A sigh of relief

From my previous posts you could probably tell that this last month hasn’t been the easiest. Let’s just say I never planned for this month.Planning is something that God is teaching me a thing or two about. Over and over he has convicted me about  “my plans.” Over and over it has been evident that God wants me to find peace in His plans and His timing. Lately I find that I always laugh, I mean notice, when anyone mentions “my plan is to do this or my plan is to do that.” I guess its because the only thing I’m sure of these days is that there is no plan. Or rather that it’s a matter of being in his plan and not the other way around.  

We have been in negotiations to purchase the piece of land that currently holds the buildings we’ve built this past year for Second Mile Haiti for about a month now. The negotiating process has been draining and exhausting. I heard Dadou say many times that he was ready for everything to just be over and done with. I agreed, but it’s just not that simple. Over the past month I had to wrestle with two contradicting thoughts. 

1. I want everyone to know we are good stewards of the money that is given to us, thus I need to argue for the best possible price. 

And.. 

1. It’s all God’s money. Every nickel in our bank account, the cash in your pocket, and that spare change in the 5 gallon bucket sitting in your bathroom. (Wait, you don’t have one of those...?)  It all belongs to God. Let Him direct when and how much is used and for what purpose.

For weeks now, I had been sticking to my guns and fighting for every penny, knowing that whatever money I could save us in land negotiations could be well-spent elsewhere.  But I had to look at my motives. I was fighting to lower the price. But what if instead I should recognize that the money belongs to God and try to find peace in the fact that regardless of the price (big or small) if this land purchase was meant to be then God’s money would come flowing in. 

And that’s exactly what happened. It’s the one thing that I have seen happen repeatedly. When we’ve learned our lessons- when we’ve struggled and grown- when we’ve gained a thing or two from the trial and come out on the right path then and only then does God’s money come flowing in.

My final beef with the land owners had been over $3,000. I wanted that much removed from the total. They weren’t so inclined. We were at a standstill for the past two weeks because of that $3,000.

Yesterday morning I woke up, got out the computer, and checked the spreadsheet that shows a record of all the checks that have been sent for Second Mile Haiti. I noticed that we had received two different checks in the amounts of $2,000 and $1,000. I usually have a good grasp on money coming in, but these two were out of the ordinary. These checks were sent by donors I wasn’t even expecting. Funny thing is... 2,000 + 1,000 = 3,000. So there we had it. The extra money had come in. How cool is that?

God’s money had come in. 

Suddenly everything made sense and I finally felt at peace with the decision we were about to make. I called Dadou to talk through the terms of the sale (one final time) and then asked him to set up “the meeting.” 

He left around 11 AM and 30 mins later called to say that the owner and the Notary would be willing to meet at 2 PM. We were expecting to have to wait a day or two before agreeing on a time that would work with everyone’s schedules. But 2 PM miraculously worked for all 6 of us that needed to be in that meeting. Due to the tendency of people to be much more optimistic than realistic when setting a timeframe we actually started our meeting closer to 3:30. But there we were, all sitting around a table in the Notary’s house. It was an unreal feeling to be sitting down again in the same place we had sat twice before. First to lease the land and then again at our first attempt to sign the purchase agreement. I know Amy was holding her breath hoping that this time all would end well. If you look at her face in most of the pictures she looks mad. “I was just afraid to mess things up if I seemed too happy”  was her excuse for the scowls.   

Before we knew it, everything was finished. Everything suddenly became more real. I’m not sure I have ever signed anything more significant in my life than these land papers.

As we walked out of the house Dadou gave me a pat on the back and whispered a “good job” in English. We all let out a little sigh of a relief. Actually, we all let out a big sign of relief. It was finished. 

In the car driving home Amy told Dadou, “you don’t know how many people in the States have been praying for this.” He responded, “you don’t know how many Haitians have been praying for this too.”

We got back to the apartment and decided we needed to celebrate!

Amy whipped up some gluten free cookies and I cracked open a few Prestiges (local beer). Not sure there is a better way to celebrate around here.  

As we were eating our cookies and drinking a cold beer Dadou noticed a spider on my hand. It was a green spider. I had never seen a spider like this before! He told us that in Haiti when you have a green spider on you it means you have great fortune coming your way. I just sort of laughed and thought it was a little ironic that I just handed over the most money I have ever held in my life, and now it turns out we have great fortune coming our way.

Five minutes later Amy walks out to the balcony and shows us that there is a green spider on her too! I guess that means double the fortune! 

I don’t disagree with the spider. I think we are going to be continually blessed if we include God in our plans or better yet if we continue to follow His.

So what’s next? Well I am just sitting here on the balcony waiting for Dadou to get back from the construction store to finalize an estimate for what it will cost to finish the education building, security post, and the offices. And I’m feeling optimistic about the great fortune we have coming our way. Maybe it’s not a monetary fortune, but in terms of blessings, and experiences, and opportunities...I’d say there are great things just ahead. 

