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Saturday, May 28, 2011

Will somebody please give me the motivation I need to be a more consistent blogger?

Hey guys. Sam here again. I actually have a half-legitimate excuse for my inconsistency in blogging this time. I just got back from a week-long trip to Haiti, and I've been a little worn out from it. Of course, that doesn't excuse my lack of activity before the trip but, hey, I'll take what I can get.
The trip was an amazing experience for me and those that I went with. We spent most of our time at an orphanage/school where we sponsor 2 kids trough Christian Relief Fund, and we actually got to meet them. It really made me realize what a sponsorship can do for a child. I know that most of us probably watch those informercials for Feed The Children at 4 in the morning and wonder how much of our money would actually go to a hungry child. But after seeing the kids at this school, I don't think I could ever think that again. The people that run the place seem to have such a heart for the children, and I feel confident that they are in good hands.
Our main point of going to Haiti was to put a purification system in the well that they have. The main supply of water in Cap-Hatien, and in most of Haiti, is infected by cholera. Even the water in our hotel room wasn't safe to drink. So we raised the money for this system and took it down there, and then set up 2 spigots, one for the children inside the school, and one for people in the town to get on the other side of the wall. Now the whole town can have a chance at clean water.
While we were there, we also did some painting in the school, and built some benches in the church, and let me tell you something. The people down there want improvement. They just sometimes need help getting started. The kids went crazy when they saw the paint, and if you left your brush alone for more than 5 seconds, you were going to lose it to a pint-sized Picasso. And when the electric saw we were using for benches gave out and we had to switch to handsaws, we couldn't hold a candle to the locals that were helping us. Where we got one bench done in 45 minutes, they had 2 in an hour at most. It was incredible.
Being in a place like that can really give you perspective on life. It helps you to appreciate some of the things we have here. We complain about not being able to get cell phone service in the library, and they have to fight over dirty water. We need the newest version of everything that's out, and they receive a soccer ball for 200 kids and treat it lik a bag full of toys. I sugggest that everybody take at least one trip like this in their life.
Well that's all for now. Next time I'll try to tell you about the specific hijinks that went on. Somebody please promise to be my accountabili-buddy and make sure I post again in the next 3 days. I'd appreciate it greatly.
Au revoir,
Sam