I’m going to be raw with you right now because raw is what I’ve got. Emotions and facts firing non-stop in my head around situations that cut to my core. If it weren’t for God’s promise to work all things together for good (Romans 8:28) and my trust in His faithfulness (2 Thessalonians 3:3) insanity […]
When You Just Can’t Say No
Not all folks are easy to serve – if you’ve served others you’re feeling what I’m saying 😉 One of Accolade’s program fellas was particularly unruly in the beginning years. Over the past 6 years he has presented many an opportunity for staff to learn and practice patience, consistency and self-control. Following the recent earthquake […]
Let This Sink In
Yesterday I had the chance to catch up with an acquaintance originally from Togo, Africa. We talked a lot about family. I asked him if all of his family is now here in the U.S. His answer was not what I expected to hear. His mother is not yet here. In fact, she will not […]
Journey Through My Journal
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 […]
Anyone out there feeling a little disombobulated? Maybe mildly depressed, waking up to some unexplained feelings of unease / anxiety? You are not alone and we are not without hope, praise Jesus! At some point early in my nursing career a wise counselor to patients told me he could cure depression if only he could […]
Can you IMAGINE three growing seasons? Oh, the POTENTIAL!!
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 […]
Me, Crying in HyVee’s Meat Department . . .
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 […]
Grab a seat, do I have a story for you!
We had an eventful day today. It started with a flat tire (actually shredded tire) on the boat trailer at O’dark thirty on highway who knows where.. We took it in stride, placed the spare and kept going. A slow start at the lake led to productive large mouth bass but an early end to […]
Because You Look Different
I had been visiting &/or working alongside Haitians, in Haiti, for several years. The people we love and worked alongside were my people and I was their people. I felt as though I belonged, so to speak. I very vividly remember the first time it happened. A Haitian friend and I were walking down a […]
“In the mystery we trust and we adjust…(Jennifer Rothschilds.)
I feel a responsibility to tell them the truth but at the same time I want to isolate them from the reality. My heart aches, my gut wrenches, at times I am physically stricken with nausea. I attempt to choose words wisely between myself and leadership in Haiti, guarding their minds from my toxic thoughts. […]