Saturday in Pictures

6:40 a.m.
Early morning mists hangs over the city as Jayden and I wait at our gate for a ride to the airport.

At the domestic terminal, Michael Broyles, our MAF pilot for today, readies the caravan for flight. It will be our first flight in the caravan and Jayden and I are excited.

Inside, the caravan is spacious!

Our co-pilot Kaydence, Michael’s daughter, greets us from the cockpit where she is propped up on a giant pillow!

An excited Jayden flashes me a huge grin!

Our first stop is the Hinche airport. It’s a rocky, dirt strip not far from Pignon, our destination.


10 minutes after takeoff from Hinche, Pignon’s grassy airstrip comes into sight.

As we descend, I catch a good glimpse of the job site where the team is working.

The airplane Jason flew to Pignon yesterday afternoon is parked on the side of the runway.

Jason comes driving up several minutes later in a vehicle borrowed from a Pastor to pick up Jayden and I and our bags. The job site is walking distance from the airport so that’s our first stop. The team is working hard putting up 7 homes for earthquake victims who relocated to Pignon.



A group of kids hang around the job site and help out when they can.

Jayden and I take cover from the burning sun in the makeshift church. A group of kids join us and we spend some time getting to know them.

At noon we head to the guesthouse for lunch. After lunch we drive to Can De Le Gras for a food distribution of rice and beans that Jason and several team members had purchased at the local market. The kids are excited to see us and the team works hard handing out the food.



When we leave an excited and thankful group of children wave us off as they carry the food back to their families.

Driving back to the guesthouse Jayden greets everyone with a “Bonjou! Koman ou ye? (Good day! How are you?) The villagers love it!

At the guesthouse a yellow school bus is waiting for us. We all grab our overnight bags and pile onto the bus.

We laugh at the sign and then watch as it proves to be true as more and more people get on for a free ride!

The 45 minute bus ride to another mission outpost is exciting. We laugh and hang on for dear life as the bus bumps and jolts over the deep ruts in the road!

At the mission outpost a hundred children are waiting in a gazebo. After introductions are made we help the kids make a craft.


After the craft is finished we hand out plates of rice and bean sauce and stewed vegetables.



Then all the children get clothing and school supplies.

Jayden makes new friends quickly.


That night we eat our meal of rice and bean sauce and then head outside to sit around a coal camp fire. A converted witch doctor comes to share his stories about voodoo, zombies, and how God saved him. The flickering flames reminds us that God's light shines through the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. (John 1:15)

Live and Learn

It was one of those days. I knew it the second I stepped into the kitchen and took in the flooded floor. Live and learn.

Not about to let a little water put a damper on my day, I rolled up my old pajamas and got to work, soaking up the water with a towel. A shop vacuum is really what I needed, but there was no shop vac and no city power so a towel would have to do.

I soaked and wrung out, soaked and wrung out, soaked and wrung out. By the time I was finished my hand were aching and red, but my spirits were high. It was a beautiful day, a brand new morning. Besides, the whole mess really was my own fault. I guess maybe the cockroaches were a little to blame too, but blaming never got anyone anywhere.

Last night after an evening snack of crackers and cheese I had put my plate of crumbs in the kitchen sink. Not having the energy to wash it right then, I had filled the sink with several inches of water, so it wouldn't attract roaches, and then turned off the tap. Apparently the tap wasn't completely shut and water dripped all night filling the sink, flooding the counter and then leaving an inch and a half of water all over the kitchen floor.

Oh well. Live and learn.

An hour later the floor was dry and two fans were blowing out whatever moisture was left. Since Jason and Jayden were both up now it was time to make some breakfast.

An hour later Jason's phone rang. He'd been working hard trying to get the grass on Pignon's airstrip cut in time to fly the team there tomorrow. All tractors and mowers in the village were broken down so 25 men were hired to cut grass with their machetes. To expedite the process and for safety reasons MAF had put a hold on all flights going into Pignon till the grass was cut.

