family

Haitian proverb:

"Se lanmou ki pou geri lanmou"

Love must heal love

When I first moved to Haiti I had a pretty long list of things I missed from home.  Each month came and went and many things such as not having television, limited food options, and the freedom to just go and do something started to feel less difficult to cope with.  The one thing that has remained really hard and emotionally painful is being away from my family and friends.  There is something about family that is just right.  Living in Haiti has always  left me feeling like I was being pulled in two different directions or like my heart is being asked to live in two separate worlds.  I love being with my family and in the same breath I love being in Haiti.  This past week my "worlds" finally came together when my mom, two of my sisters (Mila and Yarley), and a family friend, Cindy, came to visit.  Their visit wasn't about building something or starting a project, but rather they came to see my life here and to meet the people who have become family and friends to me.  As soon as they landed in Haiti the adventure began with making it through the airport and then through traffic out to campus.  I was worried they would be worn out from traveling all day, but Mila and Yarley instantly wanted to know when we would be able to head down to the village so they could meet Natamara, Davidson, Kris, and the list went on and on.  In that moment, I realized my worlds were already connected in so many ways because they too were in love with my little friends even though they had never actually even met.  They were gracious and spent each day following me along and truly loved and served each person they met.  We spent time working in the clinic, helped a team with VBS in a IDP (internally displaced persons) camp, played in the village with all my buddies, and even went to the beach for a day of fun.  It was more difficult than I could have ever dreamed to watch them all leave and yet at the same time I knew that they finally understood.  I am blessed to have a family that loves and supports me and so thankful that they were willing to step out of their comfort zones to come and join me in serving and simply living life in Haiti.  

Cindy painting lots of little toes during VBS

Mila and Yarley had no problem making lots of friends!

Mom knew how to overcome the language barrier right away!

Introducing my family to all my friends in Chambrun

Oh the fun of riding in the back of trucks!