Wow - hard to believe it's been almost a year since I returned from Haiti, and since I last updated on here. Sorry for the silence!
Here's the bullet-point, short-version update:
-Been living back in northeast ohio, working a 'real job' as an aircraft mechanic at the Cleveland airport since May 2012. Working to pay off those college loans with the goal of moving overseas in the hopefully-not-too-distant future. Still have no idea what that will look like or how God will orchestrate things, but can't wait to discover what He has is store.
-Currently planning a short trip back to Haiti for March 29 - April 4. So stoked to see everyone again!
-Thanks to the wonders of technology, there are many updates [www.mohintl.org, facebook, etc] of so many exciting things happening at Mission of Hope: Kevin and Tammy Groder moving to Haiti full-time to work with Lex and Renee, Janina heading up a new restaurant project in St Etienne, Mission USA [led by Fred and Sandy Muffet of the Chapel] donating a bus and leading a large short-term trip recently.
-I've also been asked to share about Haiti at Knox, my home church in Cincinnati, in late April. Very excited about this opportunity, and to see how God will work through this. Prayers are always appreciated. :)
That's it for now - I'll post updates and pictures from the upcoming trip as they happen!
All for Him.
3.04.2013
5.04.2012
4 May 2012
i get to have coffee today with my friend erica, who came to haiti for the last week that i was there in late march. this is her blog, where she tells the adventures of that week in a beautiful three-part story. enjoy!
http://myadventuresinwanderlust.wordpress.com/2012/04/09/haiti-part-one/
to Him be the Glory.
4.18.2012
17 April 2012
http://rejectapathy.com/poverty/features/20415-a-hand-up-not-a-handout
good thoughts. i agree wholeheartedly, and have seen firsthand in Haiti how true this concept is. help people work, view them as people, not as a problem that material gifts can easily solve. we can do better than that, it just requires more investment of ourselves, mainly our time and energy and love, not just our money.
to Him be the glory.
3.28.2012
28 March 2012
hey friends,
i'm back in the states. had the best salad of my life yesterday at the macaroni grill in ORD, got to take the coveted hot shower when i got home at 1am, and am currently getting ready to do laundry (not by hand!), because that's a very necessary part of the unpacking process. at some point i'd like to go for a bike ride, and i should probably go to a grocery store, and responsibility says i need to work on things like tax returns and bills sometime, but eh, whatever. it'll happen when it happens. one of the hardest things i think is going to be the balance between the american productivity mindset, realizing that we way over do it, but at the same time not being apathetic and lazy about things that actually are important. working on finding that healthy balance. at this point, i still haven't turned my american phone back on, nor do i have my jeep back from a friend yet, but it's nice, because it means the next few days can be a slower transition back, which is a wonderful thing. i'm still on haitian time. :)
that's the short version. much more reflection to come, but just wanted to let everyone know that all is well here in ohio. love you guys.
to Him be the Glory!
i'm back in the states. had the best salad of my life yesterday at the macaroni grill in ORD, got to take the coveted hot shower when i got home at 1am, and am currently getting ready to do laundry (not by hand!), because that's a very necessary part of the unpacking process. at some point i'd like to go for a bike ride, and i should probably go to a grocery store, and responsibility says i need to work on things like tax returns and bills sometime, but eh, whatever. it'll happen when it happens. one of the hardest things i think is going to be the balance between the american productivity mindset, realizing that we way over do it, but at the same time not being apathetic and lazy about things that actually are important. working on finding that healthy balance. at this point, i still haven't turned my american phone back on, nor do i have my jeep back from a friend yet, but it's nice, because it means the next few days can be a slower transition back, which is a wonderful thing. i'm still on haitian time. :)
that's the short version. much more reflection to come, but just wanted to let everyone know that all is well here in ohio. love you guys.
to Him be the Glory!
3.26.2012
24 March 2012
Hey friends. Sorry it's been so long since I posted anything on here. It's hard to believe it's already March 24, and I head home in just three days. On one hand, it feels like I've been here forever, and yet on the other hand, it's still very surreal that I'm leaving so soon. Since the beginning of the trip, everyone asks "kile ou prale Etazini?", meaning "when will you go to America?" When the answer was "ven set Mas" (27th of March), it was normally met with a response of "oh, that's a long time from now", but now, I don't even need to say ven set mas, because now i just say "Mardi" (Tuesday). so crazy.
