Going Home 2

I figure it is 1:00 in the morning I am not finished packing, to end my night I might as well give a little update on my happenings. Tuesday, December 13th we are leaving to AMERICA! Honestly I have mixed feelings. For one by the time I get to Huntsville (where I reside) it will be the middle of winter. Coming from a mile of the equator to the middle is winter wasn't quite the welcome home party I expected. I wonder what will happen to the church members while we are gone. Will they stay consistent? On the other hand I will be glad to go to Wal-mart at midnight just because I can. I can't wait to go shopping and find dirt cheap bargains for good quality things. The food...you already know how I feel about that. If not read this for a reminder. Before food and shopping of course there is my family that I can't wait to see. I'm getting really tired so I'll have to stop here. Travel is fun. My Suriname journey isn't over just yet, though. I'll be back!

Anxiously awaiting America...

Snack of the Day

I know I post a lot about food. Or maybe not? Food helps me to cope sometimes. I was just telling my husband the other day that I thank God for fast foods. I was reminiscing of Chik-fil-A and Buffalo Wild Wings. I thought of all the condiments used to make your food taste so good. Then I had to snap out of it. This was just my little rant on American food. Moving on to the SuriSnack.

The snack of the day was actually given to me by a friend. To be honest the bag reminds me of my childhood and would not have attracted me in the stores. Though it was a gift I wasn't even gonna eat it until one day when I was REALLY hungry. The quickest thing to satisfy my hunger, for the time being until I cooked, was a bag of krie-kra. It kind of reminds me of cocoa puffs with less cocoa and more puff. Actually the cocoa is more like a mocha than a chocolate (false advertisement on the bag). After eating this little snack I realized that I have a new treat to enjoy. It is good for children and adults because it is not too sweet. I like that. If you come to Suriname you won't regret buying this little snack.

This is one of the many products that Fernandes offers 

Taking a good look..."Wow this is better than I thought"

Awww...last one :(

Snacking the Suri way...

Do you have a favorite snack? Have you ever tasted Krie-Kra? Let me know!

Wolly's

I like to eat good food. Most people do. Amongst the diversity of foods in Suriname there is a good ole burger joint. It is like none other. There is a Burger King and McDonald's here, but Wolly's is unique. I think what sets their burgers apart from the others is the juiciness. I like to taste the ketchup and mayo in my sandwich. You know how you open the burger to check if there is even any condiments within. With a Wollyburger that is not the case. When you see the picture of my burger below you will know what I am talking about.

Zorg en Hoop outlet

This is the current menu. They do have their menu is online but it hasn't been updated since the increase in prices nationwide. Just add 1 or 2 SRD's to the price for accuracy.  

This is my order of  a Wolly Kip (chicken) burger. 

There are 3 Wolly's that I know of: 1) town, 2)Zorg en Hoop, 3)Leijsweg You can check out their website for hours of operation and any other info you might have. Let me know if have visited Wolly's what your experience was like.

Craving a Wollyburger...

Foto Friday

Glorious Earlier this year I went on a fishing trip. (Mentioned it in a post.) I just glanced through the pictures again and thought I should share this one. This is at the point where the Suriname river meets the Atlantic ocean.

A Workshop for Peace

If you want to watch the documentary I mentioned yesterday here is a link: A Workshop for Peace Watch the Documentary Film Free Online SnagFilms##. I found it to be very informative. I like the title when you watch the movie you will better understand why.

Enjoy!

Happy United Nations Day!

Today is United Nations Day. It is the day that commemorates the Charter of the United Nations. In light of this we went to the TBL cinemas to watch the documentary "A Workshop for Peace" tonight. The event was hosted by the United Nations in Suriname. Admission was free and open to the public. I thought that many of the Surinamese would take the opportunity to check out a movie for free, but the main viewers were mainly Americans from different organizations.
The documentary shows the story of how the world's greatest architects representing many of the original member nations came together and created an architectural symbol for global Peace. It was very interesting to see the different designs that were presented in the process of finding the design for the building we have today. I've been to New York City several times, but never really went to see the building. Next time I am in New York City I will definitely have to stop by and take a glance of the structure in person.