Just as I was suggesting Jason call again to see if they were actually working, the phone rang. Yes, a whole group was working so it looked like the team flights could go through, but one of the workers badly cut himself with his machete. Yup, it was one of those days.

Jason left shortly after with Jayden to run errands before picking up the team. A half an hour later he called to say he argued for the last 20 minutes with a police officers who wanted him to pay a bribe because Jayden was sitting in the front seat.

"The front seat?"

"Yes, apparently kids can hang off of the back of tap taps, but if they see a white man with a child in the front seat dollar signs flash. He couldn't write me a ticket but wanted a bribe. It took some persuasive talking for me to get my license back!"

"You at least put him in the back now right?"

"Yes."

Live and learn.

One vehicle wasn't enough to pick up our team of 9 and all their bags, so a little while later I headed to the airport as well. On the way I stopped to get air for my tires and was surprised when I didn't have to pay. I guess compressed air is the only free thing in Haiti. Just when you think you have it figured out there's an unexpected surprise. Feeling bad for the sweating man who had spent ten minutes pumping up my tires I tipped him anyway.

At the international arrivals Jason talked the guard into letting me drive inside the gate. Inside I waited and another official told me I couldn't park there. It took some talking, but finally he agreed to let me stay.

Live and learn.

Just before noon, the team walked into the parking lot and we loaded everything into the two vehicles. The Caribbean sun burned down, but the excitement in the air was tangible and I knew it was going to be a good day.

We dropped off the bags, then drove off to sight see, eat lunch and souvenir shop.

Jayden found a new girlfriend.

Apparently girls can't resist those baby blues.

The team was amazed to learn that if the asking price was $15 the purchase price could be as low as a dollar. Live and learn.


That night as I cooked a giant pan of spaghetti and noodles, warmed up garlic bread, and cut up lemon cake, I worried what to do with all the leftovers, since everyone ate a late lunch. It was amazing to see the food vanish before my eyes. Life and learn.

That night city power turned off at 7:00 p.m. and with all the fans running the batteries died at 4:00 a.m. Instantly warm and wide awake, I gave my husband a quick hug before he stumbled out of bed to turn the generator on.

Yup, it was one of those days. Full of challenges, which we've learned to look at as possibilities. Possibilities to live and learn.

Latest Happenings Around the House

Yesterday Nicholas started a new school year and it was Sabboule's first day ever.



They looked so cute that morning, all dressed up in their new uniforms.

Nicholas, who has been studying all summer with Anoud, had a great day and came home with glowing reports from his elementary school teachers.

Sabboule's day, however, was a different story. Very shy, he cried when his Mom dropped him off and then came home with a full lunch box of food. Apparently he didn't remember his name so the teacher gave him the wrong lunch! This morning Denise decided to remedy the situation by making a name tag for him. At least this way, the teacher will know who he is!

The two school boys left behind a grumpy two year old sister.



"Why can't I go to school? I'm just as smart as they are!" Is what she is thinking.

Our yard is a mess!



The next door neighbors complained that our beautiful trees are shedding leaves on their property so we have to cut down some of the branches hanging over the walls. The tree-hugger inside me shudders at every whack of the machete. Especially in a country where trees are such a novelty.



Imagine cutting this all with a machete? No chain saws or axes! It's really incredible.



There's one tree they are cutting down completely and when I complained to Anoud he showed me how the roots were growing into the neighbors wall. "With your bedroom wall only 3 meters away, it's dangerous to keep the tree here," he told me. "If this tree fell, your bedroom wall could collapse."

I'd like to see them cut that with a machete!



On a brighter note, at least our solar panels are getting more sun and there's a chance our internet connection might work better too, with less branches in the way.

Jayden is growing up fast! Every now and then when I check on him after putting him in bed, I find him sleeping in ours.



