GREAT God!

I am loving my time here in Haiti, i have been reminded today how blessed i am. To be in a country that i love, meeting new people everyday that remind me how GREAT God is.  Life here has become very ‘normal’, very ‘everyday’. I have less structure then i have had before in Haiti, and because of this it feels more like i am just living my life rather then being on a trip that will come to an end like the other have.  I have jobs that need to get done throughout the week, i have fun events to look forward to, i have friends, i have trips to the store, and market that need to be taken, and i just live. 

the room on day one... what a mess, but we have settled in now!

I have been very pleased with how EDV works. I love that we feel like a big group, no levels. There is freedom to talk to whomever, and work with a verity of people, and form connections, and some awesome friends.  I feel wanted, needed, 
and appreciated.  I have some awesome news! i have moved in to a semi private room with Micaela! PLEASE CHEER WITH ME!  communal living is fine, but it is really just SO nice to have a queen size bed to my self, and my own space! I was in the right place at the right time, when i heard that the house nurse, Laurenn, was moving upstairs to a newly empty room and that left her room that is just beside the girl dorm that i was in. I had really not been sleeping on there much since Micaela had arrived, i had been sleeping in the tent, BUT that just meant that i had to have my belongings in one place, and sleep in another, and it was getting to be a bit of a gong show. SO i was thrilled to move. Micaela and i did some spring cleaning in this room. STILL there is a ton of things that dont belong to us in there, but i have 2 drawers in the dresser, and my own bed, and some space to have time to my self. I can some days feel that wearing on me, but as a whole i am totally good with it all. Our room has kinda turned into a bit of a hang out for some of us girls. it was never that when Laurenn lived in there, but we have kinda changed things a bit. This does mean that it is a bit of a mess a lot of the time... BUT such is life, don’t sweat the small stuff right?!? OH and it is a bit of a hang out for a gecko that i chopped the tail off my accident, and for a small grey mouse. SO i have gotten over these facts, because the gecko eats bugs... like the much hated mosquitos... but the mouse just likes to eat the food that others bring in.... ‘Sunshine’ left her bowl of pop corn... and i was questioning her sanity on this... since i am the one that has to sleep in the same room as this ‘cute’ critter.

this one is for you Noella. we went to a pottery studio

I had a week that consisted of simular things as to what i have been doing here in PAP. I did start something new though, as of monday Micaela and i are teaching english to the Kids at Carlo’s 3 days a week. so this means that i am there every afternoon. Between English and Art.  I am  really enjoying hearing my name called as i walk through the red gate everyday. I am learning more of their names, and trying to pick up some more Creole... but i have decided that i am a terrible student when it comes to learning this language... i will press on.  Art class has been good! the kids are so cute discovering what they can make out of clay with their hands and a bit of imagination. I have not yet started the work/ building projects at Carlo’s, i have a few shelves to build, but time here is really something else... so maybe this week. ha, i will not hold my breath, but i will keep on reminding them about it. I am so this week  cut the wood for 10 school bench/ desks.  This then involved a TON of sanding and varnishing. We had a pretty good system down eventually. I hope i get to go and visit Val’s school/ orphanage this week for the final assembly, and to check out this project. it is hard to believe that i have been down at EDV all this time and still not gotten to some of the projects. I have been noticing somethings around the house that need fixing, so i have added those to my list... there was a nasty case of getting shocked every time you would turn off the light in the girls dorm bathroom. So  i carved away at a face plate for the switch, and installed it... AHHHH so much better not getting shooting pains up your arm every time you turn off the light after your shower.  I also installed some door hardware, and put up a ‘closet’ rod to hang clothes.  Always interesting the things you find to make these ‘simple’ tasks happen. But we make it work :)

this might sounds silly, but the pool has become a very good friend of mine... the days are hot, my body is sore, i get clean(ish, at least for a bit) and it heals the mosquito bites! it has now been renamed the healing pool! OH and for as long as you can handle it you might even feel COLD if you stand in one place in the pool in the evening. 