I brought my camera last night to take pictures, but when I turned it on--battery exhausted. I didn't see the need to bring my video camera. I did start a YouTube channel tonight for SuriTam so I will be bringing my video camera everywhere. Below is a pamphlet they passed out about the United Nations in Suriname. I am glad to have this information, because I think I will inquire on a job with the UN. Feel free to share this information with anyone you know. Maybe you might want to work with the UN in Suriname...You never know!

Hoping for World Peace...

Foto Friday

Harmless? Yes. This lizard is just as docile as the small ones you find  in the patios of Miami. Of course even the most docile creature when threatened or harassed will have to use self-defense. When I first saw it  I thought it was harmful, but later I learned that it would only hurt a fly. 

Little Known Fact

Gopher Snake This snake would probably be killed because it seems harmful, yet it is a non-poisonous snake. It helps reduce the amount of rodents that fester around.  Click here to learn more about snakes

If you were going for a walk in the bushes one day, with a machete in hand (for protection) and you encounter a snake in your path, what would you do?... Kill it right!?! With what? The machete in your hand. Well, recently I learned that is the wrong thing to do if you are in the wrong position, especially if it is poisonous. The first half with the head has a high possibility of jerking forward and biting you. If it is poisonous the venom will still release. The best thing to do is let the snake go, because it is more scared of you than you are of it (no matter how scared you may be). If it is poisonous you can crush the head with the handle of the machete and break its back bone so it doesn't try to come forward to you. Cut it when it seems to be dead (just to make sure). And yes snakes have bones. Only try to kill it if you are in a life-threatening situation. It could be more dangerous for you to kill it than to just let it go on its way.

I did some research before I shared this information. According to MedlinePlus, "Be careful with the head...a snake can actually bite for up to an hour after it's dead (from a reflex)." I really don't want to ever have to test this fact for myself. I do write this for those traveling to the interior of Suriname or just your backyard to let you know how to handle a snake if there is a life-threatening situation that may cause you to kill it.

Staying away from snakes...

Drink of the Day

Among the variety of fruit drinks that are in Suriname, my favorite is Markoesa (Passion Fruit). When I eat the fruit fresh there is a burst of tangy sweet sourness that delights my taste buds. The drink is not as sour, so most people rather the drink. Below is a picture of me enjoying the delightful drink.

Drink: Markoesa
Brand: Coropina
Produced in: Suriname

Suriname Gospel

This song is one of my favorite songs. I don't know if it is because it was one of the first songs I learned here or if it's just the rhythm. The literal translation of the song is:

God is a good God. Yes He is. (twice) He lifts me up, He turns me around, and places my feet on high ground.

Lesplansie

Last week around this time I went to the interior of Suriname. As stated in a previous post the organization I work with, NAPS, has built a church in the village Lesplansie where we are committed to developing.  From Lesplansie we will branch out to other villages and lend a helping hand where needed. Everything is pretty much done with the church except the windows that need to be put in, a toilet needs to be dug out, and the church needs a good paint job. I think we will do some electrical work, but I don't know much about the details. I was there to cook. While the men were doing the digging I was in the kitchen preparing some good meals. The facilities weren't the best, but you use what you have. 

The Kitchen

The Stove

The kitchen got a little smoky at times, but I step out and get some fresh air so that I can breathe. The villagers work in this kitchen 24/7 and don't seem to be affected by the smoke that flares up from the firewood. The stove was obviously not conventional, but I learned the way to put the fire on high is to add a lot of firewood and fan really good. The way to turn down the fire is to pull out the firewood where just the embers are in the middle and the ends are not touching each other anymore. Life in the interior is simple, sometimes too simple. Over time hopefully through technology and education there will be advancements for the villages.

Enjoying the simple life...

She Is Missed

(source)

BANG!...and a car speeding away was the sound that I woke up to last Wednesday morning at 5:30. Jumping out of bed to find out what happened I saw Mrs. Broija (a dog) limping across the street. All the dogs in the neighborhood started to cry and howl for this crime that a negligent driver had committed. I watched her struggle to keep her head up as she sat on the side of the road. The neighbors came out to see what all the commotion was about. I tried to go back to sleep, but couldn't I periodically looked out the window to see if she was okay. The last look was her final breath. She died. I never even pet her (because she was a stray) but I felt so sad inside to know that a dog who always sat on my porch was now dead. I felt that it was appropriate to write about it because her 'husband', Broija, who lives next door hasn't been the same since she left. The house I live in used to be Broija's. When his owners moved away there was a sense of loss. Now about 2-3 years later his wife dies I want the world to know that Broija is hurting too. Dogs do mourn and we should be considerate of there feelings. As for Mrs. Broija, we had a mini-funeral in the backyard. We dug a deep hole and laid her there.