The other night when I said "Goodnight Baby." He seriously informed me that he was not my baby. " The baby is in your tummy Mom. I'm the big brother!"

Why do they have to grow up so fast?

I agreed to not call him baby anymore, but he'll still always be my baby to me!

Ps: Sher, if you noticed the little dog in his arm, he adopted one of yours, hope that's okay!

And yes, if you all were wondering if the sheets on our bed are really that pink, they are. Just like the rest of the room! My husband said I could decorate our room whichever way I wanted, so I did!

This morning we moved all Jayden's furniture into ours, in anticipation for the team of 9 who hopes to arrive tomorrow.



With 3 sleeping in the guestroom, four in Jayden's bedroom and two in the living room it will be a full house. We're excited!

And that is Haiti happenings around the house in a nutshell.

Doctor's Visit

Hi! My name is Jayden and I’m four years old. On Wednesday Dad had a day off so we all went to the Doctor’s office. Usually Mom goes by herself every month, but since Dad was home, we decided it would be fun to go all together.

At 11:00 we got into our car and away we went. The roads were bumpy and the traffic was busy, but I like bumpy roads. From my vantage point in my car seat I could see and count all the cars around us.

After a little while, with Mom giving Dad directions, we arrived at the Doctor's office. We had to park on the side of the road because the gate was closed, but that was no problem. Mom held my hand very tightly as we crossed the street since traffic up in Petionville is very busy.

Mom knew just what to do as she slid open the brown gate and Dad and I followed her inside. The office looked quite nice.

We walked up the stairs to the receptionist desk where Mom checked in.

“Ou ka chita la.” (You can sit there) The lady at the desk told us pointing to the waiting area.

We each found a chair to sit on, but didn’t have to wait long, since the Doctor was ready for us.

“Welcome,” the Doctor said and shook all our hands as Mom made the introductions. The Doctor asked Mom questions and then it was time to go to the exam room. Mom had to lay on a special bed, which made me nervous.

“Is the baby going to come out, Dad?” I whispered. I’m pretty sure babies are sneezed out, but it still sounds sort of painful.

The Doctor hearing my question, smiled at me.

“Don’t worry little boy,” he said. “The baby first has to get bigger before he/she comes out.”

Relieved I nodded.

Dad lifted me up so I could see as the Doctor put some cream on Mom’s tummy. He then turned on a machine with a special stick at the end that he placed on Mom’s tummy. When he was ready the Doctor turned the lights off and we could see the little baby on the screen. The baby was jumping and waving. Mom said that was because he/she was happy.

The Doctor measured all the baby parts and then took the ultrasound video and put it on a DVD for Mom to take home. He does this every time so we can see how the baby is getting bigger and bigger.

When we were done, I spent some time looking at the fish in the Doctor's fish tank.

Mom asked the Doctor if she could take a picture and he said; “Of course, as long as that boy comes on it too.”

Then Mom booked her next appointment and it was time to go home. It was interesting to visit the Doctor. Maybe I can come some other time again, Mom said.

Sunday School

Early morning sunshine filters through the trees illuminating our gazebo classroom. It’s 8:45 on Sunday morning and my third week of teaching Sunday School to a group of 6 middle schoolers.

Today our theme is praise and we are studying two Bible passages; Psalm 118:19-29 and Matthew 21:1-11. The students, divided into a group of boys and a group of girls, take turns reading verses from each passage. Their voices are carried by the breeze and the songs of the birds rousting in the surrounding trees echo their praise.

Both passages have a similar line “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Psalm 118:26 and Matthew 21:9) Praise. What does it mean and why are we to praise Jesus?

When both groups are finished reading their assigned passage we gather together around the table to discuss the passages and answer questions; How are the passages similar? How are they different? What does it mean to praise Jesus? What can we learn from these passages about why Jesus deserves our praise?

Then we look at each passage verse by verse and discuss what the words mean. After the discussion we take a snack break before beginning our weekly activities. One of the activities for today is sharing a pen with a partner and copying a Bible verse.



