I began reviewing travel notes from each trip I have made to Haiti. The following notes were written in November, 2014 on my sixth trip to Haiti. I have learned an immeasurable amount since that time. My heart has not changed. With total transparency & vulnerability, I share below the exact words I wrote: 11-5-14 […]
In a land with 3 growing seasons Haiti consistently imports 90% of the food consumed. This has led to horrific food insecurity this year amidst political instability and COVID closing borders and making travel unsafe. In our city of Les Cayes we depend upon local markets. Vendors at the local market get their goods largely […]
I cried over a 5 lb bag of chicken legs that I bought for $3.97 at Hy Vee Grocery. I had flashbacks to my friend at the local market in our Haiti neighborhood. Donicia would smile up at me as she reached for the fresh chicken she had saved back just for me. She had […]
The video call came. Their big exam was complete and a much welcome break from school was about to begin. Sensing their excitement made my heart leap. Each of the five described how they would spend their vacation time. One would be leaving in a few moments to visit his aunt in another village for […]
Matt had just arrived to Haiti and we were staying at a hotel in Port Au Prince. I heard a saxophone playing in the distance, a soulful melody with some talent behind it. Night had begun to fall and I could not see when I opened the blinds closest to the sound. Over the sound […]
There is really nothing about sewing men’s dress pants that used to be fun for me. Honestly, I dreaded waist bands, cried over a few zipper installations, and welt pockets?! Really?! That was then. For three weeks I have awakened excited to dive into the next task. Determination is contagious. Hope is contagious. Love is […]
“Be patient, and when your opportunity comes, I encourage you to do it,” said Ofanise. We were enjoying an afternoon together with the Accolade for Saving Lives (ASL) program moms. Oflanise and 4 other moms had just completed their second week of sewing training and she wanted to share about her experience and encourage the […]
We have been talking about something just like this since CLIMB was a simple concept. Haitians changing Haiti. Empowering those Haitians that step out to be the change, giving them a hand up to set God’s plan for their ideas in motion. And then it came to us – no, literally! One day while […]
Name one essential for school that is common across the globe, is useful even when class is not in session, and carries your prized possessions – BACKPACKS! Patchouko and I were ECSTATIC one day post-Hurricane Matthew as we walked through Dierre Fort. We stepped between crowded homes, ducked under damaged steel roofing, and heard. . […]
