It occurs to me as I look back over my posts that sometimes my editing is not perfect. Hopefully my message is still getting through. If it's terribly glaring let me know and I'll edit it out. Otherwise it's my artistic interpretation.
Since Monday, we've been forced to take 4 of our beloved staff members to the airport so they could go home. The first to go was Ella. She's taken care of everyone when they've been sick so now it's a rule that you're not allowed to get hurt or sick since shes not here. She is also a professional baby catcher. In a couple weeks shes going to see if she can join the Doctors Without Borders team and catch babies for them. Then on Thursday, Gracie, Lucy, and William headed home. Gracie and Lucy helped Nadege out with the school, guesthouse, and whatever else seemed to get thrown in day to day. They also brought the count of Georgia people up to 5 which means I can probably get around Macon with my eyes closed now. William made sure the water systems were clean and built roofs. He is a master at getting a roof up in record time. Staff meetings just won't be the same without 12 people crammed in Stephens room.
Other than that Stephen has started construction out at Ibo Beach this week with his teams which means leaving at 530 every morning and driving for at least an hour to get there. This has given me the opportunity to meet some of our suppliers and practice my creole a little more. When I show up they ask where is Stephen and some have called me "Little Stephen." Jean Wadson asked me yesterday whether I was reading something for my creole because he thought I was getting very good very quickly. Which made me wonder about who on earth I'll use this skill with once I'm back in the states.
Ah well. Bill Fudge arrives tomorrow afternoon for a month. Hopefully we'll be able to knock out this wall at Repatriate in that amount of time.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Cold Night or the power is out
Last night just as I was about to crawl into bed the compound ran out of power. It was a good excuse to go up and sleep on the staff roof. It was a beautiful night. The moon is almost full and brilliantly lit up everything since there was little cloud cover. Which also meant that when I woke up I was shivering. Never thought that would happen in Haiti.
I ended up having a chance to think about life after Haiti yesterday because I needed to register for the Columbus Half-marathon. In some ways I can't imagine being anywhere else in the world than right here. The possibilities for the future are great. And yet I had a conversation with Ronique one of logistics managers, and he told me about how he is frustrated with the conception that people have of how Haitians are. How Haitians view themselves. He is frustrated that his people are still living in tents 6 months after the earthquake. He said the roads didn't used to be as bad as they are now. I met a missionary from the central valley who said what he appreciates about the Haitian government is that though they may be corrupt and always and forever instituting their own family in every ministry they say that that's what they are going to do. A member of a team essentially asked me where all the money was going i.e. is the government doing what it should be doing? My response was that most of the money was eaten up by the major NGOs who came to help. And then he said something about the history of corruption here. And I tempered my response but it is so frustrating sometimes how people look at countries and think they are (literally) islands unto themselves. They act as though there has never been any influence by other governments and NGOs into how things have happened here in Haiti. Everything is connected. Everything. People are not just corrupt. They learn it from somewhere.
Please just look beyond the surface. Look for the deeper issues. Ask if what you're doing is hurting someone else. Indirectly. Far down the line. In some country you've never heard of. And then decide if that's something you can live with. Be honest. My one desire is for the people who come through here week in and week out to look beyond and then do something differently when they return. Your life should change. Don't settle for a gospel of forgiven sins and a get-out-of-Hell free card. Your King asks so much more of you.
"When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." -God [Emphasis added]
"No you're not a crazy happy" - Jean Wadson
I ended up having a chance to think about life after Haiti yesterday because I needed to register for the Columbus Half-marathon. In some ways I can't imagine being anywhere else in the world than right here. The possibilities for the future are great. And yet I had a conversation with Ronique one of logistics managers, and he told me about how he is frustrated with the conception that people have of how Haitians are. How Haitians view themselves. He is frustrated that his people are still living in tents 6 months after the earthquake. He said the roads didn't used to be as bad as they are now. I met a missionary from the central valley who said what he appreciates about the Haitian government is that though they may be corrupt and always and forever instituting their own family in every ministry they say that that's what they are going to do. A member of a team essentially asked me where all the money was going i.e. is the government doing what it should be doing? My response was that most of the money was eaten up by the major NGOs who came to help. And then he said something about the history of corruption here. And I tempered my response but it is so frustrating sometimes how people look at countries and think they are (literally) islands unto themselves. They act as though there has never been any influence by other governments and NGOs into how things have happened here in Haiti. Everything is connected. Everything. People are not just corrupt. They learn it from somewhere.
