NEW Luly Community School

There are people who wonder why World Wide Village works in Haiti.  Don't we know we'll never be able to save the entire country?  Aren't we cognizant of the fact that people have been working in Haiti for awhile and people are still starving?

Oh baloney!  God is bigger than all of the so-called "here is why the world thinks you shouldn't work in Haiti"!  Want proof?  Click here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.220419654684324.53217.207418982651058&type=1

Here's the story -- in January 2010 there was a devastating earthquake in Haiti (but if you are reading this blog you probably already know this).  The church where school was held in the community of Luly was rendered completely structurally unsound, to the tune of WWV organizers being nervous with people even setting foot in the building.  Locals fashioned walls out of banana leaves and made a temporary shelter for the kids to continue classes.  Banana leaves do not hold up well to elements, and so the shelter pretty much dissolved within a few months -- torrential rains have that affect.

The kids moved back into the structurally unsound building because they had nowhere else to hold class.

God roused World Wide Village into action!  Loving the people of Haiti means we were compelled to HAVE to do something!  We rallied supporters and gathered donations from individuals, companies, churches, etc.  Then Digicel, Haiti's largest cell phone carrier, came alongside the school and funded the rest of construction.  The school was built bigger and better than we expected...what a blessing!

This past Tuesday was the opening ceremony for the brand-new Luly Community School.  Some recognizable faces were in attendance - Miley Cyrus, Haitian President Martelly, Bill and Tani Austin from Starkey Hearing Foundation, as well as Randy and Pat Mortensen and WWV staff on the ground in Haiti.

Just look through the pictures above - I nearly started crying for joy.  ALSO: President Martelly guaranteed free tuition at the school for all students!  Woot woot!

Do you want to meet Maria Bello?

So Maria Bello, a super cool, super tough actress is starring in a new show called "Prime Suspect".  This version of it is a remake of the British version, but apparently the two are different enough to be related, but are their own unique entities.  Cool.

So why am I going on about an actress in a blog about Haiti?  Maybe because we are having our 5th annual Festival for Haiti on October 15th.  Maybe because we have a silent auction that is held each year to help raise money for Haiti, and we've received super cool items this year that I'm completely stoked about.

Maybe because Maria Bello and her colleagues may have just donated a super cool item that we are hosting online bidding on our website about right now.

Just maybe.  ; )

Maria Bello, who helped found an organization called We Advance in Haiti (an organization designed to empower women and girls in Haiti to take care of their health and safety), has graciously agreed to something that is neat.

Has the suspense built up enough?

Okay:  Bello + associates have donated an awesome package:

• 2 tickets to see the filming of "Prime Suspect" in California (including lunch with the cast and crew!!)
• 2 tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park
• A signed copy of the show’s pilot script

We are currently hosting online bidding on this fantastic item (starting bid = $950) on our website.  You can get to the bidding instructions by clicking HERE

C'mon...haven't you always wanted to rub shoulders with big movie stars and help Haiti at the same time??

Reality check.

So the doctors said I could keep running with this pregnancy as long as I felt alright.  Well, I do not feel alright.  I've felt incredibly run-down for the past couple of weeks.  Finally someone suggested that I quit running, and think about not doing the October marathon either.

=(

As much as I hate to admit it, running no longer brings time with God, peace of mind, and a sense of over-all well-being and general health.  Instead, running feels like I'm putting my body through a meat-grinder and I just feel all sorts of ick when done and for the rest of the day and the next.

I'm not a very large person, and don't have many energy reserves, and it seems as though my body is shouting "Wake up!  You're growing a baby, we need the energy you are running off!!"

So I'm done running for the summer.  =(  I am also, sadly, not running the October marathon.

Those of you who know me personally know how much I balked at the idea of quitting, as it is admitting that I am simply physically unable to do something...not an admission that comes easily by any means.  Arrrrrrrgh.......but this baby means more to me than keeping the 300 mile goal I set.

