Going to Haiti

I've been presented the opportunity to go on a one week trip to Haiti to help install water purification systems for my spring break. The trip is through Edge Outreach (see www.edgeoutreach.com) who already has a team in Haiti now.

Last year I was in Costa Rica when there was an earthquake and I saw how Edge Outreach responded. They are familiar with disaster relief and I trust in their ability to help the people of Haiti. One of the most dire needs right now is clean water and Edge Outreach has simple systems that I've already been trained to put together and run.

The trip will be March 12-21. I hope things in Haiti will be much better by the time I arrive in a month and a half but there is no way to know. Please pray for this trip, that we would be able to serve the people of Haiti and bring them hope and joy. I need to raise $2,500 in about a month. This money will pay for parts of the water purification systems, transportation and any supplies needed.

I truly believe the Lord will provide for this trip if there is a need for me to be in Haiti to help. Please consider giving a donation. If you would like more details please contact me. Any checks can be made out to "UK BCM" and sent to 429 Columbia Avenue
Lexington, KY 40508

I started French 101 today so I will be able to communicaite some while I'm there. (Most Haitians speak french but I hope I will get to use my spanish as well)

The Hole

This is in a community in Santiago, DR. It is built around this trash dump that is in and around the river. I was given the opportunity to work on the quite needed water purification system here. I also got a chance to explore a little on the other side of the river via this bridge,


I spoke with several people around the area that gave me some insight into the community and I also got a chance to talk with a pastor across the river. It was unbelievable to see the filth the people live in. You could also see where complete houses had fallen into the river. The man I am speaking to in the next picture had two or three family members lose houses to this foundational problem.Our last day we spent several hours teaching adults and kids health education. This is an awesome opportunity because a little information and clean water can prevent parasites and the like. I was in a skit showing the harmful effects of unclean water. The people in the picture represent germs from dirty water(like from the river).

First few days of the DR

Currently I'm sitting in an air conditioned restaurant enjoying some sweet tea and quiet. This is quite the contrast from my 11 days in the heat of the Dominican Republic. There was no air conditioning and no quiet while in a poor community giving out free eye exams and glasses, doing health clinics, playing with children and installing a water purifier.

My first two days were spent being the organizer/bouncer of the vision clinic in a community called Heina Abajo. I had a chance to speak a lot of spanish while in the DR but during these times my comprehension was at an all time low. I must admit that at times my frustration got the best of me. Later in day two I realized that no one could understand me if I spoke english so when anger began to rise I would just "express myself" in english. Many of the older women were very sympathetic to my stress and when I began "expressing myself" they would pray for me. No joke, they would just start praying in spanish. It was an interesting contrast.

Day three I got dehydrated and barfed. That's pretty much all I did. But I saw some beautiful qualtities of care that the Dominican people have. My helpers from the past two days, sat with me, held back my hair and took care of me. There were several others that cared for me by giving me water, gatorade or offering to take me to the hospital. I hardly knew these people and they truly cared for me(despite my grossness).

I'm going to split up the trip into a few posts. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement!