james 1:27

I am back in the US, and beginning to process the experience in Haiti. I will write more soon, but wanted to share a few pictures. I mostly took video, and hopefully will have much to share with that soon. As I've returned home the thought has been with me all day yesterday and today about Dr. Dayane' s dream of opening a home for the orphans. I really believe it can happen. Any thoughts out there? More to come soon...

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world." - james 1:27

Children on the shores of Leogane

A market in Port au Prince. (I noticed after I looked at this picture that the man in the foreground is carrying home a chicken.)

Schoolchildren in Leogane excited to greet us.

An all too familiar scene in Port au Prince... a street and waterway
lined with trash.

"what the eye sees moves the heart"

hello there everyone...

we arrived in port au prince yesterday after our time in leogane, and i just wanted to check in to let you all know that we are doing well. i'll be leaving for miami this evening, and will be back home tomorrow. you all remain in my thoughts and prayers, and your prayers have definitely been very present to me. i cannot thank you enough for thinking of our group and of our time here in haiti.

from a place and a people who endure so much suffering, there is a love and spirit that is teaching me so much. streets lined with trash, staving children, orphans, victims of diseases of poverty... we have seen it. but even greater we have seen the love and the spirit of people who are living proof of the strength and the beauty of the human spirit.

i will write more when i return, but one quick story for now before i go. yesterday i was talking with dr. madsen, a beautiful haitian man who is the director of the LF disease elimination program in leogane. his wife, dr. dayane, runs the hiv/aids program as well, and fr. tom told me that her dream is to open an orphanage for children who have been orphaned by aids. they are such beautiful people, and have two small children ages 3 and 6 months as well. in talking with dr. madsen i asked him how he finds strength to stay in haiti and continue his work. he looked me in the eye and told me that he would give his life for the people of haiti. he said "yes, i have children and my family, but i have most of all the hope that my children and my country will have a better future." and i heard in my heart, "no greater love has one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."

please pray for dr. madsen and dr. diane and all of the people like them who lay down their lives day after day for the people they love so much.

may we all know such passion and dedication.

may we all know such great love.

lots of love to you all,
nicole

an update from my sis

My younger sister Christy just sent a little update about her Americorps service project that I wanted to share. You are doing an awesome job with these kids Christy, and I'm really proud of you!! As for the update here, I'm leaving tomorrow for Haiti and will be back on Thursday. You will all by in my thoughts and prayers as I make this journey. I'm hoping Beth will write another guest blog in the meantime, and I'll see you all back here soon...

Dear Family and Friends,
Greetings from Northern California! As you all know, this past school year I have been working in a grade school as the second grade teacher in an after school program. Since the beginning of March, my class has been collaborating with the rest of the after school program to see how far we can run. At the end of May, our program will be taking a field trip to Safari West (a simulated African safari), so the goal is to “run” to Africa.

My class is responsible for running 1500 laps, and my students came up with a really incredible idea. To integrate our run to Africa with a service learning project, they decided to try to raise money by running and then taking a class trip to grocery/supply shop for a local homeless shelter. We hope each student will have at least one sponsor for each lap he or she runs (students will be running approximately 100 laps). Any amount will be greatly appreciated, and I will keep you updated weekly on your child’s progress. Thank you so much for your time and all of your support.
-Christy Shirilla (and Miss S’'s second grade class)

st. patrick's day

A few pictures from St. Patrick's Day in South Bend!

It was great to see Mrs. Rizzi & Kara!

Allie, Beth & me

Allie & her brother Mark

true beauty

A good thought for the day just shared with me by an ND student who is a "true beauty" and one of the sweetest persons that I have ever met. Thanks Jordan!!

"Time Tested Beauty Tips"

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; Never throw out anybody.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

(Thanks to Anthony for letting me know that this was written by Sam Levenson, and was a favorite of Audrey Hepburn.)

do both...

"Africa, your sufferings have been the theme that has arrested and engaged my heart... Your sufferings no tongue can express, no language impart."
- William Wilberforce
Speech on a motion for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, April 2, 1792

Last Friday night I went to see the movie Amazing Grace. This movie has stirred much that I have been thinking about all week. I know it's a long post, but I really want to share this.

Amazing Grace is the true story of a man named William Wilberforce, elected at age 21 to the House of Commons in England. Facing so many injustices in the world at such a young age and place of privilege, William wonders if he should use his gifts to "praise the Lord, or change the world?" A friend humbly proposes that he can do both. John Newton passionately agrees, and William proceeds to dedicate his life to the abolition of slavery.

Amazing Grace was released this month to celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Britain. While there is much to celebrate, there is much more work to be done...The fact is that modern day slavery exists, and the movie has prompted a movement called The Amazing Change. It is definitely a site and a cause worth checking out.

Relatedly, this week I have also been learning a great deal about Haiti in preparation for my journey there next Saturday. What I have learned has startled me.

