Heading to Haiti 2016

So, tomorrow morning, after almost a year of anticipation and planning, I head to Haiti to our sister school, St. Paul's Episcopal School. I am honored to accompany two wonderful faculty members and 14 amazing students on this journey. All have work diligently to prepare to host a summer camp for students with activities from English lessons to soccer games, arts and crafts, and music.

As I journey to this special place, I am fully aware of the privilege I bring with me. As I sit writing this blog, I am fed, healthy and secure. I am fortunate to have a career that supports my family and allows us to live without much want. My life is not perfect, but it is good. I am thankful.

I know many parts of this trip will not be easy, physically or emotionally, but that's okay. Sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zone to better understand the world around us. To understand, in the words of anthropologist, Wade Davis, "The world in which we were born is just one model of reality. Other cultures are not failed attempts at being you. They are unique manifestations of the human spirit."

My hope for this trip is that we are all able to embrace the lessons that await us. Those lessons of resilience and hope from a beautiful culture of survivors, of a people of faith. To understand that our world, our wants, our desires, do not define all people; to find joy in the simple pleasure of learning and sharing and connecting to the human spirit.

I am grateful to this amazing community that has supported this trip and the students and faculty who are going. I am grateful that I will get to share this experience with my own daughter, a blessing indeed.

I pray that our time in Haiti is fruitful, for both our Haitian brothers and sisters and for us.
And off we go...