Important caption:

This post was edited a whole lot by Amy Syres. Thankful that she spent the last hour correcting all my grammatical errors and especially thankful that she can express my thoughts/feelings into words (yeah...we spend a lot of time together...).

Letter Part 2

I am so glad we have board members to keep us accountable! A few days ago I got the reminder email saying “Jenn, it’s been two weeks and you promised to send out an update!” I can’t believe time as passed by so quickly since I posted about “the letter.” If you have no idea what I’m talking about then free to read my previous post and that should catch you up. 

I am sure everyone is dying to know where we are at with the fundraising for the purchase of the land. I am excited to let everyone know that we have almost reached our goal! We set a goal of raising $18,000 and finding 10 new monthly supporters to commit to $100/month. We haven’t reached the $18,000, but we sure are close! We are $4,500 away from that goal. We also had 7 new supporters commit to donating monthly! 

So $4,500 and 3 monthly supporters left and we will be in good shape. We know it’s only a matter of God’s timing.

Since we haven’t settled the land negotiations we have tried really hard to stay away from the land. It’s not in our best interest to be working when the land owners understand that we are in standstill until the matter is settled. Weeks ago we stopped all work, only to be resumed when we finished the “deal.” As you can imagine not being out at the land leaves me feeling pretty antsy. I so badly want to finish the two projects we have underway right now, the education building and the shop. It’s hard to step foot on the land when there isn’t work going on. It feels so empty, and I have felt a little lost these last couple weeks. 

Our attempt to keep a low profile at the land was especially hard for us this past week. We were expecting our very first group of volunteers and we wanted them to have the full experience of working on the land with the Haitien guys who have been so invested in the buildings. The group would consist of three guys, one of them happened to be Amy’s dad. We had a ton of ideas for how we could use their experience and skills to continue to get the facility ready for use. But as the time got closer we were worried about the whole “land situation.” 

While living here in Haiti we’ve come to learn that there’s no use in getting too attached to your plans. You can think about things. You can prepare. And you can schedule. But you have to accept that plan A can turn into plan D in seconds flat. If you are someone that has to have everything planned out (I hate to break it to you) but maybe Haiti isn’t your thing. ;) Here, we worry less about the ideal situation and more about what God might want to teach us in flexibility and the ability to adjust to obstacles with grace. And we use the word “re-group” like it’s going out of style. 

We knew we wanted the guys to make 12 beds and shelves for the recovery homes. The decision to have a team do this project instead of a local carpenter was more about saving money than it was about the skill involved. In fact, Haitian wood craftsmen are so skilled in their field that we would have been hard pressed to find someone willing to design anything less than a bed fit for a king, compete with banisters and intricate engravings. We needed something simple and practical and easy to duplicate x 12. 

We were able to “re-group” and make do by having the guys work from the porch of our apartment. As soon as they got here they drew a quick sketch for the beds and Dadou and I headed off to the “home depot” around the corner. 

We stored all materials on our balcony, and the 2x4’s we stored on the side of our apartment. The guys used the power saw only when we had city power here at the complex. Well... that’s not entirely true. We might have gotten in trouble once or maybe three times because we ran the saw when the generator didn’t happen to be running. That’s okay though. When the power wasn’t available they used a hand saw. They even had Amy on drill duty. I think if we ever need any more beds we’ll be able to count on her to whip a few together. ;)

After 2 1/2 days, 12 beds were made. We stored 4 beds in our living room, and 8 beds were just chillin’ on our porch. It was quite a scene, but it worked. The guys made-do with what we had available and they did it with smiles on their faces. We couldn’t have asked for better guys to come down. They get the awards for flexibility, positivity, and patience. 

By Wednesday there was nothing left for these guys to do that could be done from our apartment.  The other projects we had planned was to build shelves, a desk, and a work station in the pharmacy. This was a struggle since we wanted to make use of their time and the fact that they were just plain hard and willing workers. So I caved and decided we would go ahead and do the pharmacy shelves, at the land.

We were out at the land from Wednesday thru Friday. We closed off our gates to the community, and didn’t let anyone inside. These three guys worked along side four Haitians that practically live at the land at the land anyways. In a day and a half everything in the pharmacy was finished. It’s was an exciting time for Amy especially as it was a project she has been looking forward to the most. Let’s not forget she has been storing over 50 containers of medical supplies in her room... that infringes on yoga practice just slightly. 

I have another bit of exciting news to share, but to be honest I think it’s going to require another blog post. I’ll give you a hint.. it has something to do with power, electricity, and solar panels. It’s a little too early to reveal.

So in conclusion this was a great week with great company. These guys were understanding about the sleeping accommodations (air mattresses) and the time it took to prepare our “healthy” meals. Patience is a virtue, with no microwave.  I didn’t even see one of them spit out the food despite it being mostly veggies and mostly healthy, “weird,” and straight from the market. If I might add, Amy’s an amazing cook and they were complementary. And I know Amy enjoyed showing her Dad and these friends what life is like in Haiti, for us and for our neighbors. 

