My dream come true.

Our amazing sunsets here in Gros-Morne

 

 Hello everyone!! I hope everyone is staying warm in the cold weather you are receiving back in the states. We are enjoying our 90 degree weather over here in Haiti.

These our some of our wonderful children who will be enjoying the playground at school with your love and support!

 

I was going to tell you all about what the holidays are like here, but I am going to have to hold off on that because I want to really explain to you all what my playground project is all about. As I mentioned in a few blogs back when I knew I was coming back to Haiti I wanted to focus on the kids, because they are my world. I knew I would be working at the school, but I wanted to do something special for them. I wanted to do something that would give them a place for their imagination to explore a new world, for them to be a child for a few minutes.

 

I had done a ton of research on playgrounds, and found wonderful websites that were beyond helpful. There was one website though that I decided to stay with because it was excellent. It’s called playground ideas, and it simply is that. It has a ton of ideas of what to build in playgrounds that have been done all around the world, but especially in places that have nothing. The website also connects you to do mission work with them. You can sign up and help build playgrounds all over the world, and once I saw that I knew this website was the right one. You can make an account, and it allows for you to see all the information. I looked through the pictures of what they have already created in other parts of the world, and they were amazing. One thing that is very unique about our playground, and these other playgrounds is that they are all built from recycled products. This means that playground is going to be built form mostly old tires. We will also have to buy some new products such as bolts, screws, wood, sheet metal, and etc. to ensure the safety of our playground. I went through the website multiple times to pick out a few of my favorite things to be built in the playground. I picked out a cube climber, balance beam, crazy caterpillar, drums, and a tire motorbike. I knew that our kids would love these objects. After I wrote down all my ideas, and organized my thoughts I had to organize meetings with our school principal, and teachers. It is very important to me that they are included every step of the way with this project. I was beyond nervous for this meeting because I didn’t know what reaction I was going to get, but it honestly went very well. The teachers loved the ideas, and even added in a few of their own. They wanted to have seesaw, but we didn’t think that was the safest idea. They also want a slide, and we all agreed to build one of those. I was so thrilled the teachers had wonderful input, and we were all on the same page. The next step then was organizing a meeting with the parents of students. I typed up a with the a note with the help of Sister Pat, and one of our past volunteers, and then handed them out to our students. Now, this was going to be the real test for me, and this project. Would the parents actually show up? Would they like the idea?, and what were their thoughts going to be about it? I called this meeting because as said I want the teachers to be involved, but  I also want the parents involved. This is so important to me because they need to be involved, and I want them to be able to call it their own. That is the problem with a lot of projects that take place not only here in Haiti, but in other parts of the world that are in poverty. People come in, and have these wonderful ideas, but they don’t actually allow for the people to put in their own ideas. So if you do these big huge projects, and you think it’s a good idea, that doesn’t mean the people agree with you. It’s also important to include them because you want them to feel like it’s their project. That you just didn’t come in, and build it all on your own. We had the meeting on a Friday afternoon, and I was nervous. I had our school keeper help organize it, and help me get my point across properly in creole to the parents. We had a ton of parents show up, which made me so happy. I was so grateful to see them interested, and wanting to help. We explained to them what we wanted to do, and how the process of planning would continue. The parents all were excited, and wanted to help. It was great to experience this feeling, because as some of you may not know sometimes parents don’t really care about what is going on in their kid’s life at school. This may come as a shock, but it’s true. They are worried about how to survive, and if they are going to be able to feed their family the next day, so I was just beyond thrilled that we had the outcome we did.

Some objects that will be placed in our playground. (Photos taken by Jacinta)

 

          After that meeting I had to do more planning. I talked to one of our main guys that we work with closely here in Gros-Morne. He is a wonderful friend, and helps around our house a lot. I gave him a list of how many tires we would need, and the sizes because he was going to start outreaching to people in the community for me. Now, this was going to be the hard part, because they have tires, but they don’t hold them for that long. So I told him to tell them that I will pay them a little more to hold on to some tires for me. This is one step that is going to be on going for our playground until we get all the tires, and until we can buy them. The rest of the products such as the wood, sheet metal, screws, bolts, and etc., we will be buying down in PAP. We will be buying all the material here in Haiti expect for a ground covering. We have been having some trouble with this as of right now, because it is difficult to find something and get over here to Haiti. When I say ground covering, we want something such as turf, a soft matting to put on the ground so if our children would fall they would not get hurt. This is very important for us because our kids safety comes first. We are still in the process with working with a company, but if anyone out there has any ideas please feel free to contact us with your input!!

