What is your reason?

I want to believe that everything happens for a reason, that God really does have a plan for us all, and then something terrible happens, and everything I like to think about life just doesn't seem possible anymore.  I know this sounds depressing, and I don't mean to make anyone sad, but today I saw the aftermath of a Semi hitting a Motorcycle and it got me thinking once again about life in general, what it means to live everyday, and how lucky I am.  I have lost several family members over the past few years, and as I grow older I don't expect my older family members to stop dying so it will be something I will just have to deal with being on the significantly younger end of things.  But all of these depressing thoughts lead to me thinking about how much worse off things could be in my life, and how terrible life has been for so many I know in Haiti.  For me seeing one dead body is a life-altering experience, but I can only imagine what it must have been like after the Earthquake.  And I am sure thousands have asked the same thing- Why?  Why did so many deserve all of this pain and suffering?  So all of us sitting pretty and comfortable could take notice, and if we felt compelled, do something about it?  But then so many ask Why help Haiti when there are so many problems right here in my own backyard?  That is a good question for many of you to ask, and that will lead me back to my statement that I would like to believe that everything in life happens for a reason.

In the spring of 2009 I was about to graduate college, and although I would have an official degree I knew that I would probably not being pursuing my photographic career much farther than personal enjoyment, so I began to apply to jobs all over the country through Americorps website. In May I got a phone call from Habitat for Humanity in Seattle and they decided to do a phone interview.  Everything went well and they said they would be getting back to me soon.  Everyone seemed to be going perfect, the lady who interviewed me was upbeat and nice, and I thought I would definitely get the job!  In the beginning of June my friend Juliet called me and told me she had gone on a mission trip to Haiti in March, and really wanted me to go back with her in August.  I listened to what she had to say, and quickly just gave her an answer she wanted to hear "If I don't get the job in Seattle (which was to start in August) I would go to Haiti with her".  Well as luck, fate, or God would have it later that evening I got an e-mail from Habitat for Humanity informing me that I had not gotten the job.  I was so upset that I didn't get the job, but almost immediately I called Juliet to tell her that I would be going to Haiti with her.  So in August of 2009 I got on a plane with a bunch of people I didn't know, and that plane took me to a place I knew nothing about, and I spent a week falling in love with people I could not understand, and I was hooked.  So once again I ask myself Why?  Why did I not get that job in Seattle?  Why after 7 years of mission trips to different parts of the country, did I find such a calling to be in Haiti?

I don't know.  I can not answer these questions, and I can not tell you what things in life you should feel passion for, but I know what I believe, and I know Haiti is important to me, so I would like to thank all of those people who decided giving me $5 was worth their trouble despite all of the other things people believe are important to give money to and support.  But to those of you who think perhaps it would be better to help someone locally, instead of someone so far away, then please take that $5 and put your thoughts and opinions in to action.  I don't think my cause is the only cause worthy of attention, and I would be happy to know that Someone, somewhere has benefitted because life is too short to keep everything to yourself.

Lucky Kentucky

I know it has been a really long time since I have posted anything, but hopefully in the coming months I will find several good reasons to write to all of my adoring fans out there!  In August Kristen and I hoped to go to Haiti again, but our plans never really got anywhere for several reasons, including the fact that I learned 8 of the kids from the orphanage would be coming to Kentucky to sing.  Mona, Sophia, Fabienne, Wideline, Delva, Jean Eddy, David, Jeff, and Sonson spent 15 days traveling around the greater Lexington area singing to churches, and spending time with several of their American friends.  I got a chance to spend a few days with them, and we even got to take them to the Cincinnati Zoo.  What was planned to be an entire day at the zoo turned in to only a few hours; being on Haitian time is something I am going to have to get used to; But the few hours we did spend at the zoo seemed to be enough time to see things that all of those kids had only ever seen pictures or drawings of.  The Elephants were obviously an awesome thing to see, and so were the lions, but my favorite part of the trip was Jeff's enthusiasm to be as interactive as possible.  He was the only one that wanted to feed the Giraffes, so we made a special effort to make it happen.  In Haiti, having an animal for a pet, or even touching an animal for more than slaughter is not a popular concept.  Cows, pigs, chickens, goats, are all considered food, and as for cats and dogs- they are around, but if most people hardly eat, then so it goes most people are not concerned with whether animals are getting food or not.  (They even ask on immigrations forms when entering the U.S. whether you have handled livestock or not.  I wonder what happens if you check yes?)  Regardless it was so exciting to have him do something so unique to most people- feed a Giraffe.  I don't have any children.  I can't say what it feels like to introduce your own child to so many new and special things in life, but being able to show something to anyone who hasn't been able to experience things that others have is exciting.  Every time we are down in Haiti we get to do this with so many young children, and treating all of these kids like children, and I dare say spoiling them, is an awesome thing!  I can't say how most of the kids we see down there actually live, but I doubt it involves a lot of childhood activities like playing, and partying, or even something as normal to us as going to school, so being able to bring them happiness is well worth all the mosquito bites in the world.

P.S. While the kids were in Kentucky Jean Eddy was offered a sponsorship from some amazing people, and will in the near future be attending the University of Kentucky!