Oh well.  Baby and I will just have to run together when he/she is old enough and if he/she is interested in running.

Until then, I have almost a year to prepare for the Riverside Ragnar in Minnesota next summer.  Woot woot!  I'll be working on helping organize a team for that to take place next August.  I don't know what those race officials' rules are on running for a cause, but if they'll allow us and the rest of the team is interested (this is a relay race), then this will be for Haiti too.

BUT...here is BABY! (due April 10):

Running hiatus

Elliptical machines make me feel like a rockstar - nowhere else can I run 5 miles in 20 minutes!  Hmmmmm, may have to check the settings on that machine, but for now I'm just going to go with it.

After the half-marathon a couple weeks ago, I felt ill for the next week (allergies + pregnancy + not being allowed to take allergy medications = sick Nora) and was then in Alaska for a week for my brother's wedding....so today was the first time I ran in 2.5 weeks.  : (

The nurse has told me that I need to be running on an elliptical now to save Baby any unnecessary bouncing.  She's not too thrilled that I'm going through with running the marathon on the 2nd of October, but only broken limbs will prevent that.  Plenty of pregnant women run marathons.  : )

So, the 300 mile goal may be a thing of the past, given that I'm still under 200 miles and have less than a month, but I'll still aim for as close to that goal as possible.  We'll see.

Yay for traditions!

Goodness the people who live in the Cities are a lot more fit than they are given credit for, I think!  On Saturday, as I ran 6 mi in preparation for the half-marathon yesterday, the Ragnar (a relay race) was going on, the 3-day "Walk for the Cure" for the Susan G. Komen people who research breast cancer was happening, and there were generally LOTS of people out moving!  Cool beens.  :)

Yesterday I ran the Minneapolis 13.1, a half-marathon that has been in Minneapolis for 2 years.  It was a blast!  There is something comforting knowing that you've been on the track before, there is an end, and other people are just as sore as you!  ALTHOUGH, I'm not nearly as sore today as I was the day after the race last year - I'm just sick because being married means sharing germs with your spouse and Dahmon was sick last week.

Time for the race: 2:28:09 - not bad, but a half hour slower than last year (which is understandable given my pregnancy).

PLEASE PRAY FOR HAITI - THERE IS ANOTHER TROPICAL STORM BEARING DOWN ON THE COUNTRY...IRENE.  IT NEEDS TO MISS HISPANIOLA (THE ISLAND HAITI SHARES WITH THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)....PLEASE PRAY!!

Oh baby!

Alright, so this running goal thing this summer is going to have to be adjusted.  Dahmon (my husband) and I just found out on Monday that he and I are expecting our first child sometime in March/April.  The nurses aren't sure exactly how far along I am yet - our first prenatal appointment is on September 8 and hopefully they'll be able to tell us then.  We know that we're in the first trimester though.  =)

So this running thing?  The nurse said since I was running regularly anyways and it was not a new stress on top of a pregnancy that it would be fine.  Babycenter.com says that exercise will help with delivery.  10:00 is going to be my bedtime from now on, especially since I want to get up to go to the gym nearly every morning, if nothing else in the last tri to go soak in the jacuzzi at the gym.  =)

BUT I am under orders to listen to my body/baby - I can't push time, if I get uncomfortable then running needs to end.  Baby explains, however, why my timing has been seeing a decline lately.

So excited!  But also so heartsick for the babies in Haiti who are worried about clean water.  Won't you please consider sponsoring my running this summer?  I'm still hoping to get as close to that 300 mile mark as possible!!

Warrior Dash - pics!!

Okay dokay, finally got the pics from the Warrior Dash:

 

                         
 Gotta get over that fire somehow!!  It's amazing how high you can jump when properly motivated .  : )

    

   

 

 

 We had amazing volunteers!!  To the left is a group of gentleman from Theta Chi who came to help out.  Below is a lovely group of people who came from all over MN, IA, and SD!!!!!!!


Do you have pics to share from the event as well!  Let me know!!