Fish Kisses

Fish Kisses. Everyone at some time or another sucked in their cheeks and made a fish mouth to some little kid to make them smile. This is how I get Daniel, a little boy about 6-7 from our orphanage at the Mission, to smile when nothing else seems to work. I don't know why I started making the fish mouth at him a couple months ago but now it never fails to make him smile. My favorite part is that he has started coming at me in full force to kiss me every time I make the fish face. Then he laughs and makes me do it again. How could that not bring a smile to anyone's face?

I returned to Haiti this past Friday to 15 kids at the Mission ecstatic at our return. They were partly shocked and had no idea what to do with our return. Then huge smiles dawned on their faces as they came toward us with open arms. Sitting at the tables as kids hung on us, Daniel walked up to me and called my name. I turned to him and he is trying to make the fish face. It is a failed attempt since he still can't figure out how to do it but it melts my heart. He wants fish kisses from me. I make the fish face for him and he gives me a fish kiss and ends with a huge smile.  I love the special little fish kisses that I share with him and no one else. A way to show I love him and he loves me. And I get to have fish kisses every day. I'm a very lucky person. Thank you God for giving me the opportunity to make a difference in Daniel's life and the difference he is making in mine.

Two weeks and $1,700 Short

It has been blessing to be home. It is a time of restoration, rejuvenation, preparation to return, and sharing my story with others. God is showing me so much since I have been home. I was privileged to share my story to Trinity Episcopal Church this past Sunday. They truly blessed me with their interest and support in my adventures in Haiti.

Thank you to all who are reading my blog and supporting me through prayer and donations. As I prepare to leave for Haiti again in 2 weeks, I ask for your help. I need to raise $1,700 by January 3rd (2 weeks from today). Here is the link to my giving page:

https://sna.etapestry.com/fundraiser/IMPACT/impact2011/individual.do?participationRef=2963.0.39229480

Let me leave you with a story about a girl from the Mission names Wilna.

A friend of Kerry mentioned that he had to come see this girl. There was something wrong with one of her eyes. Kerry found eight year old Wilna. Kerry learned that she had no mother or father, both had died. She now worked as a slave girl for three different families carrying water. She is blind in one eye and legally blind in the other. Kerry knew this was the girl that would start his orphanage. Two and a half years later, she is a quiet lively little 10 year old girl. She loves going to school and learning English from all of us upstairs. She brightens my day everyday.