photojournal: the ranch at la montcel, part 1

As promised, some photo's of our two days up the mountains last week...

It felt rather magical when a cloud would come through, grey and misty and cool. 

getting out of dodge (and how to send a book to Haiti)

The heat is on.

No more cool mornings where I can wake up and take deep breaths of air.

Oh no, I can break a full blown sweat by 9am now.

And the dust. Oh, the dust. It is extremely dry right now and the dust is well...rather dusty.

Therefore, we decided we needed to take two days and get outta the city and head to the mountains.

Way up the mountain..specifically to The Ranch at La Montcel, where it is a good 20 degrees (or more) cooler and there are wide open spaces for the kids to run around in.

Oh my goodness. I had forgotten how incredible it is to be able to say "go play outside" to my kids.

And this happened...

We are back now.
To the heat and dust.
But at least we are refreshed and ready to plow through the next few weeks of Summer with the memories of the cool mountains on our minds.

Of course I took about 200 photos and will post a photojournal a little bit later in the week.

And for those of you who expressed interest in sending books to us in Haiti, we haven't found a great way to ship anything here without it being a long and expensive process. The best way to get books here would be to send them down with a traveling team, who can carry them in their suitcase. If you really are interested, email me at jennifer @ jenniferhambrick. com (no spaces) and I can put you in contact with some teams that are coming down this summer.

And now I'm off to get caught up on that pile of never ending laundry...

the world opens up (through the pages of a book)

The love of learning, the sequestered nooks,

And all the sweet serenity of books.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

If you know me then you know that I am unashamed about my love for a good book. 

A good library filled with good books is my happy place.

Yes, I know...I wear the nerd title with pride.

In America there are bookstores, the Kindle and Nook, and of course, public libraries. It is very easy to take our accessibility to books for granted. I know I did.

And I have learned how much the ability to read is even a mighty privilege.

Haiti has a 48% literacy rate. 
(source: CIA factbook)

Yeah, just let that statistic soak in a bit.

But just like everything else that can overwhelm you when you take in the scope of the needs in Haiti, I remember that while I can't do everything, I can do my best with those I have been entrusted to influence during this time in my life.

I've heard it said that your kids will be passionate about what you are passionate about, and I can only wish and hope and pray, that I might have had some influence with the kids at Have Faith Haiti Mission towards a love of books too.

We read all the time with the kids. We've started a "book club" with some of them. We have a very (very!) small library program with a few of them, where they are allowed to "check out" a book and be responsible for that book and return it when finished. So far, we haven't lost one book. 

I love the fact that all our kids at HFHM can quote entire sections of 'Where the Wild Things Are" and can find the tiny little mouse on every page in "Goodnight Moon" almost without looking. That classics like "Heidi" and "The Adventures of Huckelberry Finn" are being enjoyed as well as the not so classic but definitely enjoyable "Captain Underpants" and "Junie B. Jones" series.

This week we were able to take a field trip to library at Quesqueya School here in Port au Prince. I take my four kids there on a weekly basis, but I really wanted the kids at HFHM to see and experience a "real" library.

My friend, Mr. Chabot, the head librarian at Quesqueya School very graciously agreed to come in on his day off and allow our kids to visit...

The crew minus Jeremiah and Zoe who took the picture =)

Mr. Chabot giving a short presentation on what a library is and how to look for books.
The wonders of ol' Dewey decimal.

And then, they were off to explore and read!

"Look at all the Junie B. Jones books, Ms. Jennifer!"

Ezra was so proud to show off his advance knowledge of the dinosaur section.

Ms. Charlotte was in heaven with an almost endless supply of magazines =)

No one but the Lord really knows what the future holds for these precious children. But I do know that the adventures and stories they are being allowed to experience through the pages of their books will stay with them throughout their lives.

the warm up

Zoe has been, well...slow...to warm up to all the kids at the mission all these months. 

She is a tempermental little one who likes to be in control. (Don't we all?!) 

When I think about life down on the level of a 2 year old, I really can't blame her...it had to be very overwhelming to have 30 kids bigger than you immediately descend upon you every time you entered the gates. 

Gradually, over time as she got more comfortable and we learned to control the "welcome" she received...she has blossomed and made friendships that make my heart just smile.

I caught proof of these friendships this week in these i-phone (oh, why didn't I have my good camera with me - dang it!) photos. Four sweet little girls, just laughing and giggling and being together...

