Our Haiti team is finally home. Understandably, there has been some reverse culture shock and tears, but all is well. The team has been on some local morning news shows and in the paper, so that has been fun to watch. Our church family, under Kahuna’s direction, has made a one year commitment to helping in the relief effort.
Here are a few more pictures from Haiti (taken by our friend Scott). They are beautiful.
“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”
I’ve got two questions for you…
1.) If given the opportunity, would you leave your family for one week and travel to Haiti to help out in the relief effort? 2.) How do you think it would impact you?
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Big Kahuna and I have known each other since we were kids and have been married for almost 15 years. We are passionate about our family, travel and serving God. We love helping people and bringing them hope. We laugh ourselves to tears watching classic episodes of Saturday Night Live and The Office. Summer is our favorite season, and we live for warm evenings playing with the kids on the beach.
Big Surf is 14 years old. He's a voracious reader, focused, and spends hours building things. He is our resident techie and is also learning to play the violin. He loves to spend his free time playing baseball, flag football, or out on the trails by the house building his clubhouse.
Goofy Foot is ten years old. He devours his free reading books like there is no tomorrow. He is also the family comedian. If you see him, ask him to tell you a joke! He is tender-hearted, social and compliant. When he is not outside riding his bike, you'll find him drawing or writing a funny book.
Beach Bunny is three years old. She is our sunshine! She joined our family through the unbelievable gift of adoption. Beach Bunny loves to snuggle with us and carefully takes care of her baby dolls. She is super silly and must say hi to everyone! One word that describes her is "joy".
25 comments:
Wow. Great question. I would LOVE to believe that I would. I would LOVE to believe that I would put others before my and do it. The truth is I think about these type of things often and wonder what I would find out. Would I chicken out because it would be hard to leave my babies? To fly when I am terrified of flying? I hope and pray that the answer will be yes with that time comes.
I wrote that a little too fast...
when I say I pray the answer would be yes, I mean to go help not give into my fears.
I know exactly how you feel, Hannah. :)
Yes, I probably would. It would be tough now because of the baby but if my husband was on board, than I would.
Having worked for an NGO and visited many countries in the developing world, I know that I would feel humbled and grateful for my life and all that I have.
Good questions. I love the Mother Theresa quote.
Enjoy your week-end!
Wow...amazing. Those pictures say more than a thousand words each. Powerful stuff. Those beautiful little faces are the pillars of strength. To answer your question, absolutely I would go to Haiti for a week, and it would impact me profoundly. That quote was endearing; it reminds me of the Starfish poem my mom told me while adopting Myla.
Those are awesome and I would love to help. That is a life changing experience. YOur family is such a blessing.
Question number 1 - In a heartbeat!!!! (Been there done that) Question number 2 - It changed my life forever and I will never be the same again. I thought I knew God before.... God found me in Haiti.
My daughter and I traveled there last summer and intend to go back this year with our mission group. I can hardly wait.
Love your photos and words of the trip. ♥
My sweet sweet friends just got their little boy Ronel home from Haiti Thursday. It is a moment at the airport I will never forget! I posted pics!
All I can say is HIGH FIVE God!
He is so AWESOME!
Have a great weekend!
These pictues are beautiful, sad and happy all at the same time!
As a nurse I sometimes feel the pull to lend a helping hand in relief efforts. However, as a mom of 3 young children, I don't feel this is the time in my life to do so. Perhaps when they are older and more independent I'd be able to leave or they'd be able to partake.
I applaud the efforts so many freely give.
So glad to hear the team is back!
The photos are amazing, beautiful and some are filled with saddness. My heart hurts for the people of Haiti, as it does for any person hurting or hopeless.
My family has given items and dontated money, however, there are times I still feel helpless. After reading your quote I know every little bit helps, but that feeling of wanting to do more still creeps up.
Would I leave my family for a week to help the people of Haiti? For me the answer would be a resounding Yes!! Knowing my son would be well taken care of with his Daddy, I couldn't pass up the opportunity of being more than a drop in the ocean.
My pick-up trip to Guatemala opened my eyes and changed my heart, so I could only imagine the impact a missionary trip would have on my life.
I truly applaud you, your family, church and friends for all you do. You are an inspiration!!!
We are still praying! Thanks for sharing the photos, and the thought questions. I know me and my husband would love to go and help!
Fabulous questions and tough to answer. I want to say that I would, but honestly I am not sure if that is truthful. I know the impact would be profound. I get so comfortable in my cushy-American life. I need a good kick in the pants. These photos were amazing. Thanks for bringing the reality to us.
My husband and I have talked alot about this question. We would both LOVE to be able to go and would do it in a heartbeat,I know that it would change both of us forever and that is why we want to go together! When I see such beautiful and touching pictures like the ones from this post it just reassures any doubts I may have!
I know it would be life changing. And yes, I would go for sure!
It must be so hard to be there and see all of the suffering up close and personal but so rewarding to see the hope and progress too!
I feel so helpless back here in my comfortable Northern California home. All I can offer are my dollars but I wish I could give some of my heart (personally) too.
Donna
Our Blog: Double Happiness!
WOW what amazing photos! They say so much. I would definitely go to Haiti. I would probably cry the whole time because I would be overwhelmed with how incredibly blessed I am (heck I do that all the time now just because of Bella) and I would want to be able to give so much more than I could. I hate to see people suffer from things we take for granted here in the US. Being a sponsor of a family in Guatemala, I struggle with placing my American values on others. I have to constantly remind myself that what I think is necessary and 'successful' is NOT necessairly what they need or want.
Such great pictures! Yes, if given the chance I would definitely go help out. Rather than leaving my family I would love for us to go help together. Since I don't have young kids at home any longer it would be doable. I'm sure it would be a life-changing experience.
Beautiful posts... and great pictures. A picture truly tells a thousand words. Just fills my heart to read how your church jumped right in to bring relief to this destroyed nation. Did you already have Haiti connections?
Actually I am on a waiting list through my church to head over there for a week, leaving my family behind to put others first in such a time of need.
The first couple of weeks they are sending medical folks out there. Then if I get to go Ill be put through a basic care course and get to put my hands to work loving and helping others.
I want to remind everyone .... soon this will all fade and the news wont talk about it as much. But it will be this way and in need of help for a very long time.
Everyone is all about Haiti now.... but lets keep this focus on them for months to come.
If your church or group is looking for some volunteers.... contact me.
Loved the pictures in a heartbreaking way.
Oh yes yes yes I would. It would change me, I know it would. Just seeing the sweet big brown eyes of all of the little ones has changed me. To see it in person? I cannot even imagine.
oh man - it would be hard to leave my babies for a week, but I really think that it would set a good example for them. Besides, I can imagine my perspective of life changing for the better if I were in person seeing those poor helpless children depending on your care! What an amazing opportunity!! I love that your church is group is doing this!
I would leave in a heart beat. I can't begin to imagine the impact it would make in my life. I try my hardest to cherish all the moments god gives me here on earth. OHHH and those beautiful faces. Thank you so much for sharing.
I would. I would go if God provided a means to go. My husband and I were involved in some missions trips through our church before we had children and I cannot wait until they are old enough for all of us to go again and experience what God has for us to experience together.
I would. I would go if God provided a means to go. My husband and I were involved in some missions trips through our church before we had children and I cannot wait until they are old enough for all of us to go again and experience what God has for us to experience together.
Enjoy your week-end!
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