Update!

Today is my official 4 year anniversary of living in Haiti!!  I can hardly believe it's been 4 years, but at the same time it seems like longer than that since I was in the states full time.  It's been awhile since I posted so I thought I would do a really quick recap of January to now.  If you are my friend on facebook or follow me on instagram you have probably seen a lot of these things already, however I thought it would still be good to do an update :)

Jorgi & I got married on January 28th!  Heres a link to the photos from our wedding if you would like to see more:
https://hunterkittrellphotography.pixieset.com/stephanieandjorgi/
All of my immediate family (dad, mom, sister, & brother) were all able to make it which was an AMAZING blessing!  I still can't believe that they were all here along with some wonderful friends and cousins.  The day was PERFECT.

Jorgi worked incredibly hard at making our little house a home during January....tile, paint, sinks, etc.  He did an amazing job and we're close to finished with all of our improvement projects!  We have running water in the bathroom, but no running water in the kitchen yet (hopefully soon!)  And we have most of the components to have a solar powered electric system, we just have to re-wire our house first and then we can connect it all.  Living a little further from Respire has been good and bad.  It's great because I truly feel like I go home at the end of the day which has been really nice.  But being further away presents it's own set of challenges!  We are super blessed to have a motorcycle which has allowed us to be able to go back and forth to Respire, church, etc....however, when it rains....eeeeekkkkkkkk.  

Parenting two teenagers has of course had it's challenges, but boy do we love these two!  They add so much joy and fun to our lives and I can't imagine life without them.

Kitson

Anchelot

Our family

Now for a few more recent happenings....

I got to go on a field trip with our 7th & 8th grade students to Baptist Haiti Mission in Fermathe which is up in the mountains above Port Au Prince.  We spent more time on the bus than we did exploring the area, but the kids had a blast and so did I!  They have a very small zoo there and the kids LOVED it.  There was a baby alligator that they were amazed by and they loved seeing all of the animals.  Most are really fairly common, but most of these kids have never seen anything besides farm animals so it was a fun learning experience!

Alligator cage

Checking out the turtle and snake

Peacock

I also made homemade coconut oil for the first time!  It was an interesting process and I learned a lot!  Jorgi & I have grand ideas about starting a business here one day as we both believe that what Haiti needs most is more jobs so we are constantly talking about ideas!  This is an idea I've had for a long time and I wanted to try it out for myself.....I mean, after all, we do live on an island where they grow coconuts!  It wasn't as cost effective as I had hoped but I learned a lot and it was my first time so maybe there are some improvements in the process or buying in bulk that could make it successful.  Anyway, I wanted to share the process with you all :)

First grating all the coconut by hand (we did 6).  Thankfully Anchelot helped me a lot with this...it's hard work!

Next, make coconut milk (by adding drinking water) and straining out all of the shredded coconut.  Then let it sit overnight.

Then boil it (for an hour or so) to separate the oil

Finished product!

In April, we got some AWESOME neighbors!  Junie (our clinic nurse) moved up to the neighborhood with her daugher (Zoe) and Robi & Sherly (two of the girls that used to live at the Freedom House).  It is so much fun to have them as neighbors in addition to the great neighbors (Bebe & Fab) that we already had!

Other Respire fun and updates!

Daniel Jean Louis (author of From Aid to Trade) came to speak to our secondary students!

Neighborhood party

Saturday Feeding Program

We broke ground on additional classrooms so that we can have a computer lab and library next year!

Lala is doing well and even has some teeth!  

I got hair extensions!  I guess there is always something new to do even if you've been here 4 years :)  Bought them for about $15 and then my neighbor and friend Bebe put them in for me.  It took 12 hours!!!

Sorry for this being such a long update!!  I guess long updates happen when you procrastinate forever :)  We are so blessed to be serving the Lord here in Haiti and there are couple of specific ways that you can help us!

1.  Prayer!  We need to be covered in so much prayer...especially because we are on a motorcycle every day on the crazy Haitian highway...but we also have a specific thing you can be praying with us for........Jorgi's visa.  He doesn't have a visa yet, which makes my trips to the states INCREDIBLY difficult.  I will be leaving for a little over a month to do some contract work in the states and it will be very hard to be apart for that long.  If he is able to get a visitor's visa he would be able to visit my family with me which would be a huge blessing!

