I've been in DC for exactly three weeks now, and all I have to say for it is that Philly is way cooler....just kidding! However...Philly is much easier to navigate, BUT in DC there are tons of things to do for free. I do have to stay loyal to Philly, though. I miss everyone a TON. I constantly think of everyone at Broad Street Ministry and wish I could be there with you all. Whenever I try to tell people here about BSM I never know what to say, I usually end up saying something like "there really is just no other place like it!" Which just sounds lame, and doesn't really say anything, so...I'll keep working on a promo speech. Anyway...
I'm staying with a wonderful family here. Dixcy, Nolan, Colby, and Colin, and of course their two dogs Oakley and Sable. It took about a week and a half for Sable who is still a puppy to accept me and not bark every time I moved...but we're in the bonding process now, so everything's good on that front. The family is pretty busy, but we always eat dinner together which is probably one of my favorite parts of the day. They're a lot of fun.
The weekends are the toughest for me, I'm alone most of the time, which I guess isn't necessarily a bad thing in theory, but for someone like me...too much alone time makes you go crazy. I usually go to a museum or two, and spend a lot of time in coffee shops, but Courtney arrived last week from CA, so now I have someone to hang out with.
I go to the BB office every day and help out with various things. The days usually go by pretty quickly. Everyone in the office is great...its a lot of fun, and there is always an abundant amount of laughter. I've had the opportunity to meet a lot of really great people that are in some way connected to Haiti/Beyond Borders which has been awesome. I have been taking Creole classes every Thursday and Friday afternoon in the office...I'm really enjoying that!
To update you all on the ASL program situation...Well, we probably won't be getting to Haiti until April now. Coleen and Carla have made visits to the community where we will most likely be living (Dabon, not too far from Port au Prince), and talked with a group, Rasin Lespwa (Roots of Hope) who will aid in preparing the community and families for our arrival. They are still preparing and finding families for us to live with, and all this preparation has been prolonged due to cholera, elections, and the occasional return of a dictator or two, so you know...nothing major. The second round of elections is scheduled for March 20th, between Manigat and Martelly. Hopefully nothing too outrageous happens surrounding that...but one never can tell when it comes to Haiti. So, with all that said, I really hope Courtney and I are able to get to Haiti in early April. This really is a tough spot to be in. When all of my friends and family are in one place, and everything I want to be doing and have been waiting to do for months is in Haiti, but I am here in DC...things start to feel pretty strange.
Cholera seems to have stabilized a bit, but there is still the ever-present fear, which I'm sure will stick around for quite some time. There are not as many deaths being reported, which is obviously a good sign. I am continually amazed at how the people of Haiti continue to live their lives day to day amidst so much turmoil.
Well, I don't have much more to say at this point, rather, I don't feel like typing much more :-)
Please continue to hold Haiti and her people in your prayers.
More later,
Sarah
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
ch-ch-ch-changes
Thanks, Mr. Bowie for providing the oh-so-apropos title for my post.
Welp, after reading over my last update I've decided I should probably start proof-reading these things...especially because this is accessible to many via the Beyond Borders website. My apologies for the many typos, friends. Anyway, on to bigger and better things...
Things seem to be happening and moving along as far as the ASL program goes! I have moved out of my apartment in Norristown, PA into my parent's house in Chesterfield, NJ. Quite the change, I must say. After living on my own for the past three years, moving back in with my parents can prove to be pretty interesting. However, I'm certainly glad I have been able to do so, and will be able to spend my last two weeks here with my family. February first is my move-in day for D.C. and I'm pretty dang excited about it...I think. Of course I have mixed feelings and really just want to get my butt to Haiti, but I have come to peace with the fact that, well...its just not going to happen as fast as I would like! Courtney will arrive Feb. fifth to D.C. We will be working in the Beyond Borders offices there for most likely a month or two while Carla and Coleen work on preparing our host families and communities for our arrival to Haiti. The regular conference calls with Beyond Borders staff plus Courtney and I have really been helpful in feeling and staying connected. I'm hoping that there is less snow in D.C. than here in Jersey...I am certainly not a fan.