Missing Mrs. Broija...

Sick Car

The entrance to the Academisch Ziekenhuis

Last Thursday the skies were blue, the sun was hot, and a baby was on the way. Of course as a pastoral couple my husband and I had to visit our church member that was due to deliver at any moment. She was in Academisch Ziekenhuis. We arrived at 4:00 p.m. There were practically no cars outside. We figured it was because of the holiday. The woman at the gate wouldn't let us go through. She told us to come back at 5:00 p.m. We found out the hard way that visiting hours are daily from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and 5:00-6:00 p.m. If you want to visit someone out of these hours you will not be permitted to do so unless you buy a pass for 11 SRDs that allows you to visit outside of the visiting hours for only one hour. We'll come back!

When we came back it was raining so hard. The parking lots were all more than full. We got wet, but it didn't matter. The visit was really nice. We cracked some jokes, listened for any concerns, prayed, and were on our way. Upon reaching the car we noticed that the headlights were left on. (Uh-oh!) Tried to start the car and the battery was...dead. Realizing our jumper cables were not in the car we called a colleague.

After making the call I realized that there was a man in the car next to us. Of course I had to muster up some dutch, but I definitely mixed it with some sranantongo. I said, "Mi battri dede! Kunt u help me? Yu habi jumper cables?" He said, "mi no habi!" Finally, someone pulled over to help us and the car started. We were on our way. The car is still sick though. It is in need of a new battery. Hope things get better. It's ironic that the car got sick in front of the hospital though!

Caring the car to wellness...

Recently...

This past month I had visitors. With visitors means a particular project that we are tending to. This time it was highly active evangelism to the Haitian community. We had 3 of our Creole speaking friends come to help. There were nightly meetings that shared truths about the bible. My favorite part of the program was the grand finale. We had a group come from French Guiana that performed a beautiful concert. Not only was the concert well put together, but the songs were so beautiful. The following day we had a day of sports. It was really fun. The Haitian youth came out to enjoy the activities. My husband barbecued some chicken. The food was so good. I really enjoyed myself. Right now again I am in recoup mode.

My whole body was literally hurting me when I woke up on Monday morning. All lot of different things have happened that I will try to share. My experience in Suriname is very unique. Sharing the unraveling experiences as I recoup for the next big event.

Making memories....

Foto Friday

Saramacca Connect The newest bridge in Suriname is only 2 minutes walking distance from me. As of June 27th there is more traffic but now the people living only 50 minutes or so from town won't have to take the extra hours to get there. Further Reading

4th of July

 Yesterday. Heard no fireworks. Ate no barbecue chicken. Swam in no pool. BUT all is not lost. On Sunday, July 3rd, my neighbor decided to barbecue in lieu of emancipation day here in Suriname since it was still the same weekend. We just got an invitation to a 4th of July celebration that will take place next Sunday, July 10th for all American citizens residing in Suriname. That is going to be pretty cool.

The 4th of July has a new meaning to me now. July 4, 2009 was my last day as a single woman. Today, is my wedding anniversary and I am just glad to be married to such a great man. We have been married for two years now and this evening we will celebrate. Marriage is a give and take. Having a discussion about marriage my cousin said,"marriage is a collision of two worlds." Some may not agree, but this is the truth. I agree with her, but have an amendment: "marriage is a holy collision of two worlds"; the fact that God instituted marriage, 85% of weddings are in a church or synagogue, and a majority of those who get married at the Justice of the Peace call a chaplain to bless them, all support this.

I have taken a serious vow and will continue to be faithful to it. We will go to Pizza Hut, which is fine dining here. You'll see pictures on Friday or maybe tomorrow. I'll keep you updated as I am working on some videos to show you more of what Suriname is like, from a more captivating aspect.

Enjoying my anniversary...

Foto Friday

Keti Koti Literally meaning "cut chain" is being observed today, July 1, in Suriname. It is emancipation day led out by the slaves. Many people were representing in traditional outfits like this little girl above. 

