Permis De Sejour!

Fingerprints, check!  Haitian bank account, check!  Police report from the U.S. proving we are in good standing, check!  Papers and more papers filled out giving all kinds of details about our lives, check!  After 5 months in Haiti I am proud to announce we have now officially received our permis de sejour's, permanent visas.

[Google Image:  Didn't want to post our visas, just to be safe :) ]

We were definitely excited to receive our permanent visas, we have been approved by the country of Haiti to live and work here.  These visas provide us with a new found confidence.  Although we may not look like the people here, we struggle to speak the language, and we have no earth shattering talents to offer, we have been approved to reside in this beautiful land.


Now that we have our permanent visa we can begin to work on receiving our Haitian license.  Trey is very excited about having full access to driving in Haiti.  There is no speed limit here, you can create another lane of traffic anytime you choose,  the typical "road" is rocky and up a mountainside, and anytime you feel like passing someone you can!  Due to these facts alone I am slightly hesitant to hit the road so I may get a license but, I do not plan on using it anytime soon.  One step at a time, right?


Continue to pray for us as we seek to grow in our relationships with our Haitian brother's and sister's here.  Pray that we would be sensitive to the leading of our Savior and trust in His timing in ALL things.

Recap

Trey & I had a blast with his mom and dad visiting us these past two weeks.  It was great to be able to catch up and have them see first hand all where we are and what we are doing in Haiti.  You do not have to be around Trey's parents long at all before you realize they are very hard workers and always willing to help!  I am so thankful to have married into such a wonderful family.

 

I used to watch the show Trading Spaces with host Ty Pennington and be amazed with all his made from scratch ideas.  I now have my very own Ty in the family and have loved having our little Haitian home receive quite a few home improvements.  Below are just a few pictures I have taken to try to capture the changes.  The picture can only show so much so consider this your personal invite to come and serve with us one day here in Haiti!

 "Entertainment Center" 

*The letters on the mantle were an idea I saw on Pinterest.  Ty & Terri brought us burlap left over from our western themed wedding rehearsal and I was able to paint our initials.

*Ty built us a bookshelf for our fireplace.  We hardly use the fireplace because the wood stays too wet to burn up here in the mountains.  The bookshelf is removable and definitely helps to complete the space.

*Hanging on the wall are two made from scratch light covers.  We have two very random bulbs coming from the wall that we never used, but now with the proper coverings we love them!

*You will also notice flowers from our yard in mason jars, new wall color, and new curtains made from drop cloths.

Bedroom

*The wall decor/headboard is a curtain rod, pictures Trey & I bargained for out on the street, and fabric Terri & I cut and sewed to hang up the pictures.

*I saw an idea similar to the "floating shelves" on Pinterest.  Trey & I both needed a little night stand but with a small room shelves on the floor would completely take over the space.  I pitched the idea to Ty and off he ran to make us the perfect space savers!

*The room is also painted, more drop cloth curtains hung, and drawers are placed under the bed.

Kitchen

*In a previous post I showed the area of the kitchen over the stove.  This picture allows you to see how the kitchen color blends with the rest of the house.  I absolutely love having a bright and cheery kitchen!  

*It is at this table I sit most mornings working on stories and other items for Baptist Haiti Mission, listening to the school kids down the hill recite their morning lessons, and looking at the palm trees and ocean water you can see out our window.  It is in these moments I have to stop and praise God for bringing us to such a beautiful country to be a part of making His name known among the nations!  

Living Room

*We now have a new handmade table built placed behind our couch.  This helps to give definition to the room and provides the perfect spot for a Ty Salter created lamp.  Using a variety of materials he found around the mission property Ty made this lamp stand & shade.  I love the character it gives to the room.

 

Cruisin'

We love all of our new home improvements!  It was such a blessing to be out at different parts in the day and come home to a house that we had already made home and now feels even homier (if that's a word)!  

In the midst of all the renovations we still made time to get out for a little fun as well.  Terri & I enjoyed feeling like "Miss America" as the guys drove us around.  Remember Ty & Terri today as they have a full day of travel back to the states.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAMMIE!!

 

Pencils, Paper, and Glue Sticks, OH MY!

This morning was just an all around FUN morning.  Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), has a program called Project Hope for Haiti.  For quite some time they have been collecting school supplies for students and teachers in Haiti.  Baptist Haiti Mission has received over 750 fully packed bags for the schools.  BHM added a Creole New Testament and two Bible storybooks to these bags.

Today we were blessed with the opportunity to deliver some of these bags to a variety of schools.  The teachers and students were thrilled and so surprised to receive these gifts.  When the students first received their bags they were cautious and hesitant to open them.  This did not last long at all as smiles became uncontrollable and the excitement became contagious!

 

Chatter overtook the classroom and items were being ripped out of bags and displayed for all to see.  It was wonderful to see the students celebrate with their friends as each opened their gifts.  An 8 year old boy asked me if the glue sticks in his bag were candy.  I quickly said no, no do not eat it, it is for paper.  He then said oh, is it for my lips?  Thinking the glue stick was chapstick.  I responded again, no, not for your mouth, for your paper.  I hope all these "little details" get clarified before the use of certain items.

BHM is so thankful for these very generous donations!  And, judging by this last picture I think it's safe to say the teachers and students were very surprised and happy too!

 

  

Oh how I LOVE those times when excitement just takes over!  I'm so thankful I got to be a part of these special moments today and can now share them with you.   Pray for the teachers of Haiti as they seek to train these students.  Pray for the minds of these precious students, pray for them to be alert and ready to learn!

