Haiti, Chris Rowekamp | Blog 1.

You know, the cold showers are quite pleasant when it’s in the low 90s during the day. I actually look forward to the cold plunge after a long day in the heat, especially because I’m never sure if we’ll even have running water…the electricity can be unpredictable.

Whew. Now that I’m done with the obligatory “hardships of serving in a developing country” story, I have to say, I’m having the time of my life. The weather is actually quite nice; it is winter after all, and I get to be in the shade most of the time. And the water isn’t really that cold…more cool than anything. Not unpleasant at all.

I came here in March of last year with an amazing team of mostly college students loaded down with supplies for Wings of Refuge, a Children’s Home run by Eglise Communion de le Manne Evangelique in Petion-Ville, Haiti. We served Pastor and Mommy Pas as best we could, and tried to be helpful, but by far the most rewarding part of our trip was the time we spent with the kids at Wings of Refuge. When I say that it was hard to say goodbye to them, it’s a terrible understatement, and it only got worse when I saw their pictures every time I walked into Christian Life Center, my home church in Williamsburg, Virginia. 

Coming back was something of an emotional anticlimax. I’m not really sure if the kids recognized me, at least not at first. That’s the anticlimax; the rest is emotion. When I stepped into the Home, I was still wearing my suit from my flight, and I was so tired I was afraid I would fall over any minute…but when I saw those kids, I’m pretty sure my heart stopped for a second. Or more likely sped up, I’m not really sure. All I know is that it’s good to be back. I’m trying not to think about the next inevitable goodbye in just over a week.

I miss everyone back home, but even more, I miss the team I came with last time. I have so many amazing memories of that time with them that keep flooding back into my mind every time I step into Pastor’s home…frustrating games, impossible riddles, seagull sandwiches and oh so much more. I remember sitting in the very room I am writing this post in right now, and listening to Nick Lopez and Caleb Elgut take turns driving me crazy with riddles they were finding online. Such good times.

Well, that’s all for now; I’ll send more updates soon. I have much more I could write about, but nobody wants to read long blog posts, so I’ll stop here.

Thank you all for your interest, prayers, and for making this trip practically possible through your generous financial support. I can’t thank you enough.

God bless,

Chris