09/09/10

So 24 is treating me good so far…
I had a good birthday. We had worship and fasting as a base in the morning. I talked to my mom for a little bit on Skype (she almost made me cry). I took some people to the airport and Steeve to the bank. I got to go to Cite Soleil Tent City (TC) and help hand out Bibles in Creole in the afternoon. And came back to a surprise party with all the staff. I danced, was sung to, and got cake smashed in my face. I also got a ton of birthday posts on Facebook from a lot of wonderful people! All in all, a pretty great day!
On Friday night, we went out for ice cream for “Momma’s” last night.
Saturday, us girls went to New Life around 2 pm to hang out with the kids and for Hannah to get her “hur did.” We were there FOREVER!!! =] It was really good to get to hang out with the kids!! I miss them SO much! I thought we were going to get to go back there more often than we have, so that has been a hard adjustment since moving.
We were supposed to go to church at New Life on Sunday, but we were short on vehicles, so that didn’t happen. We weren’t very happy about it, but not much we could do about it.
Monday, Hannah, Dani and I went with Peterson and Valter to look at a property to see if we would want to rent it. It had quite a few cracks in it from the earthquake… ‘nough said. In the afternoon, Hannah, Dani and I went with Ben, Gideon, Adam and Abel to Cite Soleil TC. Hannah and I ended up helping with the school/church they are building there. I didn’t realize we were going to be helping and wore flip flops… bad decision. But it was fun! Almost every time Hannah or I tried to do something, one of the many Haitian men standing around would come take over. I was measuring the boards that were being cut, and managed to keep that job. Thanks, Dad, for teaching me how to measure and use a square triangle =] Dani went with Peterson to look at some properties as we are still looking for a place to rent for the base and for the pregnancy center we want to start.
Tuesday, at the church, some of us sorted through a lot of the things we have accumulated over the last 8 months, especially over this summer. We took a truckload to Cite Soleil TC. Pastor Carlos, from Panama, came in that day. He wants to partner with us on some of or ministries. When he got here, it was like Christmas!!! He brought a chair with wheels on it and a highchair for Tabby. And a whole suitcase of snacks and candy for us and whoever we choose to share with. Peterson, Lucy, Tabby, Pastor Carlos and Jude left for Le Montcel that afternoon. Peterson wanted Pastor Carlos to see the place and see what he thought and how he felt about it.
Wednesday, we stayed at the house in the morning. I had a bit of a breakdown. I don’t really know what I was feeling. I was frustrated with some things and ready to just be home, sad about leaving, not wanting to go home, wanting to just be able to understand Creole and Haitian culture. I cried, then I was fine. In the afternoon, we went prepared to work at the building project with Ben, Adam and Gideon. We had a lack of vehicles, so we couldn’t work on sorting stuff in the container we have parked at the church. We painted sealer on the walls of the school. Some of the kids helped me. They kept saying “Hey you!” when they wanted to dip their brushes in the sealer. So I said, “sivouple,” which means ‘please’ and then they started saying that. They I told them my name, so they would say, “Leah! Sivouple?” It was pretty cute!
Today, Thursday, we had worship then went to work on clearing out the container. We filled up the Hyundai truck once and Dani, Anacias and I went to take it to Cite Soleil TC. After over an hour of sitting in traffic, we finally made it to Lucy and Peterson’s so Hannah could give Dani and I our lunch money. The gate shut behind her, locking her out, so we had to try to figure out what to do. Luckily, the landlord that lives upstairs came out to get something, so Hannah got back inside. After a lunch break, we went back to work in the container, which was “like fire.” I honestly don’t think I’ve ever sweated that much in that amount of time in my life!!! I drank 2 bottles of water, a lemonade at lunch and peed like once. We took the second load to a tent city near New Life, stopped by New Life so I could get my purse that had my license in it and then had to go downtown with Metellus to pick up some boxes from Fed Ex. We drove really close to the port. I had never been down there before, it was pretty cool. It took around an hour for the boxes to be released, during which Dani and I just sat in the truck. Lucy and Peterson got back from Le Montcel today as well.
I can’t believe in about 5 days I will be sitting at Chicago/O’Hare waiting for my final flight to Kansas City. I am really excited to be back in Kansas!!!
Thank you all for your support and prayers over the last several months! Can’t wait to see you!