This is Erin!

Or maybe I should say this is partly who Erin is. For who can ever fully define another person? I can only give you my perceptions, and even those will be warped shaped by my own experiences and beliefs. 

A better title:  Perceptions of Erin...

She's someone who's reserved when you meet her--it takes some questioning to get her to open up.  Fortunately I have interrogation skills--just ask Maddie. 

Erin's from Brockport, New York (that could explain a lot). After she earned a BA in Early Childhood Education, she joined the Peace Corp. She taught in Micronesia for two years in a village with no electricity or motorized vehicles. She discovered the deliciousness of bread fruit--a real fruit. (I tried one in Haiti.)

When her two years were done, she went back to school for her master's in Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages (TESOL). And then way led to way, people knew people (sound like the last blog?), and she accepted an opportunity to serve/teach fifteen children in Haiti with HGIM.

The girls' room

More sanitary than the hospital's bathroom

She's now living at the children's center (orphanage) in what she calls "the cave/closet" with 15 children a few feet from her. There's no running water or electricity. I want to believe that I could do this (if Sam would only let me)--but I don't know. No showers? Fetching my water before every flush? Rice and beans day after day after day after day after day with some meat thrown in here and there (though Erin's not much of a meat eater).

Could I REALLY handle this?

I don't know. 

Erin, though, isn't worried about what she'll be missing. She's focused on the children, on equipping them with love and English. She'll be the first to tell you she's not a theologian, that her job won't be to preach. It will be to reflect Christ's love and to help the children see how much they are loved. She wants to teach them discipline even as she encourages them to dream. She'll help them with their regular school homework, in addition to teaching them English. Haitian's who speak English can get jobs. Educated children (academically and/or with a trade) with godly characters are the key to change in a country rife with poverty, corruption, and natural disaster. HGIM isn't  the only ministry working toward this end, btw. 

We're "side-kicking" it with other ministries/organizations. 

Thank goodness.

Junior, the translator (who is an excellent example of a young, educated Haitian, who loves God and who wants to help his country change), will be there to help her with the weekly shopping and other trips, e.g. doctor visits. Mostly she'll be on her own, though, with the local staff and Pastor Justin (also local). Fortunately, her Creole is coming along remarkably well. 
 

Erin donating blood to give to Ezekiel

 

The church and children's center nestled in the mountains 

The center is in a rural mountain area, MUCH safer than Port au Prince. She'll have one day a week at the guesthouse (after her weekly shopping) where she can get some rest.

 The church congregation has also pledged to watch over her. And by the look of some of the women, they can do it. 
(Those women are not in this video.)
(And I have no idea why my font went haywire.)

Then there are the kids--some of them are going to test--give Erin a run for her Haitian dollar. 
(But not these ones:)

I told Erin she'd likely (and simultaneously) have the best and hardest year of her life. She agreed and laughed a laugh that said it's all good.

If you'd like to keep up with her, HERE is her blog. (She's posted an update on Ezekiel, btw.) You'll find she's pretty straight foward with a punchy sense of humor. 

When I met her at the airport in Jersey, I wasn't sure what to think. By the time I was saying good-bye to her seven days later in Haiti, I didn't want to leave her. I love her heart, her dedication, her intuitive nature about the children, her very capableness, and that laugh.

In this photo (shot after a wild ride to the the Port au Prince airport), it looks like I've taken one too many malaria tablets, and Erin?  Well, she's trying to hold down her breakfast. 

For real.

I miss the kids, and I miss her.

All in Goodwill,
~Lisa


P.S. HGIM will be going back to Haiti from May 10-May 17. Part of the focus will be building shelves, benches, and a chicken coop for the center. In doing so, we'll be teaching the boys building skills. Part of the focus will be VBS activities. If you have building skills or music/creativity/Bible skills or (so importantly) holding-children skills, and would like to sidekick it with genuinely kind people, please say the word. Jan and Dave would love to have you.  Feel free to visit the website, or contact them for more info.

Heart of God Haiti:  http://heartofgodhaiti.org/ 
Jan Ross (President, HGIM):  jross@heartofgodinternational.org
David Young (Director, HGH):  dyoung@heartofgodinternational.org