This proves to be a very difficult, painstaking task. What is this supposed to teach us? How we can’t serve two masters. It’s a very interesting analogy and leads to some lively discussion in the pre-teen group.

At the end of our hour long session we close with singing and prayer. As the sweet strains of “Take my life and let it be,” float upward, I take a moment to pray. Let our lives and everything we have truly be consecrated to Thee, Lord.

Rejoice Always

But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26

The early morning sun shines brightly as I re-read the Bible verses in front of me. Several months ago I had memorized the verses 1 Thes 5:16-18, but it’s not until now that the Spirit speaks to me through these verses.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Does this mean as believers and followers of Christ we are promised happiness here on earth? Happiness that will allow us to rejoice always? On the contrary Jesus tells his followers specifically in John 16:33 that; In the world you will have tribulation.

The dictionary defines tribulation as: Great affliction, trial, or distress; suffering:

So why and how are we to rejoice always? Because, as John 16:33 continues, “be of good cheer, I (Jesus) have overcome the world.

We can rejoice because of what Jesus has done.

Imagine, you are a mother or father and see your child struggle tremendously. You feel for him, because you have experienced the same, (Jesus lived on earth and was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, Isaiah 53). But even as you see your child struggle you encourage him to rejoice because you know that there is an end in sight, an end to all suffering and pain, an end where sorrow will be turned to joy.

Our heavenly Father does the same. He encourages us to rejoice because; The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us. And Romans 8:18 Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor 2:9

Jesus says in John 16:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come : but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice , and your joy no man taketh from you.

Giving birth is a painful experience, but so great is the joy when you hold the new born baby in your arms, you don`t remember the pain anymore. That is the analogy Jesus uses between life and eternity. Life is painful, but so great is the joy when you begin eternity with God you no longer remember the pain.

During struggles and trials how often do we focus on the temporal life here? In Col 3:2 it says “Set your mind on things above, not on things that are on the earth.”

Jesus tells us in John 14:1-4 Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. In my father`s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Jesus promises believers that he is preparing a place for them. A glorious, eternal home where all tears will be wiped from their eyes. (Revelations 21:4) While we wait for his return he has promised that; I will be with you always, even until the end of the world. Matt 28:20.

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice Phil 4:4

Because of what He has done, we have reason to rejoice. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee and my soul which thou hast redeemed. Psalm 71:23

Working Days..

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

“Hey Will, tomorrow I won’t be flying because the airplanes are going in for inspections, do you want to come to work with me and help me figure out a problem with our EDH (city power) bills? This issue with the extra charge on our account has been dragging on for months and its one big headache! Maybe your past experience at the accounting office can help us figure out what is going on.”

“What about Jayden?”

“We can take him along. Just bring books and crayons and activities. We’ll have a family work day.”

“Okay, sounds good!”

Wednesday, 6:00 a.m. September 7, 2011

“Come on Jayden! You have to wake up! We’re going to work with Daddy!”

The groggy boy refuses to comply so I finally pick him up and deposit him on the couch in the playroom.

With no milk for cereal, or bread for toast, I quickly whip up a batch of pancakes. Brushing on butter and syrup I ready three plates.

“Jason, Jayden time to eat!”

Still half asleep Jayden slowly makes his way to the kitchen, rubbing his eyes and yawning.

“You have to hurry Jayden, we’re going to work with Daddy!”

“Okay, Mom!”

After praying together we dig in. The pancakes are delicious!


When breakfast is finished and the dishes are cleared away we head to the truck for a ride to the airport. Since it’s before 7:00 a.m. the roads are still fairly quiet.


It doesn’t take long before we arrive at the domestic terminal. In the office Christine is already working, as she’s the new MAF scheduler.

I spend a few minutes chatting with her before getting Jayden set up at an empty desk with coloring books and felts.

Then I pull up an office chair beside my husband and get to work sorting through stacks of paperwork.