House Renovations

Throughout the past several weeks I have become quite an avid fan of the website, Pinterest.  This website consists of a variety of great ideas for recipes, exercise, organization, and crafts.  To say the word crafty is not my middle name would be an extreme understatement. 

I was once invited to a craft party. All attendees were to bring their current craft they were doing and we would spend the evening working on our projects. I was half tempted to go and buy a Disney princess coloring book and spend the evening getting the red just right in Ariel's hair.  Do not misunderstand me, I have extreme respect for those who "craft."  However, if it takes more than 2 hours to make, you can count me out.  I am pleased to say I have married into a family that has done their fair share of projects.

Trey's parents are visiting us in Haiti right now. Over these past few days there have been quite a few house renovations. We have painted our living room and kitchen, an extreme improvement to our stark white concrete walls. I look forward to sharing pictures as projects around the house reach completion. 

Today I wanted to share with you on of our most recent changes. The area behind the stove gets quite a bit of filth on the wall. In an effort to cover this space My father-in-law developed a wonderful plan...

 

With a few pieces of plywood and a lot of nails we have our renovated kitchen!  I absolutely love the new look to the stove area.  Inspired by the updated and oh so "homey" feel to our kitchen I baked some chocolate chip cookies to celebrate.  I'm excited to see what other changes to our home may result from our time with Trey's folks, Pinterest has nothing on us!

Lovin' on the Little Ones

Hugs, hugs, and more hugs!  These are a few words I would use to describe what I was able to be a part of this morning.  Not too far from where we live and work with Baptist Haiti Mission is an orphanage called "God's Littlest Angels."  Trey and I actually discovered the orphanage before we even moved to Haiti and were thrilled when we learned how close it was to our house!  Since being in Haiti I have been so excited about the opportunity to get to go to the orphanage and it finally happened today!

A couple visiting BHM this week wanted the opportunity to get to see the little ones at the orphanage.  Me being the oh so generous person that I am eagerly volunteered to travel down the mountain a little ways this morning to love on the kiddos.  We had a wonderful tour of the orphanage and were very encouraged to see the diligent work of this organization.

 Pray for the children in Haiti who are without a mom and dad.  Pray for changes in the adoption law of Haiti that would enable more families to take home their precious little ones.  Pray for protection for these little lives.  Pray the Lord would begin making himself known in the hearts of these children that they may know what it means to have a relationship with their Heavenly Father!

Learning to Speak the Secret Code

Best friends often create a secret language with one another.  A language only they understand and can use anywhere with the confidence that no one else will understand.  By knowing this secret language they are able to communicate with one another in a way that reaches deep and cannot be separated.  Over the past 4 months I have been living in a country where I watch these best friends communicate with one another day after day, hour after hour.

This secret language is sometimes whispered, sometimes sung, sometimes shouted, sometimes followed with laughter, sometimes spoken with heads bowed in moments of prayer.  I study, I listen closely, and I oh so eagerly anticipate the day I too can be a part of this secret language.

There are moments, moments where the words roll off of my tongue and I receive a nod of affirmation or a response that actually answers the question I intended to ask.  However, at times I receive puzzled looks or giggles from children that communicates shock that the "blanc" is looking them in the eyes and trying to speak their secret language.  (The little one on the left is a perfect description of the looks I am referring to)

The days are often long and the struggle to understand can become quite frustrating.  The desire to understand and be able to hold entire conversations with my brothers and sisters in Haiti is far stronger than the frustration.  As I learn this new and secret language I feel at times as though I take one step forward and two steps back.  After 2 weeks of being in Haiti a woman told me she knew God had us here for a reason and He would help us to learn the language.

I have thought of her words often throughout these past few months.  Avek Jesi, yon jou mwen kapab pale kreole! (With Jesus, one day I can speak creole!)

1 Peter 3:15, "...Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have..."

Pray for Trey & I as we continue to learn Creole.  It is our desire to be able to clearly share the reason for the hope that we have in Christ Jesus!

Food for Thought

True confession, I have an obsession.  I absolutely LOVE dark chocolate.  I heard once it was good for me.  When my mom and dad came to visit they brought me 2 big bags of dove dark chocolate pieces.  I have enjoyed eating them as well as reading their secret messages inside the wrapper.

A few days ago I began to think about what it would be like if I actually followed the advice that was being given to me from the great and all knowing wrappers.  Here's a glimpse of what would happen.

DISCOVER YOURSELF, this is the first direct council I was given from the wrapper.  How does one do this self discovery you may ask?  Don't worry open another chocolate goody, there is more advice to come...

KEEP THE PROMISES YOU MAKE TO YOURSELF.  If you don't think you have made any promises to yourself, have another piece of chocolate and you will discover you are to BE THE FIRST TO HIT THE DANCE FLOOR.

LOSE YOURSELF IN A MOMENT, in the midst of those great dance moves don't be afraid to let yourself go.  After all it is so important to LIVE YOUR DREAMS.  Don't forget YOU ARE EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE.  TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND EXHALE, keep reminding yourself, SMILING IS FREE.

We live in a world today where opinions, advice, and guidance flows from every corner.  Even our chocolate is providing direction for us!  I am so glad that in the midst of voices and council flowing from all around I know and am in a deep relationship with the WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, Isaiah 9:6.  It is in His Word alone I am to seek and find the advice and guidance for my life.  Enjoy this life, embrace each moment, live it to the hilt, but do it walking in the ways of the WONDERFUL COUNSELOR.


Psalm 25:4  "Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths."


P.S. You can stop wondering how many days it took me to eat the chocolate that was inside all of these wrappers.  After all, I had a blog post I needed information for :)