Preparations

I want to add my "Thanks" to everyone supporting us on this mission trip. In a sense, we get the "glory" and the benefit of the first-hand experience, but it is everyone supporting us that makes it all possible. I hope this blog can help convey some of that experience and connection from Haiti and the DR to everyone "back home", who cannot be there with us.

I'm one of the returnees to Haiti, but even still, I feel nearly as nervous about the trip this year as I did last year. I know something about what to expect in terms of how it will look and smell and feel, but I have even more questions about the current situation there: what has happened in the past year, what is the best role for us as Americans to help, what expectations to have for them as well as for us.

Last year, the scale of the problems facing the people of Haiti was simply overwhelming. It was easy to be overcome by despair by the time we left the country after just one week. This year, I anticipate will be the same, but I hope we can focus and direct our work so that we can realize a glimmer of hope that is sustained and can grow even after we leave Haiti. If we can begin to lay a foundation of communication and mutual support between a Haitian community and our community, we can watch that hope develop and grow. I don't know where this mission effort will lead us, but I'm excited (and anxious) about the potential for some amazing growth and development in Haiti and here at home as a result.