2.  Financially.  My least favorite of all the topics because I do not like to ask for help.  As I said I will be doing contract work which does help us to be able to stay in Haiti and continue our ministry here....however, we could still use your help!  If you feel called to give please click the link and find my name in the list of missionaries.

https://worldoutreach.org/index.php/missionary-support-2

Thanks for reading!  And as I say every time....I really am going to try to update this blog more often!

Tamarind Tuesday

I've been meaning to write a blog for awhile to update you all on everything that's been going on with me, but of course I haven't gotten around to actually sitting down and doing it.  However, this afternoon was too fun not to share so I thought I would just write a quick post :)  Plus I'm trying to get better about sharing my everyday life and not just the big stuff!

I went over to school to grab a few photos of our Alternative and Jump Start classes for a social media update for Respire.  Of course I got stopped outside of school by these cuties (Immacula & Jacqueline) who just "needed" to take some photos with my phone...so of course I obliged.  And of course we had to try out all the filters too ;)

Then I got my needed photos of the classes.  As a side note, these are my very favorite classes and the kids that I truly feel like Respire was called to be here for.  The kids in these classes are very far behind for their age, or they've never been to school at all.  They are the kids that wouldn't have any opportunity to go to school elsewhere so it is an amazing ministry to be able to provide them that opportunity here.

After that I was just wondering around campus a bit and taking in the vast beauty of this place and just reflecting on what an honor it is to serve God here in Haiti.

And then I decided to look in the tree for tamarinds....because.....why not?! If you aren't familiar with tamarinds they are a delicious fruit (and I took a few photos to show you exactly what they are because I decided this was something I should share!)  So I'm looking for tamarinds and of course there are none that I can reach because, well, the students all like tamarinds too :)  So I started jumping up to try to get one and Prelem (the sweet old man who is our groundskeeper at the school) saw me.  He told me to wait, that he would help me.  So he proceeds to grab a stick and climb the tree.....CLIMB THE TREE.....just to help me get tamarinds.

You can't even see him, but he's way up there!

I started picking them up and got to share them with all of the students who were on break at the time, which was so much fun....pure joy really, because their little smiles just light up their faces when they get a fun treat like that :)  And of course when Prelem was finished he didn't even want to take any tamarinds, but I made him take half anyway....and then he was thanking me when he was the one who did all the work!  I really do learn so many lessons from people here daily....humbly serving without even being asked, pure joy of simple things, and being thankful to be able to serve.....just to name a few.  So in a nutshell....I'm just so thankful today (and everyday)!

Tamarinds!

What the fruit looks like on the inside

Seeds after you're done!

A week full of JOY: Starring Kitson :)

For those of you that have parented teenagers you know how crazy it can be!  I think all stages of parenting have immense joy and immense struggles, but I think the joys during the teenage years are something very special!  You get to see that almost adult that you have been teaching actually act with their own conscious decision making and when it's a good decision it is so sweet.  My heart just overflowed with joy a couple of times last week so I wanted to share.  Kitson would absolutely be mortified if he knew I was sharing this with you.....but I'm only sharing because I'm so proud :)

We set out to walk up Bellevue to the school...me to work and him to pick up something.  Right at the bottom of the mountain we crossed paths with the little guy pictured below.  Kit immediately grabbed his hand and started talking and joking with him.  He was telling him that he needed to behave at school and make good grades, it was precious.  He is like a big brother to so many and I love to see him becoming a leader in this way.  Now don't get me wrong, he still talks entirely too much in his own class.....he can't help it, he's a chatterbox by nature ;)  However, I have been told more than once lately by different people how kind and respectful he is and for a 17 year old I think that's pretty great.

Then a few days later we were walking back from dinner and he told me (all in English!) that he couldn't wait for me to get to my house to see the surprise he had for me.  He made me wait at the gate while he went up on the roof to turn on Christmas lights!  I had 2 strands of solar lights that no longer worked and he fixed them and then hung them up on the house for me.  He knows how much I love lights at Christmas and just wanted to do something nice for me.  I could have cried, it was so kind.

Many of you may know that Jorgi & I will be working on getting guardianship papers for Kitson after we get married.  Kit is Jorgi's first cousin and he has been living with Jorgi for about a year since his dad moved to another town and left him in Gressier.  We are prayerfully considering fostering Kitson's younger brother too.  Please pray for us as we make this decision.

We have also been busy this month trying to get our house move-in ready and still have lots of projects to go.....like running water and solar panels.  We would be honored if you would consider us for a year end gift to help us get our house ready and to continue our ministry in Haiti.

