small first waterfall and headed up for a long ways, i wanted to hike to the top of the mountain, but it did not happen. maybe another time. I saw my first tarantula! yuck! wow! he was in his little hole in the path, and my friend Wilmond pointed it out to me. i did not stick around long enough for him to crawl out... did not want to mess with that.  the mountains here are beautiful! and i am surrounded by them!

I have 3 awesome room mates! we have some good laughs! Melissa is from France, and we laugh pretty hard....she has some phrases that much sound better in French... cuz i dont like them very much in English. Like "if you keep singing, it is going to rain"  turns out it is true... but probably has nothing to do with my singing.

today 3 of us took some little ones out for a walk! my little sweety, Sony, walked while holding on to my fingers for a long time, i was so proud of him.  it is fun to walk and see the area, the kids really enjoy it too. I put Sony down in the 'grass' today and he was full of smiles.

just a quick hello

Not too much to report. but things are good! i am going to go enjoy another amazing sun set so i will write later. here are some pics, to make you feel more like you are sharing in this trip with me.

What a handsome man! I was his first volunteer when i was here over a year ago, and i am so thrilled to hang out with him again, and see how he has grown!

Friends, when things quite down for the evening we play some basket ball at the toddler house. thank you to my wonderful remote for my camera!

Much love to you all

First few days

Here, settled, and all is good in the hood! ok i am not in the 'hood' by any means, and i have yet to even wear a hoodie.
BUT i arrived safe and the airport went very smoothly. Our pick-up man, and driver was there and waiting. oh... you might wonder "our?" well i met a girl from the seattle area in the vancouver airport. we had all the same flights, and actually i believe we are on the same flights home. how strange, i know. But it will be nice to catch up with her when we are both heading out of here. I will have been down in PAP for a  month at that time, and she still up at GLA.  We squished into the front and only seat of the truck and off we went.  i was so happy to be driving streets that i remember here in Haiti.

Arrival was good! with warm welcomes. I was thrilled to see my friends and they where thrilled as well.
Susie(a staff member here) gave us a tour, which for me was optional since i know the place pretty well. So i took some time to talk to friends, and just was excited to be re connecting in person. I was given a list of 5 children to have as my focus for the next 2 weeks, 3 of which are still living in the NICU so they are younger and smaller. I have one named Blanco that has not had a volunteer yet, and he is very small for his 5 month age.  I call him my little peanut.  I have a boy and a girl that live in the Nursery, and the little boy, Sony,  has not had a volunteer either. He is kinda a serious one, but i got some smiles today. he is just happy to crawl away and look back to see i am still there.  some separation anxiety from his drop off here a bit ago.

i have been playing lots of basket ball in the evenings, usually a game here at the Main house, and then another one when i get up to the toddler house where i live.  i think i will be improving soon... but am pretty lacking in skills compared to most of the guys here that i play with. Oh well, they are still happy to have me.
I am sleeping awesome and feeling rather at home!

Sony

Jasmin

.

Half way there

I found my self watching an early sun rise today, and had a view from the air. Air Canada took me nicely across the country to Montreal. I left Vancouver Monday night at 1135 and had a happy good bye from mom and a few best buds! And i am happy to report that after taking half a Gravel(because taking a whole one would have knocked me out till sometime next week ;) ) I slept for probably 4 of the 5 hours.  That alone put a smile on my face, BUT even more then that a smile grows on my face thinking that all the packing is over, all the funds are in, and i am on my way to a place i love and has ahold  on my heart.


I am all smiles this morning!

little excited?!!

photo by my dad on the weekend before leaving