Cheri Kay in Haiti....where my life became meaningful.

Wow, so I as looking at some pictures of my kids this past week and i am amazed at how much they've grown and changed just since school has started!!!! Here is Ecrissa near the beginning of the school year! And now look!!!!!!! She has gained almost 9 pounds since the school year started!!!!!! You'd think she'd be chubby, but she has also grown about 3 inches!!!!!! She has just blossomed into a beautiful little almost 5 year old!!!! (her birthday in May 12th, she'll 5 years old!!) And, here is Baby Face Jaryse in September with our friend Denise! And look at him now!!!! OK, so he still has a bit of a baby face!!!!! LOL, but he has also grown upward a few inches and about 7 pounds!!!! It's unbelievable to me how much they change in such a short time! Thank you Jesus for the amazing development of the children that you've given to me. Thank you for their lives and for all that they bring to this world. Father, I pray that you'll keep your hands on the...

Oh, my goodness!!! You'd think being stuck in my house since Tuesday night, that I'd have lots and lots of time to update this silly blog huh!!! Let me tell you, 2 toddlers sure can take up a lot of time!!! I have more time to work on the computer at work than I do when I am home with these 2 angels!!!!!! Anyway, we stayed really close to home until about Sat. when we really needed to go out for fuel and gas, and let me tell you, that was no small feat to find!!!! We did finally find a gas station that was selling diesel for the generator and gas for my car. We also were able to get some food to stock up the house just in case!!! The streets were fairly quiet in comparisson to the days before, however there were some random fires, and a UN officer killed. So, things are not normal, whatever that may be in Haiti, but moving that way!!!! LOL. We are back at school today and hoping that things will remain calm enough to keep the process of the papers moving forward and for saf...

Well, today was quiet for the most part. I didn't hear of any more major issues and the reports were that it was a quiet calm day in the city. I haven't left the house or anything, but I have heard that one grocery store was open and that the streets are a mess but no people are really out and about. I have heard that the Prime Minister has been asked to resign and has refused to do so and the President refuses to make him. This makes the people upset. I have heard from some people that they are afraid that this may be the calm before the storm in that the people are still unhappy with the President and Prime Minister and the next 72 hours could tell alot. Hopefully, this will be the end, please pray for that! I'll keep trying to give updates when possible. Often I don't hear much since we are trapped in our home, but when I do I'll let you know! Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!

Today we only know what we've heard from inside our 4 walls. We did not go out today and from what we've heard, it was no better today than yesterday. The violence on the street continued with looting, demonstrating, shooting, tire burning, attacks on businesses and destruction of property. I know from my friend at the Embassy today was not a good day. I was talking to some Haitians and they said that this would continue until the President spoke. Well, he finally did speak later in the day. But, from what I can tell, the people are not happy with what he had to say. Apparently, they want a quick fix and they want him to do something NOW about their hunger. Well, I completely understand that, but, I am not sure what they think he can do. Anyway, unfortunately, things are not looking a whole lot calmer on the streets of Haiti. And, honestly, when I say Haiti, I mean the entire country. These things are not just happening in Port au Prince, they are happening all over,...

So, I know in my last post I said that we were staying put at my friend's house, but we got word that things had calmed and all streets were open. We also got word that today is supposed to be worse than the day before, so we didn't want to be stuck at my friend's house---So, we went home. I drove quite quick (which is a little tough on a car's suspension on the roads of Haiti) and didn't stop for anything, even ran lights. We made it home safely and we saw lots of places were the rioters had been. We must have passed 15 places where tires had been burning and some were still lightly burning and/or smoldering, telephone poles were knocked down, dumpsters upside down in the middle of the road, barricades of rocks that had been up and had been since knocked down to re-open the roads. It was quite obvious of the daily activities that had happened throughout the city. We made it home and we do not have school today. We will stay put today--PROMISE!!!! I got a c...

So the rest of the day continued as the morning did! There were continued manifestations as they say in Haiti. Many Many Many businesses were looted and demolished. Almost every single major road was blocked and tires were burning in the streets. Gas stations were burned and demolished. We were safe on the campus of the school and decided to stay at my friends house. Her home is directly across the street from the school. We decided that driving was not only, not safe, but next to impossible since most roads were blocked. Anyway, we are safe where we are, although not at home! School has been cancelled for tomorrow--we'll see how tomorrow goes! Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

We are at school and I have gotten word from the Embassy that things are really bad. Over the past hour, the riots have moved from downtown up through the city. I have heard that they have bombarded the Palace, they are attacking the Presidents house, and burning cars and such. It is still about 3 miles away from me and the kids on the schools campus, but we aren't leaving the walls of this compound. Many families are coming to get their children for fear of what "might" happen. My contact tells me to stay put. OF course, I would anyway, because in order to get to my house, I'd have to go through where the riots are now. Please pray for our safety and for wisdom as to how to stay out of harms way. We will check with the Embassy before leaving the secure walls of the school. Probably more posts to come as the day progresses! CK

And not just the weather! OK, so that's a little cheesy, but you know, when you live in a third world country you have to have some sort of sense of humor or you might cry yourself into a grave! So, this is just a quick blog entry to let everyone know that we are all OK here in Port au Prince. In case you havent' heard, the violence has increased again here in Haiti. This time over food prices. In a country where 95% of the population lives on less than $2 US a day, the amount of starvation has always been rampant. But, with the recent increases in food prices of more than 50% in the last year or so, the people are getting desperate. Yesterday there were riots causing some deaths and lots of damage, however we are all fine at the time being! Most of the problems are taking place in a city in the south called Les Cayes, but they did start here in the capital yesterday. I know that the US emabassy was evacuated and that there were some tires burning and cop cars burning ...