Sunday, January 20, 2013

the paper article...

The Post Standard newspaper interviewed Bec and I at the Church. They did a nice picture and write up of us on the upcoming mission trip to Haiti. Quite a number of folks in the church saw it in the paper. I was greeted at Sunday School by a young girl as soon as I came in the door and she said "I saw your picture in the paper". I asked her "how did I look?" She just smiled and said "good".

I continue in my reading of the book "The Ways of Haiti" by Paul Farmer.It's giving me a different perspective on Haiti and a bit of historical understanding. The book is due in the library on Tuesday. I don't think I'll have it completed by then...will have to renew it for another 2 weeks.

I've been told by our team leader that I ought to be prepared to preach a time or two while we're in Haiti. What do I preach? What sort of message ought to I bring to these people who I've only had one encounter with. And my only tiime with them was during the time of a devestating earthquake. I'm glad I've got some time before I have to decide. But I'm still wondering - what sort of message ought I bring to these people?

It figures out that we've got 10 weeks and 2 days left before we head out. Whew! It's exciting and I'm a little nervous.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Continuing with Haiti thoughts....

Okay, so now that I've begun this blog, I've got to work on keeping it going. An article in yesterday's paper spoke of the president of Haiti having a celebration for the 3 years after their horrific earthquake. The president, Michel Martelly, said he hopes the poor Caribbean nation's people use the anniversary of the Jan.12, 2010, disaster to think about how they can improve their lives. That, to me, seems like a good way to celebrate this anniversary.

I've noticed that taking time to really reflect on certain things can be really helpful. Sometimes it takes gathering a few people around you of similar concerns in order to make any real headway on this reflecting stuff.

I also spoke to one of my boards on how to better promote the fact that I am planning on returning to Haiti. This blog was one of their thoughts. Plus, my daughter Bec has begun a blog. So, between my board and my daughter, it seemed like it was a good direction to go.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

This morning I read my daughter, Bec Groves Haley, blog about her hopes for the Haiti journey. It was encouraging to see what she wrote. I'm reading"The Uses of Haiti" and am gaining a historical perspeective on the island of Haiti. When I went to Haiti the first tiime, 3 years ago arriving just hours before the earthquake, I didn't feel as well versed in Haiti history.So, hopefully, this time I'll be more aware and cognizant of what I'm doing. Also, hopefully, we won't encounter an earthquake this time.

Three of us, who went to Haiti back on my first trip there, met together last night and ate dinner together with our spouses. It is a bit of a tradition for us since our first trip together in Haiti.