I have spent the last 9 weeks in recovery and it still goes on.  I can drive but I cannot walk far.  I find I need to get my foot elevated pretty quickly.  I attempted to take some photo’s juggling the crutches yesterday and that just did not work.  So for this month I am just going to continue to share the Seattle Stories.  The Orcas Islands were amazing, on the ferry boat rides we saw such stunning scenery, and the town of Friday Harbor was quaint, pretty and welcoming.  Today we are on the road from the Orcas Islands, heading towards the German town of Leavensworth.  We are heading into the mountains and of course the snow.

The scenery was beautiful and I will confess that my blog was taken over a longer period than 30 minutes.

Driving along the highway it is really hard to capture the scenery. The countryside was beautiful.

Mountains – that’s where we are heading, although a bit deeper in.

We saw amazing scenery along the way and sometimes you just need to snap from the car.

On the road, alongside the train tracks.

Our first sighting of a close up of the mountains with snow. Yay…oh boy it’s going to be cold

We stopped at this tiny little side of the road coffee spot. So very quaint and unusual.

The view from behind the quaint little coffee stop. Majestic mountains.

There is a sense of excitement when a South Florida (African) girl gets to see snow. It’s been a while and it was a spectacular sight.

The road we traveled from the Orca Islands to Seattle meandered along the river. In some places it was flat and in others is was rocky and choppy.

We took a 2 minute freezing cold snow photo op at a ski lodge pull off

Richard doing his peace out thing. Has to be a hippie era child.

Ski lifts – the last time I went on the ski lifts in Denver, I got horribly sick and so I am avoiding these with a passion. Not that I would have any plans to ski. I have two left feet and end up with broken bones.

We came around a curve to this beautiful river scene and so I had to pose Richard in the photo.  We don’t take too many people pictures for some reason.

There were some beautiful rivers that we passed. The driver has one mission – get to our destination. The back seat driver, keeps telling him to stop

Another close up of the driver, Richard. One of my favorite people as I have to be honest, I would not want to drive on roads that may have snow or ice.

Sometimes the scenery was bleak and gray, hence the black and white image. The rushing rivers as a result of the snow.

Getting out in front of the camera is not my thing but sometimes you just have to do it to record that you were actually on vacation.

A beautiful lake and view alongside a shop, called The Alps, that we stopped at. Interesting store. It had about a hundred different varieties of taffy.

Barry and Enid at the shop stop.  Nothing beats spending time with family.  Given that we are spread out across the continents these times are a real treat.

I loved the stillness and peacefulness of this area.

Another stopping point was this bridge across the river. I wish I could have stopped at all the interesting places.

Last stop before heading into Leavensworth.  Look out for my blog on this tiny German town.

Thank you for joining me for this month’s 30 minutes.    This is a circle blog.  Please take time to visit my fellow blogger Hayley Hay photography / Lausanne, Switzerland and see what she has for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their pages.

30 Minutes changed their name to Journey to an Artist.  If you want to know more about Journey to an Artist head over to their Facebook page, or to the blog page.  There is new and exciting happenings going on with the group Journey to an Artist that you are sure to want to check it out.

You can find the blogs to the Chihuly Gardens inside and out,  to Pike Street Market,  the Seattle Waterfront and Ferris Wheel, Bainbridge Island,  Seattle Library, Columbia Building and Chinatown, Seattle City Scenes , the ferry trip to Friday Harbor, Friday Harbor the town, and the ferry trip back to the mainland, by clicking on the highlighted names.

Keep a look out for more of the upcoming blogs, the town of Leavensworth and the Snoqualmie Falls.

You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram and Google+  

Please bare with me this month.  At the beginning of July I had foot surgery, and while I tried to do what I could to get blogs sorted out in a space of 2 weeks, it did not happen.  So I am going to share images that I took back in December 2015 at a fundraiser.  Some of you may know that I am passionate about serving those who are unable to serve themselves.  Growing up in Africa, I was exposed to many levels of poverty.  Children starving.  Lack of education. Lack of healthcare.  Lack of planning.

In late November 2015 I met a doctor who was passionate about similar areas of ministry.   After the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010, Dr Fredeline Amedee-Benjamin and her brother, Reubens, who are of Haitian heritage, felt an intense need to go to Haiti and see what they could do.  They were shocked at the devastation and wanted to do something to make a difference.  When back in the USA, they started to discuss how they could make a difference.  They both strongly believe they way of the future is education. However, to build a school costs money.  To start off you need land.   Through many discussions it came about that Dr Amedee- Benjamin’s grandfather owned land in Haiti and after negotiations with all family members they finally had the land to build the school.

A mission was established: “B.A.T.I. School is a non-profit organization focused on making long-term investments in education through the use of agriculture, bringing about sustainable solutions and long-lasting change for the future leaders of Haiti.

The vision was defined:  “One of Haiti’s bright spots is the availability of vast intrinsic resources.  With over 5 acres of arable land allocated specifically for the school’s use, our goal is to create a self-sufficient environment where the crops we grow will be used as a source of food for our students while also genereating income for future development of the school campus.”

And so B.A.T.I. school was born.  This school will give the children a chance at a better future.

bati (bah tee): verb 1. To build or construct by assembling and joining parts. (French/Creole)

Many children come from marginalized communities and the schools are a safe place for them.  Added to that they will get lunch each day.  For some children that may be the only meal they get.

In addition to the crops grown on the farm, B.A.T.I. school directors made the decision that they needed a sustainable way to raise funds and the way they choose to do this was through the process of growing  coffee on the farm.  By selling the coffee they would be able to create additional income apart from fundraising to help build and sustain the school.

Like any kind of mission development fundraising is a very defining part of this endeavor.  This is where I come in.  I was invited to attend the fundraiser and instead offered to take photo’s at the event.  B.A.T.I. school hosted a painting party.  At the event they also sold their coffee.  The hosts provided food of Haitian origins and it tasted so good.  The mood was set, the hum of voices concurred my observation.

Newsletters

Dr Fredeline Amedee-Benjamin shared her vision for B.A.T.I school and the passion she has in her heart for this mission.

Her brother, Reubens,  is equally as passionate about the vision they have for the school.

After they passionately shared their vision for Bati school, the painting fundraiser began.  Here are some images from the evening’s fundraiser.

It was a fun evening, everyone left with their painting, a sense of having really had a fun evening and a bit more knowledge about B.A.T.I school.

Bati School Farm Coffee

At B.A.T.I. school they are not just building a school they are building a future.  You can help to build that future to.  If you want to know more about B.A.T.I. school head over to their facebook page and read more about it.

It takes a village to raise a child. Are you interested in being part of that village?  Read more on the webpage on what you can do.  You can also make a donation via the webpage or learn more about purchasing their coffee.

My final note – I know Dr Amedee-Benjamin personally.  I have seen her passion and excitement when she talks about the school.  I have seen her commitment to developing the school.  She travels to Haiti every 2 months.  This is not some small endeavor, this is a passion to serve a community who desperately need help, education, healthcare, and to know that they are valued.

Education is the most powerful weapon

we can use to change the world

~ Nelson Mandela

Thank you for joining me for this month’s 30 minutes.    This is a circle blog.  Please take time to visit my fellow blogger Stacey Markel Photography | MD Family, Child & Senior Photographer and see what she has for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their pages.

30 Minutes changed their name to Journey to an Artist.  If you want to know more about Journey to an Artist head over to their Facebook page, or to the blog page.  There is new and exciting happenings going on with the group Journey to an Artist that you are sure to want to check it out.

You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram and Google+