Please just look beyond the surface. Look for the deeper issues. Ask if what you're doing is hurting someone else. Indirectly. Far down the line. In some country you've never heard of. And then decide if that's something you can live with. Be honest. My one desire is for the people who come through here week in and week out to look beyond and then do something differently when they return. Your life should change. Don't settle for a gospel of forgiven sins and a get-out-of-Hell free card. Your King asks so much more of you.
"When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." -God [Emphasis added]
"No you're not a crazy happy" - Jean Wadson
Thursday, July 22, 2010
A herd of horses or how to stop a runaway train...
It's amazing how too much rest can make you tired. The staff went up into the mountains at Furcy. On the way there 6 people piled into the cab of Pastor Luc's truck and the other 5 piled in the truck bed on top of a cooler and air mattress. It was a sight to behold for all. At one point going up the mountain we experienced some technical malfunctions and all had to get out and walk up the mountain to meet the truck. The first impression of the Lodge was a beautiful garden with loggish cabins everywhere. But it was very weird to not have something to do. There was nobody to pick up from the airport, no roofs to finish, no wall to dig. But it was a great time to relax and recover from the stress.
The first night we just hung out and got to play some Mafia/Spades with a group from Family Health Ministries. The next morning breakfast was at 6am with omelets and then following we did yoga. This was the easy part of the morning. After that a good portion of us headed outside the gate into the mountain country. It was a valley unlike any other I have seen. The drop from the heights to the valley must have been at least 1000 feet. It looked like it had been carved out of the earth, like a giant had reached down and gashed it. As we descended further on foot the path seemed to disappear in front of us. Then a Haitian man appeared out of nowhere and tried to lead us down the mountain. His feet were very wide with no arch and appeared that he might not have worn shoes his entire life but had lived there since birth. BMB and Jean talked to the children and found the path we needed to walk. We eventually reached the bottom at which point the old man said something to the effect of "I'm bringing them to you" and "start the fire." We have not yet been roasted so we're pretty confident we're in the clear.
We walked upstream to the water fall which was incredible. The water was cool and the depth was waist deep. An excellent way to relax. We began to head back at which point it started pouring down rain. They say that it is always raining in the mountains. It was coming down hard and cold. We ended up on a goat path and made good progress back to the ridge we started from and the lodge. We were soaked to the bone by the time we returned. An excellent afternoon activity.
The farmers on the mountains placed their irrigation in such a way that all the water diverted. Every 10 feet down the mount or so there was a little channel that redirected water to run along them allowing the land beneath the channel to be irrigated. It was absolutely genius.
We had an awesome dinner that night for Jean Wadson's 23rd birthday and enjoyed sitting around a fire telling riddles and stories while the rain pounded down outside. It was a lovely evening. The next day we had some breakfast and then packed the truck and headed home. It took about half as long to get home going downhill so we stopped at the baptist mission for lunch. They have some really awesome sandwiches there. We kinda drove past the National Cathedral and the White House so I got a brief glimpse of what happened to them.
It was a wonderful break from the grind. Now it's time to try to get everything in order before Sunday when our next group shows up. Tying up all the lose ends on a few different projects.
The first night we just hung out and got to play some Mafia/Spades with a group from Family Health Ministries. The next morning breakfast was at 6am with omelets and then following we did yoga. This was the easy part of the morning. After that a good portion of us headed outside the gate into the mountain country. It was a valley unlike any other I have seen. The drop from the heights to the valley must have been at least 1000 feet. It looked like it had been carved out of the earth, like a giant had reached down and gashed it. As we descended further on foot the path seemed to disappear in front of us. Then a Haitian man appeared out of nowhere and tried to lead us down the mountain. His feet were very wide with no arch and appeared that he might not have worn shoes his entire life but had lived there since birth. BMB and Jean talked to the children and found the path we needed to walk. We eventually reached the bottom at which point the old man said something to the effect of "I'm bringing them to you" and "start the fire." We have not yet been roasted so we're pretty confident we're in the clear.
