I feel like.......

DANCING!!!

The past two days have been fully bright and happy.
I wish I was back with the kids and nannies singing,
clapping, and dancing around the o. I'm just happy
and miss their songs of praise and joy, their passion.

that's something that I do miss. In Haiti when people
dance, sing, or even clap their hands they do it with
such passion you feed off of each other till everyone is
overflowing with life. It's was such a blessing to be a
part of that. This is funny but I loved my shower time
because I could count on hearing the nannies sing in the
baby room. My favorite song was one they sand witch
incorporates all the kids names into it. The joy on the
child's face was fabulous and they were always dancing.
I also think of Mia and how she could never sit still in church
when Bill was playing the drum and how Noah doesn't have
a care in the world when he dances. Then there is dear
Steven how is learning to dance at St. Joe's and growing up
so fast. I think of that moment when my heart as well as
Angela's swelled with pride.

I've been doing a lot of dancing myself and just called
a 2 hour square dance. I don't think Haitians have
ever heard of that but as long as it makes you happy I
encourage you to dance any way you like.

DANCE!

venting

Today I walked around the mall expecting to find some clothing that I just couldn't live without. I went home empty handed. I tried lots of things on, some worked and some didn't. The truth is that I just couldn't bring myself to buy the overpriced pieces of material. I didn't want to pretend that buying this shirt would somehow satisfy me, fulfill me when I know people that live off of a dollar a day. The top that I was wanting was 68.00


I went to Haiti to learn, to make new friends, to fix and humble myself. That happened. I've grown and changed and have taken so much back with me it's been amazing. One thing that I didn't count for is how hard it would be coming back to America where most people don't understand what you just experienced.

For example I learned that one of my friends is sick. I've know this for a while and have been fearing finding out the true facts of why his side hurts, why his eyes are yellow. Tonight I learned that he has bleeding ulcers. I know that he doesn't have the money to go to the hospital for surgery, for meds, for help. He told me that he misses me and is scared to die.

His name is Junior. Junior is my dear brother and acted like my big brother while I was in Haiti. He took care of me, he made me laugh, we played soccer together and fell asleep under the stars together. Junior honestly acts like a 7th grader but I love him very much. I don't want him to die. He has faith, he has morals, and is such a great guy. When I will tell people about this most of them will say, that sucks...I'm sorry and I'll pray but Megan you can't save them all and if he dies then he dies. NO, that is where you will not understand. It sucks when death can't be prevented but this can. You could do something about this, you could help. I hate money but the fact is that money does matter and in this case it could save Junior's life. People just don't
understand that poverty is personal to me now. I know the names and faces of the people that live in poverty, that will die because they lack basic humanitarian needs. These people are no longer numbers or facts, they are my friends.

Most people just don't even know what to do or to say when I tell them things like this. News like this first brings tears to my eyes and then comes the fire. This is something worth being angry over, this is something worth fighting for, this is something worth crying over. I know you will never understand and I can't ask you to but I do ask you to care, to pray, to donate and
educate yourselves. You truly can make a difference so start now, open your heart, listen to their cry.

please pray for Junior.

moving forward

it's been too long.

I've been really busy at home doing lots of things but I do have some news.

1. I went to a conference two weeks ago called ARW, the Annual Recreation Workshop. There I took classes and my Grandfather started the conference with a friend so my family is very involved. Every year there is an auction where people bring donated items to put in the auction and all the money goes toward the scholarship fund. I decided to print and frame 4 of my Haiti pictures. Well, these turned out to be the talk of the conference. It was great. I got to educate people about my trip and Haiti. One of my pictures sold for 145.oo. They were hot items and everyone seemed to want them. This caught me off guard completely and I was overwhelmed with complements. After the auction I then had people come up to me telling me that they
wanted to buy my prints. I had no clue what to say or do but here is my plan. I sell a print for 50.00 and the print framed for 75.00. Half of this money goes to the orphanage. I'm just about to put up some prints in our local coffee shop to see if they will sell and raise more money. What a great way to share Haiti with others, raise money, and educate all at the same time!

2. With my attention being brought to my photography skills some people have pushed me to look into going to a photography school. I'm talking just photography, like an intense 1 to 2 year program that I can graduate from. This is just kind of a new door that has been presented to me and I don't know if the Lord will open it for me but it's just a thought. Photojournalism might come of it but i really don't know where
that could take me.