Until we figure the land stuff out we will continue to just make-do. It won’t be much longer until we are back to having close to thirty guys sitting under the mango tree enjoying Youseline’s cooking. It won’t be much longer until all the kids will be back hanging around, waiting for their opportunity to help. It won’t be much longer until I’m making 5 or 6 supply trips a week. It won’t be much longer. It’s all in his timing.

The Letter

The last two weeks have been interesting to say the least. They have not been easy. I laugh when I see the word "easy." Let’s just say I have grown a lot in the last two weeks. I’m going to process some thoughts through this blog post. Stick with me. 

Two weeks ago we decided it would be a good time to purchase our land. We originally have agreed to lease it for 10 years for a very reasonable price with the option to buy it after the 10 years or renew it for another 10 years for the same amount. Yet it  became very clear to us that if we were going to purchase the land it was going to be now or never. I thought it would be quick and easy. I mean God you’re on my side right? And you want our organization to be placed on this land, right? 

I figured negotiations would be simple. They have been up to this point. And, if God is for us then who could be against us, right?

I picture you all sitting in your chairs shaking your heads. I’m sure you know what’s about to come...and you are probably on the right path with your assumptions. 

The land negotiations have not been easy and they have not worked in our favor. Nothing feels like it has worked.

Amy happened to be in the States during all these negotiations...lucky her. It's okay though. It was perfect timing for her to be in the States since she really doesn’t like negotiations.. or money if we’re being honest. Those things fall under Jenn’s portfolio of roles.

Sigh. 

Okay, so back to things not going according to plan.

I was a tad bit angry. Poor sweet Amy received a little bit of my wrath via email. She encouraged me to reach out to the board, and to sit and pray a bit. It’s when you're irritated that you throw back a “what do you think I have been doing all this time?.” But she was right..maybe I hadn’t really been praying or maybe I needed to reach out and ask people to pray for me. 

Do you ever just sit during a bible study or small group and when asked for prayer requests you just sit there? Maybe if you're like me you can think of a thousand other people that need prayer but you would never think to include yourself? That’s me. 

I never thought of reaching out to people and saying, “hey, pray for me. My heart is heavy and it’s so heavy it’s not allowing me to think clearly.

So that’s what I did. 

I contacted the board. I either skyped or called every single one of them from Haiti. Two of the board members prayed over me over the phone, and another sent a Micheal W Smith youtube video of the song “Give it Away.”

You don’t find better board members then that. You really don’t. They were encouraging and uplifting. 

Then I sat down with a not-so-heavy heart and wrote, “The Letter.” It’s literally called “The Letter” in my google docs.

Confession: I got a little help with the grammar.

We are on the precipice of opening the doors of Second Mile Haiti to women and their children, and we couldn’t be more excited. However, we have hit a seeming road block. I say “seeming” because we serve an infinitely powerful and faithful God who has shown up for us over and over again in the past year. Instead of feeling discouraged, I feel excited because I think we are about to see God do something big. And we would love for you to be a part of it!

Unbelievably, it has been almost one year since we came to an agreement on renting the land Second Mile Haiti is building on. It has become absolutely clear to us that the most prudent decision would be to purchase the land. Unfortunately, when dealing with parties from two different cultures, there is the potential for misunderstandings and misperceptions. We want people here in Haiti to know our hearts and to grasp the potential this property has for the surrounding communities. Two weeks ago, we made the decision to purchase the land. Since then, we stopped all work on the land to focus on negotiations. We have met for countless hours in the landowner’s home, in rum distilleries, under mango trees, and even on a pig farm. These meetings have literally lasted from sunrise to sunset. We have been pouring out our hearts and vision for Second Mile Haiti, striving for everyone involved to be on the same page. 

And this is where you come in. In the past year, God has used so many of you to be His hands and feet and provide for the needs of Second Mile Haiti. We couldn’t have come this far without your financial support and your prayers and we are so thankful for you! In the past two weeks, we have reached two conclusions: First, we need help purchasing the land and secondly, we need some major prayer warriors supporting us.

Here's what we need, plain and simple:

In a two week period, we need to raise $15,000 in one-time donations, and we need to find 12 people willing to donate $100/month for one year. It sounds doable and easy when it's broken down. We serve a very big God that makes these numbers seem small.

Prayer warriors we need you too! We need you big time! We need you to pray for people to come into our life and commit to making this goal happen. We need you to pray for these one-time donors and monthly supporters. We need you to pray for our future negotiations and that the people involved in these decisions will see our hearts. We need prayer for guidance and direction at this critical time, especially as we look ahead to these next few exciting months.

I also have another request: Would you consider passing this email on to friends and family that you think might be looking for an opportunity to give? Or to someone else you know who is a faithful prayer warrior? This may be just how God wants to use you.

If you are interested in becoming a monthly donor or giving a one time donation via online then you can do so here.

