Where He leads...: 2014

(This is a post I wrote for FHM's blog.) Cooking up meat in Haiti is not as simple as removing it from its package and throwing it on the grill or in the oven. Because much of the meat is purchased in the outdoor market, there are some extra steps for "cleaning" it.

Haitian cooks take a lot of time when preparing chicken to remove all the skin and any extra fat. They will then scrub each piece with limes and set them aside. After the thorough rub down, they will pour boiling water over the chicken and let it sit for about a minute. After they drain and rinse the chicken, they'll add more lime juice and seasoning and then begin the cooking process.

In countries like Haiti where most families don't have refrigerators and the meat is not always kept cold between the farmer and the market, these are important extra steps to protect against bacteria. According to many Haitian cooks, meat isn't properly cooked without these steps. When I managed a guesthouse in Croix des Bouquets, our cook looked on with horror as I cooked up some chicken for a casserole. I had purchased imported chicken at a grocery store, took it out of the package, cut it up, and tossed it directly in the skillet. It took a while (especially in my broken Creole back then) to explain to her that this was ok and the chicken would be edible and wouldn't make us sick. I can't remember if she ate any of the casserole...

I'm so thankful not only for the delicious meals that Yvette cooks, but the care that she takes to prepare each one. Whether she is serving up a salad, meat, or anything in between, we can all enjoy her meals in peace knowing that they are safe to eat. And did I mention delicious?!

Haiti has many needs.

Better infrastructure. A unified government. Education for all. Food security for impoverished families. More and better jobs. The list goes on...

These needs are evident in the statistics we read about Haiti:

78% of Haitians are poor and live on less than $2 a day.
54% of Haitians live in extreme poverty (less than $1 a day)
Half of children under the age of 5 are malnourished.
Over 7% of children die at birth.
Over two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs.
Half of children under 5 are malnourished.
Over 7% of children die at birth.
50% of primary school age children are not enrolled in school.
One-third of girls over six never go to school.
37.9% of the population is unable to read or write

I'm grateful to serve with an organization like Family Health Ministries who is helping to change these statistics. The medical services and educational opportunities we provide certainly are making a difference in the lives of the children and families we serve. 2015 will be another exciting year for us as we break ground on the Family Health Center in Leogane and finish construction on the birthing center in the mountains of Fondwa. Even more Haitians will have access to life-saving surgeries and have a safe place to deliver their babies.

Even with all of these great projects, I'm convinced that one of Haiti's biggest needs is for prayer. Prayer that our big and sovereign God will protect this fragile nation and appoint leaders who will have the wisdom and vision to make positive and sustainable changes to improve Haiti now and for years to come. Prayer for Haiti's vulnerable children and families who are struggling to hold onto hope that things will get better. Prayers that Haiti can finally begin to break free from the shackles of her past and into a future that is bright with opportunity and progress and peace.

Here's a video and prayer that I love from Operation World. Will you join me in praying this for Haiti??

Winding down

As we approach the end of the year, things are slowing down here at the guesthouse. I'll only have a handful of guests between now and December 17th when I fly home for a two week break. This year has flown by but I have really enjoyed my time with Family Health Ministries. We've hosted around 300 guests this year. No wonder I'm feeling tired! :) Even with all the guests I've been able to find time to visit with the kids at Hope For Life Children's Home, spend time with other missionaries here, and travel around Haiti a bit. It's been a unique year of reflecting on what I've been involved with in Haiti up to now and how God is shaping me for the future.

Plans for 2015

While most of next year is still up in the air, I do know one piece of the puzzle. I will finish up my position as In-Country Coordinator for FHM by the end of February. This was a decision I made after much prayer and consideration. My contract with FHM ends at the end of 2014 but I have offered to come back after Christmas and help them interview, hire, and train a new person for this position. We hope to hire someone by February 1st and I will overlap with him or her for the month of February. After that handover my plan is to head back to Tennessee for a few months. My time home for Christmas will be sweet but very short. I'm looking forward to a longer time at home next Spring to reconnect with family and friends and enjoy a time of refreshment. So if I don't see you in December, I hope we can get together then!

Some specific plans while home next Spring:

A one week sabbatical in a quiet cabin in the woods. During this time I will unplug from the world and draw near to the Lord in prayer and study of His Word. I'll also use the week to work through some re-entry material I have for missionaries coming back from the field.
I plan to attend the Christian Alliance for Orphans' Summit in Nashville April 30 - May 1. I'm looking forward to learning from organizations and individuals who are helping orphans and vulnerable children around the world with wise and gospel-centered approaches.
I will be praying through ministry opportunities that I already know about and any new ones that I may find and trust that in God's timing, He will lead me to whatever is next.

