Hi friends near and far. I hope this New Year; this 2012 brings all of us joy, and beautiful surprises. Also strength and wisdom to cope with the challenges that I am sure will be present in our journeys.
It was January 2008 when I went to Haiti for the first time. I stayed there for two and a half years. During that period of time I learned what one could learn in 18 months: to communicate in Creole, to understand a little bit about the complexities of this country’s history and politics. But most importantly, I learned to train my eye to observe more than to just simply see what lies beyond the superficial and what it may seem the obvious. Nothing is obvious, really. I guess this helped increase my respect and admiration for the courage and resilience of the Haitian People, that’s for sure!
I returned to the U.S. in 2010 to attend Blue Ridge Community College, always wondering when would I be able to return to the Pearl of the Antilles. Well, the answer is: one week from tomorrow, on January 13, 2013! I regard this as a blessing. Not only I will be returning to Haiti, but also will be traveling with the Students in Free Enterprise Team from Blue Ridge Community. I will serve as an interpreter for the team during our stay in Haiti and of course I will participate in all the activities planned during the week. I will share with you more details on what we will be doing and of course my observations 
I am looking forward to get to learn more about my team and leaders, and of course to learn more about Haiti. I invite you to pray for us for an open mind and an open heart as we all, host and hostess, embark in this new journey.
A little insight in what our itinerary will look like: We’ll be arriving in Port the 13th, we will meet with our hostess, Father Roosevelt. He will lead us to Miragoane, about 2hrs east Port-au-Prince, where we’ll take a boat to La Torre in La Gonave (the Island of the Island), the ride will be about…you know I don’t really know.
See what is happening here? We will be traveling by air, by boat and by land, in one day, how awesome is that!
Well, that is all for the moment. Please keep us, and everybody we get to interact with, in your thoughts and prayers.
Please visit again.
Pancha