If you would like to make a donation via check:

Make checks payable to Second Mile Ministries

5251 W Desert Falcon Ln

Tucson, AZ 85742

In two weeks, I will be sending out another email and I can’t wait to report back to you on what God has done. I know that God works powerfully through the body of Christ. Being a “missionary” means you often have to ask for things from people…it can be an uncomfortable position to be in sometimes. However, I am learning that it is when all of us work together as the body of Christ, each using the gifts God has given them, that He works most powerfully through His people. 

Thank you for the encouragement that each one of you are to us!

Blessings,

Jenn Schenk

Co-Founder

Amy and I might have had to hold our breath and count 1...2...send when we actually emailed  this letter to a couple of our friends and family. This is not our favorite thing to do. But just as we sent those emails we had response emails come in.

We had people respond that they were praying over the letter and others responded by saying they would pass it along to other people they knew that would be interested. We flat out had people tell us it would a great letter and we were thanked for sending it to them. 

Ha!

I laugh because I never thought I would be told it was a great letter and I certainly didn't think I would ever be thanked for sending it.

So in just a week's time we have had close to $8,000 come in and 4 more people committed to be monthly supporters. 

AND...drumroll please.

The price of land has decreased.

I guess if I was preaching a sermon this is where I would ask us all to give a hand clap for God. I would hope he gets a standing ovation. I think if we let him in our lives more often we would find ourselves clapping, whistling, and cheering quite often.

So here I am still with a not-so-heavy heart, and I can tell you..

This land stuff just isn't a big deal anymore. It's going to work out.

God just gave another trial to make sure we were giving him all the glory.

He needed people to see how freakin awesome he is in case they forgot.

And he needed to stay the main character in this story.

Small successes aren't so small here.

Small successes aren't so small here.

Today I woke up and started my day by inputting finances and working on payroll. Have I mentioned I love payroll? This time, inputting payroll had a whole different meaning to me. This time I was giving Dadou (our Haitian director/project manager/partner in work life) a check for the 12th time. 12 times means he has been working for a year! Time sure does fly by. He has been at my side every step of the journey. He has been a great teacher the last 12 months. Dadou has invested so much into me. He has taught me how to not get taken advantage of, prices in construction, appropriate creole phases, how to be a good boss to employees, and when it's appropriate to give. It's hard to sum up in one sentence everything he has done for me.  Let's just say he has played a huge role in Second Mile Haiti and all the successes that the organization has had so far.

Anyways, back to what I was saying. Dadou received his 12th check today. In a year Dadou has been able to purchase a motorcycle. This motorcycle has been a blessing to Second Mile Haiti. He has used the motorcycle to transport employees to the land, pick up random materials we need, and to give me rides into town and to the bank. Every time I go to the land his motorcycle isn't there because he is letting someone use it. That's what is so great about Dadou. He knows he has an advantage over most Haitians and instead of gloating or only using it for himself, he instead decides to use it for everyone and the needs of other people. This is what makes Dadou a great director. The higher he moves up the ladder the more he gives to people.

In a year Dadou has also been able to build a house! Dadou's house is almost finished. He put the roof on last December and today he has workers out at the house putting plaster on the walls. Today, I took a trip out to his house to see for myself. And as expected, It was bel. It felt good to be out at his house. The workers were singing, and there were smiles all around. Most of the workers were employed from his village. They were his neighbors and they were happy for him. There was even 4 other people standing in front of his house talking about how bel it was. This is exciting! There's something about a person 1. having a job, 2. rising through all the hardships, and 3. being able to build their own house. There is pride in that. A pride the unfortunately most Haitians don't get to understand. But, at least those workers and onlookers can look at Dadou, and say, "he did it, it can be done."

Best part of the story. Last week I sat down Dadou and we were going over everything for the week. He randomly interrupted me and said he had been saving 75% of his check each month and have been putting it in the bank. I smiled really big. He then continued by telling me he'd saved 3/4 of what he would need to purchase a truck. I just about gasped. A truck?? Wow. Now that's big time. And here's the what made me even more impressed; He started telling me all the reasons he wanted to purchase a truck.

"Jenn, when it rains to much it's hard to take Tania (his daughter) to school. I worry about her when she goes to school on a moto. And Jenn, there has been a lot of sick people in our village and people in my family are constantly going to the hospital. I need a truck so that I can take them to/from the hospital. (His mother-in-law recently had a stroke and once a week she goes to a local hospital for therapy.) And…when the organization's truck isn't working I'd be able to use my truck to pick up cement, rebar, and stuff for construction."

Wow. When he was finished talking I half expected him to borrow the rest of the money he needed for the car. But instead he said he thinks that in about 4 more months he'll have saved the rest of the money he needs.

