Haiti

Home again, home again, jiggidy jig.

um… I mean-- New York again, New York again, hustledy bustle.

That was lame.

Anyways, regardless, I am back in the States. 

My week in Haiti was eye-opening, to say the least. I spent the whole first day just kind of in shock at the poverty. We delivered clean water to the poorest neighborhoods of City Soleil, each huge truck of clean water costing 5 US dollars. Yeah. 

Each time we arrived to deliver the water, we were greeted by dozens of small voices chanting, "Hey you! Hey you!." I didn't really know what to think when I was getting off the tap-tap and there were children just swarming and reaching to be held-- most half-naked, some in their birthday suit. 

What could I do but embrace as many as I was physically capable of?

The first child I picked up kicked or punched any other boy or girl that would approach me. The desperation was real. 

The next day was a little more my speed. I took part in a wound clinic that the nuns hold 3 times a week throughout the community. Getting to the wound clinic was a story in itself. 3 of my team members and I shoved in the back of a Toyota SUV with two nuns, a Haitian volunteer, and another American volunteer. We drove through what looked like an umbrella city. Umbrellas and tents everywhere, people swarming all over the place, and somehow our vehicle driving right through the middle of it. 

We held the clinic, no joke, in the middle of an alley. All my nursing school instincts were telling me hand hygiene! But that wasn't really an option. 

After one demonstration of how to treat the wounds from one of the sisters, we were thrown right into it. And to my own surprise, I went to work without hesitancy. I had no problem with any of it. I was just in the zone and focused. After about a half hour I realized my face was literally raining sweat onto the poor guy's legs I was hunched over working on. 

2 hours later, all the patients had received fresh dressings (and there were a lot of them). 

That particular experience was one in which I felt I really contributed my part. 

We were able to see the village which the organization I went with, Healing Haiti, established. It has a foster-home type of set up with several houses having a mother & father figure parenting several kids. They have their own church, cafeteria, school, medical & dental clinic. One new addition to the school was the library, which one boy about 10 years old was excited about and supposedly visits every day to teach himself English. 

On that same day, we went to visit 5 elders that Healing Haiti keeps in touch with. Members of my team were able to wash them and treat their skin with lotion (I'm not scared of nasty wounds, but deathly afraid of old people--makes a lot of sense), while the rest of us sang worship songs with what became our traveling band. 

We were able to visit a couple of orphanages and share faith lessons with them. This was a really neat experience for me, especially with the first visit. As I approached the orphanage, I was immediately greeted and embraced by a girl about the age of 13. As the visit continued, I just felt the Spirit leading me to shower this girl with love. I can't really describe the connection we had, but it was just joyful. 

So those were the highlights of the week. I don't really know what else to say. I feel like I didn't do enough to actually make a difference. The poverty is overwhelming. And coming back here, especially to New York City, everything just seems so…available, dispensable, meaningless. 

The one thing I will say though, is that the faith of Haiti as a nation is remarkable. On every single taxi there is the name of Jesus! Imagine that in the Big Apple! There'd be a riot, for sure. 

In general, I am reminded of Matthew 23:12

"For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

God Bless Haiti

Another One (school year) Bites the Dust

I made it!

I can't believe I am on a plane back home after a whole school year at NYU.

As I stepped out of my dorm building this morning into the 65 degree (hallelujah) morning air, I found myself immediately missing the city before I had even left it. I promptly reminded myself that I'll be back in a mere 2.5 weeks. 

My nursing semester ended last week, but I had to stay in town for a singing exam I had yesterday evening. The past 7 days have honestly been some of the best days of my life (second only to all my memories from this past summer in Italy.)

I have rekindled my flame with traveling by going to DC, explored the city and sat in the SUN for hours, rode a bus from the top of Central Park all the way down 5th avenue to campus just for the heck of it (nearly 100 streets), ran outside several times b/c the weather finally permits, and have been able to play my best role that I inherited from my mom ("hostess with the mostess")--having friends over last night for our "last supper". 

These past few weeks have served as such a period of reflection for me. I am so incredibly thankful that God knew what he was doing by bringing this small town girl to New York City of all places. If I have learned anything in this first year, it is that He has big plans for me. And I don't deserve any of it-- but, I humbly accept the role He's given me in this thing we call life, and can't wait to see where He leads me next. 

I think back to who I was this time last year, or even this time at the end of last semester-- and I know for a fact that I am not the same girl. And it's a good thing.

For the past several years, I have really struggled with being comfortable in my own skin-- not necessarily in a physical appearance sense, but just seeking others' approval and taking whatever others say about me as the truth-- letting those things define me.

And don't get me wrong!-- those things weren't always bad. My whole life, my parents have showered me with love and praise which I am so grateful for, and I needed it. But for the first time in my life, I respect what they think and their opinion, and recognize that they know me to the core-- but if they tell me how proud they are of me and how great I am and I don't believe that about myself, it means nothing. 

This year, I've had to learn how to live without my Brady Bunch of a family right around the corner to lean on and learn from. And at some point I became so fed up with who I was that I had to "take the bull by the horns" and just… change. 

And I give all credit to Jesus Christ that I was able to successfully make that change.

I was strong this year, but it's because He constantly told me to be and gave me the added strength I needed to simply get through the day. 

Eventually, the struggle just evaporated and the long-awaited smile appeared on my face. 

Can you believe that 8 months ago I was on a similar flight home thinking I would never return to this "hell-hole" of a city? It's comical the way God works. I'm so glad He told me to come back, be patient and just trust.

I'm literally falling in love with this city now. I have become part of it. All the things I used to hate about it, I now adore. 

I love that I walk miles upon miles every day. I love that I'm surrounded by people all the time and yet, always in my own little world-- listening to my music as loud as I want and drumming the beat on my suitcase while waiting for the subway if I so please. I love that, for the most part, the culture of the city is accepting and the "you do you" attitude just radiates throughout every street corner. I love that the subway is like a whole other world and has it's own unwritten but universally understood rules and regulations. I love that it's rude to look people in the eye because it just cracks me up, honestly. I love that if you remember to look up, there's beauty in much of the architecture. I love that a bunch of yankees squeeze in a public park like a can of sardines just to appreciate the first day of Spring.

I do NOT love the cold weather. 

But, like that dark season of my life that has now passed, so has the winter.

And I am joyful about it.

Four seasons may suck but at least when summer finally comes I'm much more appreciative of it than I would be in Florida. 

When I think about it, I realize I fell in love with this city the way you fall in real love. First, I was attracted on a surface-layer: for the shopping, the skyline, the lights, and the warm-fuzzy feeling it gave me when I visited. But later, a lot of imperfect things about the city were brought to my attention-- yet, I was kinda already in too deep. And instead of running away, I decided to love the city despite its flaws. 

But what I love even more than the city is the person I've become-- because I fought to become her. 

To God be the Glory

(and see most of you soon!)

- Miranda

DC

So, I went to DC this weekend! My good friend Dessi joined me, and I'm so glad we went.

We were super productive and I had the best food since Italy!! (a great success story, in my book)

We saw all the monuments and walked 14 miles on the first day. (that's a whole meal in burned-off calories, my friend)

struggling, lol

Because a red, white & blue pop was just necessary.

 Check out these gorgeous flowers at Arlington Cemetery. It amazes me that a color that vibrant can occur naturally. 

I think the thing that surprised me most was that things are so. spread. out. 

Like, it's not a walkable city. 

Bikable? for sure. Walkable? Not a chance.

We rented bikes Sunday morning, which was super fun and so much easier than the marathon walking the day prior. 

After docking our bikes, we went for brunch near Capitol Hill at a place called Ted's Bulletin. Homemade pop tarts and white russian milkshakes. 'Nuff said. 

Walking down 8th street in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Okay, so this carousel is really important to me. Fun fact, I was named after a character in the movie, "Chances Are," which is based in DC. Once of the best scenes in the movie is filmed at this carousel (across from the Smithsonian). So, naturally, I had to take a picture for the 'rents. 

The only memorial we didn't cover on Saturday was the Jefferson Memorial-- but, on our way there Sunday, we ran into paddle boats. 

Being out on water is the bestttt. A much needed spontaneous adventure for these Florida gals. 

We also checked out the metro on Sunday… which looked more like Space Mountain or the Men in Black ride at Universal than any resemblance of the good ole' subway here in NYC.

We both found it very interesting that a city could exist without skyscrapers or trash on every corner. 

Mind-blowing, really.

I chose to visit DC mainly because I believe spontaneity is one of the greatest joys in life, but also because I'm on the hunt for a good place to work when I graduate…….. wait for it…… this time next year!

But.

I think. I may have. Been bitten. By the NYC bug.

What can I say? There's nothing like it.

:)

- Miranda