an update

Hey y’all.

Many of you have been sending me messages asking me how I am feeling. We’ve kind of been dancing around the topic but we thought it was time to level with all of you. I am actually much better now, but I did return to the US for the last week to get some tests done, rest and try to recover a bit. It had been two weeks of being sick with no relief, and we felt like it was time to return to make sure there wasn’t something serious we were missing. (There wasn’t.) I started really feeling better Sunday afternoon, and have just been “normal old Gwenn” ever since. We’re thankful to live close enough to the US that it is relatively easy to be able to return if necessary. And we’re EXTRA thankful to Darla Gallentine, who took very good care of me.

So why all the secrecy? We weren’t trying to be secretive, as much as we were just trying to create some space for me to be able to rest and get well. Additionally, since it wasn’t time for one of our furloughs (we’ve only been in Haiti for TWO MONTHS, for Pete sake!), I thought it was important to try to avoid engaging with American culture too much. Our family is desperately trying to connect with our new home culture in Haiti, and I was leery about how too much connecting with things here in the US might impact my being able to re-connect in Haiti upon returning. (But don’t worry—I WAS able to see NON-stop coverage of the Michael Jackson drama.) And I did engage in culture enough to purchase some steak to freeze to bring back for fajita night this weekend. Haitian beef just tastes… weird. Kind of like a cow who eats trash all day long. I wonder why that is?

So—as I write this I am sitting in the Miami airport waiting to return home to Haiti. I am SO glad to be going back. I miss my family so much, and was surprised to realize, I missed Haiti too. I am looking forward to being home. I am well-rested and excited to FINALLY unpack my house! (I’ve been sick ever since we moved back to Jacmel so my house is still full of boxes, and just a general mess.)

(Anpil) kudos to my true love, Nick Mangine, who kept all the plates spinning in my absence. My GOODNESS I love that man! Just in case any of you were wondering, he’s BRILLIANT. He was meant to live in Haiti—and I just CANNOT imagine going on this adventure with anyone else.

I have missed him and my kids terribly. Terribly. Especially Nico. He’s been having some adjustment issues with me being gone, and I just can’t wait to squeeze him to pieces when I get home.

Thanks for your prayers. Now back to your regularly scheduled program.