This is why I love my job. I am glad I get to be on the same team as Dadou. I'm glad we have had the opportunity to invest in him, but I'm really glad that he's able to invest in me. I no longer see Dadou's job as an asset to his family alone. I see it as an asset to his whole village. Because he is building a house there have been job opportunities for his neighbors. Through him, his family and friends will be able to have the opportunity to go to the hospital on a minute's notice. And because he's just that good of a guy, his family and friends are taken care of.  The money he makes is invested back into the community when he makes purchases for things his family needs. And those people that sell food, and clothes, and materials receive much needed income. It's a chain. It's a chain I'm happy to be a part of. Our role as his employer seems so small compared to the role he plays in his friends and families lives. So yes, this 12th check meant something, and so will the 13th, 19th, and 24th. Don't worry I will let you know the amazing things that come from 24 checks ;)

Visitors, Viewpoints, and Traveling Tree

Jenn’s at the land today with this week’s special visitor. For those of you who have been following along we have been graced with Jason Gigure’s presence twice in the last 4 months and today marks the start of his third visit. Jason made his first trip to Second Mile Haiti because Jenn, while sitting on the Gigure’s couch, casually tried to turn the conversation to septic tanks. I imagine she asked Jason what he knew about drainage fields and I imagine that Jason responded in a nonchalant manner, “I know a few things about septic systems.” To which I imagine his wife Karen, quickly intervening. “Excuse me” she’d say ruining Jason’s attempted humility, “but you built our backyard septic system!” (I wasn’t actually there but that’s how the scenario plays out in my imagination.) Anyway...somehow or another the idea of a trip to Haiti was put on the table and the rest is history. 

Plumbing and septic projects in September

 

Jason fostered some great relationships with some of the workers on that first trip and returned just two months later to help us with a second plumbing project, the wash-area for the women. That project was funded in collaboration with Delicate Fortress Creations, an online shop where every purchase has poverty-fighting, sex-trafficking stopping, education-giving power. Founder Karyn Puller gets major creativity and generosity points by allowing projects like ours to benefit from a portion of their sales. That was in November. 

bath house project

 looks totally different now. but we're lacking the 'after' shot

This week he will be working with his Haitian buddies to place tile in the staff apartment. 

Look we already have pictures from Day 1 of tiling and Day 8 of the Education Center.

less than two weeks ago this building was funded. awesome.

Last week, we had the privilege of hosting yet another set of visitors. These two influential guys represented a company who gives generously to Christian and mission organizations around the world. Having included Second Mile Haiti in their giving last year these two trail blazers decided it might be a good time to visit Haiti and see the organizations they support in action.

There’s something about showing Haiti to someone who has never set foot on the island. 

Haiti can be overwhelming on a full night’s sleep. And guaranteed those of you traveling to Haiti for the first time didn’t get much of that. No matter how you try to swing it, flights to Haiti leave first thing in the morning. Unless, you fly in from New York, which I think is cheating, there's no getting around an awkward night spent somewhere in Florida. You can choose a late arrival into Ft Lauderdale or Miami and find yourself a nice piece of carpet. We all know that airport seats are good for nothing. You then spend the next several hours curled up in front of the check-in terminal where the automatic doors have a mind of their own and where TSA uses their monopoly of the intercom to remind you, most unrelentingly, not to accept packages from strangers. No sleep. Or you camp out near baggage claim, an area which seems to require thorough vaccuming between the hours of 1 and 4 am. Or if you’re brave enough to actually close your eyes at all you can check into a hotel for an entire 4 hours before you’re required back at the airport for 4 am check-in. Let’s just say that if you’re super attached to the idea of a “full-night’s rest” you might want to skip Haiti and choose a country with a flight time greater than 2 hours so you can get your beauty sleep on the plane. 

Anyway, the newbies always arrive tired. 

The first exchange with the tired newbie is usually the one where we promise that even though your bags didn’t arrive on the plane with you, they will get here, just later. Then you get in the car and you ask why it’s running and we tell you about the beauty of diesel and the beauty of living on a hill and roll starts and not being able to turn of truck off... and we promise that despite those minor issues it still runs extremely well and you won’t die. And it is here, pulling away from the airport that I try to recall my experience of visiting a foreign country for the first time, one where I didn’t stay long enough to grow accustomed to the sights and sounds. I think about what you, the visitor, might be seeing, things I may have stopped seeing forever ago. In this way I almost re-experience Haiti and re-fall in love with the country as I see it afresh through the eye's of a newbie. 

When orienting a newbie to the city I am no shortage of TMI. I seem to have lost that filter. Jenn says I’m a good tour guide but maybe it’s just her excuse to give her own vocal cords a rest. She’ll inevitably have to answer a million project related questions soon enough. So I take my job seriously and I tell you why that police building is blue and why that clinic building is green and where that person bought her shoes and where you can get the best fried plantains. If you’re lucky I might even tell you when, exactly, each segment of Cap Haitian’s main thoroughfare was paved, year AND month. Either my details fascinate you or you’re all just too polite to stop me. 

Last week’s visit was good for me. I got out of my “office” where I have been researching things like banana leaf killing fungus and iodine deficiency (which is all relevant, I promise) and spent almost an entire 48 hours driving to and from the city and our apartment and the villages where we work. 