2016 Year in Review

This year, just like most other years, has flown by!  I sat down to start writing a summary of all that has happened this year, and honestly it is overwhelming!  So many joys and so many losses.  But the Lord has been there every step of the way guiding, comforting, and always knowing just what I need.  I'm so thankful to have had another wonderful year serving in Haiti and I look forward to all that is He has planned for 2017!  I hope you enjoy the following photos of a few of the highlights from 2016!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you! 

Oreo joined my little Haiti family in January!  He came from the market in Port au Prince in a cardboard box on a motorcycle and immediately got a bath and neutered....it was a pretty traumatic first day for the little guy...but he is a happy and healthy kitty now!  And if you know me at all, you know this little guy has brought incredible amounts of joy to my life this year, even if all the Haitians think I am a crazy cat lady :)

In February we celebrated the 5 year anniversary of Respire Haiti!  It was fun to get together with all of our Haitian and American staff and share memories we have made over the last 5 years as an organization (3 years for me...crazy!)

Selfies before school!  Because....why not?!

Easter egg dying was so much fun!

Concert at church with these fun girls!

I got to be in Oklahoma for the Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides walk with my whole family this year!  My nephew Taison has CF, so this is something that is super close to all of our hearts.  It was so much fun to be there with everyone!

In May we had to say see you later to my precious Grandma Jaronek. She was one of the sweetest ladies I have ever known, and although I miss her so much I know I will see her again one day.

Celebrating Haitian Mother's Day at church with Kitson

Fun day with lots of my favorites!  

Sometimes a date looks like staying home and getting fresh coconuts out of your tree!  I enjoy every moment I get to spend with Jorgi :)

Somedays your office gets invaded by cuteness!  One of the many joys of having an office in the clinic that anyone can just walk in and make your day!

Basketball camp was so much fun!  I loved putting on my sneakers and going out to teach some basics.  All the kids enjoyed it and so did I!

Richcarde had his surgery in the Cayman Islands and came home looking and feeling good!  He is doing great!  And his mom (pictured here...love her!) gives God all the glory for the many miracles in his life!  He's definitely a special and very blessed kid!

Jeff, Grandpa & Elsie

My niece Elsie was born in June!  She is so much fun!  She loves her Auntie Steph...I'm pretty sure I'm her favorite ;)  It's been fun to watch  my little bro be a dad even if I don't get to see him and his family nearly as often as I would like. 

Darline got married!  And I got to hang out with JJ! 

One of my good friends had a baby in July!  I love visiting and getting baby snuggles!

Lala stayed with us a few times this year!  Ashley took care of her, but she loved it when Jorgi would come over in the evenings!

In September my best friend asked me to marry him and I said YES!  We are so excited to be getting married January 28, 2017 in Haiti!  Jorgi is so kind and patient and truly loves the Lord.  He has been my biggest encourager and greatest comfort.  Sometimes I can't believe how blessed I am to have him.

One of my favorite things is to give letters to kids from their sponsors!  So much joy every time!

Sometimes I get to do really fun things like take goats to a family who needs them!  

We celebrated Kitson's 17th birthday with pizza!  SEVENTEEN....oh my goodness....I just can't even believe this little kid I met over 3 years ago has grown so much....he's not only grown taller but he has grown so much as a person and in his relationship with the Lord.  It is truly one of my greatest joys to watch him grow up and become a young man who loves the Lord. 

Daphna had a healthy baby boy in October!  

Terra came to visit!  Not just once, but twice this year!! It was so much fun to have her in Haiti both times and I'm looking forward to many more visits in the future (right, T?!)

Jorgi & I bought a house!  It's a simple house....400 sq ft, 2 bedroom, 1 bath...but we love it and we are so excited to move in after we get married!  It doesn't have electricity or running water yet, but hopefully we'll be able to get those things soon!  I will sure be happy if we do :)   Many people have asked me what our plans are.....our plans are to be open to what the Lord has planned for us.  We believe that at this time that is to stay in Haiti, but we honestly don't know for how long.  We pray that our marriage will be a reflection of Christ and the Church and that we will serve him wherever He has us.  I'm thankful for this new chapter and looking forward to all the Lord has in store for us as a couple!

I got to spend Thanksgiving with my family and we even did some Christmas things a little early!  Mom with Taison & Elsie making Christmas cookies!

One of my favorite views....it's hard to post something and not include a picture of this view.

One of my favorite verses and one I am clinging to as we enter another year of adventure!