Are you ready for a zillion more photos? 
Just when I think that I’ve got them all pared down….I realize I have a whole load of photos I want to share with the world. So be it. Let me pick up where I left off.
After church was over we walked back to the compound. We rested for awhile and had lunch which was, as usual, delicious. We had somewhat of a gameplan for the remaining afternoon and it was jam packed. We wanted to visit some Voodoo caverns so we took a drive across town and went to one. The flags were up (flags flying ..usually different colored ones…means there is a witch doctor present) and people were just lounging around. Their faces were not welcoming when we drove up so we turned around and headed back into town. We took a drive into the countryside again. I will never tire of seeing the Haitian countryside. It is so beautiful.
There were these little “stands” everywhere. Haitians take big rocks (BIG rocks) and make smaller rocks and little tiny rocks out of them. By hand. With a hammer. Then they sell the rock.
Naked children chasing us down the road.
After we took a drive we went to the orphanage to park so that we could hike. We planned to hike up to the Second Fort up in the mountains. There are a number of forts that start at the foot of the mountain and go up and up, and these were built a couple hundred years ago to defend themselves when the French invaded. The first fort is in ruins and this is where the townspeople bathe and wash their clothes in.
A few photos of the kids before we took off on our walk/hike.
It was the little twins’ 2nd birthday on this day. Some of the missionaries that stayed at the compound we stayed in came to get them to take them back to their apartment for some cake and ice cream. They ended up taking a whole truckfull of kids.
Rosaline:
Her brother , he was not very sure of me and was very unsure of “blanc” people in general. I had to chase him down for a photo 
Rob realllly wanted to take those twins home.
We then took off for a walk, leaving our truck parked at the orphanage. It is not very far to walk to the foot of the mountain where the stairs lead to go to the fort. Some photos along the way….
The first fort. It is now in ruins.
A goat eating some of the trash that is alongside the road we walked on.
This truck was driving around. I thought it comical.
The foot of the stairs we began to climb.
It was a lonnng way up. And the stairs weren’t there for long. It was very hot as well. I snapped photos on my way up.
See the cemetary?
ALMOST to the fort!
I wanted to get a photo of everyone in one of these “windows”…but Tim took off on the other side so didn’t get one of him.
As you can tell, I absolutely love having my photo taken. I gave the digital camera to Jamie at this point while I shot some film. He got snap happy, lol but did a great job. Some of these took, some I took.
Barracks. I think Jeff wanted to sleep there.
These crack me up. Love Rob’s expression.
Silly.
This is about the point that I took over. I didn’t want the camera to break while he was snapping photos of me.
The light was sooo beautiful shining through there, and the tree was awesome. See the cannon that is half buried at the bottom?
Film:
A quick snap on Tim’s camera, self timer. Turned out pretty good!
We then started down the mountain and I took some more photos.
This is the orphanage compound. It’s pretty big!
Some kids that were along the path on the way down the mountain
We could see the kids at the orphanage from this point and they were waiting by the gate and waving to us. They couldn’t wait for us to get back. I couldn’t wait to get back to them either.
We were swamped by the kids when we walked back into the gate. I think they knew we were leaving, that this was the last time we would see them and so they attached themselves onto us like glue. It was a happy time. I had my film camera and gave Jamie the digital again…and I am so very thankful for the photos I have of me and these kids. I am so often behind the camera recording other people’s journey’s and lives and don’t often have the chance to have my own journey and life documented. I am so thankful.
Love the look on Dahanna’s face here. These two girls absolutely stole my heart.
Some film:
“My” beautiful girl, Jozienne. I cried over leaving this little girl.
I love how her teeth is missing. So beautifully cute.
My favorite picture. Will cherish.
We didn’t get to spend long there. I could have stayed all day. One last photo before we departed.
We drove out that gate and I burst into tears. I was completely and utterly heartbroken. My heart felt like it was ripped in a million pieces. The rest of the day was very melancholy for me. I was so sad to be leaving those children. I truly and wholy fell in love while I was there. I still think about little Jozienne daily. Adoption is such an ordeal in Haiti, it takes around 2 years. We are not ready to do so yet, but maybe someday soon. I have so much more love in my heart to offer and if I could help one child…then I want to. I am in the process of sponsoring little Jozienne through the orphanage and another child in the town of Dessalines.
Just an FYI, if you are in the area…. I and a couple of my teammates will be speaking at all 3 services this week about this particular trip. We will also be providing more information on sponsorship for children in Haiti. Please check out our church’s website for more services information or feel free to send me an email: chixieandhoney@Hotmail.com Crossroads Church website: www.crossroadson23.com
The remainder of our day consisted of praying at the voodoo caverns and visiting a sick woman in her home to pray for her. I was an emotional wreck by the time we got back to the compound. I just felt completely depleted and done. I was completely emotionally exhausted and had a bit of a breakdown. I sat outside on the steps in the dark and just cried. I called my husband and sobbed to him…oh how I wish he were with me. He is such a source of strength for me and I so needed to draw on his strength right then, and I wanted to share this amazing and beautiful experience with him. Someday I hope we will go together.
We were all having mixed feelings, since this was our last day in Dessalines. Rob usually played soccer with the boys in the evenings and tonight he did not want to even go out there, because it was too hard to say goodbye. We were all very much looking forward to getting back to the states and seeing our loved ones. I missed my family so much it hurt my heart. I was ready to go home.
I will share more about our last full day in Haiti in my next blog post. I will be sharing photos taken of the townskids mostly and sharing an amazing story. Please stay tuned and as always, leave a comment if you stopped by. :)
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
-John 1:5