Haiti was "discovered" by Columbus in 1492, and the original inhabitants of the island, the Arawkas, were decimated in about 25 years. The Spanish claimed what now is the Dominican Republic, and the French claimed the land that they called "The Pearl of the Antilles". It was a beautiful paradise island, and made France the envy of Europe. For over 100 years Haiti was France's most important overseas territory, supplying it with sugar, rum, coffee and cotton. How? At the cost of thousands and thousands of people forced into slavery from Africa. At the height of slavery near the end of the 18th century, some 500,000 people mainly of western African origin, were enslaved by the French.

The following excerpt I read from the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti startled me. (This was written regarding the International Donors Conference held in Madrid in November '06) Much of Haiti's current situation-- they are the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere-- is based upon an immoral debt once required by France in exchange for the freedom of the slaves who inhabited the island. I know it's long, but I believe this is worth reading...

"On November 29th, international diplomats and financiers will gather in Madrid to coordinate the disbursement of aid to fight poverty in Haiti over the coming years. The November meeting follows on the heels of a July meeting in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where the international community pledged $750 million in aid. Those generous commitments will build badly need roads, schools and hospitals that will make a real, short-term difference to ordinary Haitians – the poorest people in the Americas. But the commitments are based on charity, not human rights, and are not likely to make a sustained reduction in the daily deadly violations of Haitians’ economic and social human rights. What Haiti really needs to permanently end centuries of misery is not the world’s charity, but its justice.

The November donors’ meeting will not be discussing the one fair and lasting solution to Haiti’s grinding poverty: enforcement of Haiti’s right to the restitution of the independence debt imposed by France in 1825. The debt – calculated at $21 billion in current dollars – dwarfs current aid commitments (the pledged $750 million is less than a year’s interest on $21 billion). Its payment would allow Haitians to develop their economy according to their own priorities, without the attached strings that keep poor countries dependent on international aid.

Haiti won its independence from France in 1804, becoming the second independent country in the Americas and the only independent nation in history born of a successful slave revolt. But world powers forced Haiti to pay a second price for acceptance into the “international community.” Not a single country would recognize the Black Republic, and French warships remained off Haiti’s coasts, threatening to invade and reconquer the island. After twenty-one years of insisting on its right to respect and recognition, Haiti finally paid for it: in exchange for diplomatic recognition, Haiti agreed to pay the French government to compensate French plantation owners for their loss of “property,” including the freed slaves. The agreement required the compensation to be paid with a loan from a designated French bank. The debt was ten times Haiti’s total 1825 revenue and twice what the United States paid France in 1803 for the Louisiana Purchase, which contained seventy-four times more land.

Haiti’s poverty is inextricably linked with its history of slavery and the independence debt imposed by France. The debt was a crushing burden on Haiti’s economy, as the government was forced to redirect all economic activity to repay the debt. Up to 80% of some years’ government revenues went to debt service, at the expense of investment in education, health-care and infrastructure.

Haiti did not pay off the independence debt to the banks until 1947. Over a century after the global slave trade was eliminated as the evil it was, Haitians were still paying their ancestors’ masters for their own freedom. After the debt was paid, Haitians were left with a chronically undeveloped economy, rampant poverty, and a spent land- today relatively minor environmental stresses like tropical storms cause catastrophic damage in vulnerable Haiti....

A human rights-based approach to Haiti’s poverty would start with restitution of the independence debt. A just repayment of the debt would allow Haiti to develop the way today’s wealthy countries did – based on national priorities set inside the country. It would also right a historical wrong, and set a strong example of international cooperation based on justice and respect for international law. If the international community really wants to help Haiti, repayment of the independence debt will be at the top of the agenda, not off the table.

William Wilberforce worked to break the chains of slavery, and on March 13th (this past Tuesday) a bill was introduced in the US Congress to break Haiti's chains of debt.

Praise the Lord or change the world?? I humbly suggest that we can do both...

"God is with the poor" -bono

be yellow

"I just found out there's no such thing as the real world, just a lie you've got to rise above...They love to tell you to stay inside the lines, but something's better on the other side."
- John Mayer

Today's post is inspired by my good friend Ryan O'Connor, whose motto in life is "Be Yellow." After a number of years working in the business world, Ryan followed his dream to be an elementary school teacher. He joined the ACE program, which brought him to St. Marianne school in Los Angeles, and now he and his fiance Sarah are teaching in Guatemala. They are having awesome adventures, and living life to the fullest. Happy Birthday Ryan! You are a true inspiration.

By the way, Ryan is the best teacher I've ever met. Watch this, and you'll see why...

we finally see the sun!

It's pretty much a perfect Saturday here... a completely relaxing day and plus the sun is shining. A pretty good combination if you ask me!

I got an e-mail from my friend Annie (hi Annie!) who said that she reads the blog, which made me smile. Annie is currently in a neurosurgery rotation at Creighton Medical school, and she is loving it. (Are neurosurgeons anything like they are on tv? ) Way to go Annie! You are amazing. (The picture is of Annie and her husband Anthony at their wedding last summer. Beautiful!)

