I hear rain and singing...

As I'm writing there is a dramatic thunderstorm going on outside, bringing in cool air that feels heavenly. Haiti is HOT and STICKY! I also hear singing, as the older children who live at GLA are trying to keep themselves occupied and the little ones unafraid by singing as loud as possible :) These people sing all the time - while they wash their clothes in tubs, while they beat rugs on the balcony, while they prepare dinner. It's awesome.
Yesterday (Saturday) was a day off and we took a trip to the beach. On the way there we saw entire cities made from tents, a truck overturned in a ditch, goats, pigs, donkeys, chickens, dogs, piles of burning trash, and SO MANY PEOPLE.  The beach was a side of Haiti I've never seen on tv-absolutely beautiful. Indescribable blue water, palm trees with coconuts hanging from them, and gorgeous views. It was a little piece of heaven in such a hurting country and I felt so fortunate to have seen that part of Haiti as well.
Today is Sunday so we had church - I wasn't feeling well so I stayed in and slept most of the day (I think the Haiti sun got to me a little bit - I was a little dehydrated but I am feeling a little better tonight, thank God). We watched a movie and I made dinner tonight and now, as I said, I am listening to singing and raindrops and feeling very grateful for the cool air I feel coming in the door. Hopefully I will feel totally better tomorrow and ready to hold some babies again!
Emily

My first post in Haiti

I arrived this morning at 9:20. Was more nervous this morning than I have been since...don't know when. Maybe when I moved to England, sight unseen?! More so, I think.

The airport in Port Au Prince is unlike any I've seen - small and packed with people and HOT (we were inside a metal storage type building with no a/c for immigration, customs, and baggage claim.) Then the part I was the most nervous about - leaving the airport and finding my driver. I started to walk outside and was asked by one person after another if they could give me a ride. I repeated "non merci" about fifty times I think! One particularly persistent guy followed me all the way until I finally saw my person who was to take me to my ride. Anyway... the driver was nice but didn't really speak english at all - we had very limited conversation but I was too distracted by the scenery. I've never in my life seen what I've seen today. I am thankful to God not only for keeping me safe as I asked Him but for the many, many blessings I continue to be showered with EVERY DAY. I wish I had seen Haiti before the earthquake - some of what I've seen I imagine is a result of that (trash everywhere, shacks, tent cities, roads with giant holes in the middle). I do have to also say how BEAUTIFUL it is here. Huge cliffs, palm trees, flowers, deep valleys, smoke-ringed mountains. It's a beautiful place.

I got to play with several children today, including a 16 month old who is the size of a 7 month old and is working on standing and babbling. I was told he weighed 5 pounds when he was brought in at 1 year of age. He was a sweet boy and I gave him some extra cuddling time this afternoon! I also played with a chunky sweet girl who is working on sitting by herself and also held a TINY baby who is just a few months old. The children are precious and I am looking forward to knowing them better and being able to tell them apart better too!

I'm grateful the internet was working tonight (it hasn't worked all day!) so that I could post. Not sure how often I'll be able to, so don't worry if I don't post or email any of you back. I'll have lots of pictures and stories to share when I return home, I'm sure.

Love, Emily

Getting Ready...

Just a quick update: I've collected $423 in total for my trip! This was in the form of yard sale money, donations, and change I collected in a jar at school. Not bad!
My tickets have been purchased, hotel is reserved for my layover in Miami, shots have been given, Malaria pills have been started, and antibiotics have been picked up (just in case). I have a few things to pick up before I go (batteries, Pepto, etc.) but I am almost ready to go! I will going to Pennsylvania first to drop off Abby the dog and flying out of a teeny airport in Elmira, NY. I am very nervous and very excited! I am pretty sure I will be taking my laptop with me as the orphanage is one of the few places in Haiti with wireless internet! They can't guarantee it will always be working, but I may take my computer just in case. Plus it would be nice to have in the airports and at the hotel as well.
Thanks again to all of you for donations, table borrowing, yard sale clean up, lawn mowing, animal sitting, and anything else I've forgotten here!
Love, Emily