We can not tell you enough how grateful we are for your love and support!

          Now, that you have the information on what I am exactly planning I want to tell you what steps I am really focusing on right now. The big step to make this playground come true is fundraising. I have been outreaching to my university, local newspapers, big newspapers, using Facebook, Instagram, and writing blogs. This playground cannot come true without all the help of you. If you go to http://www.rjm-us.org/partners/quest.html and look in the blue box to the right you will see contribute to RJM. You will click on that link and it will take you to the RJM fundraising page. Then in the RJM Haiti Fund you will see where it talks about the Haiti playground project, to read about it you will click on the “Click Here” button, and it will give you the story about the playground. Once you have looked at the story you can click “Donate Now”, and it will take you to the page on where to donate. When you are donating to the Haiti playground fund you just have specifically put in the box that it is for this project. I greatly appreciate any donation you make for the playground, and remember no donation is too small. If you cannot make a donation please pass on our story to others. I truly appreciate anything and everything you can do. I am so beyond grateful for all the love and support each and every one of you give me and to what I am doing here in Haiti. If anyone has any questions about my playground project please feel free to contact me at 40ratke@gmail.com, also if you have any ideas for the ground surface feel free to contact me! I am so beyond excited to get this project on the ground for our kids, and trust me our kids our beyond grateful for your love and support!

 

May God bless you all, and be on the lookout for my next post!!

Love always,

Beth

My Cinderella Story.

 

                                                           Welcoming my hero home

Well now that you heard about what I do here on daily basis and, you got to see some breathtaking smiles I want to tell you about my surprise visit home.

So as you have read in my earlier blogs my boyfriend works for the United States Air Force. He was deployed back in May before my college graduation. He was scheduled to come home in November so I planned to fly home to welcome him home. The dates kept changing of when he was truly going to land back in the U.S, so I really had no idea if it was going to work. We had decided though to keep my flight and that we would figure something out. Now with all this being said my parents knew I was coming home, and my brothers did as well until I played a little joke on them. I had called my one brother a few days before and told him that I was so sorry Jesse wasn’t coming home, and I wouldn’t be coming home at all. My brothers reaction was pretty pissed off and upset at me, but he didn’t know I was so called “Fibbing.” I left Gros-Morne on the morning of November 10^th and was on my journey back to the good old U.S of A. I had so many mixed emotions inside of me. I was nervous to surprise my brothers and friends, and I had no idea if all my flights would go smoothly. The ride to the airport went pretty smooth though. When I had arrived at the airport in PAP I was almost in a shock, it didn’t feel real that I was going home. I went through security and checked my bags in. Then I just waited.