This past Sunday was my last Sunday (for now!) with my amazing family at Broad Street Ministry in Philadelphia (www.broadstreetministry.org). Luckily it was the choir's turn to sing, so I got to squeeze in one last Motley Order Choir performance. Over the past few years of my attending the church I found myself continually amazed at the fact that every Sunday I found myself to be uncomfortable, whether it be because of the two, large and intimidating homeless men I found myself sitting between during the service, the person sitting across from me having an in-depth conversation with someone who was not there, or because the sermon and service really hit home that I felt completely exposed and vulnerable...I could go on (but I won't). I would never, ever trade any of those uncomfortable moments for it was in these that I grew the most, and it proved that I would feel these deep, digging, moments up until my very last Sunday there. As I was singing my solo during communion, I looked up and immediately made eye contact with a man I had not seen in years. I met him my first year at Eastern in downtown Philadelphia. He was homeless. This man was someone who I truly looked up to and enjoyed spending time with, who walked around the city with me, because, in his words "a little white girl like you can NOT walk around talkin' to homeless guys by yourself...I got your back". Later that year because of a misunderstanding in our friendship, he became frustrated and angry, and I stopped seeing him every week...no one saw him anymore. As I looked up on Sunday while singing we both made eye contact, and with a slight nod, kind smile, and a small wave, I immediately knew who he was. It took everything out of me not to forget everything I was supposed to be singing and just start crying. I made it through, and immediately went over to talk to him. It was really great to see him, and while he is still homeless three years later, I know he is alive, and I know he is relatively healthy, and in a wonderful place at Broad Street. (sorry this is getting long...if you've held on this long, I congratulate you...but I'm gonna keep going) As I made my way back to Norristown I couldn't stop thinking about how crazy it was that on my last Sunday there, I saw someone who had such an impact on my life that I had not seen in years, and truly did not think I would ever see again. I refuse to think that it was simply just a coincidence, and something that I have learned from my friends in Haiti and the people there is that you need to pay attention to the seemingly minute details of life, and that there ARE signs there, God IS communicating with us. It is simply up to us to recognize and acknowledge it. I believe that this was God's way of reassuring me that this was not the last time I would see these people, and that there is a reason that I spent four years of my life going to downtown Philly spending time sitting on the cold, hard, concrete talking to homeless men and women who I thought I would never see again. Perhaps things really do come full circle, and perhaps these scary changes and transitions are here to tell us who we really are to really learn about and love each other the way we are supposed to. I think I'm beginning to be okay with these changing seasons of life...
Welp, after reading over my last update I've decided I should probably start proof-reading these things...especially because this is accessible to many via the Beyond Borders website. My apologies for the many typos, friends. Anyway, on to bigger and better things...
Things seem to be happening and moving along as far as the ASL program goes! I have moved out of my apartment in Norristown, PA into my parent's house in Chesterfield, NJ. Quite the change, I must say. After living on my own for the past three years, moving back in with my parents can prove to be pretty interesting. However, I'm certainly glad I have been able to do so, and will be able to spend my last two weeks here with my family. February first is my move-in day for D.C. and I'm pretty dang excited about it...I think. Of course I have mixed feelings and really just want to get my butt to Haiti, but I have come to peace with the fact that, well...its just not going to happen as fast as I would like! Courtney will arrive Feb. fifth to D.C. We will be working in the Beyond Borders offices there for most likely a month or two while Carla and Coleen work on preparing our host families and communities for our arrival to Haiti. The regular conference calls with Beyond Borders staff plus Courtney and I have really been helpful in feeling and staying connected. I'm hoping that there is less snow in D.C. than here in Jersey...I am certainly not a fan.
This past Sunday was my last Sunday (for now!) with my amazing family at Broad Street Ministry in Philadelphia (www.broadstreetministry.org). Luckily it was the choir's turn to sing, so I got to squeeze in one last Motley Order Choir performance. Over the past few years of my attending the church I found myself continually amazed at the fact that every Sunday I found myself to be uncomfortable, whether it be because of the two, large and intimidating homeless men I found myself sitting between during the service, the person sitting across from me having an in-depth conversation with someone who was not there, or because the sermon and service really hit home that I felt completely exposed and vulnerable...I could go on (but I won't). I would never, ever trade any of those uncomfortable moments for it was in these that I grew the most, and it proved that I would feel these deep, digging, moments up until my very last Sunday there. As I was singing my solo during communion, I looked up and immediately made eye contact with a man I had not seen in years. I met him my first year at Eastern in downtown Philadelphia. He was homeless. This man was someone who I truly looked up to and enjoyed spending time with, who walked around the city with me, because, in his words "a little white girl like you can NOT walk around talkin' to homeless guys by yourself...I got your back". Later that year because of a misunderstanding in our friendship, he became frustrated and angry, and I stopped seeing him every week...no one saw him anymore. As I looked up on Sunday while singing we both made eye contact, and with a slight nod, kind smile, and a small wave, I immediately knew who he was. It took everything out of me not to forget everything I was supposed to be singing and just start crying. I made it through, and immediately went over to talk to him. It was really great to see him, and while he is still homeless three years later, I know he is alive, and I know he is relatively healthy, and in a wonderful place at Broad Street. (sorry this is getting long...if you've held on this long, I congratulate you...but I'm gonna keep going) As I made my way back to Norristown I couldn't stop thinking about how crazy it was that on my last Sunday there, I saw someone who had such an impact on my life that I had not seen in years, and truly did not think I would ever see again. I refuse to think that it was simply just a coincidence, and something that I have learned from my friends in Haiti and the people there is that you need to pay attention to the seemingly minute details of life, and that there ARE signs there, God IS communicating with us. It is simply up to us to recognize and acknowledge it. I believe that this was God's way of reassuring me that this was not the last time I would see these people, and that there is a reason that I spent four years of my life going to downtown Philly spending time sitting on the cold, hard, concrete talking to homeless men and women who I thought I would never see again. Perhaps things really do come full circle, and perhaps these scary changes and transitions are here to tell us who we really are to really learn about and love each other the way we are supposed to. I think I'm beginning to be okay with these changing seasons of life...
Monday, December 27, 2010
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
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
Friday, November 5, 2010
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!
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!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
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.
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.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
(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.
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.
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