Departure: Next Week!

We are preparing for our departure next Saturday! Please pray for our health, safety, and that we may be God's hands and feet to the people of Haiti during our stay. Be sure to check this blog daily or subscribe to it so that you are emailed our updates as they are posted!

We're Home!

After over 13 hours of transit, we've returned home. As we settle in to the familiar rhythm of life here, we know that our routines will be picked back up quickly. However, we know that we are not the same people we were when we left last Saturday. Each one of us has been changed by this experience. It's amazing what a difference a week can make!

We appreciate everything each one of you has done to support us on our mission, whether it be providing donations or praying for us. Thank you for following the blog - we hope you enjoyed it. We can't wait to share our photos and more stories with you!

God bless!

Your 2013 Joyful Spirit Haiti Team

From Left: Steve, Gina, Gene, Cheryl, Josh, Chuck, Jessica, Stevo, Herb, and Patrick

Dégagé

Dégagé is a word you hear a lot in Haiti.  It means "to make due."

In Haiti you don't have 24 hour grocery stores around the corner to get eggs at any hour. Sometimes you need to make due. Dégagé.

Though mangoes grow all over Haiti, today there may not be mangoes readily available. Tomorrow milk may be hard to come by. You must make due. Dégagé.

Home Depot might not be a few miles down for you to get all your home improvement needs provided for. You must improvise. You must make due. Dégagé.

In Haiti this word is commonplace. Today our group spent about 30 or 45 minutes - between the first shift and second shift of volunteering - at tin shops in Haiti.  What is this uniquely Haitian art made from? It is made by someone adopting the attitude of dégagé. Make due. Improvise.  Using 55 gal drums to make this fantastically beautiful, intricate art. Dégagé.

- Stevo