Home Sweet Home.

A picture many of you have seen already, but the beautiful view of my morning devotions and the greater PAP area including the ocean! 

I've told myself I'm going to be better at blogging and updating our family and friends since I moved here, and here I am, still not good at it! BUT there have been a lot of life changes and so I really wanted to update everyone!

So as many of you followed our LONNGGG journey to get Johnny a visa, it all ended in August when he was finally approved! About a week after approval, we packed up my house, put it into storage and hopped onto a plane to head to Oregon for about 6.5 weeks.

I had dreamed for almost 2.5 years what it would be like to show Johnny Oregon, have him meet my friends and family, and for him to understand what my life was like before I ever met him. Our time there was everything I dreamed of and more, culminating in the day of our dreams, our wedding!

I'm still at a loss for words for how special our wedding day was and I am so grateful for all those that came out to celebrate with us! After the wedding, we headed to Black Butte for a week, then to Eugene for a week and then back to Haiti to really start the married life!

We have two balconies to enjoy and boy do we ever!
We take full advantage of the beautiful views. 

But here is where the real fun began. Before leaving Haiti, we had put a deposit on a house we thought we were going to rent! They said they would use that money to spruce up the house a bit before we got back so we could move in. Unfortunately, upon arriving back in Haiti, I sent Johnny to check on the house to see if we could move in and it turned out to be a whole big disaster. It's a complicated system here in Haiti, but basically the owner of the house died in August. She had a partner but they were never legally married and had a child together. Because they were never married, her child automatically inherits the house (her daughter is 10 years old). The landlord's parents found out they never got married and were mad and took all the papers for the house. We really didn't want to get caught up in this big legal battle so we backed out of the house and had to scramble to look for a new place to live. Our budget for a house before leaving for the US was $3,000 for the year (you pay a whole year's rent upfront, rather than monthly). After loosing this house and having to find a new one, we quickly realized we weren't going to be able to find a house, in our budget, in our desired area so we had to increase our budget. Thankfully due to some very generous wedding gifts we were able to do that, but unfortunately it has wiped our savings clean.

Our little eat-in dining area in the kitchen!

We ABSOLUTELY love our house though, so the sacrifice was well worth it. We are settling in. As money allows though we will have some furniture to purchase to fill up the space a little better. We look forward to hiring a local "boss" (aka carpenter) to build us a TV stand, book shelf, coffee table, night stands and more!

Part of our beautiful bedroom and our place of rest. 

I am so grateful to have a job here that pays me - though now that I am supporting myself and Johnny (while he attends university), we need more income than I am bringing in. Johnny has a very small part-time job which helps but it basically only covers his transportation to and from school. There are some expenses that don't change going from a one-person household to a two-person household but then there are some that it has a larger impact on.

Not a great photo of our living room but it's pretty large and we don't have much furniture in it. We are looking forward to growing into this space!

Some of our big needs that we haven't been able to do yet since moving into our new house due to a lack of money are:
Set up a garbage service: We really don't want to burn our trash. That is common here but there is plenty of pollution as it stands and we don't need to add to the problem. There is a service (similar to what you all have in the US) that would come and pick up our trash each week. To set up this service for a year it will cost us $300. Does anyone want to sponsor us $300 so we can get this going (or about $25/month)?

Join the Gym: We were going to a gym in Kenscoff prior to moving - but now we would like to join a gym closer to our house. This gym is great and offers a variety of classes and workout equipment. For both of us to join, it will cost us $100/month. Does anyone want to sponsor us $100/month to cover our gym cost?

Our kitchen! And a clear photo of why we need someone to come
and clean once a week! 

Cook/House Cleaner: I recognize that Johnny has eaten Haitian food almost his entire life exclusively. I however do not know how to cook Haitian food. We are hoping to hire someone to come two times a week to clean our house, cook us a Haitian meal and go to the market for us. She will cost us about $50/month. Is anyone willing to sponsor us $50/month so we can hire a local woman to help us out?

If any of these amounts don't work for you and your budget but you want to give, you are more than welcome to donate or set up a reoccurring payment in my name for any amount. These donations will be tax-deductible and we all know the end of the year is coming!

