GRAYSON IS THREE!!!

This is the first b-day party Grayson has ever had.  He definitely enjoyed all of the attention, which actually isn't any different than every other day ;) 

Please ignore the haitian decor from last year.  That stuff won't come off my walls, so it's up all year.  Gotta love it when Haitians sneak over and decorate your house to surprise you!

Licking the icing off the cars!

These kids ate SO much cake!  They were definitely in a food coma afterward!

Shaya had to get in on the action!

We ended up waking him up a few hours later to open presents.  He fell asleep during his party!

Christmas Bags Container - 2014

This was the first year I've been able to go to the container inspection.  It was a really long day, they guys were so exhausted, and when we moved everything from one container to the other it didn't all fit!  Obviously our American team knows how to pack :) 

This is the only machine like this in Cap Haitien.  So when it's broke down, containers don't get released.

This is the inspector.  We thoroughly enjoyed seeing her "formula" for charging.  Yikes!

On Thanksgiving, a couple of weeks later, we were able to unload the container and begin distribution!  

Corn getting unloaded!

Gileron Clinic - 11-8-14

The same week we were busy distributing relief supplies we committed to a clinic too!

Sleep?  Who needs sleep? :) 

This clinic was in Gileron, Haiti.  What usually takes 20 minutes took over an hour because the river was too high to drive through!  It was a great clinic.  We had to wrap this one up quickly because of rain that came and the rive began rising very quickly!

I really, really, really, love working the pharmacy.  I love using my creole and explaining how fragile meds are.  I love getting to encourage young mommas who are scared for their child's health. And I REALLY loving being able to help Frantzy with his passion!  I have learned so much the last year and a half and I have SO much more to learn.  But I'm loving every single second.

One of the things I love most about this guy is his heart.  He doesn't sit and throw out a bunch of medical words and sends them away.  He sits and genuinely listen to these people, he doesn't just throw meds their way, but he tries to help them change their lifestyles or gives them natural remedies that they'll be able to afford, and he whole-heartedly loves these people.  He seriously amazes me!

Getting to the people! Flood 2014

We tried to get to this village many, many times.  The water was just too high.  Do you see the blue tent in the very middle of this picture?  That's on our friends roof.  She slept on the roof for a week without food with 17 other people.  We tried hiring a back hoe to get to them - the water was too high.  We tried a boat - the boat couldn't make it.  We literally did everything we could, we even tried to find air mattresses to float to them!  It was a tough week.  When we finally did get to them it was a very wonderful reunion! 

We have an incredible team.  I don't think the Haitians always know what to do with us.  We have a lot of fun!

Everyone made fun of my Putnam County style!  My feet definitely stayed the driest for the longest!  They definitely enjoyed making fun of me ;) 

Obviously, the mucking boots didn't help too much when the water started getting this high.

When we showed up, people started getting brave and venturing off of the roofs and out of their houses.  This was where the water was lowest.  These were the "lucky" of the village.

2 months later, the water is still standing.  It doesn't have anywhere to go.  The smell is exactly the way you're imagining it!

Seriously, cute kids are everywhere!

Christela is a little on the short side. And the mud was SO deep under the water.  She got stuck and we were all too far away to save her.  She just stood there and laughed until we came back. haha!

This was difficult for us to see.  Chances are these people weren't affected by the flooding.  But they literally slept outside of the gates to this NGO.  I believe this is USAID.  Someone showed us their 'relief' supplies.  We were definitely proud of ours :)  

This is our micro loan secretary, Noufie, and her family.  They have gained SO much respect from their village after this day!  It was such an incredible day!

This is when I ended up putting my camera away because the water was getting too high.  These people hadn't made it out of their homes yet.

The next week our neighboring city of Limbe had severe flooding.  We had some odds and end extra from the original items we purchased.  We got were able to bless the people who actually lost all they have.  Some houses were even completely washed away.  

This is the church.  Believe it or not, there is ceramic under that mud!

I love this man's heart for his people! So thankful I get to do life with him!

Flooding relief - THANK YOU SO MUCH!

The same day we saw all of the damage that the rains were causing we went home and were able to make 23 bags of food with some money that Frantzy and I had.  Clearly 23 bags of food wasn't going to get us very far.  We posted on facebook the cost of feeding a family and asked for help.  The response we received, wow!  I get tears just thinking about it!  It was incredible to see so many step up and get involved!  You all know who you are, THANK YOU!  We were able to feed close to 200 families with the donations that we given!  We got to go places that the UN or USAID hadn't ever been.  The Haitians were shocked and kept saying this was the first time they'd ever received any kind of aid!  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!  Not only did you bless SO many families with relief supplies, but you encouraged us so much!

Here are some pictures of us getting everything bagged and ready for distribution!

We REALLYYYY need a pick up truck. This poor pathfinder is such a trooper :) 

In Haiti, our bleach is powder and we add water.  It is SOOO strong!  

Each bag included: crackers, spaghetti, macaroni, juice, candles, matches, soap, oil, bleach, charcoal, toilet paper, sugar, and flour.  

The bags were really heavy...this was taken seconds before he fell backwards.

We made 3 trips to the same village....have I mentioned we need a pick up truck? :)