Leah's Adventures in the Dominican Republic: May 2010

April 26^th-May2nd

I had my final nursing group come out last week to work in Fond Parisien, Haiti in Love A Child camp as well as Camp Hope. This trip held many “unknowns” for me. This would be my first trip really “leading” it alone being that the boss, Kristin would be in Brasil. We also would be camping out on Love A Child’s property in tents because the gentleman who owned the home we slept in at Jimani passed away about a week before the group came down.

Camping out in Haiti can be a little more difficult than sleeping in Jimani. In order to get clean water and ice for the group we had to send out staff members to cross the border in to the Dominican Republic because there is virtually no ice in Fond Parisien and no reliable water system. Our staff worked so well in providing for the groups needs and I was so thankful that Ruth and Pastor Brony knew exactly what was needed and got the job done without hesitation.

So the week came along and I was extremely nervous about arriving to Love A Child and being set up in tents. It is rainy season here and I expected a downpour every night, but God had other plans for us. We had the most beautiful weather every day in Haiti without rain. Every night we slept on cots provided for us by Love A Child with out tent flaps open and a beautiful breeze that kept us cool. I even got too cold one night and had to put more clothes on to keep warm!

The nurses who came down on this trip couldn’t have been more perfect. We had three nurses and an EMT (Michelle Horton!) led by Carrie Steele. They were all so amazing and easy going which makes it so much easier for me. I am so thankful for them and their amazing outlook on everything that week. They spent the week working in both camps and doing an amazing job. The care they provided to the patients was inspiration to me and lovingly received and appreciated by all the Haitians who met them.

Every week I spend in Haiti, I learn more and more. This week was by far the best week ever because I was given the opportunity to really learn more about the Haitian culture and to relax, talk, laugh, sing, worship, pray, and play every day with my Haitian friends. With the change of sleeping arrangements to Love A Child came an opportunity to spend every possible second of free time with the Haitians and really get to know them. The group didn’t have to worry about rushing off at 4pm every day in order to make it to the border before it closes. In the mornings we were able to start earlier and we could take our time with our work and finish when we felt the work was done. One day after work, we were even able to go to the community talent show! It was so much fun and all the groups came up with little skits, songs, or jokes to present to the audience. There was two amputees that were both missing one of their legs and they had a dance contest! It was so beautiful to see them having fun, laughing, and dancing, and healing.

My favorite time was after the workday and after the staff meetings for the camp. Michelle, Ruth, Carrie, and I would go to the shower stalls and take showers at night always looking up at the stars while we washed all the dirt off from that day (amazing suggestion on the part of Michelle). After showers, on our way back to our tents we would almost always stop by and sit with a group of ladies who would meet outside the large medical tent and sing worship songs.

On our last night there, they all got up out of bed and came out to worship with us. They taught us two songs in Creole and we sang Amazing Grace together. It is times like these than I remember why I am so thankful to be here during this time. I am so thankful that I can witness the great faith, hope, and trust in God the Haitian victims have. I remember to be thankful for everything, the little things, the things I don’t even consider when I am thanking God for all that he has done. These brothers and sisters were worshipping, raising their hands if they had them singing “M’ap leve men” which means I will raise my hand to recognize God for all that He has done. There is such great awareness given to you when you see an amputee raising their one good hand and thanking God for that hand, while you wouldn’t even had thought of thanking God for your hands, your legs, your arms, your feet, your fingers, your toes.

Carrie gave me a book while in Haiti called “He Chose the Nails” by Max Lucado. I began reading it today and I wanted to ask you to do what Max asks in the study guide portion of this book:

Set aside at least fifteen minutes to thank God for all of His gifts to you. Before you begin, make a list of the gifts for which you are especially grateful. Conclude your prayer time with a special focus on God’s gift of salvation. Try hard not to bring up any requests during this holy time, but instead pour out your heart in thanksgiving to God for all his rich gifts to you.

I really encourage you to do this today. I woke up this morning and made a list of what I was thankful for. It sounds so simple, but for me it wasn’t that simple to remember not to bring up requests and only thank God. Personally, I always feel that I am too needy and ask to much of God during my prayer time and need to work on my thanksgiving and praises to God for all He has done for me. So this was a really good time for me to forget about me, to forget about asking God for things and just let it all out, to thank Him for all that He is, all that He has done, and all that He continues to do for me.

I am thankful for:

Family.

Friends. The opportunity to be here.

Acceptance to seminary. Amazing people I have met in Haiti.

Ruth’s friendship. Good health. Ladies who take care of me here. Education.

Family who supports me in my decisions. Postive outlooks.

Being placed where I was when I was born.

Feeling called to do ministry.

Carrie. Doug. Gloria.

Ohmi.

Monday, May 31, 2010

I vow to update before I leave!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better…It did.