Jessica's blog

I was given the honor of writing the blog for today. I am a photographer and am able to express myself and my experiences through my photos. I realize now how hard it is to put your life experiences into words, especially those in Haiti. I came last year and loved every minute of it! However the week was definitely not long enough. By the time I had adjusted to the culture, started to make connections with the people and just beginning to work it was time to go home. Now being blessed to return this year I am more eager than ever to give all that I can in this short amount of time I am here. So far this week has been amazing. It is the most wonderful feeling when you smile as your eyes meet the eyes of a village person and the most joyous smile spreads across their face in return. It is during moments like that when I am astonished at how much you can connect with a person who you do not know without saying a word. Even though there is the language barrier separating you from most of the people you find all sorts of ways to communicate. Yesterday we got the opportunity to climb "Mathew's Mountain" to pass out love bundles to some school children.

I was really excited at first but because we got started late, the sun got hot fast and it wasn't long before I was drenched in sweat and ready to turn around. I have to say though it was so worth it once we reached the top and got to over look the stretch of land and sea that lay below us. The kids were so thrilled and thankful as we got to pass the love bundles out. You really see how much impact those small acts of love have on them.
Today I got to see the wonderful hands of the nurses that came with our group stitch up a small boy's head. He had fallen off a donkey and gashed his head to the skull. It is so awesome that these village people have quality medical facilities to go to.
God has truly blessed this mission and the people who are involved, everyone is ready to lend a hand and always wears a smile that reflects God's light in them. It is a place I find hard to leave behind. Before I left on my trip for this week I had many people ask why I would even want to go return to Haiti, that there was nothing there, especially after the earthquake. It's simple really, Haiti is with out a doubt a cursed land with hardly anything to offer someone like me but I don't return because I fell in love with the land, I return because I fell in love with the people. They are a people with extremely large hearts and are my family in Christ.