Saturday will mark the 5 month anniversary of the Haiti earthquake. I will be returning to Haiti on Friday and do so with excitement and a little apprehension. I am not totally sure what the apprehension comes from but the joy I will get from seeing my friends and the kids makes it all worth it.
It has been a very crazy few months since I have been back in the States. I flew back on February 4th and although it seems like a year ago there are parts that are still so fresh. I can say with confidence that I am healing and doing so much better. I was led by some friends to seek counseling early in my return home. This was the best advice I could have been given. I wanted to be sure that I handled all I had been through and saw in a healthy manner. It was so easy for me to tuck it all away but I was afraid that in the years to come it was come to the surface unresolved. So with lots of work on my own as well as with my therapist, John, I feel that I have successfully made great strides in my recovery. I also can’t talk about my successful recovery without thanking my family and my friends. So many of you have patiently been by my side. Just being present when I didn’t even know I needed anyone. Kind words, continued prayers and your smiling faces. I feel so blessed.
I am going to be in Haiti from the 11th till the 22nd. I have a few items on my agenda that I need to work on but the focus of my trip is to see my friends, hear their stories and see what we can do to make life just a little easier. I know it will be challenging but I feel that this is part of my healing. My dear friend Anne McNeill is graciously coming along to walk by my side for 7 of my 11 days. Her and her husband are sacrificially giving of themselves to make this gift a reality for me.
I will be sharing parts of my journey here so come along if you would like. Thanks for your continued love and support. It means more than I can express. I look back at all my posts; especially those close to and following Jan 12th and I am humbled.
To God be the glory!
Posted by Val on June 11, 2010 at 1:10 am
Hi Joanna, I am delighted to hear that you are having counselling. My husband is a counsellor and I know of the horrendous stories that unfold when something is not sorted. So well done you.
May your trip be a real blessing to you. That when you meet with the people again, your love and compassion will shower them so they know they are not forgotten. It is such a shame that when the media stops, the problems dont go away with them.
Send Gertrude and the children our love from all at Robin Hood Ministries. xx