Here is the link to donate or set up a reoccurring payment: https://www.chances4children.org/donate/
**just make sure you put "in honor of: Alison Honn"

I fully intend on doing monthly updates (trying to get in a routine!!) so subscribe to this blog so you get notified when I do publish a new blog post. I also really promise not to ask you for money each month in our blog post!

Please do not hesitate to shoot me any questions you might have!

Learning Humility

As I was home over the holidays, I got to see many of my friends and family and easily the most frequently asked question was "how are things going down there?!" and most got a similar response along the lines of "things are really good, not always easy, but good!" - which more often than not led to a conversation about what wasn't "always easy". Many heard me grumble about what it's like to be white and have everyone expect you to have money and are constantly asked for money. This genuinely is a challenge and is frustrating - but today it was a different story. 

I went on a monthly large grocery shop in town and was returning home with all my groceries in a friend's car, that could not make it up the last little hill by my house. She kindly parked at the bottom and flagged down a young man who was headed up the hill to ask if he could help me (so I didn't have to make two trips). In my head, I automatically started calculating what a fair price would be to pay the man to carry my groceries up the hill - because I knew that would be the expecatation. 25 gourdes? 50 gourdes? (63 gourdes = $1). In any case, it wasn't a significant amount of money but it's the expectation that I would pay is what drives me crazy. 

The young man agreed to help me with the box up the hill and knew where I lived already (because I'm the white girl that lives in the neighborhood that walks my dog around). I confirmed my house and off he went while I gathered the rest of my items. I expected to find him standing at the gate of my house with the box when I finally reached the top of the hill. To my surprise, the box was left in front of the gate and the man was gone. I have no idea who he is or where he lives (though I can only assume he lives close by). 

I was immediately struck with humility because here I was grumbling about less than a dollar that I was going to give a man for helping me carry my groceries. A dollar that could provide him with a meal for the day or a bus to go see his family. Whatever his story - he was not under the assumption that I would pay him. He helped me out of the kindness of his heart and not under the cultural expectation that white people have money. 

I have spent the rest of the day today reflecting on this simple yet very impactful interaction - I am humbled by these people and this country constantly - if I am looking for it. I must remember to look for situations that I can learn from. 

God - I pray that I would never grow so comfortable that I stop learning from others. I want to be humbled by your presence and your work through others. 

BIG CHANGES AHEAD (but exciting ones!)

“Maybe you had to leave in order to really miss a place; maybe you had to travel to figure out how beloved your starting point was.”

— Jodi Picoult

Well in case you haven't noticed, I failed TERRIBLY at posting an update once a month. Somehow I posted 1 month into being here and now here I am a week over 5 months being back in Haiti. Let me try and briefly summarize the past 4 months.


August: experienced my first heart-wrenching death at the malnutrition center. bought a full sized bed. made new friends. found a new house.

September: moved into a new house. traveled to Oregon.  traveled back to Haiti. very close friend visited for 2 weeks. settled into a new routine.

Yep got pretty burnt at the beach. 

October: set up cable. watched a lot of college football. set up internet. worked a lot of hours. changed job roles at Espwa Berlancia. found a wonderful nail salon.

November: traveled to Arizona for Night of Hope with Chances for Children. traveled back to Haiti. worked a lot. slept a little. met new friends. celebrated thanksgiving (Johnny's first Thanksgiving!). got very burnt at the beach.

December: bought a Christmas tree. listened to Christmas music. had a sleepover. put up Christmas lights. got offered a full time job at C4C. accepted said full time position. mentally prepped for the cold when I return to Oregon.
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I got to take a few of the older kids from the crèche on a special outing.

If you are paying attention to what you are reading, you read that right. I was offered a full time position in Kenscoff at Chances 4 Children which means that there will be some adjustments to be had. I will continue to volunteer my time at Espwa Berlancia one day a week - as I fully believe in what they stand for and do, but I will be at the creche (orphanage) much more than I have been the past 5 months. I am so incredibly excited about this opportunity that I have been given. I will continue doing the role I was doing previously with C4C - help with managing adoptions but I will take on added responsibilities such as managing adoption invoices, paperwork and helping the staff at the creche.

Because little nuggets in rain jackets are way too cute! 