All that tour-giving and time traveling in the truck and looking out the window at beautiful Haiti reminded me that I’m not finished learning about this place where I live. And in that vain I’ve found myself falling asleep to the words of “Haiti, The Aftershocks of History” a book which chronicles Haiti’s past. My desire to have Haiti’s complex history unpacked and laid bare before me is like...urgent. Although apparently, sleep trumps urgent. And in Kindle-speak I get through only about 1% of my incredibly fascinating history book in the time between my head hits the pillow and my eyes close. Still, in the 10% of the book that I have read, Haiti has succeeded as the first slave nation to gain independence and is establishing a democratic system to replace colonial rule. And there’s 90% more! Haiti is still going, still conquering, still rising. Do I know enough about those triumphs? Do I have all the juicy details about the grass-roots groups and community leaders that are making a difference today, where they live?

Honestly, sometimes Haiti surprises me. I see something working and I’m shocked. I see an individual or a group enjoying success and I am taken off-guard. And it’s wrong. To be surprised by what a nation, all be it a developing, “4th world” nation can do is paternal and wrong. 

When Jenn and I dropped our visitors off at the hotel on the first day of their stay we encountered a little bit of a blokis on our way home, actually this was a gwo traffic jam. Half-way to town on the main drag there is a monument that sits above a park. It’s called Vertiere and commemorates the battle of Independence. School kids visit the monument in the days leading up to Independence Day and take pictures there. On this particular night there were more people than usual out even though it was close to 7 pm. People were running in the direction of the monument as if there was something to see. We had to ask. “Is there a riot?” The number of people that were lining the hill and surrounding the monument  resembled stadium seating for the arrival of someone important. I though maybe the president was coming. But realized that he probably wouldn’t attract as many people. I finally got my answer when someone passing by told us that a tree had been carried from the other towns and was on it’s way to Ouanaminthe and was going to be sleeping here tonight. (Literal translation). "Don’t worry they’re not killing anyone” the guy said. First relieved, than confused. In Kreyol there are a lot of words that share multiple meanings. I was racking my brain for a better explanation. Anything that would make more sense than a tree...carried through Haiti...sleeping here... and heading to the Dominican border city. But sure enough, in a demonstration of what Haiti can do when the people unite, a tree, or rather a piece of art painted with national pride, was carried throughout the country. People from 45 different regions carried the tree, a distance of 700 kilometers on foot, and set it to rest in each major city so that people could celebrate. It’s an idea just so crazy it might work. And work it did. Our car was surrounded as thousands of people engulfed the tree and danced it into the city center to sleep for the night. Unity. Success.

ceremonial lifting of the tree by police staff, Port au Prince

If you're super curious about "Kita Naga"click here.

photo by Jenn taken the next day..while driving.

I want to be well-versed in Haiti’s successes and accomplishments so that those are the impressions I pass on to the newbies. I want visitors to leave with real and genuine respect for the men, women, and children of this country. They should leave with stories about nurses and hospital staff who are working together to combat HIV. They should look past the trash (that is sitting on the road, not because Haitians are avid litterers, but because it’s trash day and that’s how the canal system works here) and see the teachers that are shaping the future of Haiti. They should understand that the aging mothers perched on top of those wildly painted school busses are actually witty business-women who make long daily journeys to sell fruit and produce. Their weathered faces speak of years spent in the fields and the sacrifices they are still making to keep their teenagers and twenty-somethings in school. They should know that Haitian children living with their mothers actually don’t have runny noses because this is a culture that prides itself on hygiene and appearance. In the same way you might grab a water bottle or a granola bar as you run out door, a Haitian caregiver of a young child doesn’t leave home without a washcloth or mouchwa to keep runny noses at bay. They should recognize that young people who enter the field of nursing for example do it for the very same reasons that I chose this profession: compassion and the desire to do something tangible to help those that are hurting. They should know that moms and dads and uncles and neighbors pass along their skills and trades to the young people around them. Cooks and tailors and mechanics and masons prepare the next generation for a life of hard work. Haitians aren’t helpless or lazy or undeserving or evil or any of the other awful descriptors that I’ve heard attributed to this beautiful country. 

I know why I am in Haiti and it’s not because it’s the poorest place on some list. I’m not in Haiti because it has some grave need that my skills can fill. I’m not in Haiti to do anything different than what I might do in a rural clinic for immigrant workers in Georgia or in a safe house for battered women in New York. I’m not doing anything that anyone else couldn’t do, Haitian or otherwise. I am in Haiti because one day, freshly graduated and finally processing a semester’s experience of nursing in rural AIDS clinics in South Africa, I asked God to please let me be close to people like that. I wanted to be close to people who were sick and needed someone to care for them. I’ve realized that there are people like that everywhere and He could have sent me anywhere. I was open. I’m so glad my anywhere turned out to be Haiti. I think God set Haiti in front of me as an option because he knew I would love it here. And He knows me pretty well. 

We're back!

This post is coming dangerously close to being un-postable in that we’ve actually been back in Haiti for four, almost five full days. We’re settling back into life here and our routines, like oatmeal for breakfast, sermons on Sundays, running and reading are taking their proper places. The freshness of the new year is starting to wear off except that it isn’t. The words I wrote a few days ago are still quite appropriate. I guess there’s no wrong time to share what it feels like to come home. 

