I apologize for not writing a blog in a while. I have a rule that I won’t write one unless I have something interesting to say because I don’t want to waste your time, or my time (and the very little electricity we have).
So here’s what I have so far. It’s more a recap on my life than some profound thought, but I promise you those profound thoughts are churning in my mind and they will come in the next few weeks. I just need to figure out how to put them into words.
January 31, 2009, 6 am: We’re sitting outside of our house with all our stuff when Dave grabs the group’s attention and says, “The buses are not here yet because they’re not coming. Today is our first Race Day. Your goal is to be the first team to get to Santo Domingo and complete these five tasks. Go.” Let me back up a minute to clarify a few things. It’s called “The World Race” because we actually do have days where we race around the world. Literally. It’s based off the show “The Amazing Race” but we stop in each country to love people. We each have a set amount of money per person to complete the tasks, so we have to be mindful of the budget. So here we are sitting on a curb, 4 hours from our destination with no plans on how to get there. I was shocked but really excited because I like problem solving.
So we did what ever other team was doing and threw on our packs
and started running to the bus station to see if there was a bus we
could catch to get to Santo Domingo. Anna and Darci were a little ahead
of our team when a bus stopped them on the side of the road and the
driver said “Are you going to the capital?” I kid you not this
happened. We said “Why yes we are.” And Spectacle and Bling piled into
this bus and went directly to Santo Domingo. Normally I would not take
rides from random bus drivers, but hey, I’m a World Racer now.
and started running to the bus station to see if there was a bus we
could catch to get to Santo Domingo. Anna and Darci were a little ahead
of our team when a bus stopped them on the side of the road and the
driver said “Are you going to the capital?” I kid you not this
happened. We said “Why yes we are.” And Spectacle and Bling piled into
this bus and went directly to Santo Domingo. Normally I would not take
rides from random bus drivers, but hey, I’m a World Racer now.
Our “signature” pose at a lighthouse in Santo Domingo.
The rest of the day consisted of a scavenger hunt around the city,
ending in the market to buy food for our travel day to Haiti. Our team
finished dead last because we decided to explore the city and check out
things that weren’t on the list, but we were so grateful for it. Look
for a video of our first Race Day in a few weeks.
ending in the market to buy food for our travel day to Haiti. Our team
finished dead last because we decided to explore the city and check out
things that weren’t on the list, but we were so grateful for it. Look
for a video of our first Race Day in a few weeks.
A cool statue and Secret garden we found while not doing our Race Day tasks!
The next day we boarded a bus for Haiti. It was supposed to be an 8-hour ride, but we got stopped at the Hatian border for three hours because they were protesting us coming in. We’re still not sure why they didn’t want us to come in, but we prayed that God would get us into Haiti and it happened.
At the Hatian Border.
Our 17-hour travel day concluded with us and the Gentle Warriors cramming into a van, and driving to our site in Jacmel. We’re in a house in a beautiful part of the city surrounded by mountains, which is a huge blessing. I became the first one on my team to throw-up as I got the “Hatian Happiness” that night. The next day was jumping right into ministry and crazy, long days have been happening ever since. Dave got kidney stones a week ago and has been in “bed (a mattress on the bathroom floor).” He’s doing well but you can pray for his continued recovery.
Dave laying on the floor with his IV hooked up. His room is in the bathroom. No, I’m not kidding. Also, the view off our balcony. We’re so blessed!
More to come from Jacmel but enjoy the pictures so far!
Andie one of the cutest kids at the orphanage and me with one of the girls we met at an outreach.
Jenn and I doing a skit about the birth of Jesus and the Hatian Market. It was nuts!
We rode in a “taptap” to get there. It’s basically a pickup truck and you stand in the back for 25 cents.