It's been the best year hanging out with all the kiddos at Hope For Life! I'm so thankful for the progress we've been able to see there this year... new mattresses, more food, a new well, a finished church floor, painted classrooms, new textbooks, a mama cow, and more! One of their biggest needs right now is for more monthly sponsors. For more information on how you can help click here.

Click here to read the rest of my update...

(This is a post I wrote for FHM's blog.) Many Haitian dishes are not complete without "pikliz". I'm a Southern gal and cole slaw is a common side dish where I'm from. Well, pikliz looks similar to cole slaw but less creamy and a lot more spicy! Haitians use it as a relish to spice up their dish, taking as much as they want to add some flavor and zing to their rice, meat, and veggies. It's commonly eaten with fried pork and fried plantains—one of my favorite dishes! I love eating it on top of fried plantains, fried breadfruit, fried sweet potatoes, fried akra... you get the drift. :)

Here's the basic recipe, though you can find many variations online.

1/2 medium head of green cabbage
2 large carrots
1 oz shallots
1/4 cup onions
3 thinly sliced Habanero or Scotch bonnet peppers
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 cup white vinegar
Salt and freshly ground pepper

*Some common additions: a pinch of ground cloves, shredded turnip, thinly green and red peppers

Shred the vegetables into very thin slices about 2 to 3 inches long. Mix them together and sprinkle the salt and pepper over them. Remove the seeds from the Habanero peppers, slice them into thin circle slices, and place them into the freshly squeezed lime juice. (Be careful handling the hot peppers!) Mix everything together and enjoy!

In Haiti this dish is often made and served fresh. But many recipes recommend that you pickle it for at least 4 hours. Simpy pack all the vegetables into a glass jar, alternating layers of vegetables and a few slices of pepper and lime juice. Pour the white vinegar over everything to cover the vegetables. Cover the jar and let it pickle for at least 4 hours. Pikliz is at its peace after 1 or 2 days of pickling. Refrigerate it if kept more than one day.

As I mentioned, the internet offers several variations to this popular Haitian side dish. You can't really mess up this recipe. Use whatever amount of hot peppers you want. Some people like onions in their pikliz, some don't. Make it your own! And enjoy!!

For a good fried plantain recipe, click here.

My sister successfully made some pikliz for a dinner with her book club. They were reading Haitian author Edwidge Danticat's Claire of the Sea Light.

Yvette's pikliz (she makes the best!) served on top of fried plantains. Yum!

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” Philippians 2:5

I woke up realizing I needed a bit of an attitude adjustment today. I was already complaining about early morning calls and visitors (no calls and visitors before 7am please and thank you!), the staff not doing things exactly as I would (you mean people don't read minds?), and just feeling ready for my Christmas break coming in 26 days, 13 hours, and 19 minutes (not that I'm counting...)

Fact #1: This missionary gets tired.
Fact #2: Sometimes this missionary isn't her best for herself or others.

Truth to live by... DAILY: My attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

I found this devotion and spent some time asking God to search my heart for the source behind my negativity this morning. Sometimes I'm tired, stretched too thin, feeling burned out. These are things I need to ask God to help me deal with. They are not an excuse for a poor attitude. I need to ask Him to replace my pride with humility, my complaining with gratitude, my selfishness with generosity, my bitterness with kindness...

And of course I'll share the devotion with you in case your Friday morning is feeling like a Monday morning! Choose joy, kindness, and gratitude today. Your attitude will thank you for it. And so will everyone else around you! Breathe deep. It's a new day.

"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23)

To read the devotion, click here: www.proverbs31.org/devotions/devo/attitude-adjustment

[This is the third post in a series I wrote for FHM's blog of my favorite places in Haiti. My two previous posts are about Kokoye Beach and Rustik.]

Jacmel is about 30 miles from Leogane. The two towns are separated by a steep and curvy mountain road that is not for the faint of heart—or stomach. You are, however, rewarded with breathtaking mountain views all along the way.