A Father's Day

The atmosphere of Father's day is very different than that of Mother's day in a mission like ours. The presence of a Father in a child's life is a true rarity here in Haiti...and everywhere. However, we all have a heavenly Father, who never leaves or abandons and loves us intimately. We chose to focus on that yesterday at the Mission.

Along with a yummy Haitian feast courtesy of a fun guest visiting this week (Michelle was the very first missionary at Have Faith Haiti Mission several years ago)...turkey, fried plantains, frittes, yam frittes, rice and beans, gateau, and creme! Talk about carbing it up. Diabetes for everyone, ha!

Oh, but the kids enjoyed.

Our request for "Happy Father's Day" got a little lost in translation, ha!

Of course, just our little family took some time to celebrate the awesome father that Jeremiah is...I am so thankful that my kids will never have to say they didn't have an involved and loving and amazing Father. 

I was especially thankful that the internet was strong enough for me to have a face time conversation with my own dear Daddy last night. I love that man.

Mostly, I am grateful that I know this verse to be true...

A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy place. Psalm 68:5

And so I could sit, surrounded by children yesterday, some abandoned by a Father, some with an amazing present Daddy, some with only dark memories surrounding the man who gave them life...yet we were all united under our Heavenly father.

A Father's Day to remember, for sure.

no longer waiting for the train

At least I don't feel like I'm staring down a train aimed right for me. And I need not wonder what it feels like to be 90 years old anymore. For I have been 90 years old for the last 3 days.

Thank you Chikunguyna.

Today I feel like a 70 year old. I'll call it progress.

My kids have been rock stars throughout this past week that on all accounts could have been extremely boring. However, Haiti has helped reinforce the idea that boredom isn't a bad thing for kids. Boredom breeds creativity if one simply allows it.



It also breeds tremendous messes, but a 90 year old woman really doesn't care about messes.

Here's to ending this week feeling like a 30 year old. Who only cares minimally about the messes.

thursday thoughts and iphone photo dump

It's been sort of a strange week around here. 

We had our first Hambrick fall victim to the Chickengunya: Jeremiah went down with the nasty virus on Monday and just today has re-entered the land of the living.

Jeremiah is my rock. My go-to person for everything here. Everything. And when he goes down its not a pretty sight for me. I am so thankful that he is back up and going today. 

We also have 5 new adult staff out this week...nannies, the cleaning lady, and the janitor. Geesh, I am ready to see this stupid virus go. Just go already! I feel as though I've been writing about this thing for weeks now. Oh yeah, that is because I have been writing about this for weeks.

Okay, how about some terrible pixalated iphone photos?!!

Shirtless sewing lessons. Complete with a thumb in the corner of the picture. You are welcome.

We found a restaurant a few months ago that is my kids favorite. A fellow missionary family started it on the weekend nights right in their front yard. Grill fired pizza's that are yum! But the best part about it (according to my kids) is that there are friends there every time we go. They feel like they are having a playdate rather than going to a restaurant. Which means that Jeremiah and I sometimes actually get to have a conversation while they are all playing. It's a win win.

Safety hazard anyone? 

Ms. Mimi's grits and fish gravy. So so good! My favorite Haitian breakfast.

Here's to a hopefully healthy weekend for everyone...

Happy Thursday!

my job is done

Ezra: One day I'm going to have my own private jet!
Me: That would be cool. What would you have in your jet?
Ezra: Oh, a food cart that brings you whatever food you want and a library.

People, my job is done.
My son wants a library in his private jet.
I can slack off from now on till they leave the nest, right?!

Ezra and Zoe, September 2011

memory monday: walk humbly with my God

This is my 7th attempt at a blog post over this past week.
I don't know what is wrong with me...I start writing, then stop.
Mind blank.
I can't get my brain to finish a thought.
Or I do, but them I'm like "no, that won't do."
I'm struggling with feeling "relate-able" anymore.

I read through my facebook feed and it is filled with dance recitals, weddings, graduations, baseball games, and so on and so forth and I am genuinely happy for all my friends and family and seeing all that is going on in their lives.

I just can't relate right now.
At all.
This season of life in Haiti is making me a bit out of the loop with mainstream life.
Okay, honestly...a heck of a lot more than a bit out of the loop.
And I'm good with that.
Mostly.
Except when I'm not and feeling a bit isolated.

But then I remember that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing for this season.
I remember Who I am doing it with and Who I am doing it for.
I remember Who is walking with me in this season.
And He gives me the strength and the joy to keep doing it.
For one more day.

He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? 

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. 

Micah 6:8