So I don't know if anyone ever checks this blog to see if we've updated but if you are the lucky one reading this then thank you for taking the time. Sometimes I wonder if we should keep up a blog of our lives. Something Chris and I will talk about.
Well we've been living in Canada for 6 months now. It's been a mix of emotions, highs and lows being back.
But I am thrilled to report I will be headed back to Haiti on March 23rd - April 10th. (Lord willing :) I am going back to help update the education fund sponsor children. I've taken over looking after that part of HAs' ministry since being back here in Canada. It's been a huge blessing and I am a big supporter of Haiti using education to drive them forward. I believe HA is doing amazing things by providing 300 kids with education and Christian at that. So the goal will be to take as many new pictures and get letters written from each of the students who are sponsored and then send them to their sponsor here in Canada. But I hold this plan out with open hands because in Haiti you never know what will happen from one day to the next. My prayer is to be flexible and ready for that, just because I've been there before doesn't mean I won't forget or be anxious to get things done. I need a heart of service, so prayer for preparation would be appreciated if it comes to mind.
In case some of you are wondering what Chris and I are up too this is a little tidbit of info.
We live in Red Deer AB, I am working at a Christian school as a admin assistant. (also coaching jr. girls bball)
Chris is working for an oil field company cleaning equipment. This is definitely a temporary place for us as we look at
ministry positions in AB. Waiting patiently for the next step. God is faithful and we are seeing that and believing in it.
Thanks for reading, I hope to be posting at least once a week with thoughts and preparation for Haiti.
Blessings~
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
For Claire
So we attended the Annual General Meeting for Haiti Arise in Calgary this past weekend. It was a great time, Chris and I got to connect with a lot of people we met in Haiti this past year. One of those people is a dear lady named Claire. (Hi!) She said she misses reading our blog so I decided to write one. I have no idea how many people will read it but that doesn't matter.
It's sad to not be writing from Haiti though. I definitely miss the warm/hot weather and people. Well lots of things really.~
Being back in Canada is a hard thing. Reverse culture shock or re-entry back into your own country is interesting and tough.
We spent a lot of time prepping to be in Haiti and to be ready for anything and I wish I would have done that in getting ready to come back here.
I forgot how 'go go' and fast Canadian culture is. It's a rat race and I don't want to join in or get caught up in the next 'thing.'
I want so badly to not forget what I learned in Haiti and live in a way that glorifies God and not myself.
Part of reverse culture shock is a feeling that you just don't fit or belong. That is probably my biggest struggle, whether it is going into a store, conversations with people or even my job.
May God give me the grace and strength I need.
I know Chris and I will be back to Haiti in the future so that is exciting. We definitely left pieces of our hearts there.
I am now helping with the administration of the Education Fund for Haiti Arise. So if any one has any questions about sponsoring students please send them my way.
Blessings, Rebecca
It's sad to not be writing from Haiti though. I definitely miss the warm/hot weather and people. Well lots of things really.~
Being back in Canada is a hard thing. Reverse culture shock or re-entry back into your own country is interesting and tough.
We spent a lot of time prepping to be in Haiti and to be ready for anything and I wish I would have done that in getting ready to come back here.
I forgot how 'go go' and fast Canadian culture is. It's a rat race and I don't want to join in or get caught up in the next 'thing.'
I want so badly to not forget what I learned in Haiti and live in a way that glorifies God and not myself.
Part of reverse culture shock is a feeling that you just don't fit or belong. That is probably my biggest struggle, whether it is going into a store, conversations with people or even my job.
May God give me the grace and strength I need.
I know Chris and I will be back to Haiti in the future so that is exciting. We definitely left pieces of our hearts there.
I am now helping with the administration of the Education Fund for Haiti Arise. So if any one has any questions about sponsoring students please send them my way.
Blessings, Rebecca
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Farewell Haiti~
Here we are already in our hotel room in Ft. Lauderdale. We left Haiti yesterday afternoon at 3. There are no words really to say how I feel about leaving it is all quite surreal. Driving through PAP one last time I just kept thinking to myself I have to come back, I have to come back. A piece of our hearts is definitely in Haiti with the people. This good bye was probably the most difficult I've ever had.
