HI, I got back last night and wasn't sure where I was this morning when I woke up- at 4 a.m.
In the capital the last 3 days I had flashes of what we had seen, despite being busy with other things: Enmurca and Branni at the Haitian work site singing Canto del Senor; walking through Pastor Jacky's Algodon with children, some dirty and most barely clothed, happily hanging on to all of us; the kids taking a ride in the water canal in Anse-a-Pitre, Kristi's and Leah's faces as they spoke about the Gatorade and the listless baby at the clinic; the shy smiles the kids gave when Betty began to speak at VBS in Haiti; the little boy calling out Bon Sou ( spelling?) repeatedly as we walked through the Anse-a-Pitre; Lily and a girl intently playing the counting hand game. It's the children I most remember and want to return to. There are many other images that are disturbing that I want to push away. However, I hold on to them to to help me share the needs we saw.
I hope to have pics up to be accessed very soon to help us recall and give witness.
omg I had the same thing happen to me. the morning after I got back to california I woke up and had no idea where I was. for a moment I was really confused and then I realized I was in my bed back at my dorm which felt a little disappointing cause I was subconciously expecting to be going down for breakfast and praying in a circle with everybody which wasn't going to happen anymore
Hey fun friends! Just wanted to let you know that I am feeling so much better. Those of you who knew me from past trips might be able to recognize me again as I was jumping from bolder to bolder, hiking through the mountains, and playing on the beach. For those who didn't know the pre-parasitic Kristin, I just want you to know that I can be a lot of fun when I am feeling like myself. So what more motivation do you need to come back on a trip next year? I also want you to know that our friends in Haiti and Barahona need our prayers. Luckily Dean didn't hit too hard, but when your home is made of scraps of tin and wood, it doesn't take much to do a lot of damage. And one of the biggest problems right now is hunger because people have been out of work for a few days, and when you can't work, you don't eat. Pray for them!
Ethan, You are very good with words. I really enjoyed reading your blog. Most of your thoughts are similar to some of my own. I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since we've been back. It's still hard adjusting back to life in the US. I feel like I got a shock to my system. I can't spend a day without going through the images in my mind of the faces and places that I visited in Haiti and DR. I was so humbled. My first few days back were very difficult. I cried so much because I was sad and felt guilty all at the same time. I came home from the airport, and flushed the toilet. I cried when I flushed the toilet. I couldn't believe the emotions that rushed over me when I flushed the toilet. Not everyone in the world can flush their toilet. My first week at work was difficult. I watched myself staying away and keeping away from conversation. I caught myself drifting off in my thoughts. My co-workers noticed right away that I wasn't myself and they were gracious enough to give me time to process my thoughts. Whenever someone asked me how was my trip, my words were so few and limited. How could I explain what I saw and what happened on the inside of me? It was better to say less...you know what I mean? We came back to a week of ministry responsibilties and to our church conference which began on the 12th and ended on the 19th. That was a difficult week because I wasn't all there. I was expected to lead praise and worship every nite, but that was difficult. By the end of the week however, I asked God for strength to do what He has called me to do and in leading P&W, I felt like I was coming to (on the inside). Praise God. This week was a bit better. I catch myself whenever I start to whine or complain. It doesn't take much for me to stop now. Kristen, I am so glad to hear that you are doing better. Trust me, I knew there was a more adventurous side to you. I'm just sorry I didn't get a chance to see it. Either way, I am so glad to have met you. Can't wait to meet up again. You are an inspiration. I'm working on my spanish. I'm looking to take a spanish class at a nearby high school in the evening. I may even have my assistant pastor's Dominican wife offer some classes at my church in order to prepare next year's mission team to go to DR. Anyway,...would love to hear from the rest of you guys... Dios les bendiga...
trust me when I say that you're really blessed to be able to feel..
