what once was lost

Our lost and wondering van has been discovered and recovered! It was identified in Haiti by a Kids Alive employee and is back in the DR where it belongs. The traveling gua gua is heading to another Kids Alive site in the mountains where it was intended to go before its vacation to Haiti. We're so thankful that the van was found... the chances of that happening weren't good and its really a miracle!

just some pictures of the kiddies playing at recess...

stolen

You start out the day thinking that you are embarking on any normal Monday morning. You wander over to where you park the vehicle and realize... this isn't just some regular day... this is the day that someone chose to steal your 16 passenger van. Well, more accurately, Kids Alive's 16 passenger van.

Yes, the faithful gua gua got stolen this morning, we think sometime around 5 am. It's not only an inconvenience for the 10 staff members it transports each day into the care center, it is also obviously a huge expense and a great loss for the ministry. The police are going to be stopping similar vehicles around the island in hopes of locating our trusty van.

mom & dad

I knew it would be great to have my parents here for the week, but their visit actually surpassed my expectations. It was just the most perfect timing for me to have my biggest fans around. I loved being able to spend time with them and show them around where I live here. Saying goodbye was so difficult! It's so different being the one left behind! Is that how they feel every time I leave home??

Christmas in September

It's hard to believe that it's time for the kids to be working on their Christmas projects again already. It was almost a year ago that everything was covered in glitter. This year, the project requires a lot less glue and glitter supervision. So while Jessi and her mom Vicki (who is visiting) have been weighing, measuring and treating the kids with a de-worming medicine, we've also been working slowly through this years Christmas letter from the children to their sponsors. So maybe I've been listening to Christmas music a little bit... I'm my mothers daughter. Speaking of which, my mom and dad arrive tomorrow to visit for a week!

blue skies

Thanks to everyone who has written and called to make sure that I was ok through the beginning of the stormy season. There has been some wind and thunder that shook the windows in our apartment, but for the most part the hurricanes haven't really hit us where I live on the north coast of the island. We have been safe and the rain has been a welcome change from the humidity of summer!

lunch

The time has come to start eating the hens from the hen house at the care center. They have been providing us with eggs for the past year, and now they are providing us with meat... and toes. The kids are actually delighted if they get one of the servings that includes a chicken foot. Whereas, I am quite pleased when my plate is free of poultry extremities.

Here are some pictures of Estefani's lunch waving at her. yummy.