Crowne Plaza Grand Rapids

photo day

Tuesday 7/28

Photography day is here or was. Dan the model called to ask permission to bring a model friend along and so did. Started at 10 am and finished at about 2pm having made over 1000 images. Now the processing of those images, down to a very few, begins when I get back in town. Dan and Braxton both said it was fun and I had a good time as well. Time to think about supper and getting this place cleaned up. Tomorrow its back to da lake and …

Greenville, Michigan, United States alderpan

deep in da dark forrest

Mon 7/27

Did the breakfast thing and then headed out for Grand Rapids home of ____. Am now at the cabin on Lake Whatever, some 16 miles north of GR. The sun has set, the sky is light gray and there is a very nice reflection of that sky on the lake surface. From where I am setting ...

Greenville, Michigan, United States alderpan

WWOOFin' and Hoofin'

... the present.

So we walked out to the hives and Andrew slid one of the rectangular frames out of the box, and it was covered in hundreds of little honeybees, crawling around all over each other, busily building their honeycombs. It was like something off of the discovery channel. The worst part was all the bees that came flying out of the hive, buzzing all around us. It amazed me how they filled the air, flying and swerving all around, past our ...

Kent City, Michigan, United States joelmcgill

The Final Leg of the Tour

... Dutch Heritage (who would have thought with a name like Holland?!?). We went to a very cool Irish Pub (ironic) called The Curragh for dinner and then traveled to Windmill Island which is the only place in America with an Authentic Dutch windmill that was shipped over from the Netherlands many moons ago. We then headed to Holland Beach on Lake Michigan and walked the Boardwalk and the pier. Afterwards we tore up some ice cream at a famous place called Captain Sundae. Again ...

Hudsonville, Michigan, United States schipper

Why we do what we do...

... workers. Our projects stress volunteerism and community participation. This ensures not only the short-term success but the long-term sustainability. For example, Haitians cut down trees not because they do not want reforestation but because gas costs two months salary. Charcoal is cheaper. However, while we were in St. Pierre, we saw seedlings being planted by men in the community. Although progress is slow, due to the reasons I listed above, it is ...

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States larinda

Final Preparations

... people die of AIDS every year.

One in twenty Haitians is infected with HIV/AIDS and there are over 150,000 AIDS orphans.

Shocking isn't it! What's more amazing is we go to help them, but they really help us. Our faith is deepened, our resolve strengthened, our volunteerism renewed! Whether we reach out here or abroad we can make a difference.

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States larinda

Here's our itinerary!

... Lady's View and Mol's Gap, inside Killarney National Park, then on across the Caha Mountain's to Glengariff and Ilnaculin Garden Island, across Healy Pass to Josie's for lunch, followed by a trip to 3,000 year-old Ardgroom stone circle, back through the Park to Muckross House - taditional Irish music tonight after dinner at Danny Mann's. Another cozy ...

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States liamleprechaun

We are home!

... along, accomplish amazing things, and have more laughter than is humanly possibly is so cool. One thing I have tried to wrap my mind around for the past few days is what to do with the information I gathered in Haiti. I believe I have seen the worst of the worst poverty. I have also seen extreme and unfailing faith. How these two can go hand in hand blows my mind.Thank you to everyone who gave me donations, prayers ...

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States larinda

Tonight's the night

After yet another exciting day, it's official, I am leaving tonight for Almaty. Final in country destination is Kzyl Orda. Yesterday FedEx was to deliver my visa. It was overnight mailed from D.C. Of course, it didn't arrive. Apparently there were some weather issues and FedEx flights had been grounded. So, I had one more night of uncertainty and a little added anxiety to go with my stress cocktail. At 8 a ...

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States travelmom

Quick trip back to US

... Their house is wonderful and they provided us with a first floor suite. What fun it was to be there with them. Lots of eating and lots of Manhattans. We had lots to do during our nine days in Milwaukee. We both had dental appointments. Marty's went off without a hitch. FM was another story. Fortunately he had the first appointment on Monday. During the cleaning and exam, they found a cavity. He made an appointment for ...

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States frednmarty