I feel like I am always playing catch-up on this blog! This
time I’ll try to keep the updates short because I have something more exciting
to share!
Leslie and I are staying busy as usual with trips to visit
family and friends, his work, and my school. Linus is almost a year old and he
is SO big! He keeps us entertained, for sure.
Leslie is still working for Northwestern State as one of the
assistant athletic trainers. We’re not sure who will be paying him next
year since his contract with the hospital runs out in July, but we have
confidence that it will be figured out before he gets dropped! He will most
likely be working with the soccer team primarily next year which I am thrilled
about because of their short season and decent schedule! There is also a possibility that Leslie may get to begin his PhD program earlier than planned, but more on that as more details come together!
I am STILL working on my masters! NSU made some changes and
added two 60 hour counseling programs. I chose to switch to counseling with a
focus in school counseling. Some states require a 60 hour program, so I decided
it would be worth the extra semester in school. Besides, who am I kidding, I
love school! This program will allow me to work as a school counselor or (once
I pass my NCE and do my LPC internship hours) become a Licensed Professional
Counselor. Still not sure what I want to do with this, but I’m excited about
the possibilities!
Now on to the more exciting part... Leslie and I are going to Haiti! Neither of us have been out of the country before, so we were very excited when we were asked to go with the church’s youth on this trip. We will be traveling to Grand Goave on July 6th and will stay until the 13th with our group of 14 people.
As I learned earlier, Grand Goave was very close to the epicenter of the earthquake that devastated Haiti and experienced extreme damage.
During our trip we will stay in a compound run by the Hands and Feet Project (started by the lead singer of the band Audio Adrenaline... check out the website!). We will get to work with an orphanage and do some construction within the compound. The language most commonly spoken there is French Creole, and we have tried to learn some, but it is tough! Thankfully we'll have guides with us who live in Haiti and can translate for us and tell us what is safe to eat if we ever find ourselves eating outside of the compound.We have gotten updated on all of our vaccines and are taking pills for malaria and typhoid fever in addition. We know it will be a completely new experience and, although we have tried, know that we cannot totally prepare ourselves for it. We covet your prayers as we get ready to go in just 10 days and as we spend time in Haiti. We are so thankful for this experience, and I can't wait to share more with you when we return!
