Mountains Beyond Mountains

Hello friends! I've landed safely in Haiti and will be here for the next 10 days. Who would've ever thought I would be celebrating my 32nd birthday in such a way as this?! Thanks to The Village Experience (and of course, all of your support at Alluem Yoga!) I am ready to absorb all I can while I'm here - the people, the culture, the history, the beauty of the land. I'm ready to explore, to learn, to bare witness with my own two eyes and lend my hand where it is needed. I feel so blessed to be on this journey. There really are mountains beyond mountains here.

Incase you're following along, here's the intinerary:
December 1 - Arrive in Port au Prince International Airport. City tour upon arrival. Check into locally owned and operated hotel. Welcome dinner at Presse Cafe with friends of TVE. 
December 2 - Depart in the morning for the drive to the North. Arrive to Cap Haitien in the evening.
December 3 - Enjoy a city tour of Cap Haitien, the old city, local marketsand much more throughout the day. Spend the afternoon on a hike to the mountaintop fortress of Citadelle Laferrière and the San Souci Palace – both designated UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1982.
December 4 - Project day with Sonje Ayiti in Limonade.The mission of Sonje Ayiti is to uplift Haitian communities though education, economic development, and health promotion. Learn about the adult literacy program, operation goat, university scholarship program, economic development projects, and the micro-credit loan program. This promises to be an educational and inspiring day of service
December 5 - Project day with GARR near the Dominican Republic border. GARR stands for Support Group for Refugees and Repatriated Persons. It is one of the few organizations to work with Haitians and Dominico-Haitians (Dominicans born of Haitian parents) who have been forcibly removed from the DR and left to fend for themselves at the border. GARR provides them with emotional support and practical help. GARR visits imprisoned migrants and offers them legal assistance and informs their families of their situation. It also raises awareness about trafficking through radio broadcasts and public debates to encourage people to pressure the Haitian authorities to reduce the trafficking of people.
December 6 - Enjoy the beaches of the North Coast today and free time to reflect.
December 7 - Morning departure for Port au Prince. 
December 8 - Transfer to Jacmel in the morning. Stop in Fondwa to check on projects and visit the orphanage and university.
December 9 - Spend the day with the Art Creation Foundation Center for Children. Help paint the walls of the new site with the children. Visit the Arts Festival in Jacmel to support local artisans.
December 10 - Free morning, visit the Jacmel Children's Center. Leave for Port au Prince. Farewell dinner.
December 11 - Transfer to airport.