Every few minutes I lean over to chat and joke with him. Working together at a desk brings back memories of our college days. Just like back then, I’m still a pretty good distraction, and I notice he doesn’t get that much work done on the sheets he’s filling out.

Since all the bills are in French and each month all the MAF family bills are paid with one cheque it takes some sorting and organizing before I pinpoint the problem. Once I have the problem figured out, I organize all the paperwork into one file.

“It looks like we’ll have to take a trip to the EDH office,” I tell Jason.

“Gregory, the accountant, has tried that already with no success, so maybe you need to go along.”

“Alright, let’s plan a day for next week then.”

I find Gregory and Diecon, the MAF driver, and we decide on next week Tuesday morning.

“I’ll leave Jayden with Denise, since I don’t know how long it will take,” I tell them and they nod.

“See you next week!” They bid their goodbyes, and since our work is finished, Jayden and I pack up our backpacks to go back home.

“I kind of liked the whole pushing paper thing,” I tell Jason. “Maybe, I’ll have to come more often.”

Amused he smiles and shakes his head.

“You mean you don’t like working with us?” I ask incredulously. Still grinning, he gives us both a quick hug. “See you at home later!”

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Early morning sunshine filters through the windows as I pull a fresh banana loaf out of the oven. Having no other snacks in the house, I decided that banana loaf would be the perfect treat to take to the office, share with the guys and munch on, while I wait for who knows how long at the EDH office! Nothing in Haiti is ever easy, and part of me dreads spending a day explaining a complex problem in a second language.

At 8:30 I kiss Jayden goodbye, give last minute instructions to Denise and hop in the MAF truck. Anoud opens the gate and I slowly back out. At the end of our street, I check my purse only to realize I forgot my cell phone.

Should I worry about going back to get it? Yup, I better. Slowly backing up I park the truck in front of our house as Anoud unlocks the small door in the gate. Always protective of us, he makes sure the truck is out of sight before going back to work.

I thank him and then run inside to search the house for the phone. Not finding it in any of the usual places I finally find it in a side pocket of a different purse. Pulling it out, I run back to the truck and wave goodbye to Anoud. Now to remember how to get to the airport.

Since the main roads are too busy I now take the back roads, and thankfully find my way without a single wrong turn. At this time of day it takes 30 minutes instead of 15 to get to the airport. Parking the truck in the mud parking area I grimace. How am I going to walk through that? Stepping out of the truck I lock the doors and feel squishy mud sucking at my feet. Glad I decided not to wear my customary flip flops, I gingerly make my way to the paved road. With heavy rains every night the city is full of this oozing, nasty mud.

At the main paved road I stomp my feet to try to get the mud off but it stubbornly clings to my black shoes. Oh, well, nothing I can do about it, I decide, as I make my way to airport security.

I stop to put my big purse through the scanner and then carrying my water bottle I walk through the malfunctioning metal detector. Just as I’m ready to pull my purse back off the belt on the other side, a security officer stops me.

“Do you have a fork in your purse?” He asks in Creole.

“Yes.” I reply.

“You need to give that to me Madam!”

“My tiny desert fork?”

“Yes, Madam, it can be used as a weapon.”

“Excuse me Sir, but I have a little baby in my stomach, so I need to eat!” I reply, pointing to my barely visible four month baby bump.

“Sorry Madam!”

“I’m not giving you my fork Sir!” I reply, refusing to lose this battle.” It belongs to a set my Mom bought me for my wedding!”

Seeing my determined expression, he wavers.

“Are you with MAF?”

“Yes sir.” I reply.

“Alright then, just go.”

Smiling triumphantly I pick up my purse and continue on my way. Meeting Jason in the terminal, I can’t help but tease him. “I guess its okay to attack MAF pilots with desert forks!” I joke, telling him of the little episode. Laughingly he shakes his head.

