-Seeing April's smiling face and hugging her for the first time at the airport in Port-au-Prince after months of non-stop chatting and Haiti gushing.
- How Paul giggled as we did this and said "First time they meet! Finally!"
- Seeing the familiar faces and beautiful smiles of my friends Simeon, Paul and Jude.
- Having the kids at House of Hope come running up to me the first time we visited...and the fact that they all remembered me "Kreestin, Kreestin!"
- Jackie and Simeon busting a move whenever they felt like it.
- Meeting the kids at New Hope for the first time. My heart swelled and I immediately felt connected. Excited about future projects with them.
- Sharing a meal with the adults on the porch at New Hope.
- Sitting inside New Hope with April, Paul, Simeon and the man who runs the orphanage and hearing his story. He has 6 children of his own and took on 9 orphans. When he cant afford to feed them, he goes door to door and begs...to fill bellies of children that aren't his own. I had a lump in my throat and looked over at April, who had tears in her eyes...it's amazing to partner with someone who feels the same way and thinks the same things I do.
- Seeing the future location of New Hope and picturing what it could become.
- When 2 year-old Marciane fell asleep in my arms...just hours after crying in fear of my white face. We were the first white people she ever laid eyes on.
- How Oldjiny would occasionally turn and look for me when he was in a group of kids. He'd flash me a big smile, bat his pretty eyes and turn back.
- Olsen falling asleep in my arms.
- Late night chats and early morning giggles with April.
- Bagay!!!
- Taking a moto ride up into the mountains.
- The adorable children we met at a school up in the mountains...they danced, sang and jumped rope for us. Like most Haitian kids, they loved seeing videos of themselves and giggled as I played them back.
- Evening Jenga and Scattegories with the boys from Ole Miss football.
- Johnny and Ancela's adorable little giggles everytime I look at them and say "bye bye!"
- Watching pen pals excitedly receiving letters and bracelets from the US and nice new pair of flip flops. Thank you Soles 4 Souls!
- Simeon riding his moto with a sucker in his mouth.
- Our moto drivers busting a move at the top of the mountain.
- Ti Mamoune!
- Standing on a soccer field in Mont-Rouis surrounded by locals singing, dancing and cheering along their teams. I don't think I've ever felt more connected to the community than I did during those few hours.
- Taking silly team photos at Club Indigo on our last night...and laughing the whole time.
- April's tape worm.
- The boat ride we took on the last day and how we all jumped in the ocean in our clothes.
- Singing and dancing to 'Happy' all week.
- Getting the guys at the bread factory to dance and write the word 'happy' in dough.
- Seeing the kids at Remax School again.
- The joy in the kids' eyes at House of Hope during our glow party.
- How Johnny cried when April and I both sprayed him with silly string at the same time....until I gave him the can and showed him how to shoot April back...then giggles replaced the tears.
- Bombarding and covering Simeon with silly string.
- Giving the kids at House of Hope Pop Rocks. I'm pretty sure it was the first time they'd had them...they walked around with their mouths open, giggled and got them stuck all over their face. Olsen and Darline couldn't get enough! I caught a few of the kids holding a handful of them up to their ears or licking out the package. Even Patrick and the Mama tried them and giggled.
- Getting a surprise visit from my Dear Zanmi partner, Marc on my first night and being able to personally hand him the funds to purchase English books for every student at UDES.
- Visiting Saint Marc and seeing the inside of a beautiful church there. We were there right at noon and got to see a man ring the bells by hand...with a giant rope at the back of the church.
- Standing in front of a room full of pen pals and having them all sing for me.
- Paul being on video patrol for me..."Kristin...where is de camera? Are you getting dis?"
- Watching April experience Feeding Hope for the first time. So proud of her.
- Walking through all the little side streets of Mont-Rouis delivering Feeding Hope meals to the elderly and disabled...and watching April get down on her knees to talk to each one of them. Again, so proud of her.
- Meeting Elise...110 years young.
- Painting a room at Feeding Hope with Simeon, talking Christian music and hearing him sing along with every song played.
- Seeing the church that April built and experiencing it with my feet on the floor that I personally donated money towards.
- The passion in church...there is no holding back. Haitians worship with everything they have.- Meeting and holding Ken, Paul's baby boy.
- The fact that we did so much, at so many places, in so little time.
- How Simeon hugged me goodbye and said "I love you. Don't cry. This isn't goodbye. You will be back soon."
- The heartbreak I felt hugging Andrea, Jackie and April goodbye. We had such an amazing week. It's pretty crazy and amazing that someone who you never see in your every day life can be one of your best friends. April's friendship proves this quote true: "Having a soulmate is not always about love. You can find your soulmate in a friendship too."