We had a goodbye party on Friday night it was really great. Even though it was raining a lot of people came. We were so blessed with kind words, prayers and songs.
I am so grateful that God brought us to Haiti. In church last Sunday that's all I could do was over and over again thank Him for bringing us to Haiti.
In the days to come we are going to reflect and remember all the experiences and try to figure out what we learned and how our outlook on life has changed.
So hopefully in a week I can write again with some more insight into our time in Grand Goave Haiti.
Thanks for taking the journey with us this past year.
Rebecca and Chris
We had a goodbye party on Friday night it was really great. Even though it was raining a lot of people came. We were so blessed with kind words, prayers and songs.
I am so grateful that God brought us to Haiti. In church last Sunday that's all I could do was over and over again thank Him for bringing us to Haiti.
In the days to come we are going to reflect and remember all the experiences and try to figure out what we learned and how our outlook on life has changed.
So hopefully in a week I can write again with some more insight into our time in Grand Goave Haiti.
Thanks for taking the journey with us this past year.
Rebecca and Chris
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Rainy last days~
Well here we are 3 more sleeps till we leave. It's a mix of emotions that we can't really express. Saying goodbye is hard, everyone wants to know when you are coming back and we don't know. All we can say is if God wills it. Chris is having his last English class with the young guys right now. Like I said in the previous blog it's lots of lasts. The weather has been really strange, so overcast and lots of rain showers. We haven't seen the sun in a few days. Very different because I've seen the sun pretty much everyday since we got here.
The medical team left today. I posted their blog site on the right it's called HFL Blog. If you read that you will find out what they all experienced and the patients and different cases they dealt with. I think the most difficult case for everyone was a woman who was brought in having seizures. I guess she had pre-eclampsia with her baby and was now very sick. Her baby however was very healthy. They had to take her to the hospital right away or else there would have been no hope. She survived and came back about 5 days later with the baby, who was now sick. I will let the team tell it from here:
She (the baby) was dehydrated with a sunken fontanel eyes wide open and too weak even to cry. Her breathing was such a struggle for her as if she could barely have the strength to take air in. Angela was able to get 60 mls of formula in to babe but it was so hard to understand how this could have happened. A thriving babe last Friday and now so ill. Mum left with babe to go to a midwife who she said would remove a blood vessel from under her heart which was causing the problem. We only can pray for this little one and keep her and her mum in our hearts. There were tears shed over this babe and shock at how changed the situation was.
Chris and I haven't been doing too much, we shared our goodbyes with the church on Sunday and I also went and shared at Tapion church for the last time. Such a joy to see all the children come to church even in the rain. We've just been taking walks, packing and spending time with all the Haiti Arise staff. It's a bit awkward but I am beginning to like awkward more and more. :)
I hope I have more to say tomorrow or Friday. Until then.....
The medical team left today. I posted their blog site on the right it's called HFL Blog. If you read that you will find out what they all experienced and the patients and different cases they dealt with. I think the most difficult case for everyone was a woman who was brought in having seizures. I guess she had pre-eclampsia with her baby and was now very sick. Her baby however was very healthy. They had to take her to the hospital right away or else there would have been no hope. She survived and came back about 5 days later with the baby, who was now sick. I will let the team tell it from here:
She (the baby) was dehydrated with a sunken fontanel eyes wide open and too weak even to cry. Her breathing was such a struggle for her as if she could barely have the strength to take air in. Angela was able to get 60 mls of formula in to babe but it was so hard to understand how this could have happened. A thriving babe last Friday and now so ill. Mum left with babe to go to a midwife who she said would remove a blood vessel from under her heart which was causing the problem. We only can pray for this little one and keep her and her mum in our hearts. There were tears shed over this babe and shock at how changed the situation was.