We walked upstream to the water fall which was incredible. The water was cool and the depth was waist deep. An excellent way to relax. We began to head back at which point it started pouring down rain. They say that it is always raining in the mountains. It was coming down hard and cold. We ended up on a goat path and made good progress back to the ridge we started from and the lodge. We were soaked to the bone by the time we returned. An excellent afternoon activity.
The farmers on the mountains placed their irrigation in such a way that all the water diverted. Every 10 feet down the mount or so there was a little channel that redirected water to run along them allowing the land beneath the channel to be irrigated. It was absolutely genius.
We had an awesome dinner that night for Jean Wadson's 23rd birthday and enjoyed sitting around a fire telling riddles and stories while the rain pounded down outside. It was a lovely evening. The next day we had some breakfast and then packed the truck and headed home. It took about half as long to get home going downhill so we stopped at the baptist mission for lunch. They have some really awesome sandwiches there. We kinda drove past the National Cathedral and the White House so I got a brief glimpse of what happened to them.
It was a wonderful break from the grind. Now it's time to try to get everything in order before Sunday when our next group shows up. Tying up all the lose ends on a few different projects.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
There are no strangers here...only friends who have not met
"Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD ? "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." -God
Today we sent off the last two groups from this past week. Lucy and I took the first group and then I headed off to Cite Soleil where the other group was. Pastor Leon extended an invitation to the pastor with the group to preach that morning. He brought a message telling the church about how deeply he had been impacted by their faith in light of such obstacles. He asked them to prayer for the US because our faith is weak. End Part 1.
Part 2. I'm reading "When Helping Hurts" at the suggestion of Aaron Molesky, my youth minister for a year and now Missions Director for Christ In Youth (CIY). This man is heavily responsible for me being here today. He told the youth group that if we wanted to find Jesus, we should look where there are hungry hurting people. The reality is we are all hungry and hurting. Some of us however have physical hunger. Others of us associate our benefits with our faith, that because we are blessed material our faith is directly proportional. The important thing to recognize is that we are all created by God, which means we have experienced creation, fall, redemption, and someday we will experience restoration. Our physical materialism does not relate to our faith and we must be conscious of this.
It was incredible to me how two seemingly unrelated events in one day would be connected in theme of need for restoration of all things to Christ through Christ.
Jean Wadson, Nadege, Gracie, and I took the group to the airport and then when we went to get some school supplies from Cite Soleil I found a Sapibon man outside the wall. Sapibon are thicker versions of the frozen popsicles we have in the States. I went to get some from him. It was the first I had in 2 weeks since we'd stopped work on the wall at Repatriate. It was excellent. Later in the afternoon, most of the staff took Woodley, the gatekeepers nephew, with us to Epidore for an adventure. Woodley rarely gets to leave the compound so the staff tries to take him with us whenever we get the chance for him to see the outside world.
Speaking of the outside world, I realized today how much I am in contact with nature here. Rarely am I closed off from the world around me because of structures. The churches all are open air. I think I might miss being in such close contact with the earth once I go back. But no mind. Tomorrow the staff leaves for a retreat until Wednesday.
Today we sent off the last two groups from this past week. Lucy and I took the first group and then I headed off to Cite Soleil where the other group was. Pastor Leon extended an invitation to the pastor with the group to preach that morning. He brought a message telling the church about how deeply he had been impacted by their faith in light of such obstacles. He asked them to prayer for the US because our faith is weak. End Part 1.
Part 2. I'm reading "When Helping Hurts" at the suggestion of Aaron Molesky, my youth minister for a year and now Missions Director for Christ In Youth (CIY). This man is heavily responsible for me being here today. He told the youth group that if we wanted to find Jesus, we should look where there are hungry hurting people. The reality is we are all hungry and hurting. Some of us however have physical hunger. Others of us associate our benefits with our faith, that because we are blessed material our faith is directly proportional. The important thing to recognize is that we are all created by God, which means we have experienced creation, fall, redemption, and someday we will experience restoration. Our physical materialism does not relate to our faith and we must be conscious of this.
It was incredible to me how two seemingly unrelated events in one day would be connected in theme of need for restoration of all things to Christ through Christ.