- How Paul giggled as we did this and said "First time they meet! Finally!"
- Seeing the familiar faces and beautiful smiles of my friends Simeon, Paul and Jude.
- Having the kids at House of Hope come running up to me the first time we visited...and the fact that they all remembered me "Kreestin, Kreestin!"
- Jackie and Simeon busting a move whenever they felt like it.
- Meeting the kids at New Hope for the first time. My heart swelled and I immediately felt connected. Excited about future projects with them.
- Sharing a meal with the adults on the porch at New Hope.
- Sitting inside New Hope with April, Paul, Simeon and the man who runs the orphanage and hearing his story. He has 6 children of his own and took on 9 orphans. When he cant afford to feed them, he goes door to door and begs...to fill bellies of children that aren't his own. I had a lump in my throat and looked over at April, who had tears in her eyes...it's amazing to partner with someone who feels the same way and thinks the same things I do.
- Seeing the future location of New Hope and picturing what it could become.
- When 2 year-old Marciane fell asleep in my arms...just hours after crying in fear of my white face. We were the first white people she ever laid eyes on.
- How Oldjiny would occasionally turn and look for me when he was in a group of kids. He'd flash me a big smile, bat his pretty eyes and turn back.
- Olsen falling asleep in my arms.
- Late night chats and early morning giggles with April.
- Bagay!!!
- Taking a moto ride up into the mountains.
- The adorable children we met at a school up in the mountains...they danced, sang and jumped rope for us. Like most Haitian kids, they loved seeing videos of themselves and giggled as I played them back.
- Evening Jenga and Scattegories with the boys from Ole Miss football.
- Johnny and Ancela's adorable little giggles everytime I look at them and say "bye bye!"
- Watching pen pals excitedly receiving letters and bracelets from the US and nice new pair of flip flops. Thank you Soles 4 Souls!
- Simeon riding his moto with a sucker in his mouth.
- Our moto drivers busting a move at the top of the mountain.
- Ti Mamoune!
- Standing on a soccer field in Mont-Rouis surrounded by locals singing, dancing and cheering along their teams. I don't think I've ever felt more connected to the community than I did during those few hours.
- Taking silly team photos at Club Indigo on our last night...and laughing the whole time.
- April's tape worm.
- The boat ride we took on the last day and how we all jumped in the ocean in our clothes.
- Singing and dancing to 'Happy' all week.
- Getting the guys at the bread factory to dance and write the word 'happy' in dough.
- Seeing the kids at Remax School again.
- The joy in the kids' eyes at House of Hope during our glow party.
- How Johnny cried when April and I both sprayed him with silly string at the same time....until I gave him the can and showed him how to shoot April back...then giggles replaced the tears.
- Bombarding and covering Simeon with silly string.
- Giving the kids at House of Hope Pop Rocks. I'm pretty sure it was the first time they'd had them...they walked around with their mouths open, giggled and got them stuck all over their face. Olsen and Darline couldn't get enough! I caught a few of the kids holding a handful of them up to their ears or licking out the package. Even Patrick and the Mama tried them and giggled.
- Getting a surprise visit from my Dear Zanmi partner, Marc on my first night and being able to personally hand him the funds to purchase English books for every student at UDES.
- Visiting Saint Marc and seeing the inside of a beautiful church there. We were there right at noon and got to see a man ring the bells by hand...with a giant rope at the back of the church.
- Standing in front of a room full of pen pals and having them all sing for me.
- Paul being on video patrol for me..."Kristin...where is de camera? Are you getting dis?"
- Watching April experience Feeding Hope for the first time. So proud of her.
- Walking through all the little side streets of Mont-Rouis delivering Feeding Hope meals to the elderly and disabled...and watching April get down on her knees to talk to each one of them. Again, so proud of her.
- Meeting Elise...110 years young.
- Painting a room at Feeding Hope with Simeon, talking Christian music and hearing him sing along with every song played.
- Seeing the church that April built and experiencing it with my feet on the floor that I personally donated money towards.
- The passion in church...there is no holding back. Haitians worship with everything they have.- Meeting and holding Ken, Paul's baby boy.
- The fact that we did so much, at so many places, in so little time.
- How Simeon hugged me goodbye and said "I love you. Don't cry. This isn't goodbye. You will be back soon."
- The heartbreak I felt hugging Andrea, Jackie and April goodbye. We had such an amazing week. It's pretty crazy and amazing that someone who you never see in your every day life can be one of your best friends. April's friendship proves this quote true: "Having a soulmate is not always about love. You can find your soulmate in a friendship too."