As i have mentioned, i have been meeting many people, and hanging out with them. it has been cool the places that i have been able to go, the tap tap and moto rides that i have experienced and fun times that i have had. Last weekend some of us went to ‘the lookout’ we went to watch the sun go down over PAP....( i have been missing seeing the mountains and having a view... there is NONE from most places around where i live. So up we went.... well we found our selfs in a cloud! you could not see a thing! but we had some fun anyways! lots of laughs, and many photos. while driving back we got below the clouds and the sun set was beautiful from the back seat of the truck. So on this journey i met a guy names Fred, he is one of Evens friend. Evens told me that he was getting married and that i was invited to the wedding. SO then over the course of the day i was asked to be the photographer for the wedding... so this last saturday evening i attended a Haitian Wedding. it was a cool experience! it is very different then any wedding i have been to. I tried my best to get some good photos with the fact that it was in a ‘club’, the strange lighting, the ton of other people taking photos up front with their phones, the man with the video camera that seemed to be in all the wrong places and all the wrong times... and then the power going out... OH and the VIP that was painted on the wall right behind where the bride was for the whole ceremony. HA i hope they are happy with the photos. funny experience.  Some of the girls in the house helped me get ready, did my hair(that i had taken out of braids the day before) and did my make up, and helped supply me with a dress(should not have taken that one out at the last minute)

then after the wedding there was a ninja vs. pirate night at Grass Roots United.... this is another NGO not far from EDV. they are kind a bizarre group of people, but we all went to check it out.  they really had put in quite the effort. the GRU bus had been turned into a pirate ship, and the workshop space into another world. As the rain fell we had shelter and some fun times. I took in just a small portion of this evening, but could tell that everyone was having a great time, and another bonding experience.  funny funny people.... Now i sit, getting my hair redone in braids, it will be much more maintainable for the next 3 weeks as i hang out and work in Haiti! (and it will not be as nasty for when i come home, hahah it was SO DIRTY! Micaela told me there was a layer of saw dust on my scalp)

Another week, here it comes, Time is FLYING BY! Please i ask for your prayers, i have not felt 100% for the last week. my tummy and my back.  i know that i will be OK, actually i will be more then OK, BUT i really would be happy if i DONT get sick sick over the next 3 weeks. 

Much love you all, thanks for your love and support

many photos to share

i teach them, and they are great helpers

Gemma doing some measuring

a chalk board being built for a local school

pokey stick, this one is for you 'sunshine'

building the stand for a water tank

finished!

Off to Julie's AKA rebuild globally in a TapTap full of stools and 2x4s for shelves

on route to Julie's

Getting ready for her mural painting.

Final touches to the workshop

artists

posers, BUT SO CUTE!

buff Wilkonson

getting into her creation
so amazing to see their minds at work

discovering his face, a piece of broken mirror and a visitors glasses.

such fun!

a new project at a school not far from us. we have to work on drainage, and we are going to do some
work on the school its self. putting on a roof or two and getting scholarships in place

more photos!

I went to a graduation party for this girl. And she wanted a photo with me

beauty in the small things. 

working on the mural with Micaela for Julie's workshop

getting closer to being finished

Wilkonson fell asleep in class. almost every day one or  two of them doze off. we dont mind though

very hard at work. Learning "I" "He" "She" "you" "we"

tuesday morning, all ready to leave for work. i worked on base all morning, so i wished them a good day.

just some photos to keep you all apart of my life

Wilkonson, one happy little boy that loves chatting with me. he also speaks english very well!

Laundry day

another day at art class

the Haitian way, Evens and i celebrating at Johnson's 30th bday

too cute baby!

 Written friday

Well friends, it has been too long! sorry about that. I have had a good week, and it has flown bye. i have been busy. We  have been finishing up some projects at Julie’s and starting some new ones. Also we have been doing art class and i have kinda taken Carlo’s under my wing. i really have a heart for them. I am trying to figure out the best way to be apart of that place long term. I will keep you all up to date on that. I have decided to try to find little projects there that i can work on. today i collected the laundry from the roof for example. I know that i can not change all the customs of this country, but again i say.. one by one i can make a positive influence. I have asked Carlo if i can help him with his office. I will build shelves and storage for supplies. Of which are next to none right now. I am working on that too. I was given some things from GLA for whoever i felt i met that was in need and i was so happy to open those bins/ boxes to see some perfect items for at Carlo’s.  We have had 4 art classes now, and the kids are really loving it. Evens is a great teacher, and i wonder sometimes how much i am helping BUT we are getting better at being a team. It mostly is just that he obviously teaches in Creole, so i feel more lost then the kids most of the time. 

art class! sculpting faces

Great news, Micaela joined me down at EDV last monday! i was so so happy. I was out on site when she called me that she had arrived in PAP. I knew her feelings of adjusting, and new sites, sounds, smells. I was happy to have experienced it so i could help her out throughout the week.  we have mostly worked together all week. But she is really getting in the swing of things, and it is cool to watch. Bad news of last monday was i smashed my thumb with a hammer.... but it is healing up just fine, i only have a partial black nail to show for it now.