Jean Wadson, Nadege, Gracie, and I took the group to the airport and then when we went to get some school supplies from Cite Soleil I found a Sapibon man outside the wall. Sapibon are thicker versions of the frozen popsicles we have in the States. I went to get some from him. It was the first I had in 2 weeks since we'd stopped work on the wall at Repatriate. It was excellent. Later in the afternoon, most of the staff took Woodley, the gatekeepers nephew, with us to Epidore for an adventure. Woodley rarely gets to leave the compound so the staff tries to take him with us whenever we get the chance for him to see the outside world.
Speaking of the outside world, I realized today how much I am in contact with nature here. Rarely am I closed off from the world around me because of structures. The churches all are open air. I think I might miss being in such close contact with the earth once I go back. But no mind. Tomorrow the staff leaves for a retreat until Wednesday.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Lightning, Beaches, and Route 9
A few days since the last update so lets launch into it:
Friday night there was an amazing lightning storm up in the mountains that surround us here in the valley. It would strike on both sides of us and sometimes arc across between the two pillars. Most of the staff hung out on the roof and watched for nearly an hour. Nathan broke out his guitar and began to play random songs. It is a great blessing to have him back. He never lets us take ourselves too seriously and is always striving to question how we do things. Saturday morning came and I had to make sure that I got one team to the airport by seven. My creole is coming along fairly well and so I was able to tell Colas and Pierre how important it was that I have tap-taps here quickly. Depending on the subject I can understand or pick up on about 70% of what is said to me now.
Around noon the staff took the remaining team here to the beach. It was a bit cloudy but everyone seemed to enjoy it and the mountain views were pretty. We left around 4:45 and were making good time on our way back when we came upon a massive traffic jam. Colas, our chief interpreter, and I went to see what was causing it. From what we could tell a tractor trailer or school bus had a head on collision with a station wagon. It was not a pretty scene. This was my first accident since I've been here and hopefully it's my last. Its very emotionally trying to think that in the states the police/paramedics/firemen would have been there within 10 minutes and it took nearly 45 for the national police to show up. I don't know how things could have been done differently in order to help the injured better. But I was encouraged when individuals stood out and began working together to get the injured out of the car with whatever they could use. Others began directing traffic so that there wasn't a lot of people watching while the medical teams from the states did their best to mend the brokenness. We made it through and back the compound without incident after that. But I couldn't help but wonder how soon things could be different. It will be a lot of work but its necessary and urgent.
Friday night there was an amazing lightning storm up in the mountains that surround us here in the valley. It would strike on both sides of us and sometimes arc across between the two pillars. Most of the staff hung out on the roof and watched for nearly an hour. Nathan broke out his guitar and began to play random songs. It is a great blessing to have him back. He never lets us take ourselves too seriously and is always striving to question how we do things. Saturday morning came and I had to make sure that I got one team to the airport by seven. My creole is coming along fairly well and so I was able to tell Colas and Pierre how important it was that I have tap-taps here quickly. Depending on the subject I can understand or pick up on about 70% of what is said to me now.
Around noon the staff took the remaining team here to the beach. It was a bit cloudy but everyone seemed to enjoy it and the mountain views were pretty. We left around 4:45 and were making good time on our way back when we came upon a massive traffic jam. Colas, our chief interpreter, and I went to see what was causing it. From what we could tell a tractor trailer or school bus had a head on collision with a station wagon. It was not a pretty scene. This was my first accident since I've been here and hopefully it's my last. Its very emotionally trying to think that in the states the police/paramedics/firemen would have been there within 10 minutes and it took nearly 45 for the national police to show up. I don't know how things could have been done differently in order to help the injured better. But I was encouraged when individuals stood out and began working together to get the injured out of the car with whatever they could use. Others began directing traffic so that there wasn't a lot of people watching while the medical teams from the states did their best to mend the brokenness. We made it through and back the compound without incident after that. But I couldn't help but wonder how soon things could be different. It will be a lot of work but its necessary and urgent.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Shattered glass and trust
Today was interesting. We started out working very early this morning to try to finish the roof on a building at Cite Soleil before the Leaders Retreat started for the members of the community. I was there until about 630 and then I returned to help another group begin putting a roof on another house. We made some good progress despite setbacks from tools and we should be able to finish the roof tomorrow.
