Sunday, April 4, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Reflections from team 1
Hi friends, Andrea and Jess V. again, this time traveling through Miami, Florida.
We have had safe travels so far, and are still recovering from our flea, ant, spider, gnat, mosquito bites...which altogether resemble the chicken pox. Nonetheless, it has been a fun journey back. We were just reminiscing about our appreciation for universal languages. Since many of us could not speak Creole, we have noticed that there are other ways of communicating other than through words. First there is laughter, which has been used a lot throughout this trip. For one, it is contagious. Just the other day we were all laughing at how Jared slipped on some dirt. Naturally, Nolan's laugh was slightly unique than others', and Jonel, one of the Haitian workers, found the sound of it funny and he imitated it. This made us erupt in more laughter. Secondly, laughter brings people together in the fact that can find the same things to be humorous. For example, in one of the many soccer games we had with the Haitian staff at the Le Kay guest house, I, Jessica, got pushed and fell backwards into the hedge bordering the lawn. This obviously caused everyone to erupt in laughter. All in all, when people were goofy or happened to do something ridiculous, it broke down cultural barriers and allowed us to connect on a different level, allowing us all to feel the same joy.
The other universal languages we discovered was while driving through the streets of Haiti. For one thing, the car horn is used VERY frequently. It basically means "move now, or get hit." Pierre sometimes did this when hauling rocks with the wheelbarrow. We also found out that the "thumbs up" sign through the windows could put a smile on just about any face we passed, and we often got a thumbs up in return. As for the white van which had tinted windows, they were not able to communicate with the people outside, but got Dejon to laugh when Nolan's gas came back. So apparently flatulance can be universal as well.
We hope this gives you another good depiction of our trip. We are now going to retire under the airport seats. :)
God bless,
Scooty, and Jackie Chan's sister
We have had safe travels so far, and are still recovering from our flea, ant, spider, gnat, mosquito bites...which altogether resemble the chicken pox. Nonetheless, it has been a fun journey back. We were just reminiscing about our appreciation for universal languages. Since many of us could not speak Creole, we have noticed that there are other ways of communicating other than through words. First there is laughter, which has been used a lot throughout this trip. For one, it is contagious. Just the other day we were all laughing at how Jared slipped on some dirt. Naturally, Nolan's laugh was slightly unique than others', and Jonel, one of the Haitian workers, found the sound of it funny and he imitated it. This made us erupt in more laughter. Secondly, laughter brings people together in the fact that can find the same things to be humorous. For example, in one of the many soccer games we had with the Haitian staff at the Le Kay guest house, I, Jessica, got pushed and fell backwards into the hedge bordering the lawn. This obviously caused everyone to erupt in laughter. All in all, when people were goofy or happened to do something ridiculous, it broke down cultural barriers and allowed us to connect on a different level, allowing us all to feel the same joy.
The other universal languages we discovered was while driving through the streets of Haiti. For one thing, the car horn is used VERY frequently. It basically means "move now, or get hit." Pierre sometimes did this when hauling rocks with the wheelbarrow. We also found out that the "thumbs up" sign through the windows could put a smile on just about any face we passed, and we often got a thumbs up in return. As for the white van which had tinted windows, they were not able to communicate with the people outside, but got Dejon to laugh when Nolan's gas came back. So apparently flatulance can be universal as well.
We hope this gives you another good depiction of our trip. We are now going to retire under the airport seats. :)
God bless,
Scooty, and Jackie Chan's sister
On Our Way Home..
Hello Friends and Family,
I bring you tidings of good news, the Haiti DR Team is safe and well here in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. After a five hour journey across the Haitian border and DR we have made it safe and sound to our hotel. God was very much with us today, as we did not have to any money to border guards going into to Haiti and also coming out. We had a couple scares today with the vehicle, but with God's faithfulness we made it here with no trouble.
As I look back on this journey I must say what an experience it has been to get to know different cultures (the DR and Haiti). Overall, my experience with both as been so very sweet I consider them both a blessing.
Our driver for this last week from DR to Haiti and in Haiti and back was Achellees. I have to say the driving here in the DR is much more toned down compared to the wild crazy taxi driving of Haiti, however it still has its scares. Achellees is the man among drivers, and I have to say this guy kept us safe not only in the vehicle, but outside the vehicle as well. I like to think of him as my spanish speaking guardian angel who drives like mario andrettie. Achellees has a great heart not only for service, but for God. I appreciate him so much for his willing heart this week. He was one of my eases throughout the whole trip, which made this trip quite a breeze when it came to the difficult and perhaps scary events.
It's crazy to think tomorrow we fly to Atlanta and Monday back to California. I am very excited to be back in the states and see my family as is the rest of my team; however, I do feel a yearning to stay as my heart has grown for many of these people and the situations they are in.
I ask you as followers of Christ and dear friends to continue to pray for pastor Francklin and his ministry in Haiti. Though we are leaving the ministry is not ending, it is only beginning. May God continue to not only bless Haiti, but bring more teams of eager servers to help these people.
