Preparations....

Getting ready for this trip is different than most.  Aside from the usual items like toiletries and essential clothing, I have also purchased and packed flashlights, Power Bars, peanut butter and wire cutters!  It's hard to imagine what we will encounter based on what has been described to me thus far.  Our team is traveling to Pignon, Haiti. The mission is to build a home in the 8 days we are there.  We are at the mercy of a generator that will run a power saw and other various tools all day.  There is no electricity and cell phone service is "iffy".  This will be a time to truly disconnect. 

 I am trying to learn a bit of Haitian Creole, the native language.  It is similar to French. 

Faculty and staff at SRAE, friends, family, Dr. DeCarlo of Slippery Rock University and Coach Herlihy of the Akron Women's Soccer Program have donated money or items.  Here are just a few of the goods that the kids will get to enjoy...