THE END!

Clear turquoise water. Soft white sand stretching as far as the eye can see. Early morning sun peeping over the sand dunes. Happy (and rather chubby) dog running alongside me. Dolphins swimming by. Not another person in sight.

Several times in Haiti...for just a small second...I allowed myself to slip into this reverie.

But this morning it was no longer a reverie...it was reality. I'm really in Australia. The reality still feels very unreal.

So little Bunbury is quite the change from the riot scarred city of Port au Prince!

My last blog left off saying that due to the riots our team might have to spend the last few days in the Dominican Republic so that we could fly out on time. Well, the 3 boys on our team went to the D.R. and all the girls decided to stay in Haiti for debrief and hope that things simmered down. It was probably one of my favorite weekends of outreach! We rode on the back of motorbikes on dirt roads up the mountain above the clouds. We arrived at Le Montcel (a beautiful old ranch/retreat) with grey grimy skin from all the burnt tires. Upon arrival we were promptly cuddled up on soft couches with a fire in the hearth and a glass of red wine in our grubby hands. Joy! For a couple of days we were able to relax and spend time together processing the insanity of the past three months. As I walked around the rambling property I was in tears every time I saw a beautiful flower or the clouds lit up with the sunrise. Our souls are created to long for beauty and all earthly beauty is simply a rippled reflection, a hazy shadow of the Beautiful One.

Before we went up to Le Montcel we went to our tent city in front of the palace one more time. Things were very tense as we drove through. There were barely any cars on the roads apart from UN tanks and all the roads were charred, covered in burnt rubbish and tires. Not many people were in the tent city as they had either left for a while because of the violence or they were just not coming out of their tents. It was wonderful to see some of our friends one last time and to encourage them and pray for them before we left. We did almost get hit with a glass bottle as there was one man who went completely off his nut and started screaming and throwing things at us. All our friends there were angry with him and pulled us away, assuring us in Creole that they loved us and it was ok. My heart is so heavy for these beautiful people...I really miss Haiti.

We managed to fly out on time on Wednesday and after rushed goodbyes and frantic escapades through several airports I arrived in Honolulu 21 hours later. Unfortunately the majority of my luggage liked LA too much and decided not to continue the journey home with me...so my wardrobe is rather pitiful! Laura and I stayed in Honolulu for 2 days (talk about culture shock!) and then travelled for 24 more hours until we stepped out of the plane into the excited arms of family and friends awaiting us in Perth on Sunday night.

So. Here I am. In Bunbury. The last year of my life feels like a vague dream that I'll never be able to forget.

Shards of Haiti's brokeness have pierced my heart and are working their way through my veins. Shards of God's hope have pierced my spirit and I am pregnant with faith and hope for His glory to be restored in the sons of man. The very earth groans and cries out.

All of you who have sown into this journey whether practically in finances or in prayer in the spiritual realms will reap the inheritance of the transformation of a nation. I can't thank you enough!

I'm excited and slightly nervous about meeting the mysterious year that is crouched around the corner. A new journey awaits.

THE END!

MISS GOLIGHTLY! I MUST PROTEST!

8th December 2010

I woke up this morning feeling as if I had inhaled a car tire. Delightful.

The sky seemed particularly overcast as I looked over the landscape. It all began to make sense in my foggy morning mind as I saw the pillars of smoke rising up from all over the city. It could be one of two options: either the presence of the Lord had decided to come as pillars of cloud as in the days of Moses or people were burning tires, vehicles and rubbish in the street. My personal preference would be to tell you the former was true. But alas, my loves, the latter happens to be the only unfortunate explanation.

It was confirmed as we watched from our balcony while mobs of angry Hatians threw rocks and bottles at a poster of a corrupt presidential candidate by the name of Jude Celestin. They proceeded to climb the poles of the billboard, rip it down and burn it in the street. Hundreds of crazy protestors stormed down the street screaming "Arrest Preval". Rene Prevel is the current president of Haiti and the father-in-law of Jude Celestin. Well, I'm sure you don't want to read a news report about all the political squabbling going on. Just know that it's bad and corrupt and Haitians are sick of the injustice and desperate for change - hence the riots and general madness ensuing the announcement of the election results last night. You can find pictures of the aftermath on my leaders blog under "media" at www.jasenchung.com.

To be honest I feel perfectly safe and at peace in myself...I'm more miffed because we had planned to make food for all the children in the tent city we have been loving on today and we couldn't go obviously. The tent city is directly in front of the collapsed presidential palace and is the main spot for the riots.

God has been breaking out in this tent city and changing the atmosphere like crazy since the Burn week. We've been seeing healings, people radically encountering God's love, prostitutes giving their lives to the Lord and we have been able to construct new tents for the more destitute families. We have built wonderful relationships with the men, women and children there. The atmosphere is changing over this nation. I could spend hours telling you stories about their lives and our time with them. I'll try write some more in-detail stories soon!

10th December 2010

So we are still on lockdown...Day 3. Fortunately I can report that we have not killed each other yet although the civilised facade is slowly fading...you know it's bad when your entire day revolves around meal times. My senses have become attuned to the bell we ring when the food is ready and when I hear the spritely jingle I feel my ears perk up, my adrenalin kicks in and I start panting and drooling at the mouth. YES!!! RE-COOKED OILY NOODLES FOR THE THIRD TIME TODAY!!! PRAISE THE LIVING LORD! Haha, but seriously God is giving us grace every single day and teaching us to seek him in the times of waiting and frustration and rest in his love. Yesterday was my birthday and we celebrated by eating pancakes and watching Breakfast at Tiffany's so that was a fun interlude (hence my blog title...I thought it was appropriate).

Further riots could explode next week if Preval tries to flee the country so right now things are up in the air (or not) as this means the airport may continue to remain closed and our flights cancelled so we are trying to figure out the best way to get out of the country. We may possibly go to the Dominican Republic for the last few days and then fly out from there - hopefully everything lines up! He will work everything together for the good of those who love him!

I love you all and I will see many of you soooooon! WOO!

Thanks for the constant love, encouragement and prayers.

xoxo

Kerri