11.23.11 renee d. - thanksgiving thoughts;
Happy Thanksgiving to all the friends and supporters of the St. Joseph Family! This week in Haiti is a normal week --- kids going to school, people on the street, traffic jams, laughter, pates frying and chicken cooking in outdoor markets, powerful church services, way too many people living in tents and on the streets after losing their homes almost two years ago, and on and on and on. But, this week in the United States is vastly different as two major events are about to take place. The first, Thanksgiving, is a time for family and friends to gather, celebrate and remember. Those are things Haitians can relate to. The overabundance of food that will fill the tables is something most Haitians can't imagine, or if they do it is in their wildest dreams. We all have something to be thankful for, and no matter who you are, where you find yourself or what your circumstances, it is good to take the time to be thankful, hold your family and friends close and remember. The second event taking place this week in the United States isn't something that should be celebrated. It is "Black Friday", the day when retailers take all the consumerism, desire and guilt that is prevalent in the society and harness it for sales of gifts that will be forgotten soon after they are opened, except for the debt they put the giver into for months after the giving. The kick-off to the Christmas season has little to do with the reason for the season or the feelings of gratitude and sharing that are celebrated just hours before the stores open in the early morning hours. The darkness of "Black Friday" starts as shoppers line up in the middle of the night and extends to the feelings sometimes brought by the pressure to give, and get, the biggest presents of the year. This year the St. Joseph Family invites you to re-invent "Black Friday" into a season of light and love. Consider giving the gift of a brighter future to the children of the St. Joseph Family instead of rushing out and buying the biggest, shiniest new thing in all the advertisements. Your gift gives twice, first showing those you gift that they mean more to you than any "thing" you can give them, they represent a way to help others; and second, your gift can change the lives of the very deserving children served by the St. Joseph Family in Haiti. Please consider the children of the St. Joseph Family in your giving this year.
In the United States, donations may be sent to:
Hearts With Haiti
27 Horne Street
Raleigh, NC 27607
or online at www.heartswithhaiti.org
In Canada, donations may be sent to:
Broken Wings Missions
Box 51
Clavet, SK S0K 0Y0
Thank you!
During this week of gratitude and the upcoming season of anticipation, celebration and love, we at the St. Joseph Family, as always, celebrate all our friends and family and the positive impact you have had on our lives. Our blessings to you!
Happy Thanksgiving to all the friends and supporters of the St. Joseph Family! This week in Haiti is a normal week --- kids going to school, people on the street, traffic jams, laughter, pates frying and chicken cooking in outdoor markets, powerful church services, way too many people living in tents and on the streets after losing their homes almost two years ago, and on and on and on. But, this week in the United States is vastly different as two major events are about to take place. The first, Thanksgiving, is a time for family and friends to gather, celebrate and remember. Those are things Haitians can relate to. The overabundance of food that will fill the tables is something most Haitians can't imagine, or if they do it is in their wildest dreams. We all have something to be thankful for, and no matter who you are, where you find yourself or what your circumstances, it is good to take the time to be thankful, hold your family and friends close and remember. The second event taking place this week in the United States isn't something that should be celebrated. It is "Black Friday", the day when retailers take all the consumerism, desire and guilt that is prevalent in the society and harness it for sales of gifts that will be forgotten soon after they are opened, except for the debt they put the giver into for months after the giving. The kick-off to the Christmas season has little to do with the reason for the season or the feelings of gratitude and sharing that are celebrated just hours before the stores open in the early morning hours. The darkness of "Black Friday" starts as shoppers line up in the middle of the night and extends to the feelings sometimes brought by the pressure to give, and get, the biggest presents of the year. This year the St. Joseph Family invites you to re-invent "Black Friday" into a season of light and love. Consider giving the gift of a brighter future to the children of the St. Joseph Family instead of rushing out and buying the biggest, shiniest new thing in all the advertisements. Your gift gives twice, first showing those you gift that they mean more to you than any "thing" you can give them, they represent a way to help others; and second, your gift can change the lives of the very deserving children served by the St. Joseph Family in Haiti. Please consider the children of the St. Joseph Family in your giving this year.
In the United States, donations may be sent to:
Hearts With Haiti
27 Horne Street
Raleigh, NC 27607
or online at www.heartswithhaiti.org
In Canada, donations may be sent to:
Broken Wings Missions
Box 51
Clavet, SK S0K 0Y0
Thank you!
During this week of gratitude and the upcoming season of anticipation, celebration and love, we at the St. Joseph Family, as always, celebrate all our friends and family and the positive impact you have had on our lives. Our blessings to you!