Sunday Stroll

Converse Store at the Hermitage mall

Yesterday, I went to the mall with my hubby after a successful outing with our church members. We were going to go to Fernandes, to get a little snack, but opted to just get the snack at the mall. Before we arrived honestly I thought the mall might not be open, because so many other places were closed. Much to my pleasant surprise the mall was open. Yay!! First place? Food court. The food court isn't as extensive, but I did find a good snack. We both ordered a chicken sate (pronounced sah-tay) with a side of fries. I got some pinda sauce with mine. Pinda is dutch for peanuts. In a later post I hope to give you a recipe for this delicious pinda sauce.

After eating of course we just walked around like the rest of the mall goers. I looked into stores with wishful eyes and empty pockets. Oh how I wish I was rich sometimes. (Only sometimes because mo' money, mo' problems.) Anyhow though I knew I wasn't going to buy anything I still went into several stores, shoe stores to be specific. I love shoes. Until my husband was tired but by then we were practically at the end of the mall. All that was left was the huge Converse store that stood before us. Of course he was rejuvenated as we entered. I felt like I was in America again. There were shoes (of course), clothes, and a DJ. Across the Converse store is one of the two McDonald's in Suriname. I wanted a sundae, but since I had one Saturday night I figured a few less calories wouldn't hurt.

We left there around 8:45pm and it looked like the night was just getting started. The stores were closing, yet the parking lot was throbbing with cars. Then it was brought to my attention that everyone is going to the theatres which is adjacent to the mall. Going to the mall always tires me, but I stayed up for the 45 minute drive home. The Hermitage mall is a definite place to visit if you come to Suriname.

Now wanting a sundae...

Foto Friday

Papakye This green parrot is talented. At times he can sound like a child crying then go to the opposite, a woman laughing, it is really fun to watch these birds and listen to them. In Suriname they call these birds pa-pa-kye.

Foto Friday

La Gabrielle This is the ferry that took us from Albina, Suriname to St. Laurent, French Guiana. Even cars get a lift.

Suriname Visa

By the end of 2010 the National Democratic Party (NDP) of Suriname was beginning their reign. President Bouterse brought a new government to Suriname where a lot of things changed. In particular the rules for foreigners became strict. As an America passport holder I am allowed 90 days on a Tourist visa. Anyone coming to Suriname must come with a round-trip ticket. That wasn't an option for my husband and me.

We didn't and still don't know exactly when we are leaving. We came back in October 2010, and made it clear we would be here for at least a year. After working in the interior with the bush negroes and especially our Haitian brethren we have decided to prolong our stay a couple of months. Seeing that we came on a one way ticket at the airport they gave us a stay for 30 days. That is they stamped our passport with a stay for 30 days, because we applied for our Suriname visa from America (which is valid for 5 years multiple entries). Each entry can be for up to 90 days if you have proof that you will be leaving.

For us we don't have proof that we are leaving anytime soon. Solution? French Guiana! Every 30 days when our stay is up we head on over to Suriname's neighboring country French Guiana. We spend the night at La Tentiaire (pronounced la-tuhn-see-air). It is like a mini vacation from the hustle and bustle of Paramaribo. When you cross the river it is like you are in Europe, technically you are. We wish we didn't have to do this, but this is the only solution.

Last month we went to the States. We bought our ticket in February. When we went to the police station to show our itinerary they finally granted us a 90 day stay until we left for America. Now that we are back we have to keep running for the border until we can get that ticket home. The road is long, but the light at the end of the tunnel is worth it ;-)

Loving the border...

Back in Town!

It has been approximately 13 days since I have been back in Suriname. These nearly two weeks have been very full. I came back on the same flight as my friends from NAPS with whom I am currently doing more extensive work in the interior. When we got in we stayed in town for about two days then it was straight to the bush. I was really tired already from the "vacation" which wasn't as relaxing as I expected.

While in America believe it or not I didn't do half of the things that I thought I would do. I actually did go to the following restaurants: Chinese food (the broccoli was banging), Subway, Taco Bell, IHOP, and Chipotle. I really enjoyed the visit with friends and family. It was really nice to see all the people that I got to see. Unfortunately I didn't get to see everyone that I wanted to see, but when we get back permanently we will get a chance to catch up.

It  has been 30 days since my last post so I couldn't let another day go on without posting. I will be working in the interior until mid June, but today I am in town, because the doctors are coming in tomorrow. My husband and I are going to pick them up from the airport and bring them back to the interior to continue the medical work. I will probably blog another post in about a month. Feel free to check back in a month. Don't forget about me as I haven't forgotten about you! The work is progressing, but we need your prayers.

