Happy Holidays

Well it has been a bit since I have last updated, and things have changed quite a bit. The last time I updated I was slated to leave for Haiti on February 7th. Given the circumstances there with the continuing earthquake aftermath and reconstruction, the cholera situation, and now the effects of the presidential elections, Beyond Borders have decided to postpone Courtney and my arrival date. The plan now is for me to move to DC in mid-January to work in the Beyond Borders office, and to hopefully fly out to Haiti late February/early March.

I can't say that I'm not disappointed. I have never really considered myself an incredibly patient person ;) so this is certainly been challenging. I realize this is all in our best interest, and that simply wanting to be there seems a bit selfish...so I'm taking this time to learn as much as I can about the land, people, and culture of Haiti. I really am excited to learn what work is involved in the offices down in DC, and to get to see the other side of things. It is difficult having things be so up in the air, and living in this state of "limbo" but I have faith that it will all work out the way they are meant to, and learning to accept that is just part of the process.

In the meantime keep Haiti and her people in your daily thoughts and prayers. There can never be too many prayers. Pray for stability, peace, calming, health, reconciliation, happiness, relief...the list is endless. My hope and prayer is that something beneficial comes out of these elections...that someone who truly cares for the country and the people is put into "power" and that for once this beautiful and deserving country recieves the chance that they deserve.

Despite the lack of coverage found on television news, there are many articles written and posted online--I encourage you to keep up with them in efforts to understand the situation. Some of the websites to follow are:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/
http://www.miamiherald.com/
http://www.bbc.com/
http://www.cnn.com/

here's an article on the latest cholera update, please take the time to read it

http://www.msf.org/msf/articles/2010/12/cholera-emergency-in-haiti-far-from-over.cfm


Nawe pita!

-Sarah

Questions without answers

It's hard for me to understand why the things that happen, happen. Especially when it seems that those who are in dire need, and in the worst situations are the ones who experience the most damaging things. As I write this I can't help but think of my theology class that I am currently in. It just so happens that we have been discussing the presence of evil in the world and human suffering. I have always had a difficult time reconciling my faith in not only God, but in humanity as a whole with such evil and suffering in the world. The age old question "how can God let this happen?" has been tossed around here and there. As elementary as this may seem, I have learned that this is not God letting all of this destruction happen. We can break this down into three different points: God is all powerful, God is good, and that evil is real. In order to find some reconciliation of such evil we need to realize that not all of these points can be found to be true; insofar as the God I believe in cannot be all powerful yet cause so much pain, suffering, and evil. It cannot be denied that evil is real, therefore, we must wrestle with the idea that perhaps God is not all powerful. While I am not quite sure what this all means personally, and in my life, I find it a much more sound idea than questioning, often with intense anger, why God "lets" things happen.

I've spoken with a few friends in Haiti, all of whom are physically okay and not directly affected by the storm. I am incredibly thankful. However, I have read about severe flooding in Leogane and Les Cayes. It is one thing to say that this "doesn't seem fair", well, it isn't. There is nothing "fair" about what has happened to Haiti. What is there for us to do? I'm not sure there is an answer to that question...I've been asking it for quite some time. Pray. Pray in whatever way you are comfortable, in whatever form it takes, but please pray.

Tomorrow night is the "Songs for Haiti" concert. So far we have sold around 90 tickets!

A new season

I've been wanting to write, but I just haven't felt "inspired" so to say. However, with recent experiences and conversations many thoughts and feelings have seemed to awaken within my mind.

It seems appropriate that with a new season comes new changes and discoveries. Not only am I learning how to embrace and accept this colder, more internal season, but I am also learning to both accept and appreciate these changes and the newness that they bring. Doing anything with Beyond Borders helps one to learn quickly to accept change, as well ;)

With that said, plans...have changed (a bit). Instead of leaving the first or second week of January, my departure date is now February 7th. Yes, almost a month FARTHER away, but another month to be here with my friends and family, and raise more money. Election time in Haiti is also during January, which always lends itself to the chance of violence/chaos/etc. February 7th happens to be the day Jean Claude Duvalier (Baby Doc) was ousted from Haiti and from power, which has been celebrated ever since 1986. This past Monday I was able to talk with three members of Beyond Borders, and Courtney, who will be my traveling partner and fellow ASLer. It was great to talk with them all, it made everything much more real. Courtney and I were able to find out where we will most likely be living. I say most likely because anything is subject to change, but for now it seems pretty solid that we will be living in a mountain-top village called Meno in south-east Haiti. Meno is about an hour from Jacmel, where I was this past January, and about two to two and a half hours from Gwo Jan, where I have stayed on each visit. There is no running water or electricity here, and it is rather far removed from anything, really. Jacmel, where the market, schools, beach, and other such things are, is about a four hour hike down the mountain.

Everything is quickly becoming the "last time" I will be doing something for a while...

I'm incredibly excited and ready for something completely new...but I'm sure that February 7th will come sooner than I think. For right now I need to appreciate this time and where I am, stopping to enjoy each moment.

(You'll have to deal with me having no title for this here post...I'm new at this...)

I decided to begin a blog which I will hopefully be able to continue during my time in Haiti...how often that will be, I do not know! I figured I would start it now, and let you all know my inner most thoughts (I know you all want to know them, anyway) during the oh so pivitol days awaiting my departure. So, here we go,

Well, I'm leaving sometime during the first week of January...as of now it looks as though the exact date will be January 5th. THAT IS NOT SO FAR AWAY. So...between now and then I am just, you know, trying to raise TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. Yeah...about that, it is not an easy task these days. What's a girl supposed to do amidst a recession?! You tell me.

Anyway, I am incredibly excited. Lately my days have been taken over by daydreams of my new adventure.  Howeverrrrrr, I think the fact that I am leaving the country, choosing to live in an incredibly impoverished and not necessarily "safe" by our standards place, will be far, far away from my family and friends, and will be doing all this on my own has started to sink in. With all new things comes hesitation, fear, and anxiety, though..so I think I'll be okay ;) .

 That's all for now, not much to say here...but OOOH there will be later, you just wait.