11.08.11 geoffrey h. - days 21-24, reunion, then a bug;
For the last two months, the Resurrection Dance Theater of Haiti (RDTH) has been on a tour of the Midwestern United States and Canada. The RDTH is an extraordinary and high-energy professional group that is right at the heart of the St. Joseph Family. Wednesday marked the return of the RDTH from Canada to Haiti and the conclusion of the Fall Tour. It had been a great success, with dozens of performances in front of fans and lots of V.I.P treatment by generous hosts. But, for these guys, home is where the heart is. We unloaded dozens of large packs containing donations of supplies and their equipment. Getting these travelers and packs through the morass of today’s airline infrastructure and into Haiti is no easy feat, with missed connections, customs hassles, and lost bags always likely. However, through it all they made it back safe and sound. It was good to see Bill, Walnes, and Jacky. These guys are really special --- they are among the leaders of the St. Joseph Family and are all graduates. They are passionate about giving back to their people and are each incredibly talented performers. On top of that, they are my friends and seeing them brought a smile to my face. The next day, we made our way back to Wings of Hope for a couple nights. This was also a reunion of sorts --- we had stayed at Wings for two weeks before the time in Jacmel and Port-au-Prince and I was really looking forward to seeing the kids and staff, Renee and KC, and the volunteers. Joining us was Shelley Wiley, a Founding Board Member of Hearts with Haiti and a deep-thinking, extraordinary woman. After a dinner of pizza, guacamole, and mango nectar margaritas, we headed to bed. At one point during our dinner, I declared proudly that I had made it through 4 weeks without getting a stomach bug. Turns out I spoke to soon. The next morning I was feeling a bit queasy, but by afternoon I was miserable, with frequent runs to the bathroom and a fever. It came on so suddenly I didn’t even see it coming, but once it set it I was down for the count. But, by the time Rob Patterson, another HWH Board Member, arrived at 7PM, I had been in bed for 6 hours and things were starting to look up. I don’t know what it could have been --- food, water, or contact, but it was short and furious. Luckily the next morning I was still tired but generally feeling back to my old self. After a long, rainy ride down the road from Fermathe we arrived at the St. Joseph’s Home for Boys just in time to greet a few more Board Members that had just gotten in from the airport. Our organization is really blessed to have Board Members that devote themselves completely to the mission they serve. All of these individuals have full time jobs, families, and full lives, but they always step up when it counts. It is an inspiration to serve the St. Joseph Family, but also an inspiration to serve alongside these friends.
For the last two months, the Resurrection Dance Theater of Haiti (RDTH) has been on a tour of the Midwestern United States and Canada. The RDTH is an extraordinary and high-energy professional group that is right at the heart of the St. Joseph Family. Wednesday marked the return of the RDTH from Canada to Haiti and the conclusion of the Fall Tour. It had been a great success, with dozens of performances in front of fans and lots of V.I.P treatment by generous hosts. But, for these guys, home is where the heart is. We unloaded dozens of large packs containing donations of supplies and their equipment. Getting these travelers and packs through the morass of today’s airline infrastructure and into Haiti is no easy feat, with missed connections, customs hassles, and lost bags always likely. However, through it all they made it back safe and sound. It was good to see Bill, Walnes, and Jacky. These guys are really special --- they are among the leaders of the St. Joseph Family and are all graduates. They are passionate about giving back to their people and are each incredibly talented performers. On top of that, they are my friends and seeing them brought a smile to my face. The next day, we made our way back to Wings of Hope for a couple nights. This was also a reunion of sorts --- we had stayed at Wings for two weeks before the time in Jacmel and Port-au-Prince and I was really looking forward to seeing the kids and staff, Renee and KC, and the volunteers. Joining us was Shelley Wiley, a Founding Board Member of Hearts with Haiti and a deep-thinking, extraordinary woman. After a dinner of pizza, guacamole, and mango nectar margaritas, we headed to bed. At one point during our dinner, I declared proudly that I had made it through 4 weeks without getting a stomach bug. Turns out I spoke to soon. The next morning I was feeling a bit queasy, but by afternoon I was miserable, with frequent runs to the bathroom and a fever. It came on so suddenly I didn’t even see it coming, but once it set it I was down for the count. But, by the time Rob Patterson, another HWH Board Member, arrived at 7PM, I had been in bed for 6 hours and things were starting to look up. I don’t know what it could have been --- food, water, or contact, but it was short and furious. Luckily the next morning I was still tired but generally feeling back to my old self. After a long, rainy ride down the road from Fermathe we arrived at the St. Joseph’s Home for Boys just in time to greet a few more Board Members that had just gotten in from the airport. Our organization is really blessed to have Board Members that devote themselves completely to the mission they serve. All of these individuals have full time jobs, families, and full lives, but they always step up when it counts. It is an inspiration to serve the St. Joseph Family, but also an inspiration to serve alongside these friends.
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