Is this Real Life?

I can't seem to wrap my mind around where I actually am right now. I am in one of the poorest countries in the world. It is so decieving though. I was sitting on our porch last night and as I looked out I just saw beautiful mountains and the houses on the mountains looked nice from afar. However, when we drive out of our neighborhood everytime I'm reminded of where I am. The instant you drive out of my neighborhood you are crowded with people, people who have nothing. I'm very interested to know what the people are doing. Some seem like they really have important things they are working on, some are just hanging out trying to sell their crops or drinks, and some are trying to build bikes or something else out of old tires that were just basically lying in the streets. I have noticed though, I haven't seen to many that look depressed or to sad to go on. They seem to get up and go to work. It's crazy to see the buildings destroyed by the earthquake. It seems like where I am actually could have been quite a nice place to be before the Earthquake. I can't quite think of how people make it here. I don't know how money functions or works in this area. How do people survive? Its been very interesting for me to see all this, but for some reason it has still not struck me as real. I still feel like I am living a dream or I'm just watching a sad movie. I want to get out and work with the people, all the Haitains I've met so far are very kind people. Granted they work for the Embassy so they have to treat us pretty well, it's part of their job. However, I do get a good sense from these people. I can't wait to get out and work among them. I'm still trying to work out the details of finding places to volunteer and a place to go to church. Our driver is a member of the church and has been for 11 years. He was a misionary in Haiti. However, the area he goes to church is an area we are not allowed to go, so I can't go with him. There is a younger American girl who goes to church around here but she is going on a cruise soon so she will be gone the next two Sundays. I want to get to church soon though so I can really get a sense of the people here and what their lives are like and what me as a young 25 year old girl can do for them.

The Local "taxis" These are called Tap Taps and it's amazing how many people get in them. I often think some are gonna fall out. I was taking these pics from my car, and felt kind of bad taking pictures of the people as I drive by.

This is the area right outside our neighborhood, it's kind of  hard to really get the gist of it, but as you see there are so many people out and about on the streets.

And this my friends is the nicest building in all of Haiti, or at least seems that way so far. This is the Embassy for the United States of America. See that pool? Thats where most of my time will be spent I assume. I feel pretty guilty living the lap of luxury when just outside of the Embassy gates there are starving or very poor people all around.

Day One Haiti

I spent two days on an airplane and in airports to get here, but I finally made it. It was a very easy and smooth flight and arrival.  As I came down the escalator off the plane The Lasons and a Haitain American Embassy Worker greeted me. I got in a car and the man took my passport and papers and went through immigration for me and picked up my bags for me. We then got in another car where it was just me and the family I'm going to be with for the next 6 months. As we exited the airport I can't really explain what I saw. I saw people everywhere. People begging for money or working. I saw extreme poverty like i have never seen. It all seems unreal. I can't believe how the people here live and my heart really goes out to them. On our drive to the house and Embassy we had several people begging at our cars including a little child. It really broke my heart. I feel so blessed already and so humbled by this experience and seeing these things. I hope to be able to do some good here and help some people. Its pretty overwhelming to see the need they have here. I am interested to go back out tomorrow and see more. I live in a nice home with water and food. The family Im going to be working with are very nice and very accomodating. I am looking forward to seeing what lies ahead for me here. It will be an experience of a lifetime for sure!

I'm going to Haiti

Yes, it's true I'm going to one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere that has had disaster after disaster. Its a very exciting journey that I'm about to embark upon. Many have asked what I'm going to do there. Instead of typing this over and over I thought I'd put it here and refer everyone here who cared. So here's the story. In September I saw a posting on the lds singles email listserv that said Nanny wanted in Haiti. It was an advertisement for a family who was moving there to work on the U.S. embassy compound. They both work for the U.S. embassy. He is something dealing with protection and she is a nurse. So, I have my safety and my health covered right there which is most peoples concerns with me going there. I'm also going to be living in a place with Americans on the compound and I will have safe water and food. Granted I will still have to be very careful and there are still a lot of precautions I will and have already had to take. I will work Monday through Friday for them. I will be then able to go and do humanitarian service on Saturdays and go to church on Sundays. I'm nervous a little bit, but mostly excited. Ever since I have been asked and been thinking about doing this everything has fallen into place so amazingly. I just feel like Heavenly Father is truly guiding me there for one reason or another. I will have so many amazing opportunities to help others and really forget about myself, which I feel at this time in my life is really important. I have been pretty self involved for the past while. It's time I got on another mission which is basically what Ill be doing. I leave in January and will return in July in time to figure out the next step in my life of finding a real job with benefits. I am very excited for this adventure and I hope that all of you will keep me posted in your life and write me occasionally:) I would love to hear from you all. I will also be updating my blog more regularly and be posting pictures of the conditions down there. I know its going to be shocking and really life changing. I can't wait! Love you all!