In the mid-1800s, Jacmel was an important port town, used by many traders between the Caribbean and Europe. Many of the buildings in downtown Jacmel are over 100 years old and were built with a unique Creole style architecture similar to styles I've seen in the French Quarter, New Orleans. And similar to New Orleans, Jacmel gets its influx of tourists around Mardi Gras time, called Kanaval. Jacmel is known for its colorful celebrations and parades, complete with incredible papier-mâché masks and decorations. Just in the past year, Jacmel has invested in some beautiful improvements including a tourist-friendly waterfront promenade showcasing the tile work of local artists. And of course there are plenty of shops throughout the downtown area selling all of the local crafts.

If you've traveled to Haiti with FHM, there's a good chance you've at least made a stop in Jacmel. And if you haven't visited yet, be sure to take a day to go explore this artists' town. You'll be glad you did!

The view from Cap Lamandou Hotel. If you're on a budget, don't stay there... just go for a nice meal. They have tasty cheeseburgers of all things!

Coterelle Breeze is a peaceful and very affordable place to stay. It's a little further outside of Jacmel but well worth the extra travel time.

Just two miles from Coterelle Breeze is Ti Mouillage Beach. They have bungalows near the water and also let you spend the day there if you order from their kitchen.

A fresh catch from the Ti Mouillage kitchen. DE-LICIOUS!

Hotel Cyvadier is a bit pricier when it comes to an overnight stay, but the view of the cove is spectacular and their food is delicious and very affordable. We often go just for a meal.

Surf Haiti is a neat organization in Haiti that offers some great programs for the local kids and youth. You can also stay there overnight and/or rent surfboards for the day.

And when you visit Jacmel, of course take time to go visit Bassin Bleu!

Jacmel Fun Fact:
Jacmel was the first town in the Caribbean to have telephones and potable water.

If you've ever been to Haiti you've certainly noticed the colorful booths on the side of the road. These stalls are called borlettes and they are where Haitians test their luck with the lottery. I've heard figures as high as 35,000+ borlettes throughout the country. You'll find them in nearly every village.

To read an in-depth report by The Fletcher School at Tufts University on the subject of finance and the Haitian lottery click here. The report shares that Haitians generally play the lottery for one of four reasons: to survive, to pass the time, to win, and to decipher. Much like what little I know about gambling in the United States, there are those who play out of desperation—hoping for a payoff, those who play for kicks and the social fun of it, and those who really play to win—and perhaps win enough to make it seem worth it. But the interesting story behind the Haitian lottery is the "strategy" for winning that many Haitians employ... dream interpretation.

The lottery ticket has sets of two-digit numbers. You pick your numbers and wait for the winning combination to be announced. These numbers correlate with lottery drawings in the U.S. Many people who bet at the borlettes believe that your dreams can help you pick winning numbers. They even sell a book called the "tchala" that turns your dreams into numbers. If you dream about a certain object, you can look it up in the book and it will tell you the correlating numbers to choose.For example, if you dream about a pineapple you should pick the numbers 73-19-11. If you dream about a pigeon your numbers should include 24 and 15. If there's a hospital in your dream you should bet on the combination 60-42-32. And so on...

I asked our cook Yvette about the borlettes. "I'm not into that sort of thing," she says. "There's too much chance involved. If I have 1,000 goudes, I don't want to take the chance I'll lose it in a game. I'd rather go spend it on something I actually need." Then she asked if I was going to go play since I was inquiring about it. I tell her no, map kenbe kòb nan pòch mwen (I'll keep my money in my pocket). She laughs and agrees that's the best idea.

[This is a second in a series of posts on FHM's blog about my favorite places in Haiti. You can read the first one about Kokoye Beach here.]

If you have ever been to Haiti you have experienced some or all of the following: extreme heat, anpil soley (lots of sunshine!), the exhaust and dust and chaos of the capitol city traffic, and the endless grey monotone of cinder block and concrete edifices. But just 20 miles from the Port au Prince airport is a sleepy town called St. Michael of Furcy and a gorgeous mountain ringed getaway called the Rustik. Here the grey gives way to endless greens and the bleating car horns and screeching tires are replaced by rooster crows and the soft peals of a church bell. The villagers cook on open wood fires instead of charcoal and the hint of evergreen trees (yes evergreens in Haiti!) and wild mountain mint is everywhere. Those same evergreens and the lush surrounding mountains cast lazy shadows across the entire town and the temperature is a cool 75 days and sometimes in the 50s at night. When the August temps pass the century mark in Port au Prince, St. Michael at Furcy feels, looks and smells a little bit magical.