 I meant some pretty interesting people in the airport thought. I meant one family who finally had their adoption made final. They had been coming to Haiti for a period of two years to adopt their son. He was so adorable and you could see that they were so thrilled to be bringing him back the states. I then meant a father who had two sons with him. He again begin to tell me his story and then asked me what I was doing in Haiti. He was in the process of adopting two children from Haiti, but they still had a few months to wait to make it all finalized. It was amazing seeing these families filled with joy and happiness. It’s a wonderful gift they are giving to the children of Haiti and to themselves. We then begin to board the plan and again I got nervous because I had no idea who I was going to be seated next too, but I have to say I was pretty lucky. I got seated next to an older Haitian gentleman, who was a priest up north in Haiti. He was so sweet. He only speak creole, so I helped him fill out the paper work to get into the states. He thanked me so much. He was truly one of the kindest men. It’s amazing the people you meet for only a few hours, and they impact they can have in that short amount of time. The flight from Haiti in to Miami was only about two hours so I was there before I knew it. When the plane had reached Miami it didn’t feel like real life honestly. I didn’t really think I was back the U.S. I walked off the plane, and I was in shock. It was cold for one thing, and there were just so many “White People.” I know that may sound weird or rude to say, but honestly it’s how I felt.  In Haiti we don’t see swarms of Americans coming in to town day in and day out. We get a few visiting groups here and there, which is nice because it allows for us to have conversation, but other than that we adopt to Haitian culture. The first thing I did when I landed was I wanted to get some candy. Yeap, you read that right I wanted to get some CANDY!!! I was craving sour patch kids, so I walked in a little news store and looked around. It honestly felt like I was in dream. Everything was so expensive and there was way too much variety to pick from. I know you might be thinking right now “Well hello Beth you should know all of this you haven’t been gone for that long “, but honestly it’s amazing how fast I get use to the Haitian culture. I mean I can walk down the street and buy a pack of cookies for one dollar U.S, and when I say a pack of cookies I mean a bag filled with 15 packs of cookies inside of it. I can buy small mint candies for 2 pennies U.S, and then I come back here and all candy is 3-5 dollars. It was very overwhelming, and I felt so alone. I of course bought the candy because I needed a little something in my stomach, and then I just sat down an waited for my next flight. I was so anxious at this point because no one in D.C knew that I was coming! I had no idea if my surprise was going to work or just completely fall apart. We had started loading my flight to D.C around 3:45 and I would arrive hopefully around 5:45. I needed to be at CUA by 6 because if not my surprise was going to fail miserably. I knew though that it was out of my hands I just had to wait and see what was going to happen. I was on the next flight all settled in, and then we had a surprise of a lifetime. The flight attendant got on the speaker and announced that we had sisters on flight carrying the Pope John Paul the second relic. They allowed for any person on the flight to go up and pay their respects. I was taken by total surprise I mean Hello Pope John Paul the second ?!?!!! I of course waited my turn and went up to pay my respects. The relic was in a gold plated booked inside of a wooden case. It was absolutely breath taking. They were taking the relic and traveling around the D.C and Maryland areas. It was a pretty amazing experience, and I have to say I am so lucky to have been able to take part in it. The rest of my flight was pretty easy going. I landed in D.C much later then I had expected and I had to hurry my little butt up. I kept calling Bobby, who works with my brother at CUA, and telling him to please keep my brother there as long as a possible. I think everyone in the airport who saw me thought I was crazy. Finally my luggage came and I bulleted for the metro station, but once I reached it I totally forget how to get to CUA.  Yeap, THAT’S THE TRUTH! I figured it out though and was on my way, but of course the lovely metro was running slower than a turtle that day. I was honestly losing it! I couldn’t believe that my surprise wasn’t going to work. I kept calling Bobby and begging him to do anything to keep my brother there. He kept telling me to hurry my butt up! I arrived at the school way past 6, and hoped in Bobby’s car. He told me my brother was beyond pissed at him and the so called “Contractor” that was coming to see the fields. I ran in to the Duf, and there was my whole softball team. They were in shock, but I didn’t have time to stop and explain myself. I ran up the stairs and Bobby went into my brother’s office. Bobby told Pat it was time and that the guy was waiting out by the door. As my brother was walking out I walked in, and he was shocked! The first thing out of his mouth was “I hate you.” I knew he didn’t really mean that, but he was totally taken off guard. It worked out wonderful. He couldn’t believe that Bobby kept that secret from him. Everyone in the athletic department was shocked. Their jaws just dropped. I have to say it was a pretty good surprise and it worked out perfectly. After I was done surprising him I got to go see my old team, which was pretty great. It felt so good to see them and catch up even if it was for 10 minutes. My brother and I then headed out to surprise Rachel, his girlfriend. I was so excited to keep surprising everyone. We got to his apartment and I ran inside to hide in their room. Once Rachel got back from walking the dog, Pat asked her to go and get his classes off of the table. When she walked in the room I jumped out of the closet, and she was beyond shocked. She screamed and started crying. It was honestly priceless, and I wish I could have video typed it. It felt so good to be back with my family, and I was still so excited to surprise everyone else.