3. I'm still very excited about this summer. I'm a youth intern at a church in florida and I'm working on my lesson plans for the kids. I am going to flip their world, I hope to change their lives. My passion is loving children, orphans. My theme for this summer will be global issues, to educate, take action, andempower the youth. Haiti has taught me so much. It's no longer a "global issue" to me, it's real. I know the names, faces, and hearts of the ones that are suffering. Haiti has changed my life.

4. I feel like all my friends are going to Africa. I'm jealous. That's where I wanted to go from the very beginning but God had different plans. Now that all my friends are going I have mixed feelings, I'mjealous but at the same time it makes me not want to go to Africa. They've got it covered, and my job is to find the invisible
children of the rest of the world, like in Haiti. I never would have thought Haiti would be where it all starts but God is good.

5. How I miss it. All of it. I have a pain in my heart that won't go away. I want to go back now. I miss the kids, I miss you-you and her moon, I miss the boys, I even missWa-Wa . Oh how my heart drifts back to you every day but even more so now. I am praying for all the kids, for the staff, for all the parents waiting to bring their child home, and for you-you...for strength, wisdom, dedication, and peace. I feel as if I am your number one fan (other then your mom and dad) and still sent all my support and love from the states.

the bridge

HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU-YOU!!!

happy birthday you-you
happy birthday you-you
happy birthday you-you
happy birthday you-you

I think back to that short clip you have of the kids singing to you and just start to laugh. I hope you have a wonderful day full of love and joy. On this day you were born. What a blessing that is to us all. God loved you, He held you and guided you. Look where you are today...right where He wants you, in Haiti.

What a joyful day! Bravo You-You Bravo! I wish I could be there with you to eat some more fish stuffed with fish and to maybe have another wild night like my last one but then I would be just as happy to be back on the roof with you laughing, crying, praying under the stars. There would be flowers all over your house and lots of apple juice too and then I would make you that extra cheesy pasta and maybe some popcorn later on. Oh what fun!

You Angela have been blessed to be a blessing and I love you.

~Mega'm

Kesmith and Papy

This is Kesmith the son of Papy. Papy and Ketly could have traveled to the states where you could have been born but they didn't. This is a huge step for a Haitian. I love this decision because it means that Papy has pride for his country. This is the first step for a better Haiti, the people must see that change is possible, they must see the land they live on is good and worth fighting for. In a conversation with Papy someone asked him, "What are your dreams and hope for your son?" His answer struck me to the core. He said that he hoped that Kesmith would grow up having the same love for the country as he does. He hopes that Kesmith will finish the work Papy can't and to help all the people he will never reach. Papy is giving his own son to his country. This is amazing to me. He doesn't wish for a playful childhood, but a life in service to others, well all know that's not an easy path to follow. This is what Papy wishes for his son. I have never seen a more loving father. He is not shy at all about being verbal or affectionate with Ketsmith and I just sit in wonder at their relationship. I will write more about Papy but this is mainly for Kesmith. I pray that he will only grow in love for the land, people, and culture of Haiti and to finish the work left undone by his father. I pray that he will see what a blessing and honor it is to fight for the survival of his country. I pray that he will be the voice for the ones who can't speak. What a beautiful family and gift they have. I have truly been blessed by them all. I look at this baby boy and wonder.....Will you accept the task before you? Do you know how much love will surround you as you take this task upon you? The people need you, will you lead them?
I pray that you do

mia

I've been wanting to write about this picture for some time. I think this picture really doesn't need any words in the first place so I'll just share my thoughts about it.

I look at this picture and I think it just says "Haiti". That's it. That's all you need right there.

However I think it's very ironic that I caught Mia in this pose. I look at this picture and think, this is not the typical Mia that I know. She has attitude, spunk, confidence, energy, and can never sit still when there is music playing. That's just it, people looking in from the outside would just see this quiet girl keeping to herself but if you go meet her your life is suddenly filled with color and energy, just like the country of Haiti. This is how the world views Haiti, black & white, depressing...but I ask you to look closer and to call her by name.

If you are willing this is what you might find.