-"If you need me, I'll just be over here throwing up in this planter."
-Jerry's enthusiasm for building the pews...and building them right.
-Lizards dropping on heads!
-The joy exuding from Nouvelle Vision Church as we celebrated beautiful new pews.
-That's halaaarious!
-The pride I feel when Paul calls me his sister.
- 30 minute hymns.
-Seeing the kids at New Hope for the first time in months...it's like my heart becomes complete in an instant.
-The feeling of my heart emptying back out as we pull away and the gate closes behind us.
-Being in Haiti with April. We talk about it long distance all year round and I don't think she'll ever know how special her friendship and partnership are to me. Haiti brought me one of the greatest friends I've ever had.
-The way Baz makes me (and everyone else) laugh. He is a grown man with a kid's heart and it's contagious.
-Bringing friends to experience Haiti "my way." I loved having Helen with me this week.
-Meeting new friends and finally meeting friends I've only known online. A week in Haiti is more than a week in Haiti. It's an experience that stays with you forever and connects you forever.
-How the kids remember all the fun things we did during past trips and ask about doing them again. It makes me feel like the cool aunt that flys in 3 times a year.
-Learning how to bake a cake Haitian style....on a charcoal stove. Trust me when I say you have NO idea how easy you have it.
-"Flip that cake! Flip that cake! Flip that cake!"
- "Kristin! Kristin! Kristin! April! April! April! New Hope! New Hope! New Hope!"
- The squeals of excitement that followed the discovery of little plastic eggs filled with candy hidden all over the yard.
- Painting Feeding Hope with Baz and Alex...as they both sang "How Great Thou Art"...Baz in Creole, Alex in Portuguese.
- The adorable dresses, dress pants and shirts that the kids at Feeding Hope wore for the anniversary party. Big party meant Sunday best!
- The dancing, singing and laughing at the big party...and how it drew the whole neighborhood. The fence was surrounded on all sides by people wanting in.
-How Laney sent a whole pile of beanie babies for the kids and pointed out the one she hoped Angena picked.....and she did! Even though Laney wasn't physically here with us....she WAS here with us all week.
- Turning around and watching Jerry experience the joy happening at Nouvelle Vision as they celebrated beautiful new pews. He and Emily should be SO proud of all their hard work.
- "Can I steal you?"
- A team that pukes together, stays together.
- The fact that Helen brought $4 worth of fabric...and through Kari and Buy the Change, Lisa was able to make almost $400 with it!
- "Ok y'all...I have a technical question."
- #Instagram #justsayin #hashtag
- The way Reness smiles and bats his eyes at me when I smile at him. I seriously don't think there is a more beautiful child on the planet.
- How I called Reness "Bèl garcon" (handsome) and he responded "Bèl fe" (beautiful girl). Melt!
- How Francois and Wendel like to stand next to me and just hold my hand.
- Wendel's ridiculously big and adorable smile.
- How much Maciane has grown up, how much she's opened up and how when I hold her, she just smiles and looks at and occasionally touches my face (I think she's still trying to figure out that white skin).
- Wood bringing his dance crew to perform for us.
- How the other kids laughed and cheered during the performance.
-White skin plus sun burn = Haitian kids amused for days...."Wouj, blan. Wouj, blan."
- How the kids always come and thank us and hug us for simple gifts.
- No matter how many times I go, it never gets old. It gets better every time. It's amazing every time. I am so, so lucky for this second family God gave me...April, Paul, Baz, Simeon, Lisa, Edgard, all the kids....and every person who decides to travel with us. I have no idea what I did to deserve it.
-Jerry's enthusiasm for building the pews...and building them right.
-Lizards dropping on heads!
-The joy exuding from Nouvelle Vision Church as we celebrated beautiful new pews.
-That's halaaarious!
-The pride I feel when Paul calls me his sister.
- 30 minute hymns.
-Seeing the kids at New Hope for the first time in months...it's like my heart becomes complete in an instant.
-The feeling of my heart emptying back out as we pull away and the gate closes behind us.
-Being in Haiti with April. We talk about it long distance all year round and I don't think she'll ever know how special her friendship and partnership are to me. Haiti brought me one of the greatest friends I've ever had.
-The way Baz makes me (and everyone else) laugh. He is a grown man with a kid's heart and it's contagious.
-Bringing friends to experience Haiti "my way." I loved having Helen with me this week.
-Meeting new friends and finally meeting friends I've only known online. A week in Haiti is more than a week in Haiti. It's an experience that stays with you forever and connects you forever.
-How the kids remember all the fun things we did during past trips and ask about doing them again. It makes me feel like the cool aunt that flys in 3 times a year.
-Learning how to bake a cake Haitian style....on a charcoal stove. Trust me when I say you have NO idea how easy you have it.
-"Flip that cake! Flip that cake! Flip that cake!"
- "Kristin! Kristin! Kristin! April! April! April! New Hope! New Hope! New Hope!"
- The squeals of excitement that followed the discovery of little plastic eggs filled with candy hidden all over the yard.
- Painting Feeding Hope with Baz and Alex...as they both sang "How Great Thou Art"...Baz in Creole, Alex in Portuguese.
- The adorable dresses, dress pants and shirts that the kids at Feeding Hope wore for the anniversary party. Big party meant Sunday best!
- The dancing, singing and laughing at the big party...and how it drew the whole neighborhood. The fence was surrounded on all sides by people wanting in.
-How Laney sent a whole pile of beanie babies for the kids and pointed out the one she hoped Angena picked.....and she did! Even though Laney wasn't physically here with us....she WAS here with us all week.
- Turning around and watching Jerry experience the joy happening at Nouvelle Vision as they celebrated beautiful new pews. He and Emily should be SO proud of all their hard work.
- "Can I steal you?"
- A team that pukes together, stays together.
- The fact that Helen brought $4 worth of fabric...and through Kari and Buy the Change, Lisa was able to make almost $400 with it!
- "Ok y'all...I have a technical question."
- #Instagram #justsayin #hashtag
- The way Reness smiles and bats his eyes at me when I smile at him. I seriously don't think there is a more beautiful child on the planet.
- How I called Reness "Bèl garcon" (handsome) and he responded "Bèl fe" (beautiful girl). Melt!
- How Francois and Wendel like to stand next to me and just hold my hand.
- Wendel's ridiculously big and adorable smile.
- How much Maciane has grown up, how much she's opened up and how when I hold her, she just smiles and looks at and occasionally touches my face (I think she's still trying to figure out that white skin).
- Wood bringing his dance crew to perform for us.
- How the other kids laughed and cheered during the performance.
-White skin plus sun burn = Haitian kids amused for days...."Wouj, blan. Wouj, blan."
- How the kids always come and thank us and hug us for simple gifts.
- No matter how many times I go, it never gets old. It gets better every time. It's amazing every time. I am so, so lucky for this second family God gave me...April, Paul, Baz, Simeon, Lisa, Edgard, all the kids....and every person who decides to travel with us. I have no idea what I did to deserve it.