 

 

Surprising my two big brothers was such a success!

 The first night back though was hard. It felt so weird to actually be back in the U.S, and it still hadn’t really hit me that I was back. I went to take a shower, and I forgot that I could use hot water. I mean it felt amazing to have it, but so weird at the same time. I had slept ok the first night, but I was excited to get up, and visit my friends at college. I went into work with my brother and hung out, and then I decided to head in to the city to buy a new outfit for Jesse’s homecoming. WELL THAT WAS A HUGE MISTAKE. I took the metro and headed in to Chinatown, and I thought for sure I would found something. I walked into forever 21 and I felt like I was going to have a mental breakdown to be honest. I was so overwhelmed by everything. The new styles, the winter clothes, the shoes, I mean just everything was so different. I didn’t last even 15 minutes and I walked out. I gave up and went to buy some ice-cream. I knew that ice-cream would make everything all better, but honestly it didn’t. I just felt so out of place like I didn’t belong anymore. I felt like I was the outsider. I can’t really describe this feeling, but I guess the best way is saying I felt like a foreigner in my own country. I highlight this because some people understand what this feels like, and know how it feels to be alone. After the ice-cream I headed back to campus just to hang out and catch up with people. That was what the next three days was really like for me. Checking out the new things on campus, and seeing my friends. Now you might think well that had to be blast, and don’t get me wrong it was so nice, but also very different. So many things had changed. We are all on different life paths, and growing up. I know that may sound silly to say, but it’s weird to actually see these changes first hand. Obviously we grow up and continue to move on with our lives in different paths, but it’s crazy to see how much each of us has grown in different ways. Life is truly an extraordinary journey. Now I don’t want you to think I wasn’t happy seeing my friends, and seeing all the changes, because I was. It was so great to see everyone happy and doing well. I honestly had an amazing time seeing everyone, and I miss my friends a lot.

            Although, I was getting so anxious, nervous, and excited for what was going to be the best day of my life. I still hadn’t found the perfect outfit to wear, and I was determined too. My brother took me shopping and I spent probably three hours looking because I was still overwhelmed by everything, but I finally found what I wanted to wear. I picked out a dress with brand new Tom shoes. I couldn’t believe the day was so close. I barely slept that night because I had so many emotions running through me. The next morning I woke up pretty early and gathered my things up to head to work with my brother. I wanted to look perfect for my hero. I sat in the locker room for a few hours and curled my hair. After I was done I wondered around and was checking my phone every five minutes. I kept checking my phone because I was waiting to hear from Jesse. He texted me when he landed in Germany, and I still couldn’t believe he was actually coming home. He gave me his carrier number and the number of the gate that he would come in it. My brother and I checked almost every hour to make sure he was still coming in on time, and to our surprise it had changed once. It was coming in later then it was suppose, but that was ok. The whole day went by so fast and it was finally time for us to head to the airport. We left around 4:00 because of traffic, and thank God we left early. Traffic was pretty heavy. We went to the mall first to get something to eat and to walk around. I was a wreck. I was just so nervous! I really kept thinking what if he doesn’t love me anymore? What if he doesn’t think I’m pretty anymore? I know you may all think that sounds ridiculous, but it’s what I really thought. The time was getting closer and closer for us to head to the airport, and I was a mess. My brother thought it was hilarious! We arrived at the gate and we knew it was the right one because everyone was dressed in military clothing, and holding their welcome home signs. Now, I wore the new outfit I had bought, but it was freezing cold so I wore sweatpants an a sweatshirt over them. When we were standing around I didn’t know whether to take them off or keep them on, but most people who know me can guess what I decided. I kept them on. You could tell everyone was getting anxious for the plane to start un loading, and we had been waiting around for about two hours. The people kept saying they were there, but it was taking time for them to get through customs. They called all family, fiancés, boyfriends, girlfriends (etc.) to come up around the doors to wait for their loved ones. My heart was beating so fast and my hands were so sweaty. I couldn’t wait any longer to see my hero! People started coming out one by one, and then in groups, but of course I didn’t see him. I just kept waiting and waiting. It was so amazing though to see people reunited with their loved ones. They had tears of joy in their eyes, and the biggest smiles on their faces. Being able to see these experiences were pretty amazing, but I was so ready to jump in the arms of my hero. Finally the moment came!!! I saw the look on my brother’s face and I knew he was walking out of that gate. I ran past the door and I saw that handsome smile. I waited one more second, and then I dropped my poster, and jumped right into those arms! I felt like the earth stopped that very moment, and everything stood still. It was the most amazing moment of my life! I just kept holding on to him and didn’t want to let go, but of course I did. It felt so good to look in to his eyes, and to be able to say I love you. We had our picture taken then walked down through long lines of people standing on the sides. The moment felt unreal, like it was a dream. I couldn’t stop smiling! We had to wait maybe ten minutes for him to be let go, and then we headed out to go to base.

