ALM Adventures -OneByOne-

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

A Different Journey

i now find my self sitting in a Hotel in Montreal... thinking, reflecting, and aching. More then ever i left my heart in Haiti. I will be the first to admit that there where struggles and trials, but there was so much joy and love. I met people that have had an everlasting impact my life, i saw things that forever changed my outlook and i experienced things that will effect me for the rest of my life. what a journey it has been. In so many ways the time FLEW by... not long ago i was transferring flights in the Montreal airport heading to Haiti.. and now after my extended trip i find my self here again.... again waiting for a flight... only this time once again i find my self heading 'home'
I have been inspired to do... to do more about the things that i am passionate about, to be more active in my love for things, things that matter. I will again from afar take on the challenge of ONE BY ONE impacting lives in Haiti. And in saying that my goal is also to ONE BY ONE impact the lives that are not far from me. I want to be a good friend to those of you that i am blessed to call friends, i want to be a good daughter and sister, i want to been a warm smile to those that i don't even know. I want to take the time of day for people that i meet on the street, in a store, or wherever i interact with people. these are strong words, but i am passionate about this...

All you friends at home, that are still reading this.. i will see you soon. to those of you that are reading this somewhere else in the world.. i will see you when i see you!

Please stay tuned.. i hope to post more stories and photos, and fill you all in on my plans and projects in Haiti.

Friday, June 3, 2011

thursday morning

a day at 'val's'

spying on the kids

lunch time

a young student

This morning the rain falls, still... this is not normal. In all the trips and all the days that i have been in Haiti i have not gone to sleep with rain falling and woke up with rain still falling. We are confused with what to do with our selves. This morning i was woken up with a phone call from Brinel. He is one of the Haitian teachers, and the money/ business man for rebuild globally. I guess he could not get ahold of Brad(the english teacher leader) OR either of the volunteer teachers. SO my day started a bit early since i have a cold and wanted to sleep in. Oh well. so Haitian's lives kinda shut down when the rain comes, the tap taps stop, the side walks clear of vendors, the traffic jams, schools close, and life goes on hold. We are having one of those days, and as foreigners we are kinda confused as to what to do. Currently there are bodies everywhere, on their computers, reading books, and kinda wondering around looking for things to do. The house is quite and the sounds of sighs, sniffles and sneezes is getting more and more frequent. The feeling around the house has put my in an interesting mood. I kinda like it. I know that it is partly that i am leaching on monday.. and that makes me stop and reflect. I am wanting to just finish up my time here(for this trip) and think about things when i am home... but my mind is not allowing that to happen. I have struggled a LOT with thoughts of leaving this place. I feel at home, i have things that i need, i have goals, projects that are not finished and a over all sense that once again my time is not done here. I have met and interacted with so many people on this trip and i love that now i have a routine that allows me to see the same people at specific times in a week. I have kids that call my name when i enter their front gate. How can one not LOVE that?

So if any of you have been following the EDV projects on their facebook page you may have read about ‘Val’s’. Well in all the time that i have been working with EDV i had not been there till tuesday. they have done tons and work at Val’s since i have been here and i always hear about it around the house and at monday night meetings. But my feet had yet to stepped foot on that land. So i showed some interest and was happy to hear that i could join the group going on tuesday. i got to meet most of the 53 kids that live there, and see what a day looks like for them. I helped a tiny bit with construction, and did some filing with Vicky and then did some fun activities with the kids. Again, like most places i have seen there is need... i wish i had months and months and a big budget to invest in this place. I have been very encouraged by the two men that run this place, and the smiles and encouragement they bring to the kids there.

over the weekend we as whole group from EDV took a large group of kids swimming at a local hotel/resort that we have connections and access to. IT was a day full of joy! to see the kids with out fear jumping in to the water, but then clinging to our necks as we paddled them around in the water. it is a day i will not forget!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

eyes

today i had a moment... a moment when my heart ached a little extra.... i felt helpless. I have made a little friend at Carlo's, yesterday i took him up in my arms and we danced, today we met again, and after some time of tickling, and some cuddles he took my hand and lead me to where the water buckets are and he pointed... all three where empty... his sad little eyes looked up at me. I did not know what to do, i even knew that the bottle in my back pack was empty... my heart broke for this desire for water. When ever is it ok not to be able to pour a cup of water for any child that wants one....

tomorrow i hope to meet those same eyes, but ones that are not as sad, and i will be sure to bring extra water... tonight my mind thinks of him, and i hope and pray he has gotten his glass of water.