Written monday

SO I am siting here typing to you all, and NOT getting on an airplane today. I have extended my trip. I will be home in a month from now. SO my trip has almost doubled in time, and i feel so blessed to be here! I just was not feeling like i was done. At this point i dont feel like i will be ready in month from now either, but i know at that point  my body will need a break. I will be happy to have a shower that gets me clean and wear clothes that are not covered in PAP filth.   BUT for now i am more then thrilled be here! 

Communal living is interesting, but i am doing pretty well at it i think.  People everywhere all the time, but for some reason i seem totally cool with it almost all the time! that is a totally answer to prayer.  I get along with everyone, i am not friends with everyone but im cool with everyone. there is word that i can move into a room that is just for a couple of us soon. So i think that Micaela and i will soon be moving out of the dorm. there are currently 7 of us in there.  it is rather tight... and by no means a relaxing place to go to. 

tent on the ledge... in the insane rain!

Micaela and I at the corner for Johnsons 30th bday

Dust

--no photos... yet... so just picture it with me ok--

I realized how DIRTY it is...... tonight i moved into a tent for a bit of a trial run, dont know how it will be here. I mean i love camping.. but this is out on a ledge that is about 1.25 stories up and surrounded in concrete. hmm. BUT our room was SO freaking hot last night i did not know what to do with myself. AND there was a dog that barked from probably 430 am till like 645. i know that it will not be quite where i am but i will have my own space for a few nights.  OK so how i knew it was very dirty... i was crawling up the very steep ladder to my tent ledge, and my head lamp was on, and it was windy... and if was like i was out 4x4ing on a crazy dry mountain in BC. WOW.  my poor lungs. today.... and the last few days in PAP have been........ HOT, i was in a tent today helping teach a art class, and i dont know if i have ever had so much sweat when doing next to nothing.  i think in the tent it was like close to 45 degrees... intense! so i am HOT, and covered in dust.... so this tan i look down at might not be as dark as i think ;)


Today when i left the site(julie's) early i decided to walk a new way home, turns out it was like the hottest day, and i totally picked a longer route. but i got a new view,  I am amazed that i am here, and that i am walking the streets of PAP. I mean that sounds bad... but it is not! i am still being totally wise.  so i left early, took the long way, and had TONS of time to spare.... OH Haitian time.  I was excited for my afternoon. I was headed to Carlos's 'orphanage' to help teach a art expressions class. I had shown interest in doing some more things with kids and such. I approached Tom when i got back this week and he had a good option for me. turns out it is the most perfect thing for me. i am so in love with Haiti more and more as i get to experience new things, see new places and meet new people. Evans, my teaching buddy( the actual artist) had some trouble getting the Clay. so i waited and got some other things done. And then i headed down there, apparently he was on his way.  the kids where.... lacking energy... the vide was chill.. I realized then JUST how HOT it really was.  i pulled out some crayons and paper that i had thrown in my bag at the last min and we coloured. they are just so cute.


Probably 2 hours after we had planned we got to our class. Carlos put together a list of the kids that could probably handle it, and we started. OR rather i should say that Evans started... he is really passionate about it and it was awesome to see him lead this lesson. It is going to be a 3 month class and in the last 2 weeks the kids will sculpt whatever they feel lead to. There will be a show at the end where they can show what they have done! very cool. I am really excited to be apart of this for the rest of my time in Haiti. I know that to some if might not seem all that useful, but you should see these kids! And Evans  teaches them as he goes, very cool. today it was as simple as, telling them not to eat it... there is apparently something that is made out of clay that they eat.. BUT SHOULDNT! already in those few seconds, one girl had little bits on the side of her mouth..... we will teach, we will love, we will make art. I am super excited!


so... between the dust that flies and the clay covered hands... i dont see an end in sight to the filth... 


I love it.

an AWESOME afternoon!

I joined Caitlin at Carlos' Orphanage this afternoon, she has been doing teaching there, and playing with the kids. I am super excited to continue hanging out there in the afternoons for hopefully most days for the next couple weeks.

Found this boy around the corner from all the kids who had joined in the teaching of the day. He was crying, so i knelt down and spent some time with him. Did not take long to get a smile out of him!

Colour by number! shapes and colours

such Focus to learn... atleast for a little bit

we traced each others hands :)

her true colours came out pretty quick!

I wrote on this little guys paper, and then he copied it... but the strange thing was we turned the page upside down and wrote it that way... hmmm i will have to work on that!

we had lots of fun, playing musical tires!

some duck duck goose

a resting place