I have been blessed to be receiving a small pay for my work at Chances 4 Children that will help with my expenses and finances extensively. I know I have many supporters who have donated money and continue to donate monthly. As I will now be paid a stipend by Chances 4 Children, I will have my basic necessities covered. If you are monthly donor and choose to discontinue your monthly donation, I completely understand. However - if you feel so called to continue your monthly donation, I would greatly appreciate it as I would like to be making larger payments on my student loans so maybe someday they will go away! Also I will have some added expenses in the next year (to be announced - but I'm sure you all can imagine!) so any extra dollar counts. PS. For all of you who are wondering, Johnny and I are doing great. We are learning and growing together - learning to love one another through a new season in our lives.

I have had amazing support over the past 5 months and I could not have survived without the financial support of some very special people. I am extremely grateful for the paid role at C4C starting in January and I look forward to continue to volunteer a little bit of my time at Espwa Berlancia.

Johnny and I posing at a friend's wedding. 

On an added bonus, I'm headed home in just about a week - to spend the holidays with my family. If you have any housesitting, babysitting or random odds and end jobs that you need help with, send me a message! I am looking for added work! :)

I love my community and I could not be doing this without everyone.

1 Month

{The view of the sunset from the balcony off my apartment}

Somehow it has been a month since I arrived in Haiti for this new adventure. I had hoped that I would have updated all my friends and family sooner than 1 month, but alas life has been crazy and busy and so here we are August 3rd finally getting an update. Let me just say, it has been quite the whirlwind and I cannot believe it has been a month already. 

I will try and capture what has taken place this last month, without boring you all. I arrived and celebrated the 4th of July with a big cookout and fireworks with some other American missionaries. Starting the 5th, it was full force work. I was staying in a spare bedroom in a friend's house while my apartment was being finished. I have since moved into a room in the malnutrition center and while it has been wonderful to have a place to live while I wait for my apartment, I am very ready to move into my apartment and off-site. 

Work has been a balance of working at the malnutrition center and at Chances 4 Children - managing adoptions. Both have been great, but boy it's been an adjustment trying to find the right balance on how often I drive to Kenscoff (or take a moto) and how often I stay in Thomassin and do my work here. I've basically settled on one day in Kenscoff for work and 4 days in Thomassin and then the weekends I often spend Saturdays here and Sundays in Kenscoff for Church and lunch with Johnny. Johnny and I have had to find a balance as well of how often he comes here and how often I go there to see him. He has started a pre-class for medical school which he will start in the fall, but it means he he leaves Kenscoff at 6am to go to PAP and then leaves PAP at 6pm to return home. It is just a busy season in our lives but we are learning how to communicate through that and appreciate the time we do get together (because regardless it's far more time than we were getting when I was in the US). The goal, hope and prayer is that Johnny will apply for another US visa (4th time) to come home with me around Christmas time. He will likely start this application process in October after he starts school. Please keep us in your prayers during this process as it is taxing on both of us and something we really want. 

The Lord is definitely at work here. I have seen children come into the malnutrition center, very very sick - 12 year olds that weighs 35 pounds, 9 month olds that weighs 10 pounds, 6 month old weighs 6 pounds. The Lord has stood by them - He has healed them. He has restored their joy. As I write this, we are waiting on two very sick little babies to arrive via ambulance transport - I don' t know what the Lord has in store for their little lives, but I know that He has big plans. 

I have also seen families reunited forever. Last week, we had 4 families united forever and they got to come and pick up their children from the creche in Kenscoff. The Lord hand selected these families for these children. He has opened doors, provided comfort in periods that felt like they went on forever and gave them the strength to welcome new family members into their home. 

I do not have the words to express how honored I feel to have been chosen to do this work. This work is not about me, it is about His Kingdom. It is about His people. It is about His work.

It is not too late to sign up to sponsor me monthly, or even with a one-time gift. After having been here a month, I see that this work will be emotionally exhausting. I would love to be able to get away 1-night a month to a hotel or something for some rest and relaxation. I cannot do this unless I have more monthly sponsors. Please consider giving. Here is the link: http://www.chances4children.org/c4c/donate/contribute/

Just remember to put my name in the "in honor of" line. 

{This little one has gained weight and regained her smile. She is about ready to go home to her family, whom have learned how, when and what to feed her to keep her healthy}

July 3rd.

July 3rd. That is the big day that I pack up all my belongings (well ideally they will all be packed up prior to July 3rd) and move to Haiti for this next season of life. As promised, I want to share more details about this new adventure. It is certainly new and slightly scary but also very exciting. This new adventure requires a lot of trust in the Lord - but I have faith that He will provide in all ways.