Back to the bush...

Foto Friday

School bus? Yes. Everyday this bus comes in the morning to pick up the children and drop them off in the afternoon. I look at it and wonder if this is the same bus that Rosa Parks rode back in the day. 

Going Home

In 4 days I will be in America. Yay!!! : D This blog is not over, neither will the posts diminish for the next 2 weeks (hopefully), because this is only a visit. I am going to visit my friends and family even though honestly I gave gotten used-to Suriname. Of course there are people that I miss, like my Dad and sister (not my mom because she is here visiting), but I am glad to get a chance to see their faces. I was thinking about the first thing I wanted to eat...mmm....Subway! I want to get a turkey sandwich wrap with some chipotle sauce, baby spinach, olives, onions, ranch dressing, swiss cheese, and have it toasted! Whooo...hooo! That is going to be so good. That is just one of the many restaurants on my list. Seeing that I am on a strict budget I may not get to go to all here on my list: Chinese restaurant [only for broccoli and tofu in garlic sauce w/ fried rice], Subway, Taco bell, Chipotle, Chik-fil-A, Coconutz Fusion, Papa Gyros (great greek food), Casa Blanca, any Indian restaurant, Cheesecake factory....can't think of anymore,  but please if you have any ideas I'm willing to hear.

Apart from the food I am really looking forward to shopping at the thrift store. I just love a good bargain for great quality stuff. Can't wait to go to Walmart and Target! Actually take a hot shower. My house only has cold water. You know there are usually two knobs on every sink...well not everywhere do you have the luxury of two knobs here. Most times it is one knob for the cold. If you have a tank though that faces the sun during the day, you will have the privilege of feeling nice warm water on your skin. The cold water is actually good for you though. Some say it will make you sick, but I think I have gained a strengthened immune system seeing that I haven't gotten sick. I hope too many things haven't changed since I've been gone, but I guess I'll find out when I get there.

America here I come...

Hot Road

Today I just came back from the interior and it was such a beautiful experience. It was hot, but the trip was definitely worth it. About 90% of Suriname is comprised of "bush". Leaving only about 10% developed. To me if you come to Suriname and haven't visited the interior then you haven't really visited Suriname. Traveling on the road though is pretty difficult, mainly because of the heat. Where I went was a little village called Lesplansi. To get there, from Paramaribo, you have to drive for about 4 hours south to Atjoni, a little pit stop dock to all the Saramaccan villages. From there you get on a canoe and drive or ride rather for about 40 minutes to Lesplansi. There enjoy the love of simplicity!

Back to the heat...When I said heat the road is HOT! Unfortunately there hasn't been any rain for almost a month now. So imagine the pavement just being beaten by the Amazon sun day in and day out. Depending on the type of tires you have, one of them might give out on you. This trip I experienced just that. As we were driving back this afternoon we saw about 5 tires just give out. Our tire is actually included in the 5. The driver had good control and thank God we were safe. The rubber gets so hot that the tire just explodes. Explodes is a really strong word, but it will give you an idea of the heat. Regardless of the heat I would take that road just to see my friends in Lesplansi.

Praying for rain...

Where is Suriname Anyway?

When I tell people that I am in Suriname, most of them think that it is in Africa somewhere. LOL! I guess if you don't really stop to think about it Suriname could be just about anywhere. With Dutch as their first language Suriname is nestled between Guyana, French Guiana, and above Brazil. Suriname was once known as Dutch Guiana  before they gained their independence in November 1975. Foolishly assuming that all South American countries speak Spanish, except for Brazil of course, I was very surprised to find out they speak Dutch here. Of course during the Transatlantic slave trade most of the European countries that could wanted to get in on the benefits. The Dutch were in control of this territory importing slaves and exporting rich resources. Little known fact, from Wikipedia, is by 1815 there were 5 Guianas: Spanish Guiana (Venezuela), British Guiana (Guyana), Dutch Guiana (Suriname), Portuguese Guiana (Brazil), and French Guiana. Below I have put a map of Suriname so you can examine the different cities, towns, and districts. Unfortunately where I live just wasn't good enough to make it on the map. If you look closely for Paramaribo, the capital, then find Groningen I live between the two closer to Groningen just before the river.

