This posting is to update my presentation schedule.  With the sudden passing of both my mother-in-law and father-in-law, my near-term upcoming presentations on February 21 and March 3 have been postponed.  I will post an updated schedule for the presentations at Bethlehem when they're rescheduled.

With initial search/discovery in my in-laws home of important documents, Jim and I decided today that we definitely need to clean out our home of items we don't need.  We'll see when we get to that once we get back home.

As promised, here's my presentation schedule.

·      11:45am February 21 at Fellowship Lunch at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Los Alamos

·      March 3 at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church - sermons at both services (8:15am, 10:45am) and a presentation between services

·      12:30pm May 21 at Rotary Club meeting in Los Alamos

I'll also be giving a presentation at Habitat for Humanity of Espanola Valley & Los Alamos ReStore some time this spring in coordination with the start of two new homes.  I'll post the date when it's scheduled.

My pictures are now posted on my FaceBook page....finally.  Unfortunately, most of the descriptions did not come along.

Hope to see you at one of my presentations.

It's been a while since I've submitted a post.  It's now been over three weeks since I've been back and it seems so long ago that I was in Haiti.  I'm sitting in the Atlanta Delta lounge that I was in upon returning from Haiti.

I've been busy diving back into my volunteer activities and work.  I've also been talking with friends who have been to Haiti, and lining up presentations.  One change I've noticed is that I was even more reluctant to buy gifts for Christmas this year.  Jim and I gave the gift of a goat from a donation to Heifer International to our nephews.  Two are old enough to understand and the third will have his mom explain it to him.  Plus, we sent the younger one a Sturgis Rally t-shirt.

I hope to label and post my pictures to my FaceBook page over the Christmas break (I am off from work until January 2).  Some of my team members have posted their pictures and it's been great to view them.  I have my first presentation scheduled for January 15 at the Habitat for Humanity of Espanola Valley / Los Alamos ReStore.  I plan to inform my supporters, donors, and interested parties about my presentations.  I'll also post my presentation schedule here.

Gotta run to catch my next flight....

Yes, another post.  I think I should keep posting to this blog until I figure out exactly what to do in my life with this life-changing experience that I had in Haiti.

I was out sick from work a couple of days this past week.  I must have picked up something from one of my flights back.  As I was home,  relaxing and drinking lots of tea, I couldn't help but think about the Haitians and when they get sick.  Those living in tents and tarps tend to get sick from their environment.  The heat during the day in the tents/tarps is unbearable.  That's one reason why we always saw so many people walking around during the day.  In fact, a lot of people get bad headaches from living in the tents/tarps.  I can't imagine being sick and not being able to be in your home.  When I was home from work this week, I loved being in comfortable clothes in my home, drinking lots of tea and having comfort food of soup and bread.  Plus, I have sick leave from work.  Such comforts do not exist in Haiti.

I've started scheduling lunches with friends and coworkers who have been to Haiti to share experiences.  Plus, I'm starting to schedule presentations for my church, my local Habitat chapter, and a few other interested organizations.  Here's an update from Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat International.  Stories from the 2012 Carter Work Project  Yes, I also met Jonathan last week.  His update includes links to stories, photos and videos, and a few words from President Carter.  I also want to share President Carter's Sunday School lesson last Sunday in Haiti.  Sunday School with President Carter

As I figure out what this life-changing experience means to me, I do know that I want to continue to be involved with Habitat for Humanity at both local and international levels including trips back to Haiti, and I definitely want to participate in more Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Projects.  I hope to get Jim involved at the international level as well, perhaps in the 2013 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project.

First full day back and it was quite busy between a church meeting and the Get off the Hill dinner with the Bethlehem youth tonight. My friend Mary Beth, who has been to Haiti, said to me that she thought the culture shock was worse returning home. I think I have to agree. Upon returning in Atlanta, the first thing I noticed was people eating food at a restaurant - plentiful portions of food prepared in minutes and served to you in a comfortable environment. Most Haitians are lucky to eat one good meal a day. When I walked into my home, I realized just how big it is (it seems even bigger than before) and how much I have that I could do without. I'm not sure why we/I get caught up in more and bigger is better.