The Rustik "hotel" is aptly named, the structure is comprised completely of recycled materials. Shipping pallets are the deck railings, industrial wire spool are tables and wall and ceilings while empty wine and liquor bottle windows give each sparse room a stain-glassed glow. Car tires become hanging planters and power transformers wood stoves. The building is nestled on a hillside and large pine trees grow right up through the deck. The view is of a pristine mountain range that glows in the mornings and evenings with every nuance of pink and orange any artist has ever imagined.

Daytime at the Rustik means endless hiking on trails to mountain brooks with miniature waterfalls and icy pools. The air is so clean, so cool, so fresh that you drink it down in great gulps. There is food from the dirt road vendors, akra (fried toro root), marinad (spicy fried bread), smoked chicken, and fire roasted goat. The Rustik has a pretty basic Haitian menu, including banan peze (fried plantains) with extra spicy pikliz, a great akra and mornings, a delicious complimentary omelet for breakfast. Just a half a mile up the road is the area's other restaurant, but besides being pricey, The Lodge offers a first world cuisine coupled with a building and view that transports you to the Rockies and any Colorado ski town. Here you can order a salad with aged Gouda and tree-ripened apples, dine on one of several heavy creamed Crepes, or even get a hand-cut steak flown in from the States. The portions are big which slightly offsets the price, but figure on 15-20 bucks a person and maybe twice that for the steak eaters in your group.

Dinner at The Lodge

The rooms at the Rustik are very bare. The walls are pallet boards and wire spools and whatever other salvaged wood needed to almost fill the gaps. Privacy, and at times warmth, are not luxuries the Rustik affords, and often water is iffy, if not always freezing (although staff is quick to try and pump water to the holding tanks or bring you a bucket if the generator won't start). But at $10-30 a night per person for a room, breakfast included, the bargain is in the experience and the respite from the harsher elements of Haiti. For $100 the more adventurous among you can share the tree house room. It is maybe 50 feet off the ground with no walls and only burlap coffee sacks hanging as semi-private drapes.

If you have a Haiti bucket list, Rustik, or at least a day trip to St. Michael of Furcy is a must. The endless mountainside gardens, the smell of woodsmoke on cool damp air, and the rich, warm hearts of the mountain people will stay with you forever.

**For the family travelers the Rustik is also a bar and there is very loud reggae, hip hop and kompa playing uncensored late into the night.

[This is a post I wrote for FHM's blog.] I plan to do a series of posts throughout the next couple of months on some of my favorite places in Haiti. This first one always comes to mind...

Kokoye Beach ("kokoye" means coconut in Creole) is about a 1.5 hour drive from the guesthouse. To get there you go west toward Petit Goave. After driving through Petit Goave, you go another ten minutes or so and turn right onto a gravel road. Then it's around 20 minutes on that road to where you park your vehicle and commence the 45 minute(ish) hike down to the water. The trail is steep and rocky and slippery, so wear good shoes!

You'll get a sneak peek of the crystal blue water less than 15 minutes into your trek down the mountain. The beautiful view definitely motivates you to keep going!

And of course the view once you reach the beach is worth the hike down the slippery slope!

You are charged a nominal fee of $5 to spend one day at the beach. You can also camp on the beach overnight. I haven't done that yet. And if the hike seems too daunting (it takes a bit longer for most people to hike back up!) you can have a boat ferry you from Petit Goave to Kokoye for a pretty penny—though perhaps not a bad deal if you have a large group.

Like any beach in Haiti, there are people ready to cook you a fresh meal. The typical choices of lobster, fish, and lambi (conch) are offered with fried plantains and piklis accompanying. It's best to call ahead if you have a big group so the vendors can be stocked with plenty of cold drinks... especially bottled water. A meal generally runs $10-15.

Of course you'll be welcomed by the locals, especially the kids. They are typically happy for you to take their photo if you let them see it after you take it. And they'd be especially excited if you printed it out to give to them on your next trip!

Don't forget to take your mask and snorkel! There's a ton of coral to explore and colorful fish to admire. There's even a cave that you can swim into if you're not too claustrophobic!

I don't think it takes much convincing to explain why Kokoye Beach is one of my favorite places in Haiti! It's actually the most gorgeous beach I've ever been to in all my travels! It's an adventure of a lifetime... well worth the effort! Add an extra day to your trip next time you're in Haiti and make a point to visit this tropical paradise!

(This blog post was originally posted on FHM's blog.)

As the In-Country Coordinator for FHM, I'm sure you can imagine that I get lots of questions about living and working in Haiti. Most are related to Haitian culture, language, and development projects, but some are more personal. Several of our guests have wanted to know what I do when I have a break from my guesthouse duties. So... what do I do for fun? Well, I'm so glad you asked!

