Hello friends, I’m sure by now you have all heard about the devastating earthquake in Port Au Prince, Haiti. Our hearts are breaking for the people there.

In September of 2008 we had the distinct pleasure of partnering with Humanitarians Initiating Progress in Haiti in order to help them tell the story of Haiti and HIPH’s work there.

The incredible women we went down there with (who founded and run HIPH) landed in Haiti the day before the quake, but thankfully made it to the north of the country before the quake hit. We have heard from them and they are fine. However we have another dear friend who went with us on that first trip in 08, who fell in love with the country and people, and who has gone back and forth to serve them ever since. He was in Port Au Prince when the quake hit, and we have not heard from him. Please keep him, and all of the people of Haiti, in your prayers as we wait to see what develops.

Love love love, The Bedouins

From our first trip to Haiti…

Last year Bedouins International traveled to Haiti with HIPH to cover the story of the people there, the poverty and the vanilla bean project, HIPH’s possible solution to the situation in Haiti. Well a few days ago a package came in the mail for us and it was this quarter’s Relevant Neue, the magazine’s quarterly book-zine. Right in the middle of the magazine was our story on Haiti, HIPH and the photos that we shot! It’s always exciting to see causes we’ve worked with getting good exposure and benefiting from the Media that we’ve provided them (I mean, that’s the point right?!). HIPH is doing great things are this article is another example of the doors that have been opening up for them as a result of their dedication to the cause and the people of Haiti. Cheers to HIPH!

I think the title about sums it up. It’s the day before. We’re almost there. Everyone’s fired up with excitement to get to share Anne and Stephanie’s story with the world. I hope that you’re going to be there. And you. Yup…You. Tomorrow…6:30. Be there…I’ll be waiting to meet you and tell you all about Haiti and what you can do to start changing the world less than 2 hours from your own backyard.

-Stephen

Those of you who read my personal blog already saw this…but for the rest of you, our first print came in today for the premiere!  It looks amazing…I can’t wait to see the rest of them.  Paul’s been plugging away at the movie and I’ve been sitting back waiting my turn to work, and now I get to cut mats, frame and hang…so my time has come.  I hope to see you all here on the 13th!

-Stephen

Today was our fourth day in Haiti, and quite an eventful one…as seems to be the pattern here. Landon was home sick, which was no good. Everyone be praying that his stomach will settle back to normal so that we can get back out in it as soon as possible.

As for the rest of us…we took off for rain forest to see the vanilla, and then to the school bright and early. As usual, it took us half the day to get there. But we made it…and man, it was worth the wait!

Many things happened, as you’ll see in the photos…but for the sake of our lack of steady internet and power I’m going to jump right to the end of the day.

We were at the village and decided to cross the river where several of the school kids come from. It was literally like stepping into a new world. We suddenly found ourselves in the middle of a community…a village that had never before seen a white person! To be completely honest with you, I didn’t know that places like that existed anymore. Certainly not this close to the United States!

We spent some time there with the people, and the entire village came to join us at the house of a woman and her children who we were interviewing. During the interview I asked the woman, and the village if they were Christians or if they practiced voodoo. I had no clue what to expect, as they were some of the most remote people in the world.

After a few seconds of silence an older man stepped up in the crowd and spoke something in creole. Allen, our translator turned and said to me, “Of course they’re Christians!”

wow.

God is HUGE.

That’s all for now…enjoy the pics and hopefully we’ll get a video up here soon!

-Stephen