Chris and I haven't been doing too much, we shared our goodbyes with the church on Sunday and I also went and shared at Tapion church for the last time. Such a joy to see all the children come to church even in the rain. We've just been taking walks, packing and spending time with all the Haiti Arise staff. It's a bit awkward but I am beginning to like awkward more and more. :)
I hope I have more to say tomorrow or Friday. Until then.....
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Winding down~
Well here we are in the midst of a busy medical clinic. For Chris and I its been fairly relaxed. We make photocopies and take care of the logistics of the team being here but for the most part they do what doctors and nurses do. :)
We always appreciate seeing the people of this community served in this way.
Since Chris and I are not so busy we've taken the time to visit some of the families of the houses that are being built. Yesterday, seeing Christoph's (Haiti Arises gardener) children hauling rebar and helping contribute to their new home was exciting to me.
The people receiving these homes are so grateful and you can see it in their faces and body language. Then today we went to visit a lady in the church (Madame Voltaire)who has 8 children and is receiving a home. Her daughters were so excited to have us in their home, I only see them at church or for childrens' program. They live in a more remote area of Grand Goave quite far off the main road. They don't have any power so at night when it's dark it's dark. We went for a walk with them to get water from the well. It took about 10 minutes. Again I am reminded of the many blessings we have even here at the Haiti Arise building. It's incredible to have running water and power. Wow I am so thankful.
We've also started packing up our office this week, which is a little sad. Chris has the opportunity to preach on this last Sunday in Haiti for us. We have a lot of 'lasts' coming up but that's all part of leaving.
Well I can't think of any more news at the moment. So that's it I guess. Thanks for reading, not sure how many more posts there will be. Incredible that this part of our journey in Haiti is almost finished.
Oh please continue to pray for a resolution at the childrens home property. I have nothing to report except that Marc has sent letters to deputies, mayors and others asking them to get around to resolving this issue. Also for all the sick people that are coming into the clinic. Some with really bad situations. For Chris and I as we prepare to leave and our future.
Thanks :)
We always appreciate seeing the people of this community served in this way.
Since Chris and I are not so busy we've taken the time to visit some of the families of the houses that are being built. Yesterday, seeing Christoph's (Haiti Arises gardener) children hauling rebar and helping contribute to their new home was exciting to me.
The people receiving these homes are so grateful and you can see it in their faces and body language. Then today we went to visit a lady in the church (Madame Voltaire)who has 8 children and is receiving a home. Her daughters were so excited to have us in their home, I only see them at church or for childrens' program. They live in a more remote area of Grand Goave quite far off the main road. They don't have any power so at night when it's dark it's dark. We went for a walk with them to get water from the well. It took about 10 minutes. Again I am reminded of the many blessings we have even here at the Haiti Arise building. It's incredible to have running water and power. Wow I am so thankful.
We've also started packing up our office this week, which is a little sad. Chris has the opportunity to preach on this last Sunday in Haiti for us. We have a lot of 'lasts' coming up but that's all part of leaving.
Well I can't think of any more news at the moment. So that's it I guess. Thanks for reading, not sure how many more posts there will be. Incredible that this part of our journey in Haiti is almost finished.
Oh please continue to pray for a resolution at the childrens home property. I have nothing to report except that Marc has sent letters to deputies, mayors and others asking them to get around to resolving this issue. Also for all the sick people that are coming into the clinic. Some with really bad situations. For Chris and I as we prepare to leave and our future.
Thanks :)
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
News for May 18th.
Good afternoon from Haiti Arise. Thought I would take a few moments to update life here at the compound. We had a busy morning with the elementary school kids. We had a mini kids market for them, Lisa and I had saved a whole bunch of things (like school supplies, toys, games etc...) to sell. It was great we pretty much sold everything. Actually I can not believe that all of the clothing and stuff from the containers is all gone, praise God. I know our church and community was really blessed by all the markets we had here.
We have found that having markets and charging a little money for things is better than just handing it out. People can choose what they want and they also value it more as they have to pay for it.
It's been a good experience for me to witness the different ways we bless the people here. I have learned a lot and can see what helps and what doesn't help and also what is just plain needed. I don't claim to have it all figured out by any means (I have so much more to learn) but I have some insight now by being here this long.
