Thank you all!

Here is the video that I made upon my return to the states. I hope you all enjoy it. This was the most incredible experience I have ever had and I owe that to each of you for your love and support. I am hoping to return to Haiti again next summer, I think you might understand why after you watch the video ;). Thank you again for all of your support!

What a Week

I can't believe my time here in Haiti is already coming to a close. I leave this upcoming thursday and the idea is very bitter sweet. I am excited to return home to share my stories with my family and friends but am dreading saying goodbye to the kids here at the orphanage. I have become quite attached to all my kids and will miss them all every day. I know that upon returning to the states not a day will pass that I dont think about the kids here and the experiences I have had.
This week I got to experience a bit of what we all here call the Haitian happiness, being sick. I was sick for a full day on wednesday but am slowly starting to feel normal again. I sent my mom an email and told her that even being as sick as I got that day I would repeat this trip in a heartbeat. The few days of not feeling well were nothing in comparison to the things the kids here have endured.
Tonight was the big basketball game. 4 of the staff members played a game of basketball in the driveway of the main house. all the babies lined up on their balcony to watch the game and the volunteers and some of the staff sat in the driveway to watch the game. I brought down one of my kids to sit on my lap and watch the game. It was a lot of fun. All went smooth until one of the babies on the balcony wasnt wearing a diaper and peed off the edge of the balcony and straight down my back. I couldn't help but laugh at the situation. Only I would be perfectly situated for something like that. :)
This weekend is a work weekend which means we will be here at the main house tomorrow for a half day of work working with the babies who do not currently have volunteers. I enjoy the work weekends because it gives me the opportunity to bond with other kids. After this weekend I will only have 3 days left with my kids. It has come so fast.
Thank you all again for making this experience of a lifetime a possibility for me. I miss you all and love you all so much! I am excited to return and share even more stories and pictures with all of you!

The Perfect Weekend!

What a great weekend! This weekend was an outing weekend so on Saturday all of us volunteers got up and cleaned our house then got ready to go out. We went to this place called the lookout that overlooks all of Port-au-Prince and the ocean. The third picture shows the view but even the photo doesn't do it justice. The had a few people selling different things there such as wood carvings and paintings so I got a few things to bring home to remember my trip.
After we were all done there we headed to the mission. The mission was essentially a small road of stands where people were selling more things similar to the lookout and there was a small restaurant deli and a bakery. There we ate lunch and did some more shopping. After that we headed off to the grocery store. The vanilla in Haiti is supposed to be incredible and far more inexpensive than in the states so I picked up a few bottles of that to bring home! I also got ice cream bars for all of us volunteers to have in the freezer. They are great because the house is always so hot and after a long day outside with the kids those are just what you need! That was basically my Saturday it was a great day.
Sunday we got up and got ready for church. We went to an American couple's house. They now live in Haiti and have a home church every sunday that all of us from GLA attend. After that we all came down to the main house for lunch together. After lunch I went into the nursery to say hi to my kids and then I changed for a hike with the other volunteers. We left from the main house and hiked to the local waterfall. It was about an hour hike so not too far. The waterfall was beautiful. the first picture is from there. A few of us continued up the fall and literally had to rock climb up a straight up and down wall to do so. It was a little scary but definitely well worth it! The only way to get back down however was to go down the waterfall you see in the picture. That part was scary but I made it! We then walked back to the house and watched a movie then it was off to bed by 10. Today I am excited for a new day and to see my kids again. The weekend was great to relax and be ready to work with the kids again but I definitely missed seeing them.
The other pictures are of the kids, one from bath time, the second picture I put up because this is one of the first times I have had her really laughing, it was a big milestone for us!
I hope everyone is doing well back home I miss you all so much! I hope you enjoy my pictures and stories and I look forward to sharing more when I get home. My last picture count I want to say I was right about 300 pictures so these are just a few so you know what I am up to but I cant wait to show you all all of my pictures!

One week down!

I can't believe it has already been a week since I arrived. The days just seem to be flying! The kids are all very attached now and are making great progress. I feel so lucky to be able to watch these kids blossom in front of my eyes. The other day one of my kids took his first steps! I was so excited for him, I ran around the balcony telling all the other volunteers, I am sure I looked like a 5 year old at Disneyland!

Each day that I spend with these kids makes me realize even more how blessed I have been in my life. I am so lucky to have all of you in my life! I often get so caught up in daily life that I dont take time to acknowledge the small things. The kids here appreciate every little thing it is great to see.

A few days ago an adoptive family came in to fill out some paperwork. This trip is a 2 day trip where they are able to meet their child for the first time unfortunately the next step is usually a minimum of 6 months. The family was very sweet and I was able to talk to them for quite a bit. Watching them leave was difficult but made me appreciate more what the volunteers do here. It also made me realize how much I too missed my parents just as the child did when they said goodbye. I have been so lucky to have two amazing parents who have been there for me my whole life! This child has two amazing parents who love him so much and are counting down days until they can be together. It truly was an incredible thing to see.

These pictures are of the view from the balcony where I spend my day and of some of the kids!

Day 5!

I cannot believe how fast the days are going. The kids are great. Each day I work with 8 kids individually for an hour each. Some of the kids have more challenges to overcome than others but they are all incredible kids. They truly are little angels. Yesterday another volunteer and I took two of the kids out for a walk and we got them cookies and juice. They were so excited for the treat and by the end they were covered in their treats!

Life here is definitely quite different! outside the window where I sleep there are a couple cows and goats they stay up all night! As if that isn't enough they slaughter a pig every saturday right out the window as well. I am woken up pretty early every day because the volunteer house sits next door to the toddler house so at around 6 or 6:30 there are 80 toddlers running and screaming outside! I love it. Each day is new and exciting. Today is picture day so we have been getting all the kids dressed up and taking individual photos to update adoptive parents on their children! It is exhausting but they all look soo cute! Above are a few of my kids, it is really hard to get pictures to load here because the internet doesn't always work that well but I have a ton of pictures That I will show when I get home but these are just a few so you can see what I do all day!

I made it!

I made it to Haiti. I got in this morning at around 8 and haven't stopped going since! I am exhausted but I can tell this is going to be a great trip. I can't believe I am here! everyone has been very nice and extremely welcoming which has made today a lot easier. The mosquitos are bad and already I have several bites. Once I get settled in I should be able to post some pictures. Thank you again to all of you for your love and support!

One Week Away!

I leave one week from tomorrow! I am so excited that it is finally here. I want to thank everyone for their support and donations! with donations I have been able to purchase around 500 hundred diapers, 10 bottles of infant tylenol, 4 bottles of infant vitamins, and 16 crib sheets! I could not have done it without all of your help and I know they will be so excited to have all the items! Thank you again and look forward to pictures coming in just one week!!!