Recommended Reading

Here's a shocker for you: I'm always reading a book. If my nose isn't physically in it at the moment, then it's in my purse or on my nightstand or waiting for me in my most recent reading nook.

With that in mind, it shouldn't surprise you that I'm reading as much as I can about Haiti and mission work before I leave. I know just reading about the place won't make me an expert of any kind - or make me even marginally equipped for what I'm about to experience - but boning up at the library has never hurt anyone, so I'm doing it.

Fortunately for me, Haiti H2O has my back in the book rack, so I've had plenty of material to focus on since committing to this adventure. For your convenience, I've broken our recommended reading into several (hopefully) helpful categories, just in case you feel so inclined to read a bit about Haiti beyond this blog. Within each category, I've ranked the books from my favorite (top) to least favorite (bottom). Maybe you'll find a few that interest you!

Haitian History

• The Big Truck That Went By: How the World Came to Save Haiti and Left Behind a Disaster by Jonathan M. Katz
• The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer
• The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James
• Toussaint Louverture: A Biography by Madison Smartt Bell 

Mission Work

• Following Jesus Through the Eye of the Needle: Living Fully, Loving Dangerously by Kent Annan
• Song of Haiti: The Lives of Dr. Larimer and Gwen Mellon at Albert Schweitzer Hospital of Deschapelles by Barry Paris
• Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder
• When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor...and Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert

Haitian Culture

• Krik? Krak? by Edwidge Danticat
• The Comedians by Graham Greene 

Krik?

Happy Independence Day, America!

I'm leaving you. But only for a little while.

As you can see, it's been more than two years since my last post. During that time, I hoped I would have a chance to bring this blog back for another international trip - and I finally got my wish.

Today officially marks one month until the departure date for my next adventure, but I have a feeling this one will be very different from my last. Instead of returning to Europe, I'm heading south to Haiti.

Plain Matin, Haiti, to be exact.

That's a small, rural community in the southwestern part of the country, located in a plateau at the end of a mountain road. I'll be traveling with eight others through Haiti H2O, a non-profit mission organization based out of Pittsburgh. Our goal is to help with basic construction projects in the community and with a new music program for local youth. My personal project between now and then is to create a one-day mini Vacation Bible School experience for the kids there (ideas are welcome!).

That's the quick description for right now. As we get closer to flight time, I'll provide more details about this trip. One thing I will say now (because I know you are probably wondering) is that I won't be blogging from Pain Matin. There is limited electricity in the area (and one toilet!), but internet access is basically out of the question, so I'll keep a handwritten (gasp!) journal during my stay and update this blog accordingly when I return to the States. But as long as I have internet access, you'll have real-time updates from me.

Also, by now you may be wondering about the title of this particular blog post. The official language in Haiti is French (which I don't speak), but less than 20 percent of the population speaks that. Most people speak Haitian Creole (which I also don't speak, but I'm trying to learn what I can). Less than half of Haiti's population is literate, making verbal storytelling traditions especially important. When a storyteller is ready to begin, he or she asks "Krik?" to get the audience's permission to tell the story or riddle. The audience answers "Krak!" if they are ready to listen.

And that's your lesson in Creole for today. So...

Krik?