I know what you mean about describing your experience to others. sometimes I'm afraid if I open my mouth, others will assume that what I say is all there is to it, but there would be so much more and there is no way I can say everything in a 5 minute conversation, so then maybe it's better to be silent and at least leave the integrity of the matter intact
Hi, I am Amy, aunt of Ethan from Taiwan. It's so glad to see Ethan's witness and to know what happened in all of you. Thanks to share this to me, it’s really an incredible experience, you are following Jesus and working with God, I am so encouraged. Sorry my English is not so good to write too much. I love to pray for God will use all of you in your life, and God loves you!
Betty, thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us. I haven't said too much about my personal feelings with folks here, in part because I'm not quite sure what they'd think or how they'd react, and in part because trying to put words to what we saw and the feelings that were experienced reach far beyond that which words could ever express.
It took me a bit of time to get back into the swing of things here. I really appreciate all that you have shared, because it has helped me know that I'm not alone. I experienced so much guilt when I returned to NJ (flushing toilets, drinking tap water, and using high speed Internet access), even anger at how petty life is America and the ignorance that we have here.
Thank you to all who have shared experiences, feelings, and fond memories. A special thank you to Ethan's aunt, Amy, for your support and prayer.
hi, i reviewed some of the pix today, and i can't believe some of the things that i saw. i thank God again for the experience. i took time to look at the faces in the pictures and i wonder will i ever see them again? will i ever see any of those faces walking down the streets of NJ or NY? Without being overly dramatic, my heart does cry and i feel a heaviness on my heart. i know that there is a place for me in the mission field. Maybe not as a fulltime missionary, but definetely on a regularly scheduled mission trip. anyway, i pray that everyone is well. i would love to have you all visit my church. We are having a Bring a Friend Day on the 3rd Sunday of this month. i would love any of you to attend. let me know. Dios les Bendiga!!
10 comments:
Ethan, this is a great idea - both to post memories and to stay in touch with each other.
As everyone has said, I'm still trying to process all that we encountered.
I look forward to reading/posting on our blog.
HI,
I got back last night and wasn't sure where I was this morning when I woke up- at 4 a.m.
In the capital the last 3 days I had flashes of what we had seen, despite being busy with other things: Enmurca and Branni at the Haitian work site singing Canto del Senor; walking through Pastor Jacky's Algodon with children, some dirty and most barely clothed, happily hanging on to all of us; the kids taking a ride in the water canal in Anse-a-Pitre, Kristi's and Leah's faces as they spoke about the Gatorade and the listless baby at the clinic; the shy smiles the kids gave when Betty began to speak at VBS in Haiti; the little boy calling out Bon Sou ( spelling?) repeatedly as we walked through the Anse-a-Pitre; Lily and a girl intently playing the counting hand game. It's the children I most remember and want to return to. There are many other images that are disturbing that I want to push away. However, I hold on to them to to help me share the needs we saw.
I hope to have pics up to be accessed very soon to help us recall and give witness.
Love to all,
Wendy
omg I had the same thing happen to me. the morning after I got back to california I woke up and had no idea where I was. for a moment I was really confused and then I realized I was in my bed back at my dorm which felt a little disappointing cause I was subconciously expecting to be going down for breakfast and praying in a circle with everybody which wasn't going to happen anymore
Hey fun friends! Just wanted to let you know that I am feeling so much better. Those of you who knew me from past trips might be able to recognize me again as I was jumping from bolder to bolder, hiking through the mountains, and playing on the beach. For those who didn't know the pre-parasitic Kristin, I just want you to know that I can be a lot of fun when I am feeling like myself. So what more motivation do you need to come back on a trip next year? I also want you to know that our friends in Haiti and Barahona need our prayers. Luckily Dean didn't hit too hard, but when your home is made of scraps of tin and wood, it doesn't take much to do a lot of damage. And one of the biggest problems right now is hunger because people have been out of work for a few days, and when you can't work, you don't eat. Pray for them!
Kristin, I am so glad to hear that you have been feeling better and able to enjoy a vacation.