“On a more serious note, a friend of ours is here,” he says, pointing to the waiting area. “He was in a head on collision with a car while driving his motor bike up the road to the Baptist mission. A vehicle was passing on a blind corner and ran right into him.”

“Oh no.”

I walk over to see Stan in a wheel chair with one full leg cast, a banged up knee, and abrasions on his hands and arms. After talking to him for a few minutes he tells us that thankfully he has no head injuries. “The Doctors here are concerned about my chest pains and low blood pressure though, so MAF will fly me to Pignon where Missionary Flights International will pick me up and take me to Florida.“

Expressing our concern and regret we spend some more time talking to him and his parents.

When Gregory and Diecon show up I bid Jason and Stan goodbye and make my way back to the truck.

“Do you want to drive?” Diecon asks.

“I don’t know where the office is so you go ahead.”

“Okay.”

All three of us hop in the truck and off we go. Since both Gregory and Diecon speak English, conversation now flows mostly in English with a few Creole words thrown in. Always wanting to learn more about Haitian culture, I ask questions about family, children and marriage. I learn that men can marry at any age without social pressures whereas women are pressured to be married before age 30. I also learn that although traditionally Haitians had large families, many young Haitians now have small families, 2 or 3 children, so they can provide better for their children and give them good educations. I learn that it’s normal for children to start school at the age of 2, since most schooling is in French and at that age, children learn the language quicker. We go on to talk about driving in Haiti and the process of gaining a Driver’s license.

“Did you know that some people purchase a drivers license in Haiti without a single test or lesson?” Diecon asks.

“I certainly did not! Are you serious?”

“Yup, many people don't want to deal with the hassle of getting a license at a driving school because of the exams, cost of renting a vehicle, and paying large sums for an instructor. Taking a road test in crazy Port au Prince traffic can be a nightmare too, so they chose to avoid this by finding someone at the license office who will make a Driver's license for them; for a price of course. “

“Wow, that’s a scary thought!”

Diecon and Gregrory just shrug. “That’s life here. You can do almost anything if you have some money and know the right people.”

My cultural lesson ends at that moment as we pull into what looks like a deserted scrap yard.

“Umm Diecon, I don’t see any EDH office! You aren’t secretly kidnapping me are you?” I joke.

He laughs. “Nope. This is the EDH scrap yard. We have to drive through it to get to the office.”

“Okay then. “

Holding the thick file folder in one hand and balancing my over sized purse in the other we make our way to the front entrance. Inside it seems like a slow day as many people are sitting behind their desks doing nothing. We walk up to a man with a computer who is working and he motions for us to sit down. Gregory explains the problem and after scanning through the paperwork and scratching his head he beckons for us to follow him. We make our way up a flight of stairs. First into one office and then into the next. This goes on for about 15 minutes till we are lead downstairs again to the initial office.

Feeling a little useless as Gregory and Diecon do all the talking I realize my main purpose here is my skin color. Being white means I must be important, and pretty soon more and more people are ‘put on the case.’ I feel a little awkward just being viewed as important because of my skin color, but at least it looks like some progress is being made.

I guess I just have to learn to accept the fact that skin color matters here, I think to myself. It means I have to pay more for fruits and vegetables at the outdoor markets and I’ll have more people ask me for money on the streets, but it also means I get helped quicker in situations like this. It feels wrong, but there’s nothing I can really do about it.

Back in the main office a lady prints out statements from each family showing what happened with the payments. Now with this information we can fix the problem internally. Looking at the metal beams holding up the ceiling tiles at awkward angles I’m a little glad that it doesn’t take long for the printouts to be made. This multi-storey building does not appear to be very earthquake safe.

Knowing it’s useless to think that way, as our times and lives are in God’s hands, I shake my head to clear those thoughts as I follow Gregory and Diecon outside into the warm Caribbean sunshine. Walking back to the truck I thank God again for answering my prayers and resolving the EDH paperwork issues.

My working days, for now, are over.