Click here to learn even more about Suriname 

Learning more about Suriname everyday...

Best Neighbors

Well my neighbors are the best. Why? When we first got here we didn't know ANYONE, of course, cause we were new. We did have a Suriname native take us around with them as they did their daily activities. Our neighbors went so much as to take us to both of the conventional malls here in Suriname. After the mall we went to a place called Alegria, meaning joy in spanish, to get ice cream. Alegria is a mini version of Chuck E. Cheese's.

On another day they invited us over to have dinner with them and boy was it good. The mom is an excellent chef. She made a slammin' fried fish, greens, and rice. She actually taught to make this dish that I call Surprise Yucca Balls I don't remember the actual name of it. The name I gave it though pretty much describes what it is. You partially boil the yucca/cassava/manyok, whatever you would like to call it. Then, you drain the water, mash up the yucca and cook it in a pan, season it up. Once seasoned and thoroughly cooked, let it cool. Once cool take the surprise (which is a boiled egg) and cover the egg with the cassava, making a ball. After forming all the balls, beat an egg. Dip the yucca ball in the beaten egg then fry the ball. Hmmm....mmmm.....good! Eat it as a snack or for a meal with greens. You have your starch, protein, and veggies for a balanced meal.

Oh! I can't forget to tell you that they are from Guyana so they speak English. That is why we can appreciate them even more, because we can actually communicate to them without translation.

There are many good people in Suriname, but my neighbors...the best!

Foto Friday: 2nd Dose

Best Neighbors This is Safia (left) and her mom, Shoba, (right). They are the best neighbors a person could have. Next week I will write a post about them. There is also the brother, who doesn't like pictures, and a father. 

Foto Friday

La Nature Enjoying the sun, flowers, and grass on a beautiful day of clear skies. In the back is a side view of my house. 

Good Eats

I have almost eaten food from all the cultural/ethnic groups in Suriname. There are many places to good to find these different foods. Among all of them my favorite is the East Indian dish, roti and curry chicken. The restaurant that is most commonly visited for this delicious delight is Roopram Roti Restaurant. I am not trying to advertise, but if you are new in Suriname and can appreciate spicy Indian food, definitely you should visit Roopram. There are other Roti shops like Joosie's, which I have been meaning to visit, but just haven't gotten around to it yet. 

My husband's favorite food in LIFE is rice. Here in Suriname the Javanese have a unique rice that has definitely deepened his love for rice and it is called nasi, which means fried rice in Indonesian. Now this is not just any type of fried rice. This fried rice includes but is not limited to carrots, celery, chicken, corn [sidebar: just noticed 4 C's, if you put these four only your nasi is C to the fourth power] and other things that you may like to spice it up. To top it all off there is a sauce that they pour over while they fry to give it  the brown color and extra good flavor. Obviously sounds like I  like it to. I do, but I can get rice any day. 

Lovin' roti over rice...

Saramaccan Greetings

Every morning "oo-fa-weki!" was the greeting I received the moment I stepped outside and it means good morning. Every person that you pass on the way will greet you this way and I responded "oo-weki-o!" Then you could be asked, "weki tanga?" which is like did you sleep well? My response could be "weki boon-boon!" (I slept good) or "weki wan-say wan-say" (I slept alright). There were many call and response greetings that really showed me the way the villagers cared to connect with you. In the afternoon the greeting was "oo-day-no!" my response would be "oo-day-o!".

These conversations through the day really showed me the care and interest they had for one another. To show how intertwined an open they are, a grown woman could be on her way to the river, to bathe, and after the call and response without being asked she would explain where she was going and what she was about to do. Simple living really allows you to take time and invest in your neighbor whom you pass by everyday. As a personal addition to my life it would be good to stop and greet people. Be simple and make time to find out what is going on, because just one minute invested could really make the difference in someone's life. Living among the Saramaccan people was really a joy and privilege.

Can't wait to go back...

Where to Begin

I feel like I have been away for so long and with all that has happened I don't know where to start. That is why it has taken me this long to post. As you know I was up the Saramacca river in the interior of Suriname for about 4 weeks. My friends that I told you about, part of an organization called NAPS, came and did a great work. A dentist, medical doctor, and medical assistants came and helped almost 1,000 people. Daily we walked, weather ~rain~ or *shine*, two miles to the school where all the children attended. We taught over 100 children Math, English, Science, and Biblical Morals. The villages where we were working  really were ignorant of biblical truths. Nightly we had meetings that enlightened them of the truths that God has in the bible for them. One of the closing events of this trip was a baptism, where 11 persons were baptized.