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We’re back in Haiti and it smells and looks and feels exactly like it did 12 months ago, which in my opinion, looks and smells and feels amazing. We left Haiti for the big Family, Friend, and Fundraise Visit of 2012 (seriously, it’s such an involved affair it deserves an official title) on December 3rd and we arrived home yesterday, Jan 3rd. I think if you leave for 2 weeks, or maybe 3, you can return without much of a jolt to your system. But once you hit the month marker inevitably when you return, your body notices. Last year around this time we returned after being away from Haiti for 3 whole months, 3 months! Coming home then was intoxicating. Returning this time felt just as strange and wonderful. Things I had stopped smelling I noticed yesterday. Like the smell of the Haiti Babi mommas when they jumped in the truck for a ride into town. When I saw them waving madly at us as we pulled home from the airport, everything felt right in the world.  These women work out of an apartment we initially leased for the bead program and/or visiting guests. Now, it’s their knitting supplies that fill the place with warmth and tumble from every corner. I’m a sucker for the smell of Haitian women. It’s grown to be an incredibly friendly and familiar smell.  Not so friendly was the smell of mildew in our apartment but familiar none-the-less. Just as an aside, we’re working on the mildew today. So please don’t add that to the tarantulas and blazing hot temperatures. You can and should still visit. I promise. 

Today we spent half the day flying, 10 minutes unpacking, and half the day bringing our living space back to life. 

First stop: Cap Haitien’s main outdoor market. 

We filled our bags with plenty of fresh food and then moved on to the local cellular store to buy credit for our SIM powered USB internet device. What more do you need short of wi-fi and vegetables? Friends perhaps. And thankfully, we had a chance to see them too. Life is good and there’s plenty to smile about. Our absence did not go unnoticed and that has a way of making you feel just a little bit loved. 

Some things have changed here in this corner of Haiti, while others haven’t. Avocados are no longer in season, but the bank tellers still adore Jenn, calling her either “Schenkkkk” or “Jennifaire” for a combination of the two. The security guard at the gas station was at our window before we could even come to a complete stop. He was eager to share news that his partner, the shops other security guard, had left for Port-au-Prince to attend the police training academy. He’s on to bigger and better things. Big news, indeed. There’s mangoes at the land. The tree in the center of the property, which we’d know only for it’s shade during block-making, has entered a fertile season. This also, is new to us. And exciting. Jenn says it’s popping with fruit and we might just need to rig up a net of some kind to capitalize on it’s bounty. 

Earlier today, Jenn announced that we should make and sell pickles, that was after she learned that “a pickle” is actually a pickled cucumber. (Mind blown). Let’s just say she’s feeling inspired and innovative. And she should be! And so am I.

Our trip to the states was wildly productive in terms of fundraising. And now that we are back in Haiti more and more of our questions and concerns seem to either have answers or are working themselves out to some degree. For example we prayed earnestly that we might maintain positive and mutually engaged relationships with the local villages. A long-seated plan that the organization would tithe to local churches each month will begin, now! We’re feeling very confident that this is one way that we can be an extension of God’s love and mercy and bless the church from which they will bless the community. 

Also, the land looks amazing! Have you seen the pictures on FB? How can you not get excited about the transformation that will happen within those rooms when you see them? 

A year ago, exactly, we were stepping into something completely brand new and trusting God to guide our steps each hour of the day. Today I find myself with the same giddiness about being back. I find myself saying strangely similar things like...Jenn, we need to take a picture.. I think I could blog tonight.  We were only gone a month this time, so the excitement stems more from a sense of God’s presence and power fueling this project. 

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.” (Eph 3. 20)

He can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. The more I think about it, the more I think I might burst. In a good way. 

Praising Him for blessing our travels, bringing us safely back, and for what’s to come. 

this, that, and Thanksgiving

I know, it's been awhile since we've written. Of all the things I'm good at putting off, blogging gets shafted most frequently. So today, before I think the better of it, I am going to set aside 'urgent this' and 'urgent that' to write you all a little update. I will focus my urgency on sharing with you. Here's what's been happening in the heart of the Caribbean.

At "the land," buildings are just popping up right and left! That might be a bit of an exaggeration but we do have some building updates to share. In addition to the clinic and the recovery homes there is now a small apartment for our international staff (which presently consists of none other than us). Our decision to position the apartment above the clinic was quite strategic. When emergencies arise by simply taking the stairs two at a time we'll have access to the medical supply room in seconds. We are right where we need to be according to the words of wise man from Ghana who once told me to "stay close to your vision."

We'll be close alright.

From the apartment we can clearly see the mom and baby homes and we are just a stone's throw away from the gate. From the kitchen we can see the back property and gardens. From the porch we can see the road. And we saved a ton of money by building on an existing structure.

it may look a bit unstable. but i assure you she's safe.

 the roof is dry and the bamboo is just a precaution at this point. 