Going to the beach is definitely one of my most favorite ways to relax. The guesthouse is about two miles from the shoreline. The closest nicest beach is about 45 minutes away in Grand Goave. But there are options not as far away if you just want a pretty view and don't care that the water isn't as clear.

I often pair my beach day with one of these bad boys! For around $12 you can get lobster served with fried plantains and piklis, a spicy Haitian slaw. Lobster doesn't get any fresher than this!

For a more luxurious day of relaxation, I'll make the trip to Bassin Bleu, a waterfall near Jacmel. It takes a couple hours to get there from Leogane, but it's well worth the trip! To get to the waterfall you have to hike about 20 minutes and then use a rope to climb down a steep rocky ledge. If there's time after visiting the waterfall, I enjoy walking around Jacmel and even eating dinner there before heading back to the guesthouse.

I love to go visit my special friends at a nearby children's home. Hope For Life Children's Home is on the border of Leogane and Gressier and is home to 20+ of the sweetest kids you'll ever meet! Sometimes the guests will join me if they get done early in the afternoon. Jesula (above) is sporting one of the Heart to Heart volunteer's glasses. :)

There are a variety of activities happening at the children's home on any given day. Sometimes I'll just go sit with them doing nothing in particular. Some days we're busy making earrings that I sell at the guesthouse. Other days we'll have English lessons, game time, fun with crafts, or time playing on the Kindle Fire... which they especially love!

I love living in Leogane. It's peaceful, it's near the beach and the mountains. And it's certainly less hectic than Port au Prince. There are a couple restaurants here and I do enjoy them, but you can't get much here other than Haitian food (which thankfully I do love!). The closest grocery store is at least 45 minutes away. So sometimes I'll take a full or half day and go to Petionville, a town just south of Port au Prince. They have dozens of incredible restaurants and several huge grocery stores. You can also splurge and spend the day at Karibe Hotel where for $30 you can relax by the pool and order off the menu until that $30 is spent.

The delicious pizza at Muncheez is just one of the many edible indulgences I enjoy in Petionville.

If you keep your ears open, you'll learn of different events happening around the area. A friend of mine is the director of an organization that empowers young people through soccer and other activities. This summer they hosted a soccer tournament and invited other youth leagues in Haiti to play. A few of us enjoyed an afternoon watching the games and showing support for the teams.

I recently started walking my dog Atau in the sugarcane field beside the house. We've both been enjoying these outings! Even some of the guests have had fun taking her on a walk.

I love to get out and spend time in the community! Occasionally I'll stop by and visit our guests when they're out working. The photo above is from when my church was here with a team. It was great tagging along with them to the beach and mountain villages where they were serving for the week.

There are many families that I've gotten close to the past 2.5 years living in Haiti. I try to visit them whenever I get a chance. Some of them I met while living in other cities in Haiti. The family above I met through a team that stayed here at the guesthouse earlier this year.

This is my dear friend Mersina I met over two years ago. She lives by the beach about 20 minutes from the guesthouse. I always enjoy visiting her when I get the chance. The team from my church hosted a VBS day in her yard in July.

There are always so many things going on in the lives of my Haitian friends. Several of my friends have young babies so I've enjoyed getting lots of sweet baby time! This photo was taken earlier this month of my friend Ellen and her not even half day old baby. When I heard she had her baby of course I immediately had to go visit! Ellen had little Annabelle on the floor of her one room house where I was standing to take this photo.

I love spending time in the mountains of Haiti! The fresh air and incredible views are so peaceful and relaxing! I enjoy every chance I get to visit these mountain villages whether by car, motorcycle (as this day was), or on foot!

Visiting with my buddy Isaak in the rural mountain community of Chevrine.

And then finally, I enjoy saying "orevwa" to Haiti altogether sometimes and hopping over the border to the Dominican Republic. For $75 round-trip plus some customs fees you can take a 7-8 hour bus ride to Santo Domingo. I enjoy spending a few days there enjoying the sights and more varied food options—ok, I'll be honest... the American food options! (There are many American chain restaurants there.)

So next time you're in Haiti, maybe we can enjoy some of these adventures together! I certainly try to make the most of living in the Caribbean and spending time with all of the special people I've met throughout my time here!

About Me

Blog Archive

Popular Posts

Hope For Life Children's Home

Some Great Links