Now a village that had no church will meet in our locale to have weekly church sessions. The captain of the village, who by the way got baptized, gave us a portion of land where we could build a church. My husband is actually go back down there this weekend to study the dynamics of the land and assess all the things needed to build the church. This is pretty much all that happened in a nut shell, but as the days progress I will try to share with you more of my experience in the interior.

Ahhh...the ball is rolling again!

Foto Friday

Mommy is visiting us in Suriname!

Foto Friday

Taxi This bus is our primary mode of transportation. It doesn't run late, so if we miss it we will definitely be needing a taxi

Mission Life

I haven't had a chance to post anything for the past 8 days, but that is because I am on a mission trip to the interior of Suriname right now. My friends from NAPS, the organization I work with, are here. They arrived on February 15th. We actually left for the interior on the 17th. I only have like 15 minutes for this post, but I am writing to let you all know that I am o.k. and there are tremendous things happening out here. Of course there have been some ups and downs, but overall I see a continual increase in the positive outcomes of our work.

We have been teaching at the village school, visiting homes, and holding nightly family programs. The villager attendance at our programs have been steadily increasing. There will be doctors, and dentists coming in 2 weeks to really meet the needs of our new found friends here in the interior. The bond we have with the families, especially the children is amazing. Please keep a prayer in your heart for us and I will TRY to keep you updated. We plan to work out here until the 17th of March. I can't wait to see what the future will hold!

Loving what I do...

Get on the Bus

The PJU bus is our primary transportation here in Suriname. We take it pretty much every day. Roughly 15% of the buses that run here are government buses. The other 85% are privately owned and operated. All of which are named by the areas that they service. We live in Uitkijk [pronounced urwt (like earth with a funny accent)-cake]. That is the U in PJU. P is for Paramaribo, the capital and all happenings of Suriname. J is for Jarikaba where the biggest plantain plantation is located. There are a lot of Haitians that work there and also live in Uitkijk. This is why we live in Uitkijk which is 25 or so kilometers from downtown Paramaribo. The PJU bus fare is a whopping 2.25 SRD (like 70¢ USD). Recently there was a major increase in gas, food, and pretty much everything in Suriname. A few days after the gas increase the bus fares immediately went up, like the next day.

The government told the buses to bring the prices down because the people weren’t really prepared for this yet. After the bus drivers heard that they went on strike. Practically all of the buses that run were like, ‘if we can’t get paid we won’t work!’. Thank God Jean and I had borrowed a car for those couple of days. Traveling on the streets was like being in a ghost town. Usually there would be so many buses and a lot of activity, but since there was a strike, nothing. There were even children that couldn’t go to school. One of our friends barely made it to work. She actually had to look out for the government bus that of course was running. To appease the bus drivers the government decided to subsidize the difference in what they would have charged and the expected bus fare. I don’t know how long this subsidy will last, but soon the bus fare will go up to 2.50 SRD/person. Imagine that is 5 SRD for both of us one-way. Round trip is 10 SRD for just one day. Just pray that we get a car so instead of spending money on bus fare we’ll just spend it on gas and we have the freedom to move where ever we want.

Yea we can drive here…

Foto Friday

Congratulations! After the wedding of Sedan and Dennis my Oakwood-bound Natalie and I pose as we celebrate and congratulate the newlyweds on Christmas day.

...and a Happy New Year!

 Thus far this has been a happy new year. After Christmas before New Year's we got a 10-day visit from our friends from America. It was such a breath of fresh air. Not to say that the air was stale, but you get the point. For about a week we made preparations for their arrival. We cleared our schedule and decided we would have a little vacation ourselves, like the rest of the country. A lot of things were closed around this time. Literally, there were places that closed for Christmas and didn’t open up till after New Year’s. There were a lot of pretty Christmas decorations up still.