We had to cancel a few days of work  life... due to major flooding in Cap Haitien. It rained for more than 48 hours. 16 people died. Many homes were flooded. Others were carried down the mountain by currants of water. It was bad. Our friends and employees survived the storm. For one mom, it meant borrowing money to buy plastic table cloths which would be pinned inside her mud and stick home. For another mom it meant moving her family to an area unaffected by flooding while she went back to assess the damage and mop up the mess. The rains were followed by 3 days of hot sun, perfect for drying up 3 days of misery. Although for the families who lost loved ones, the tragedy is irreversible. 

The women are more beautiful than ever. I love the way they encourage one another and treat each other like family. During the storm, I would call to check on one and she'd instantly ask about the others. It's not uncommon to hear them say to one another "you're getting better [at rolling beads]!" or "you are much better at cutting paper than me" or "you're the fastest roller." 

My heart lives for inclusion. For those of you who attended a small liberal arts University or have experience with the "Strength's Finder" test you'll get me when I say "Includer" was one of my top 5. After answering what feels like hundreds of questions this pseudo-personality test detected that one of my strongest attributes was the desire to make others feel included. It's true. My skin crawls until I'm confident that everyone feels accepted and comfortable in a group setting. Needless to say, I've enjoyed watching Dorothy and Louismene whole-heartedly adopt Rosenie, the newest bead maker, into the fold. 

These women are held together by a common bond. All of them have children who are "sick." Not the kind of sick that gets better with rest and hydration and mom's kisses, but real heartbreaking chronic and disabling illness. Everyday when they arrive at work and ask each other, "How are the kids?" they are prepared for honest answers, downcast looks, or racing hearts. These moms come to work and enjoy it. They tell jokes and laugh. But I know that in the moments when they aren't chatting, joking, or talking about politics they're thinking, maybe even worrying, about their kids. 

(More on this in another post...)

The lady pictured one in from the left is Madame Melik. She's a gem. She cooks for our ladies and the Haiti Babi ladies each work day. She also helps keep this ship clean. She makes a killer legim. If you haven't tried this traditional dish then I'm sorry, you just haven't lived. If you visit, she'll make you a double portion and then mock you for your inability to eat as much as a Haitian. It's a battle you can't win. Either eat up or risk being that person... ki pa manje anpil. 

Jenn and I are busy, busy, busy this month! We are North American, traditionally and by birth. That doesn't mean we won't deny our roots the moment someone calls us Haitian, the highest of all desired compliments. It does mean that we are excited to celebrate both Thanksgiving and Christmas. We'll be having a traditional Thanksgiving feast next week here at our apartment complete with turkey and cranberry sauce. You were all invited. But, since no one RSVP'd we'll take it as a hint that you love your family more than you love us. That's fine. ;) Until the big feast we will continue to prepare our staff for the month of December. They're going to be on their own for most of the month. 

In light of the holidays and the fact that my wonderful parents have probably forgotten what I look like, coupled with the need to fundraise and a personal desire to buy new underwear and curly hair conditioner, we will be heading to the US of A.

It's been a year since I've seen my family! Jenn and I are both excited to see our families and friends. We keep talking about what cooking ingredients we will stalk up on and what North American novelties we will partake in. Gingerbread house making,  Disneyland, the movies...wow, the opportunities for good old American fun are endless. We plan to run in the States, which is something we do a lot here. Here in Haiti we run up and down steep hill.  There, we will chart a course that's as flat as they come. We deserve it. 

We will also get to visit a few churches and speak about Haiti in a few different States. We can't wait to see the Edwards in North Carolina!!! That's always fun. 

What's not so fun is planning a big event from afar. The plan is to have a Silent Auction in Tucson the first weekend in December. We knew it would be a challenging undertaking but plunged ahead anyway. A few weeks ago Jenn spent a solid 6 hours emailing various businesses in search of donations. Our first "yes" response was from an Opera company who offered to send tickets. We've never been more excited about opera! The next yes was a few free yoga passes. This was also very exciting. The remaining 48 businesses didn't respond. 

That left us with two options: 1. cancel 2. ask for help

We asked for help and several wonderful people have come through with gift baskets and even an event location. We could still use more items to place up for auction. Do you have a business, craft, or trade that we could place up for Auction? We would be forever indebted to you for your donation. If you can come to the event please do! We are bringing with us some sites and sounds of Haiti and a few famous Haitian beverages as well. It should be a great night. 

In other big news, we have a Holiday Gift Giving Catalog on it's way. This will let you give a much needed "gift" to Second Mile Ministries this gift giving season. And, we were just notified of a donor that would like to match all donations up to $5,000 during this week before Thanksgiving. 

Between the sun, the building progress, the beautiful moms we work with, and our upcoming travels we have so much to be thankful. Top that list off with this potential donation, your prayers, new friends, and a God who never leaves us and we're flat-on-our faces thankful. 

We hope you have a very merry Thanksgiving! 

Matching donations start today. Donate here.