 

 

The jump into my hero's arms.

The hug

The hair flip

The kiss

My Hero

(The photos are credited to Kathy Jones Photography.)

 

 

                                               Spending time with family before I flew out.

            The next few days flew by us. We were so busy seeing people and playing tourist because Jesse’s mom came to visit D.C. It was a lot of fun to be able to enjoy D.C for once. The best thing though was spending time with my hero. It didn’t matter if I was cold or tired because I had him by my side. The time flew by us so quick, but I did get to stay home a few days longer than expected. We headed to PA to be with my family for thanksgiving which was wonderful. It felt so good to be with my parents and Jesse. We got to run around PA, and just have time for ourselves. It truly was perfect! I am so grateful and blessed that I got to come home to visit everyone, especially to welcome my hero home!!! I honestly had no idea how I was going to walk away from everyone. Now that I was home I didn’t want to leave, but I knew I had to. It was pretty hard saying see you later to my parents. My mom’s eyes filled with tears as she said good bye, and my dad just kept reminding her that everything would be ok. I know my parents are proud of me and support me in these dreams, but it’s so hard to see them upset. It’s hard walking away from the ones you love even if you know you’re going to see them again. Jesse and I headed back to D.C, and had a few days to ourselves. We relaxed and just spent time with each other, which was amazing, but that time flew by in an blink of an eye. I couldn’t believe it was time for me to head back to my second home. The night before I flew out we hung out with my brother, and his girlfriend. It was lovely. We went to dinner, took pictures, and enjoyed each other’s company for the last time. Then it was time to say another see you later, and I hate saying that to my bro. It was so hard because I got so use to spending time with him and having it be like old times again.  Although, I was proud of myself because I held my tears back. After saying see you later it was time to spend the last few hours with my handsome hero. It honestly didn’t feel real that I was leaving. I didn’t really sleet all I just cuddled up next time and closed my eyes. We had to wake up pretty early to get to the airport on time, and to be honest neither of us said much that morning. I knew if I opened my mouth to talk I would just start to cry my eyes out. When we reached the airport we just sat there and I started to cry. I didn’t know  what to do honestly. Should I get back on the plane or stay here with my hero?  All I could do was cry and cry. My heart was shattered, of course I didn’t want to leave him. I want to spend every minute of every day with him, but I knew I needed to go back. Don’t let me fool you though, I wanted run back off that plane through security back in to his arms. It truly was the hardest thing in the world to walk away from him. To know that I wasn’t going to be with him every day for a while again. It never gets easier saying see you later to the one you love more than anything, and it will never be easy. I am truly the luckiest girl in the world to call him mine. Welcoming home my hero was the best feeling in the world and I truly can’t wait to be back with him.

 

            Now that I gave you insight in to my corny love life you can all go puke now….. hah no please don’t but I hope this allows for you to share in my emotions. I truly am beyond blessed to be living the life I do, but I am also the luckiest girl in the world to have Jesse by my side.

Remember never to take your loved ones for granted cherish them every minute of every day.

Be on the lookout for my next blog to hear about Christmas in Haiti!