I know that many of you were expecting a post about Haiti as soon as I returned home. It has taken me a few days to process through the whole experience, though. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!
Wow! What an adventure. If I'm being honest with myself, my trip to Neply was everything that I thought it would be and nothing that I could have ever imagined. It was one of the most humbling yet joyful weeks of my life. The people of Neply (and the staff of myLIFEspeaks) taught me more about life than 28 years worth of experience ever did.
Our trip started out rather eventful. After leaving the airport and finding ourselves in the midst of overzealous baggage handlers, we loaded the bus and headed out for the 25 mile drive to Neply through the very congested streets of Port Au Prince (y'all, Dallas traffic ain't got nothin' on Haitian drivers).
After about an hour, our bus driver realized that something was terribly wrong with our bus. As it turns out, both of the left back tires were flat. In case your were wondering, NTB and Discount Tire do not exist in Haiti. Several hours, 2 broken four-way tools, and $150 later, our crew was headed to Neply via the back of a Tap Tap (also known in the USA as a dump truck!).
Once we arrived at the myLIFEspeaks house, all was right with the world. We filled our tummies with beef stew, settled our bunks, and shared our expectations for the week.
As I laid my weary head down that first night, I remember thinking about a time in my life when I let fear keep me from doing things that I needed to do. So, I said a simple prayer, thanking God for giving me the strength to step out of my comfort zone, and fell asleep with these words, from Brooke Fraser's song Hosea's Wife, playing quietly in my head:
Wow! What an adventure. If I'm being honest with myself, my trip to Neply was everything that I thought it would be and nothing that I could have ever imagined. It was one of the most humbling yet joyful weeks of my life. The people of Neply (and the staff of myLIFEspeaks) taught me more about life than 28 years worth of experience ever did.
Our trip started out rather eventful. After leaving the airport and finding ourselves in the midst of overzealous baggage handlers, we loaded the bus and headed out for the 25 mile drive to Neply through the very congested streets of Port Au Prince (y'all, Dallas traffic ain't got nothin' on Haitian drivers).
The men waiting outside of the airport to help us with our bags. Non mesi, non mesi!
Various sightings along the streets of Port Au Prince.
After about an hour, our bus driver realized that something was terribly wrong with our bus. As it turns out, both of the left back tires were flat. In case your were wondering, NTB and Discount Tire do not exist in Haiti. Several hours, 2 broken four-way tools, and $150 later, our crew was headed to Neply via the back of a Tap Tap (also known in the USA as a dump truck!).
Before things got scary.
Yes, that would be our ride to Neply.
As I laid my weary head down that first night, I remember thinking about a time in my life when I let fear keep me from doing things that I needed to do. So, I said a simple prayer, thanking God for giving me the strength to step out of my comfort zone, and fell asleep with these words, from Brooke Fraser's song Hosea's Wife, playing quietly in my head:
If we've eyes to see
If we've ears to hear
To find it in our hearts and mouths
The word that saves is near
Shed that shallow skin
Come and live again
Leave all you were before
To believe is to begin
If we've ears to hear
To find it in our hearts and mouths
The word that saves is near
Shed that shallow skin
Come and live again
Leave all you were before
To believe is to begin
To believe is to begin...