I took a good look at my dining room today, and yes, a Haitian home that we built is smaller than my dining room. Jim and I actually love our small apartment sized place that we built in SD because of its simplicity. Yet, that's just our vacation home and it's still larger than a typical Haitian home.

My shower last night with a steady stream of warm water was truly luscious. My bed felt even better. I know that my king sized bed would not fit in the master suite of our Haitian home.

Their lives are simple yet full of daily challenges to fulfill basic needs. They are a spirited people who don't give up easily and appreciate their blessings.  I think the picture below of Hones clutching his bible delivered by President Carter, showing his love for his new home, says it all.

Thought I'd post to my blog while I'm waiting in the Atlanta airport.  This morning came very early with a 3am wake-up call. The tunes kept rolling over the loud speaker this morning which was nice. I sat by Suse again on the flight back. She was also on the JRCWP last year in Haiti and got a chance this week to see her homeowner from last year. The reunions were very special for those who came last year. As Suse was looking for the home (they look so different with flowers, plants, a few additions), her homeowner saw her, ran out of her home, and gave her hugs and kisses. These reunions happened all week long for those who returned from last year. I do hope to return sometime to visit Katorsky and Hones. Suse said that she will return also. It sounds like Habitat wants to continue Haiti trips, though they won't be Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project (JRCWP) trips. I do have a means to get in touch with Claude Jeudy, national director of Habitat Haiti, so I'll definitely try to stay tuned into future Habitat trips to Haiti.

You really can't travel to Haiti on your own due to security concerns. We had security all the time - at our campsite, at the worksite, and escorts while traveling in the buses. You feel a bit isolated, but I guess that's just the way it needs to be currently. I talked to a woman from the USA who was working at the Haitian embassy and she said that they always have security. She's been here two years.

Coming back home, I'm enjoying simple pleasures. The meal on the flight seemed like a gourmet meal. Not that Haven (the Irish company in charge of logistics and food for the JRCWP) didn't do a great job in feeding us three meals each day and with all of the logistics. It was "just the way I like it". By the way, that was the phrase for the week. I just got a bit tired of meat and potatoes and loved the fresh fruit served on the plane. I think I'll eat salads and fruit every meal this week....and some fish and wine.

I keep thinking about the trip and the extreme poverty over there. I'm attending the "Get off the Hill" dinner with Bethlehem's youth tomorrow night and the topic for the evening will be my trip. I'm wondering how I convey the extreme poverty. The average wage in Haiti is $1.50 per day. The house we built is the size of my dining room. The master suite is the size of my walk-in closet. People bathe in the rivers and wash their clothes with the river water in wash basins. Lots of people are still living in tents. Yet children walk to school looking as good as the best American kids. The girls have braided hair with bows, clothes are neat and look pressed. Shirts are bright white. Their smiles are contagious. As was said by others who have been to Haiti, the situation is heart-breaking yet the spirit of the people is incredible. What a trip!

Today was our last day.  It was a busy day and emotional.  My friend Suse, whom I sat by on the flight out, warned me that it'd be emotional.  President Carter and Rosalynn came around in the early afternoon to present a bible to each homeowner and take a picture with two work crews and the homeowners.  The picture was taken in front of Hones' home since it was the furthest along. Yes Mom, I will have an opportunity to order this picture. Then we held a dedication ceremony later in the afternoon which was informal but nice.  Katorsky read psalm 23 out of his bible and then both he and Hones said a few words.  Translated, they told us how much they appreciated our help, enjoyed working with us, learned a lot, and will pray for us.  They also hope to see us again some day.  That would be nice.  They are really great guys.  We met Katorsky's wife and baby today - through the security fence.  We met Hones' mother the other day, who will living in Hones' home.

Here's the end result of our homes.  We didn't quite finish, but were so, so close. I so wanted to stay just another 30 minutes even.  Leaving on the buses, all of the homeowners from last year were out with their children waving goodbye.

 

I better get to bed now.  Our wake-up call tomorrow is at 3am and I have to board the buses at 3:45am.  I leave Haiti tomorrow a bit (or a lot) altered for the better.