In her e-mail Annie asked why I was in LA, and I realized that I never really explained why I went. It was a big surprise actually... and the first surprise I've ever really pulled off in my life. My friend Danielle Rose was going to be singing at the LA Congress. Because of some vocal injuries, Danielle hasn't sung publicly for about a year, so when she told me that she was going to be singing in LA, I knew I really wanted to be there. (This is a picture of Danielle receiving a blessing from Pope John Paul II in 2004.)

As it turned out, several other really close friends from ND, Michael Downs and Beau Schweitzer, were planning on going to the conference as well, and the weekend turned into a beautiful reunion. Beau has just recently returned to the States after serving over three years at the Farm of the Child in Honduras. Michael had just finished defending his thesis at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley that Friday. Danielle's parents Dan and Rosey, her sister Aubry and Grandma Marion (who celebrated her 75th birthday that weekend) were there, as were many other friends from Notre Dame and ACE. We had much to celebrate!! Danielle sang two new songs from her upcoming CD that is dedicated to Mother Teresa, and she sounded beautiful. It was an amazing weekend, and one that I will remember for the rest of my life.

After the conference, Mike and Beau and I got to have dinner with our good friend Anthony Brannan, and also had a great visit with Ben Hunter too. It's still hard to believe that I got to see so many good friends all in one weekend, but God is just that good!!

In other news, I finally got to say hi to everyone's favorite ND safety-turned-boxer-for-charity who boxed last week for his charity as well as Hannah and Friends. He has lived in the apartment right below Alli and Beth all year, but I hadn't run into him until this week. He was moving out, but not before I got to wish him good luck next season. That was a highlight of my week, as you all can imagine! As Kelly Clarkson put it so well... "Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this." (And if you want to sing it for yourself, check out the karaoke version. Just don't get too distracted by the random fish and monkeys jumping across the screen. You'll see.)

That's it from here... there have been over 1800 visits to the blog, which is exciting. Please sign the guestbook if you haven't already. It would be great to know who stops by!

the newest little nd fan :-)

Today I found out the most wonderful news... Katie and Craig are having their second baby in September!!!!! Please send lots of prayers for Katie and her baby for a healthy and joyful pregnancy. Thank you!!

Abby will be the best big sister ever, and teach the new baby all about cheering for her two favorite teams, I'm sure!!

conversions and connections

"Happiness isn't measured by how much you can acquire, you know. I think it's maybe how much you can let go of. The more you let go of, it seems, the more you have.."
-- Gerry Straub, documentary filmmaker, San Damiano Foundation

Many beautiful things happened while I was in Los Angeles this past weekend. God continues to work in mysterious ways, as I had the chance to connect with a wonderful man named Gerry Straub. Gerry used to be a network television producer in LA, but left it all behind after a powerful conversion in 1995. Gerry now heads up the San Damiano Foundation, and lives to put the power of film at the the service of the poor.

Mr. Straub has lately felt particularly called to Haiti, and so our conversation was both rich and exciting, as I stood back in awe of how the Holy Spirit is ever-present and at work for the life of the church.

Check out his story of conversion and testimony to the fullness of life that he has found in giving his all to Christ. Thank you Gerry... you are an inspiration.

ice skating...guestblog

As Nicole headed out to LA to visit her friends she asked me to guestblog. I tried and then with some quirk in the internet i thought i had deleted the blog...now after a brief tutorial i feel cautiously optimistic in reposting.

So as Nicole enjoyed time in the warm and balmy weather with her friends in LA it was in the 20s here in the Bend but Amy, Beth P, Alli and myself tried to make the best of it. We headed to Barnaby's for some pizza and then to Howard Park for ice skating. It was a great time, if you could ignore the fact that snow was rapidly accumulating on the ice. Here is a picture from the event:



Even though it had been since the last millennium since some of us had been on the ice we made it around the rink more than once and nobody even fell, quite an accomplishment. Amy by far performed the best even making 1/4 of a lap backwards!

While i would much prefer to be enjoying the sun in so-cal the end of winter should be near! Although it is not here yet unfortunately, as Nicole left my place tonight snow had accumulated during her short visit. Spring cannot arrive fast enough for me (or Nicole based on her frowning face as she left tonight!)

Also don't forget to check out the guestbook on the top or bottom of the blog. The questions will be changing every now and again so be sure to check back often!!

Think Spring :)

blessings

I just returned from an amazing weekend in California with some of the people I love most in this world...
It was hard to leave after such an incredible reunion with people I love so much and see far too infrequently, but I know that I will never forget this weekend. In the words of Kahlil Gibran, "When you part from your friend, you grieve not; For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain."

Thank you to Danielle, Beau, Michael, Jenny, Anthony, Ben, Naomi, Christina, Cliff, Dan, Rosey, Aubry, Grandma Marion and many, many new friends for a beautiful, unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime weekend!!