the last couple weeks have been great. having the akron team here two weeks ago and getting to fix cars and such was super fun. excited about the potential idea of having a legit mechanic shop here (or in another third-world context) because of the straight up need for a knowledgeable, good mechanic. fun to meet carissa and sarah (page) from Hoola for Happiness. really enjoyed the great conversations we had throughout those few days, and our excursion together to st. etienne.
also wonderful to have cherith and dan and megan here with travis this week. between the four of them, erica powell, and myself, we had quite the fun little team this week. i love the random projects: from sewing projects to fixing generators to playing soccer at hands and feet, to fixing an outboard motor and moving gravel, to painting murals with glitter and jigsaw puzzles, it's been a great week.
more reflections to come, but for now, back to enjoying the last couple days here.
to Him be the glory!
the last couple weeks have been great. having the akron team here two weeks ago and getting to fix cars and such was super fun. excited about the potential idea of having a legit mechanic shop here (or in another third-world context) because of the straight up need for a knowledgeable, good mechanic. fun to meet carissa and sarah (page) from Hoola for Happiness. really enjoyed the great conversations we had throughout those few days, and our excursion together to st. etienne.
also wonderful to have cherith and dan and megan here with travis this week. between the four of them, erica powell, and myself, we had quite the fun little team this week. i love the random projects: from sewing projects to fixing generators to playing soccer at hands and feet, to fixing an outboard motor and moving gravel, to painting murals with glitter and jigsaw puzzles, it's been a great week.
more reflections to come, but for now, back to enjoying the last couple days here.
to Him be the glory!
16 March 2012
things i have come to value over the last few months:
-glass bottle cokes.
-electricity in general, especially fans at night. oh, and lights in my bathroom so i don't have to shave my legs on the porch outside. it'll be really great when that actually happens. :)
-the creativity and ingenuity of "haitian engineering".
-nutella. worth it's weight in gold. [almost.] thanks to the crucified crew for choosing to show their love for me that way. :)
-communication. even when you think you said all the right words, that doesn't mean that anything was actually effectively communicated.
-marie yves. i'm thinking about bringing her home with me just because i like her so much. it's going to be crazy when i actually have to start cooking for myself again - way more boring too. i'm convinced she can take an onion and a boullion cube and make a five-course meal. pate, pancakes, all kinds of delicious goodness.
-multi-lingual worship. love it.
-baby wipes. always a good thing.
-kids that help without asking for anything, just because they want to help.
just a short list. many, many more things to be grateful for. God is good to us.
To Him be the glory!
-glass bottle cokes.
-electricity in general, especially fans at night. oh, and lights in my bathroom so i don't have to shave my legs on the porch outside. it'll be really great when that actually happens. :)
-the creativity and ingenuity of "haitian engineering".
-nutella. worth it's weight in gold. [almost.] thanks to the crucified crew for choosing to show their love for me that way. :)
-communication. even when you think you said all the right words, that doesn't mean that anything was actually effectively communicated.
-marie yves. i'm thinking about bringing her home with me just because i like her so much. it's going to be crazy when i actually have to start cooking for myself again - way more boring too. i'm convinced she can take an onion and a boullion cube and make a five-course meal. pate, pancakes, all kinds of delicious goodness.
-multi-lingual worship. love it.
-baby wipes. always a good thing.
-kids that help without asking for anything, just because they want to help.
just a short list. many, many more things to be grateful for. God is good to us.
To Him be the glory!
3.13.2012
13 March 2012
Hi friends!
It's been a great couple days having the crew from Akron here. There's seven of them total: Ben Keenan, Zach Romanin, Vinny Romanin, Ashley Lonsbury, Hannah Farmer, Brandon Nelson, and Jenna Brinker. The whole team has been great about stepping up, doing whatever work needs to be done, whether it's working on vehicles, helping Angela in the school clinic, moving backfill (everyone's favorite of course), painting, or even simple things like doing dishes after dinner. There have been lots of great conversations, card games, and fellowship as well. All good things. Headed to church again tonight, and more work again tomorrow!
to Him be the Glory!
It's been a great couple days having the crew from Akron here. There's seven of them total: Ben Keenan, Zach Romanin, Vinny Romanin, Ashley Lonsbury, Hannah Farmer, Brandon Nelson, and Jenna Brinker. The whole team has been great about stepping up, doing whatever work needs to be done, whether it's working on vehicles, helping Angela in the school clinic, moving backfill (everyone's favorite of course), painting, or even simple things like doing dishes after dinner. There have been lots of great conversations, card games, and fellowship as well. All good things. Headed to church again tonight, and more work again tomorrow!
to Him be the Glory!
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