May 13th, 2021

     Today was a very fulfilling day. We started our day organized just for us. It was full of local artists and merchants who sold their work that came in a variety of items and designs. It was interesting to bargain and come to an agreement to get the most bang for our buck, but in the end, we did bring a portion of our money to stimulate the local economy. I was able to find some cool gifts for family and friends to bring back home as well. 

    Next, we ran back to the guesthouse to change clothes and head up the mountain. On our way to the next stop, we saw some cool things: An Olympic training center, a type of mine excavated from to make concrete, a mass grave from the earthquake in 2010, and a beautiful view of the Caribbean. When we finally made the steep climb up to Grace Village, we were able to capture a beautiful view from the beautiful village. We spent our time here playing with kids on a large, donated playground and running around playing different games. 

    After this, we visited a few elders and brought them meals. We spent time with them praying and washing their hands and feet. Washing the elders' feet was a very spiritually impactful moment, where we were reminded about the story of the woman washing Jesus' feet and also the verse about unknowingly entertaining angels. When she looked into your eyes, you could really feel it in your soul. This was such a powerful moment that will be with us for the rest of our lives. We also got to spend some time at the well filling and carrying water jugs for the elders and locals. 

    The next stop was a business and restaurant called Fleri, where we really got to see the spirit and resilience of the Titanyen community. Fleri is a bakery and pizzeria that produces affordable, small batches of bread for the community. They have an incredible mission with the objective of building up the community and creating local jobs. 

    After we finished our amazing meal, we headed back down the mountain to Delmas where our guesthouse is. In conclusion, it was an amazing and fulfilling day with many lessons and rewarding moments.