We will surely hold our friends in Haiti and the DR in prayer, and thank you for keeping us posted on how we can be praying.
Ethan,
You are very good with words. I really enjoyed reading your blog. Most of your thoughts are similar to some of my own.
I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since we've been back. It's still hard adjusting back to life in the US. I feel like I got a shock to my system. I can't spend a day without going through the images in my mind of the faces and places that I visited in Haiti and DR. I was so humbled.
My first few days back were very difficult. I cried so much because I was sad and felt guilty all at the same time. I came home from the airport, and flushed the toilet. I cried when I flushed the toilet. I couldn't believe the emotions that rushed over me when I flushed the toilet. Not everyone in the world can flush their toilet.
My first week at work was difficult. I watched myself staying away and keeping away from conversation. I caught myself drifting off in my thoughts. My co-workers noticed right away that I wasn't myself and they were gracious enough to give me time to process my thoughts. Whenever someone asked me how was my trip, my words were so few and limited. How could I explain what I saw and what happened on the inside of me? It was better to say less...you know what I mean?
We came back to a week of ministry responsibilties and to our church conference which began on the 12th and ended on the 19th. That was a difficult week because I wasn't all there. I was expected to lead praise and worship every nite, but that was difficult. By the end of the week however, I asked God for strength to do what He has called me to do and in leading P&W, I felt like I was coming to (on the inside). Praise God.
This week was a bit better. I catch myself whenever I start to whine or complain. It doesn't take much for me to stop now.
Kristen, I am so glad to hear that you are doing better. Trust me, I knew there was a more adventurous side to you. I'm just sorry I didn't get a chance to see it. Either way, I am so glad to have met you. Can't wait to meet up again. You are an inspiration.
I'm working on my spanish. I'm looking to take a spanish class at a nearby high school in the evening. I may even have my assistant pastor's Dominican wife offer some classes at my church in order to prepare next year's mission team to go to DR.
Anyway,...would love to hear from the rest of you guys...
Dios les bendiga...
Betty,
trust me when I say that you're really blessed to be able to feel..
I know what you mean about describing your experience to others. sometimes I'm afraid if I open my mouth, others will assume that what I say is all there is to it, but there would be so much more and there is no way I can say everything in a 5 minute conversation, so then maybe it's better to be silent and at least leave the integrity of the matter intact
Hi, I am Amy, aunt of Ethan from Taiwan. It's so glad to see Ethan's witness and to know what happened in all of you. Thanks to share this to me, it’s really an incredible experience, you are following Jesus and working with God, I am so encouraged. Sorry my English is not so good to write too much. I love to pray for God will use all of you in your life, and God loves you!
Betty, thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us. I haven't said too much about my personal feelings with folks here, in part because I'm not quite sure what they'd think or how they'd react, and in part because trying to put words to what we saw and the feelings that were experienced reach far beyond that which words could ever express.
It took me a bit of time to get back into the swing of things here. I really appreciate all that you have shared, because it has helped me know that I'm not alone. I experienced so much guilt when I returned to NJ (flushing toilets, drinking tap water, and using high speed Internet access), even anger at how petty life is America and the ignorance that we have here.
Thank you to all who have shared experiences, feelings, and fond memories. A special thank you to Ethan's aunt, Amy, for your support and prayer.
Back to work, I go! Have a wonderful day, All. :)
hi,
i reviewed some of the pix today, and i can't believe some of the things that i saw. i thank God again for the experience. i took time to look at the faces in the pictures and i wonder will i ever see them again? will i ever see any of those faces walking down the streets of NJ or NY? Without being overly dramatic, my heart does cry and i feel a heaviness on my heart. i know that there is a place for me in the mission field. Maybe not as a fulltime missionary, but definetely on a regularly scheduled mission trip.
anyway, i pray that everyone is well. i would love to have you all visit my church. We are having a Bring a Friend Day on the 3rd Sunday of this month. i would love any of you to attend. let me know. Dios les Bendiga!!
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