To those of you who have supported our Team I say thank you so very much for helping the work of God's kingdom. I find it such a blessing and a gift to be your hands and feet here to these people over the last eight days, as does the whole team.
For now the Haiti 2 (Logan D, Kyle, Lupe, Justina, Megan, and Brit) sign off saying buenos noches from Santo Domingo! We will be leaving tomorrow around 2 from SDQ, and we will be in Atlanta around 5ish. My phone will be back on then :)!
In His Everlasting Love and Grace,
Logan D.
on behalf of Team Haiti
I bring you tidings of good news, the Haiti DR Team is safe and well here in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. After a five hour journey across the Haitian border and DR we have made it safe and sound to our hotel. God was very much with us today, as we did not have to any money to border guards going into to Haiti and also coming out. We had a couple scares today with the vehicle, but with God's faithfulness we made it here with no trouble.
As I look back on this journey I must say what an experience it has been to get to know different cultures (the DR and Haiti). Overall, my experience with both as been so very sweet I consider them both a blessing.
Our driver for this last week from DR to Haiti and in Haiti and back was Achellees. I have to say the driving here in the DR is much more toned down compared to the wild crazy taxi driving of Haiti, however it still has its scares. Achellees is the man among drivers, and I have to say this guy kept us safe not only in the vehicle, but outside the vehicle as well. I like to think of him as my spanish speaking guardian angel who drives like mario andrettie. Achellees has a great heart not only for service, but for God. I appreciate him so much for his willing heart this week. He was one of my eases throughout the whole trip, which made this trip quite a breeze when it came to the difficult and perhaps scary events.
It's crazy to think tomorrow we fly to Atlanta and Monday back to California. I am very excited to be back in the states and see my family as is the rest of my team; however, I do feel a yearning to stay as my heart has grown for many of these people and the situations they are in.
I ask you as followers of Christ and dear friends to continue to pray for pastor Francklin and his ministry in Haiti. Though we are leaving the ministry is not ending, it is only beginning. May God continue to not only bless Haiti, but bring more teams of eager servers to help these people.
To those of you who have supported our Team I say thank you so very much for helping the work of God's kingdom. I find it such a blessing and a gift to be your hands and feet here to these people over the last eight days, as does the whole team.
For now the Haiti 2 (Logan D, Kyle, Lupe, Justina, Megan, and Brit) sign off saying buenos noches from Santo Domingo! We will be leaving tomorrow around 2 from SDQ, and we will be in Atlanta around 5ish. My phone will be back on then :)!
In His Everlasting Love and Grace,
Logan D.
on behalf of Team Haiti
Some of the funny parts.
Sup dudes.Yeah its Nolan. I'm here to tell some funny stories. Well the guys had a fun time sleeping out in the back of the house in a small jungle with tents. We endured nights of loud music, swarms of mosquitoes buzzing in our ears, heat, and of course an animal we dubbed the "man-bear-pig". For many Nights we awoke to the sound of what seemed to be a very angry cat in pain. I can only describe it as frightening and a bit disturbing. Every night was an adventure in the tents.
Kyle was dubbed The dream machine due to his fascinating stories he would tell us after sleeping.
Some other great things. Jared slipped on some dirt at the workplace and the Haitian workers laughed really hard.
Jared and Kyle tangoed in the middle of the street.
KY fit in really well among the Haitians, so did Justina. I guess you could figure out why. We also managed to lose Ky really easily. Must have been the army boots.
Logan had diarrhea and got screwed for bathrooms.
Jared got annoyed with some of the Haitians because they kept asking him the same question over and over.
Andrew slept a lot.
The guys sang disney songs...a lot.
Nolan managed to hit Megan in the face, throw a flip flop at Kristina, and almost tackle Emily. (all of these were by accident of course)
We found out Lupe was afraid of Driving. Haiti is great place to alleviate those fears.
Everyone looked like Lepers because of all our wonderful mosquito bites.
I Love Haiti.
Merci Jesus
Kyle was dubbed The dream machine due to his fascinating stories he would tell us after sleeping.
Some other great things. Jared slipped on some dirt at the workplace and the Haitian workers laughed really hard.
Jared and Kyle tangoed in the middle of the street.
KY fit in really well among the Haitians, so did Justina. I guess you could figure out why. We also managed to lose Ky really easily. Must have been the army boots.
Logan had diarrhea and got screwed for bathrooms.
Jared got annoyed with some of the Haitians because they kept asking him the same question over and over.
Andrew slept a lot.
The guys sang disney songs...a lot.
Nolan managed to hit Megan in the face, throw a flip flop at Kristina, and almost tackle Emily. (all of these were by accident of course)
We found out Lupe was afraid of Driving. Haiti is great place to alleviate those fears.
Everyone looked like Lepers because of all our wonderful mosquito bites.
I Love Haiti.
Merci Jesus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)