For those that don't know, in just 5 weeks, I will be moving to live in Thomassin, Kenscoff. I have previously lived in Kenscoff, Haiti inside the Chances 4 Children compound. I will be about a 20 minute drive from this site. While in Haiti, I will be a full time missionary, sharing my time between two different organizations. I will be volunteering part-time with Chances 4 Children (http://www.chances4children.org/)  and part time with Espwa Berlancia (http://www.espwaberlancia.org/).

My responsibilities with Chances 4 Children, will be a continuation of the work I have been doing since the end of September. I will continue to manage the communications with the adoption agencies on the children at the orphanage, all of whom are somewhere in the adoption process. I have met so many wonderful people through this work and I love seeing families united. Chances 4 Children's belief is that the answer to Haiti's orphan epidemic can be found by strengthening communities and their families. Chances 4 Children is a well-rounded organization that reaches many corners of Haiti through a variety of programs.

Espwa Berlancia is a new organization name for many of my followers and friends. Espwa (meaning hope in creole) is an inpatient malnutrition clinic for children who are severely malnourished in Haiti. Espwa Berlancia focuses on malnutrition care and family preservation. Espwa Berlancia's mission is to provide Haitian parents with the knowledge and the empowerment to take hold of their future and their children's health, and walking with them on their journey. They assure each one that they are worth and capable of caring for their children. My big responsibilities will be to oversee the staff of the clinic - setting them up with savings programs and doing home visits to get a better picture of their lives. The second part is a little more complicated as families must do follow up visits at the clinic after the child is discharged. Once the family can prove they are involved and committed to changing their child's future, they are then invited to a business program. This intensive program teaches them how to run a business and allows them to create a full business plan to change their future. If they can prove this successful, they will be granted a business loan. My fellow missionary, Keely, runs this program currently and I will be helping with this.

Part of being a full-time missionary means that I don't have a company or organization that is paying me. I am raising my full support so that I can pay rent, buy food, buy water, pay for electricity, etc. I have budgeted my monthly costs to be about $1200/month.

That money will cover:

$450 - rent

$300 - tap water (to fill the tank on top of the apartment)

$200 - food

$100 - electricity

$150 - clean drinking water (tap water is NOT clean water)

I need people to partner WITH me!! If I can find 12 families who are willing to sponsor me at $100/month, I would be fully covered. Now I realize that is not realistic for a lot of families or individuals. I've got quite a few friends who are recent graduates and not making the million dollars (yet). If you are one of those people (or just someone who cannot financially give $100/month), and you feel called to give, you can put in the amount that you would like to give each month. 

Any amount is helpful, even $5 a month, but if I could find 6 people willing to give $100/month and 12 people willing to give $50/month, I would be fully covered for my monthly expenses. I also have moving expenses, such as for flights and furniture items for my apartment. If you are unable to commit monthly but are willing to donate a one-time amount, that is helpful as well. Please prayerfully consider how you would be willing to support me during this big change in my life —either through prayer, financial support or both.

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If you are interested in donating money, here are more detailed instructions for how to do that. I have made an agreement with Chances 4 Children to filter all my donations through them so that those who are donating can have a tax break for their donations. If you are willing to donate financially to support me on the mission field, please follow these instructions:

1.      Go to: http://www.chances4children.org/c4c/donate/contribute/

2.     On the left-hand side of the page there are two places to donate. For 1-time donations you can give in the first box. Please make sure to select “In honor of:” and write “Alison”.

3.     For reoccurring monthly donations, please use the second box. Please put in the amount you would like to give monthly and write “Alison” in the second box.

4.    Once you’ve clicked “donate”, it will take you to Paypal’s page. If you have a pre-existing paypal account, then you just need to log in. This will set up reoccurring payments to be taken out each month so you don’t have to remember to send money every month J

5.     If you do not already have a paypal account, you will have to create an account, which is secure and safe. All you need is your credit card and billing information. It’s very quick and simple.

6.     At the beginning of each month when the money is received, Chances 4 Children will give me the money so that I can pay rent, food, etc. Though the money is going through Chances 4 Children, it will cover my work at both organizations. At the end of the year, Chances 4 Children will send you a statement will your donations from the year.