New Years eve we went to church you know to go out with a bang (spiritually). The rest of Suriname was really going to end the year with a bang, really BIG bangs! At 11:30 p.m. the pre-show began. Once midnight struck all you saw in the sky was fireworks. Ping, Bang, Zwing, Suuuu…POP! For like 30 minutes straight. If you think you are a deep sleeper trust me you wouldn’t be able to sleep through this. I know ‘cause I didn’t and I sleep real deep. In the morning there was thick smog all over. It cleared up after 8 in the morning. I won’t be home for 4^th of July weekend but with all the firework action I got here in Suriname I think I’ll be o.k. for the next 3 Independence days!

Has your New Year been a bang…

Merry Christmas...

As in other countries Christmas is a time when people eat a lot, have family over or not, and be stressed. I experienced these feelings exactly my first Christmas in Suriname. One of the young ladies from our congregation actually got married on Christmas day. We were responsible for putting a few things together, like the program, decorations, practice, and other wedding stuff. Stress! Since this was a Haitian wedding there was a lot of food. There was food for probably like 1,000 people (I’m not exaggerating, o.k. maybe a bit). There was rice and beans, chicken, salad, fried plantain, and even roti. 

There are many people that have loved us here in Suriname like family. I really appreciate them. Since it was the holiday season more people were off, but very busy. Around this time I did miss my family. I’ll try not to make this a sob story but this was part of my life in Suriname. Right? The moment that I really got to my breaking point was at the church Christmas program. In the sanctuary there were poinsettias, everyone looked so nice, the music was great. All of a sudden it was like my heart just dropped. ‘What child is this?’ was being played by a saxophonist and I just started to cry. Yes, tears just streamed down my eyes with memories of my friends and family. My husband saw this and felt really bad. He consoled me and let me cry on his shoulder. 

I kind of knew that that day would come, but since that low point I have been rising to higher heights. All of the encouragement and support is really appreciated. I have realized that even though you are away from family and friends there is a greater mission for you to accomplish for that moment in time. Sometimes when you are at your lowest point you can be an even greater blessing to those around you. 

Don't feel bad for me...it's all part of the work.

Super Bowl Caviar

I know you think that today I went to a fancy Super Bowl party and had some expensive Caviar...but it was actually the opposite. We were invited to a Super Bowl party, but due to the large group coming in next week we took a rain check to make preparations for them. Also, Sunday is the only day that the PJU bus doesn't run. (In a later post I'll tell you more about the PJU) This day I usually do laundry, cook for the week, wash & style my hair, and the things I probably won't get to do through the week.

Today on Super Bowl Sunday that is exactly what I did. I try to be as productive as possible, but you know there is just never enough time in the day. My husband wanted to eat some fish. We bought a smoked fish. I cut it up and cleaned it. While I was cleaning it I found that our little fishy was prego. Then I thought, 'caviar!'. So I stewed it up in a good sauce and it turned out pretty good. It was actually my first time having caviar. If you have ever chewed on a rubberband (I know you have) then you know the texture of my caviar. At the end of the day I can say I had a good day and I hope you did too. How was your Super Bowl Sunday? Or your first experience with caviar (LOL)?

Till next post...

Foto Friday

Work Hard, Rest Hard After working so hard these past couple of months we went on a fishing trip with new found friends that were off on the Chinese New Year which was observed as a national holiday here 

First Post

My dearest good friend has a blog that inspires me. I feel so connected just reading the blog. Even though I am in another continent with every post I read I feel right there by her side. With this blog I hope to bring you by my side. I have wanted to post this blog for a month now, but didn't know what to say. This is actually my very first blog, but definitely not my last. I really like the idea of a blog because you can share your thoughts and feelings with practically the world. (Even if the world doesn't follow this blog it's available for them)

I am a part of a non-profit organization that does humanitarian work around the world. Last year some members from our group who dedicated their school year to missionary work were supposed to come here, but because of the earthquake in Haiti all efforts were diverted to the cause of relief in Haiti. This year there is a team doing the same thing and will work in the interior/jungles of Suriname.

Why am I in Suriname, South America? As a recent college graduate, newlywed, and Haitian-American there was a need for us to be here. Believe it or not there are Haitians here in Suriname. Among those there are believers who were in need of a pastor to minister to their needs in their own language. My husband, who is a pastor, and I both being of Haitian descent decided we would love to minister to our own people here. We have dedicated 1 year to be an aid and support for the Haitian community. Even though I didn't start the first day I got here, "it's better late, than never". Right? On SuriTam my journey will be penned for your enrichment and my memory. Enjoy!

Now I have officially posted my first blog entry. Wow! finally over that hump...