I am excited to read a book called, "When Helping Hurts, How to alleviate poverty with out hurting the poor or yourself" By Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.
As our time shortens here there seems to be a different feeling about. We've noticed some people backing off a bit and keeping distance. It isn't nice but I guess that's how they can best deal with us leaving. It's going to be so hard to leave so please pray for us we prepare and say our goodbyes. Chris and I have been talking and planning for the future. That is our biggest prayer request, we have lots of ideas but no decisions have been made yet.
As I am writing this our last team is arriving in PAP. It's another medical team. They will be here for 2 weeks to serve the community. I am always blessed to see the Haitian people helped in this way.
This morning Chris had the opportunity to play bball on a 1/4 of a regular size court. A foreign aid group that fixes water wells is also building a bball court nearby one of their wells. Though the court is barely finished it is being used everyday all the time. He started playing bball at 7 am and came back at 11:30am very tired but blessed. He said it was a great experience just being with all the Haitian guys, something not many others are able to experience.
Another good adventure we had was on Monday. Marc and Lisa took us up to a place called Value, in the mountains. It's 5km from the main road but takes about 1/2 hour to actually get to the top. We had lunch at the hotel/restaurant they have up there and were able to go on a hike as well. It's a totally different life for people who live in the mountains, much more simple than people in town. (And I think their lives are simple.) It was nice to share some time with Marc and Lisa and get to see another part of Haiti.
I am really happy the kids are back in school now, it's seems to be a bit more 'normal' in Grand Goave. We can thank God for that answer to prayer.
Well that's all for today. Thanks for reading~
We have found that having markets and charging a little money for things is better than just handing it out. People can choose what they want and they also value it more as they have to pay for it.
It's been a good experience for me to witness the different ways we bless the people here. I have learned a lot and can see what helps and what doesn't help and also what is just plain needed. I don't claim to have it all figured out by any means (I have so much more to learn) but I have some insight now by being here this long.
I am excited to read a book called, "When Helping Hurts, How to alleviate poverty with out hurting the poor or yourself" By Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.
As our time shortens here there seems to be a different feeling about. We've noticed some people backing off a bit and keeping distance. It isn't nice but I guess that's how they can best deal with us leaving. It's going to be so hard to leave so please pray for us we prepare and say our goodbyes. Chris and I have been talking and planning for the future. That is our biggest prayer request, we have lots of ideas but no decisions have been made yet.
As I am writing this our last team is arriving in PAP. It's another medical team. They will be here for 2 weeks to serve the community. I am always blessed to see the Haitian people helped in this way.
This morning Chris had the opportunity to play bball on a 1/4 of a regular size court. A foreign aid group that fixes water wells is also building a bball court nearby one of their wells. Though the court is barely finished it is being used everyday all the time. He started playing bball at 7 am and came back at 11:30am very tired but blessed. He said it was a great experience just being with all the Haitian guys, something not many others are able to experience.
Another good adventure we had was on Monday. Marc and Lisa took us up to a place called Value, in the mountains. It's 5km from the main road but takes about 1/2 hour to actually get to the top. We had lunch at the hotel/restaurant they have up there and were able to go on a hike as well. It's a totally different life for people who live in the mountains, much more simple than people in town. (And I think their lives are simple.) It was nice to share some time with Marc and Lisa and get to see another part of Haiti.
I am really happy the kids are back in school now, it's seems to be a bit more 'normal' in Grand Goave. We can thank God for that answer to prayer.
Well that's all for today. Thanks for reading~
Friday, May 13, 2011
Picture Blog~
Here Chris and a few others are helping unload the container. I should have been putting up pics all along but the few times I tried this past year it failed and I just gave up. But in these last 3 weeks I hope to get some good ones up!
This is one of our full mango trees ready to bless us with its wonderful fruit.
This pic is was given to me by a team member. Often Chris and I stroll the beach!
Volleyball camp at Haiti Arise compound.
Young guys listening to a member of the team share their testimony at bball camp.
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