Thursday, February 27, 2014

“Leaving on a jet plane…”


Well, not quite, but I am leaving Haiti at the end of April. What an unexpected, challenging, blessed and fruitful journey it has been. I think summarizing almost a year and a half of being on mission here would take several paragraphs. I can say that that is has been real and it has been very good. I’m thankful. I still have about 2 months until I come back to the United States, and I am hoping and praying to make the best of the time I have left - “carpe diem” as they say. I will also do a much better job at blogging – sorry about that :) Music – I love music. So, for some reason, “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music came to mind as I was trying to figure out what to blog about in regards to my time in Haiti thus far. I’ve come to realize that it’s the little things- the things that seem so ordinary, little things that might not be as noticeable at times, that really stick with me. So here are some of my favorite things from Haiti...in song - sort of :)

Freshly picked mangoes and laughing ‘til I cry,
Saturdays with Loucie, watch the Gospel change lives,
Trips to the monastery and Chez Den wings,
These are a few of my favorite things

Practicing nursing for the underserved,
Magnificent sunsets with colors unheard,
Countless church choirs with a talent to sing,
These are a few of my favorite things
Colorful dresses and head wraps galore,
Cute little toddlers in school uniforms,
A majestic ocean where I can swim,
These are a few of my favorite things

When the goat bites
Mosquitoes sting
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

Freshly roasted coffee and loving ‘til it hurts,
Trying to bathe with water coming out in spurts,
Living in community and going hiking,
These are a few of my favorite things

Access to the sacraments, baby missionaries,
Living simply, surrounded by mountains and trees,
A wider worldview and new friends I’m making,
These are a few of my favorite things

When the goat bites
Mosquitoes sting
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

*In case you've never heard, "My Favorite Things" by Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music, here you go: