Haiti :: Part 1

I don't even know where to begin to write all of the things I want to. The problem is that I don't feel like I would even do justice in explaining my experience in Haiti. It's something that you have to see, taste, smell in order to fully understand. So, I'll do my best in telling the story through pictures because it seems that's the one thing I know how to do. 

I learned, however, that despite everything I saw, these people are just like me. They want to be happy, to be loved and accepted just as they are. They don't have anything in the world's eyes, but they do have an unbelievable joy that is manifested because of genuine relationship with one another. They get it. They are hard workers. And the kids... touched my heart. I'm not a mom, but I have a feeling of what it's like now. To see a child light up when I enter the room, to see them running toward me with open arms, or maybe just a gentle hand that holds tightly as we walked in the village. Their hearts are pure and are not judgemental. Their laughs are contagious. 

So, here goes. I'll do my best to narrate as these photos roll...

We arrived in Port au Prince and rode on a bench in the back of a truck for 4 hours until we got to Ti Riviere, the village we stayed at. Talk about a sore behind! During the ride, my heart broke. I didn't understand at the time, but all I could think was "how in the world do these people live like this?!" Trash for days, no rules, no street signs, people everywhere, no traffic lanes, not to mention the smell. The smell of filth, trash, old food, dirt and sweat. Talk about a fun ride. 

Then we arrived at Mission Haiti... and my life was changed.

No video games or computers here, just good ol' fashioned arm wrestling.

Gretchen with the girls.... and Pachouko

These cows are definitely not steroid injected.

Their soccer field = a muddy open area by the ocean. Some play in shoes, some do not.

Tiffany reading a story at an orphanage we stopped at.

No safety railings here... just concrete.

Dr. Lia doing her thing

He cried because he didn't like the vitamin Lia gave him! ha

Some of the kids in the village and a few people on our team

She got a new dress :)

Richard working his magic and all of the kids that live at Mission Haiti

 This is only the very beginning, as I'm sure I'll have a part 2 and 3 coming soon with images from the schools we visited, hiking up a muddy mountain after it had rained, the 5k we organized and much more! I hope you enjoyed these, and if you ever get an opportunity to do something like this, TAKE IT! Don't think twice.