I'm going to Haiti...and I have a place to stay!!

For the past few weeks, there was a real possibility that I would not have a place to stay while in Haiti. Last Saturday I received a call from an acquaintance I reached out to who has been to Haiti several times who has been a real blessing to me, not just in assisting me with finding a place to stay, but also in preparing for the trip.. He called to let me know that he had two potential places/people who may have space available for me to stay with them while in Haiti. The first, is an organization called Tytoo Gardens, the other was with a social worker who is working in the mountains in Haiti. After a week of praying for wisdom and waiting to find out whether Tytoo Gardens would have space for me, I finally heard from their director and was told they would be able to house me. As much as the social worker in me wanted to go off on an adventure with this social worker Tausha who is working in Haiti, I felt peace about choosing to go work with Tytoo Gardens.

Tytoo Gardens is located in the village of Simonette which is about 40km from Haiti's main city Port Au Prince. Tytoo Gardens cares for orphans, helps orphans and local children attend school, assists locals in ensuring they have access to basic health care, and provides elders with food and necessities. While Tytoo does have an orphanage they have also developed programs to assist mothers in caring for their children so that they do not have to give them up because they cannot care for them. I am so excited that God has opened this door. I feel that Tytoo Gardens has similar values to mine and cannot wait to meet the children at the orphanage and the families who are a part of their starfish program ( a program that provides support to women so they can care for their families), as well as learn about all the other programs and meet all the other people whom they work with.

As I have been preparing for this trip I have been reminded of the sober realities I will face in a third world county. Yesterday I made an appointment to obtain malaria medication and today I purchased malaria nets and travel insurance. But God is good and I look forward to all that he has in store for me while I am there. I am so thankful that God opened this door and cannot wait to share about all my adventures in Haiti!