Preparations

In preparing to go to Haiti, I have taken some steps to improve my language abilities.  Haiti Hub was one of the first resources I used to begin to learn Creole, and so I returned to that website.  Now there are on-line modules and the program is no longer free, as it was four years ago when I took an on line class via Skype.  It is well worth the price.  I was able to work through the modules with greater confidence and ease then I had taking the Skype class four years ago.  I an now even considered a "Haiti Hub All Star."  The modules helped me to relearn some forgotten words and to identify mistakes I was making routinely.  A few months ago I was able to download for free the entire Haitian Creole New Testament, available on Amazon.com.  When I am running on the tread mill or through the streets of New Orleans I am often listening.   I can exercise, pray and practice my Creole listening comprehension all at the same time; what could be better than that!  

When I was at a play therapy conference here in New Orleans a few months ago, and won a door prize for a gift certificate towards a portion of the price of a weekend long play therapy training called Camp Playmore, I asked my congregation if  I would be able to go.  I actually expected that the answer would be "no," given the travel and other costs since the training was in Arizona.  The leadership team said "yes" supporting the fact that it would help to prepare me to again work with younger children in Haiti.  Last Thursday I flew to Phoenix and took a shuttle to Sedona Arizona.  I had never been that far west before and was amazed at the landscape.  Never had I seen such red rocks,  mountains of such varied shape, or  tall cactus.  My words can not possibly do justice to the beauty I witnessed.  I was not sure what to expect.  One of the two presenters was the speaker during one day at the Louisiana Play Therapy conference here in New Orleans last March, but other than that everyone was a complete stranger when I arrived on Thursday night.  By Sunday I felt grateful for having met some gifted, wonderfully supportive, and amazing play therapists who despite the brevity of knowing them I would now dare to call friends.  The conversations and activities inspired me and energized me.  I truly believe that God wanted me to attend Camp Playmore and to meet the people I encountered.  During the past week at Covenant House, I found myself using some ideas I had received during the workshop and somehow felt a little freer and more confident in my clinical work with clients, as a result of those days.  Now I find myself feeling even more excited about going to Haiti and working with younger children once again.  

While I was in the airport Sunday afternoon, people were gathered around a large television by a restaurant cheering because America was playing in the World Cup.  I smiled and remembered that when I was studying Creole in Miami four years ago, classmates were running to a student lounge area to check the football scores during breaks.  One again I am preparing to go to Haiti while the world is watching the Wold Cup.  I wonder where I will be the next time the World Cup is played??  M pa konnen (I don't know.)  

I will try to update this once a month until I arrive in Haiti at which point my goal will be weekly updates assuming that internet connections are available and cooperative.     I hope you are enjoying the summer.  Take care!