So We're Here. Now What?

          Touchdown. Oh gosh. Sweaty palms and aching backs from consecutive flights and a two-hour car ride. My mood evolved from sad, to sour, to bitter. I'm fiddling with my fingers and my knuckles are stark white from the strangle-hold I'm inflicting on my luggage... Oops.

 *Breathe In* *Breathe Out* "It'll be fine. God will give me the strength I need to do this... 

He will, right?"

          By the time the flight attendant had the door down, the low rumble of the massive turbines had subsided, and the seat belt came off, my brain promptly commenced overdrive. I truly remember few things once I had departed the Boeing 747 - it was like trying to make sense of the scenery while driving in your car at 70 miles an hour down the freeway. Once I could operate again, we were waiting for the oversized cage truck to whiz us to our 700 sq. foot apartment that I'd seen hardly anything of. Pastor Mark met us out in the parking lot where we exchanged hugs and warm greetings. What a relief it was to see a familiar face and hear a friendly laugh... Once the all-too-familiar rumble of the truck filled my ears, I took a breath, raised the handle on my carry-on item, and pressed towards our transportation.

"So far, so good, right? Just be patient and open-minded. It's going to be swell. Besides, this would be

fun! Isn't riding in the back of a truck the envy of most guys back home?"

          Through hills and rocks, mountains, and valleys, we drove until the sun shone just overhead. It was mid-day as we passed beyond the red gate into what I had felt then, was no man's land. The yard was the same rocky turf, with little tufts of vegetation sprung up here and there; but the young plants and the trees captivated my mind's eye. The place looked incredible and a little less foreign to me. On the brink sat relief, and once I was down on the ground, I set off in search of another friendly face to meet. And I found them - the faces of love that I would be spending two years with. 

"Day 1: Home away from home just might be achievable; everyone has seemed so genuinely and whole-heartedly amiable. I believe I could love this place..."

More to Come...

        

Hardest Part Over? Pffft Nope...

So picture this: The mini-van backing out of the empty garage painfully slow, leaving the familiar, white front door in the black, while the front steps and the shelves turn into simple silhouettes; all the while the garage door is closing solemnly...

           You can imagine the teary vision and hot eyes while the key turned over in the ignition. It seemed so much more heartbreaking in the cover of the night. Honestly, for me, it felt like I was leaving forever. Home is where the heart is, right? I can tell you - rolling down my driveway and out into the sleeping substavision at four in the morning wasn't comfortable. And neither was the ride to the airport. 

            So now everyone in the car is emitting soft sobs and muffled cries when the Chris and Emilee show comes on. Maybe this will help? Nope. I swear, they knew the day and time we would be on the road. Incredible songs, one after another came on and pretty much induced the backseat chorus of weeping kids and increased the sniffles of torn parents. Not sure where we were wiping our runny noses... We had most of it together once we got to the airport in Detroit. Or at least we liked to think and look like we did. Until we had one last heart-wrenching goodbye to say. The grandparents. The two very incredible people who love you in every way possible. And then find more ways. Hugging them goodbye was the worst feeling yet. I felt sick to my stomach every time I looked back. But I knew that they wanted us to go. God's call is God's call. Best not to end up in a large aquatic vertebrate. Taking off was almost calming, knowing that the goodbyes were done, but plunging into a whole new world, and acclimating to a culture that isn't your own isn't as easy done as it is is said. I wouldn't say the hardest part was over...

Grandparents and grandchildren. So blessed with those two!

You can't just BOOM - move. It takes more than you to make such a transition. I couldn't have done it without friends! And this isn't all of them, believe me. Nor is the family photo up top all of the family that has blessed my life in so many ways, and helped us pick up and go.  I just need more pictures!

Where to Begin...

   Suppose I kick things off with a normal afternoon; nothing in particular that would elicit any thought of a future moving plan. The day in general was nothing new or exciting. Bland and stressful, as it always was. But the book bag on my back was feeling just a bit heavier that afternoon. So me.. your average fifteen year-old guy with new friends, lots of ladies, and a music addiction. Life was pretty dang swell if you woulda asked me. At least - on the outside. You could assume my reaction once I was filled in on "the plan." Our move would eventually call me to drop out of the highest SATB chamber choir in two districts, leave all my new friends and an awesome job, and say goodbye to my family that I had a death-grip on. Not sure how that ever happened. God had some major readying to do with me. And He was faithful and did so! Except, maybe not on the terms I would have liked, however...

The boy with swag would turn into a gentleman with a new perspective

On Fire!

           Church, this morning, was incredible. I've never experienced such an amazing display of the holy spirit before. The way everyone was simply lost in adoration and praise was beautiful. Hands were raised for the entire duration of the worship, and dancing was everywhere. A little girl, I'll bet no more than five years old, ventured over and danced with me for a while. It was really cute. The clapping was almost deafening! The atmosphere in that room was contagious. People outside the building were dancing and moving to the songs. Praise like that is something that I wish, so badly, could happen everywhere. The church is on fire! This verse was one of the many read today:

                                                                       Psalm 150:1-6 

Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 

           

          This praise and worship service was like no other! America needs to be like this! Hold nothing back, dance in the isles, raise your arms and shout for joy! Just knowing who I'm adoring gives me such an amazing feeling. An overwhelming urge to get up and dance! Haiti knows how to give praise to The King! What an amazing way to start off the new week! I feel recharged, and ready for whatever comes my way! Bring it on satan! Bring.it.on. :)

I thought it was cool , the way the water was with this rock 

Coconuts everywhere

The scenery was so beautiful!

The beach seemed to go on forever!

This was driving up to the beachfront... so pretty!

                  Today was a day to relax and take a breather. One of the things that we don't get to do much around here with everything that has to been done and checked on. Every day is always full! But not today! We went, along with the team, to a beautiful beach just around the bend, and hung out there for the day. The teal blue water and the white sand, paired with the stellar breeze and swaying palm trees made for an excellent day of kicking back and relaxing. A break from running here, and driving there, or just from noise and chaos. It proved to be a great afternoon! Aside from a litttttle bit of sunburn, (a little being very sarcastic) we all went back to the mission happy and ready for another nap or two!

Ramase Lajan

               
               Today was, well, amazing. Went along with the team to a  Ramase Lajan facility in Meriguan. I'd say bout a thirty~five minute tap tap ride from our house. It was amazing! This thing is taking off like crazy! This year, the ten separate franchises brought in over $150,00 and nearly a million pounds in plastics! Crazy right? It looks like this is really going to help Haiti get the trash out of it's beautiful ocean scenery and it's canals and streams. Petit Goave will have one here very soon. Right now we're readying the property, and getting anxious to get this thing goin'. I for one, am very excited for this to start!

Where to begin

             Wow! So I actually have a blog started. Fun! I always though blogs were a little weird, but I guess not! I don't have a whole bunch to write about now, but I'm sure will very soon! There seems to be a lot to write about here. The culture, the people, the food. How the heck we take showers here without running water...  it's all part of the experience. And hopefully, you'll be able to dive into a little bit of this experience yourself once I get this page filled up. Not only Haiti, but through devotions I think I'd like to put on here too! Also, if I'm a little behind on posting, send me a message! I don't want to forget that I made this thing! I think this blog will be a great tool! For me, and for God's glory!