Haiti - Day 8 (Kelsey Stoner)

Today, we learned that flexibility is key. But surprisingly, it wasn’t as hard as I expected. Our plan for today was to get up early and work on the land, but God’s plan is not always what we expect. Brad Owens was really sick and trying his best to recover. There were several other people that weren’t feeling well either. So, Danny and Eddie made the final decision to not work on the land so everyone could recover. Chelsea Cyr slept most of the day and when she woke up she yelled….”I’m COLD!” Immediately we ran and got the thermometer, and sure enough, she had a fever. Pretty much everyone else had a cold and was all stopped up. But Danny gave those who wished, the option to go to the land and take a big tour. I stayed back with a couple people and the kids. We ended up watching “Enchanted”(which if you know me, I absolutely love that movie...and the kids knew it too). Unfortunately, it was in French.





After everyone got back, we took two different groups to go see a widow, who Danny and Leann help support. This was definitely the highlight of my day. It was so humbling and heartbreaking at the same time. I was in the second group. We walked about 15 minutes down the road to meet the widow and her six children. They live in a really small house about 10x10. Four of her kids sleep outside on a straw mat and the other two sleep with her in her bed. We sat down on some benches they had made in front of her house. Her 18 month year old girl was crying and she told the baby…”don’t cry, these people are doing beautiful things for us.” I asked Danny what she had said, and as soon as he told me, my eyes filled with tears, but I had to hold it in. I didn’t want to show her I was sad. When we said goodbye, I saw everything in a different light. I couldn’t stop thinking about how selfish I am and how much I buy just for pleasure. And here in Haiti, there are people barely surviving in small huts with no food. I didn’t know what to think. Last night, there was a horrible rainstorm, and all we could think about was the widow and her children living in the small hut, while we were staying in a cool room with blankets and a sturdy roof. It broke my heart.






Another thing Danny pointed out while we were at the widow’s house was her chicken coop. He said that he had bought Vania, his most recent child, out of a coop from a voodoo priest. Knowing Vania, it was so emotional because she is a beautiful girl and the thought that she wouldn’t be here if she wasn’t found just broke my heart. Seeing all the kids in the home, you would never know of their horrible pasts because they are so happy and content and well loved. I have had to sit back and realize that their lives have not always been this way, but thank goodness for people like Danny and Leann who give so much love to those who need it most.




The rest of the day, we cleaned out the closet full of different things and then Courtney and I fixed dinner. We went back to the hotel after we celebrated Tina’s birthday with funfetti cupcakes and presents. Leann said Tina had never had a birthday party before, which was something that never crossed my mind. Today was definitely a humbling experience that I hope I will always remember for the rest of my life. It was a great day ☺

- Kelsey