Sometimes I wonder as I post these pictures and tells these stories whether I am making the mistake of telling them in such a way that makes the reader feel like this is some sort of vacation, a grand adventure like going from one exciting roller coaster ride to another while leaving out all the struggles and the physical toll this kind of trip takes. This trip was very demanding, both physically and emotionally. We had problems with our sleeping arrangements, with the heat, with our schedule and with our health. There comes a point in any journey that you have to be pushed to the point of quitting, of ask yourself, 'why am I doing this?' If there is no internal struggle, no doubting yourself, no thought that you might or should turn back, then the accomplishment is not worthy of your best and you will never discover that deeper part of yourself you went looking for in the first place. I'm not sure of the exact order of these event anymore but let me try to recount them the best I can from memory, especially the problems we had with sleep. On my first two trips to Haiti I made the mistake of sleeping in the guest room, a concrete bunker with little air flow in the stifling heat and waited patiently for the mosquitoes to drain me of all my vital fluids.  Then during the day I would scratch and sweat and swell. Well last year we decided to take our mattresses to the roof in a stroke of genius that was not mine, where there was a breeze that kept the mosquitoes down - a bit! Unless it rained, as I learned this year, in which case you had to get up from your sleep, carry your damp mattress under the porch, curl up with your damp sheets, and wait patiently for the mosquitoes to come and drain you of your vital fluids so you can spend your days scratching, sweating and swelling while others point out your disfigured appearance! Erin, Jennifer, Abbie and I were victims this year's blood letting while Tony seemed all but to be immune to our little vampires with wings. Strangely, one day I woke up with a fat lip (picture include to prove it and to further humiliate myself) for reasons I do not know but will need to figure out. I just woke up that way. I was the Elephant-Man for a Day. Hooray a new plague had been unleashed. No bug bite that I could see, it just swelled! Crazy! Eventually it went down, but it took all day to do so. I wondered all day why the Haitian were staring and what in earth they think of us when we look like this!  Even on the roof, however, covered in Mosquito spray and wipes, we offered up a nightly sacrifice of blood, although not willingly.  Even in the evening heat of Haiti, I would normally go to bed with long pants, socks and a long sleeved shirt under a sheet and could still hear the little buggers buzzing about my ears. Why God do you tolerate these mosquitoes? I tell you this not to get some retro-sympathy, but to let you, the reader, understand that this lack of sleep takes its toll. Coupled with the heat of the day, limited amount of food, and exhausting climbs in blazing sun, eventually in the back of your mind you begin to question seriously why you came. Was I really "called" or was I mistaken? So please consider these stories in light of these challenges and not just in the sights and sound that I hope to share with you through the convenience and comfort of the Internet. Despite the trials, or perhaps because of them, we bonded well as a team and have an unspoken bond with new found friends for which I will always be thankful. On day Five we decided to visit a church that Pastor Luc visits every Monday that is in the mountains above Bois Dorme. Luc was eager to have us see this new church start and we were glad to be included. This was a hard day and a hard climb. We drove to the top of the mountain but then had about an hour and a half climb in the noon sun with little to no shade and a steady uphill climb. I know it may seem silly to walk in the heat of the day, but it would be deadly at night which is when Luc wanted to make the trip. When we got there, I was shocked because there are literally no houses for miles. [Bethel Church] I still don't know why they choose this spot, but I guess God showed them in a dream and so here it is. They dug in the ground for the gravel and hauled up the cement to make blocks and the church/school rose. The girls carried up a soccer ball and some candy to share and Waddles even made the journey too! We rested, joined the children in noonday prayers and then made the trek back down.  The heat was relentless and warm water pretty much keeps you from passing out. We made a stop in Dorme Bois to visit some friends for Luc and Barb, passed out some more candy, make some quick friends and visited a new church that had been built. We began the day at ~ 9 am and returned at 3 pm, drained. By the time we returned to the orphanage, Tony and Waddles were done in and needed a bit of recharging with a little nap. We met a young man who said he was a soccer coach at a local school, so we gave him his very own soccer ball to take to his team. He was thrilled. What seems simple to us was a grand gesture to him. In Haiti, blessings and the blessed are redefined. The girls thought it would be a good idea to try their hand at washing clothes Haitian style, but apparently needed some help from the boys. They jumped in and quickly took over. It was a lesson in cooperation. I don't think the boys get this much female attention and they soaked in whatever and whenever they could. You may be surprised to learn that all the pictures we hung up last year are still there and the boys know who their prayer partners are and know your names. My good friend Marceus Clairdrix (pastor Drix) showed up for dinner wearing long pants, long sleeved shirt, jacket, packpack and a hat. I don't know how he does it. He is a man of passion and deep spiritual convictions. I was sorry we were not able to go to Dos Bois Rouge this year, but God knew what we needed and what was too much. I pray for next year! That evening we handed out the sandals donated by John Lehman and Judy Mullenix. Unfortunately, these pictures do not adequately capture their smiles, joy and sounds of a Christmas morning in Haiti and I might imagine it. I hope you enjoy the pictures! [Not a valid template]