I also had to finish a review on how I thought we should proceed with the wall at Repatriate given Pastor Leon's input. It's a large email so it takes forever to send especially when the generator shuts down and wipes out the interwebs. The day was otherwise uneventful. Everyone had a good dinner and we tried to relax after a long day. Then all of a sudden Jean Wadson comes to get us and says we need to get to the gate. We arrive to find a dispute between the foremen and the workers about pay. Stephen played an excellent diplomat and diffused the situation with plenty of backup from Nadege and BMB. Jean and I stood off to the side and Jean interpreted the whole situation for me. It got the blood racing a little bit. Once that was over we all headed for bed. Nathan comes back today (Wednesday) so I'm currently in the process of moving out of his room before he lands in Haiti :)
I also had to finish a review on how I thought we should proceed with the wall at Repatriate given Pastor Leon's input. It's a large email so it takes forever to send especially when the generator shuts down and wipes out the interwebs. The day was otherwise uneventful. Everyone had a good dinner and we tried to relax after a long day. Then all of a sudden Jean Wadson comes to get us and says we need to get to the gate. We arrive to find a dispute between the foremen and the workers about pay. Stephen played an excellent diplomat and diffused the situation with plenty of backup from Nadege and BMB. Jean and I stood off to the side and Jean interpreted the whole situation for me. It got the blood racing a little bit. Once that was over we all headed for bed. Nathan comes back today (Wednesday) so I'm currently in the process of moving out of his room before he lands in Haiti :)
Monday, July 12, 2010
Monday or...
if birds were afraid to fly would they still be birds?
I pondered this a few days ago as a bunch of us staff were doing yoga on the roof before starting the day. Later that day I had to confront any fears I have about balance and stability while Byambison and I were working to put up a tin roof on a house. BMB suggested that if I focus too much on the fear of falling I'll likely fall and that it's better to focus on the task at hand and let my body take care of balancing subconsciously. So if we were given gifts by God that we're too afraid to use, even though they should be natural, are we still human? (don't take this too literally)
A lot has happened since my last update. Rondi aka Indiana Jane, the awesome midwife, returned to the states on Friday. It was excellent having her here and learning about her travels and in many ways being challenged to only accept excellence in service. Stephen's Mom and Aunt left Friday as well. They were great fun to be around and hear their perspectives.
The Soles for Souls group left on Sunday and they're going to make sure that the guys I work with out at Repatriate get some good work boots so they have the option to not dig trenches in Crocs. It is amazing to me the tenacity of these guys. They'll work so hard for so long with little or no breaks even when I'm suggesting they could relax a little bit. But amazing none the less.
We now have 50 people staying here at Blanchard so it's a been a few hectic days of trying to get everyone a fan and install shower currents and get them all settled. But I think we've achieved it tonight and hopefully my work load will be a little lighter until the next group shows up next week.
I met with Pastor Leon today about the wall in Repatriate and we had an excellent discussion and I got to go outside to the city to the Samaritan's Purse compound. One of our consultants and his team were staying there so we were able to get in no problem. It was very nice to enjoy a screened in porch. Afterwards there was a discussion about the future and what Pastor Leon sees in the future. It was a wonderful time.
But unfortunately I must be up and out of here by 5 am tomorrow so that we can finish a roof before a retreat occurs at Cite Soleil.
P.S. If you'd like to try some Haitian coffee let me know and I'll get some shipped to you ASAP
I pondered this a few days ago as a bunch of us staff were doing yoga on the roof before starting the day. Later that day I had to confront any fears I have about balance and stability while Byambison and I were working to put up a tin roof on a house. BMB suggested that if I focus too much on the fear of falling I'll likely fall and that it's better to focus on the task at hand and let my body take care of balancing subconsciously. So if we were given gifts by God that we're too afraid to use, even though they should be natural, are we still human? (don't take this too literally)
A lot has happened since my last update. Rondi aka Indiana Jane, the awesome midwife, returned to the states on Friday. It was excellent having her here and learning about her travels and in many ways being challenged to only accept excellence in service. Stephen's Mom and Aunt left Friday as well. They were great fun to be around and hear their perspectives.
The Soles for Souls group left on Sunday and they're going to make sure that the guys I work with out at Repatriate get some good work boots so they have the option to not dig trenches in Crocs. It is amazing to me the tenacity of these guys. They'll work so hard for so long with little or no breaks even when I'm suggesting they could relax a little bit. But amazing none the less.
We now have 50 people staying here at Blanchard so it's a been a few hectic days of trying to get everyone a fan and install shower currents and get them all settled. But I think we've achieved it tonight and hopefully my work load will be a little lighter until the next group shows up next week.
I met with Pastor Leon today about the wall in Repatriate and we had an excellent discussion and I got to go outside to the city to the Samaritan's Purse compound. One of our consultants and his team were staying there so we were able to get in no problem. It was very nice to enjoy a screened in porch. Afterwards there was a discussion about the future and what Pastor Leon sees in the future. It was a wonderful time.
But unfortunately I must be up and out of here by 5 am tomorrow so that we can finish a roof before a retreat occurs at Cite Soleil.
P.S. If you'd like to try some Haitian coffee let me know and I'll get some shipped to you ASAP
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Day 24
As I write this I can hear Hillsong United from BMB's laptop. It's a very peaceful night. We had a very relaxed staff meeting where we began practicing for our Sunday morning debut at Cite Soleil in a couple of weeks. It's in Creole and is amazingly beautiful when all 10 of us get the different parts separated out. Afterwards there was "Take two", massages, and conversations. An overall restful night.
My day involved a bit of roofing using tin sheets. My project in Repatriate has been put on hold temporarily so I'm trying to jump in wherever I am needed most. This means helping to throw up the tin roof so quicking
Soles for Souls arrived today from all over the U.S. They are going to be passing out a lot of shoes to the students. It's quite an undertaking that will result in these kids having a great pair of shoes
My day involved a bit of roofing using tin sheets. My project in Repatriate has been put on hold temporarily so I'm trying to jump in wherever I am needed most. This means helping to throw up the tin roof so quicking
Soles for Souls arrived today from all over the U.S. They are going to be passing out a lot of shoes to the students. It's quite an undertaking that will result in these kids having a great pair of shoes
Monday, July 5, 2010
23rd day
Well it's finally raining after a 5 day dry spell. When it doesn't rain the air gets very thick with pollution and dust so tomorrow it should all be clear and the surrounding mountains should look amazing. On the other hand the Great Wall of Haiti will now be flooded in the morning. This presents the opportunity to pull out the water pump and have fun blasting it all over the street. We've also changed the approach we use to build the wall. We're going to dig out the entire length of the wall before we place any more of the wall so that we can ensure that it's as square as possible.
I'm building my first piece of furniture: a pantry! It's a 7'x40"x22", 2 door, 4 shelf, rough around the edges attempt. It's actually turning out fantastically well compared to what I was expecting. I think I may try my hand at some other pieces once it's finished. Any suggestions?
Today, Jean and I walked back from Repatriate around lunch. It was a wonderful time just talking about differences in our cultures and learning about each other. Shockingly it turned out to be a 40 minute walk. Not too bad in midday heat!
An interesting thing about my time so far has been that every day seems to go by so fast and yet when I think about last week it seems like a month ago and the first week I was here nearly 3 or 4 months. Perhaps the conversations we have and the groups we meet are so important that they stretch time to fit their way into our memories. Sometimes it's like I have spent the entire day in the coffee shop discussing ideas and learning about the world around me while still digging a trench and putting up roofs on the odd occasion. Especially when I have the chance to make iced coffee in the evening. It's an ever evolving recipe including oreos and milk but still working to increase the coffee kick in the taste.
Perhaps I'm getting attached to this place...
I'm building my first piece of furniture: a pantry! It's a 7'x40"x22", 2 door, 4 shelf, rough around the edges attempt. It's actually turning out fantastically well compared to what I was expecting. I think I may try my hand at some other pieces once it's finished. Any suggestions?
Today, Jean and I walked back from Repatriate around lunch. It was a wonderful time just talking about differences in our cultures and learning about each other. Shockingly it turned out to be a 40 minute walk. Not too bad in midday heat!
An interesting thing about my time so far has been that every day seems to go by so fast and yet when I think about last week it seems like a month ago and the first week I was here nearly 3 or 4 months. Perhaps the conversations we have and the groups we meet are so important that they stretch time to fit their way into our memories. Sometimes it's like I have spent the entire day in the coffee shop discussing ideas and learning about the world around me while still digging a trench and putting up roofs on the odd occasion. Especially when I have the chance to make iced coffee in the evening. It's an ever evolving recipe including oreos and milk but still working to increase the coffee kick in the taste.
Perhaps I'm getting attached to this place...
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