Haiti 2014, Day 11: Coconuts, Apricots, Almonds and Dresses

What a fun-filled, friendship-laced, adventurous day! We woke up at 6 am to get our swim suits on, pack our Sunday best, eat breakfast, and jump into a boat by 9 am in order to make it around the island to Caile Coq to join some friends at the Englise’ Methodiste Church there. The boat ride started out on a stall. Literally. The motor would not start. An old rusted and bent wrench loaned from another boat captain later, and in about 15 minutes we were on the move. The sun was still rising and the reflections across the ocean waves were stunning. As I took photo after photo along the shoreline, it was amazing to see God’s creation from the boat’s view rather than from the island’s edge. 

Once arriving on the opposite side of the island, we climbed out of the boat and put on our church clothes before the walk into the village. Caile Coq is a beautiful village that is quite progressive. They sweep their sand “streets” between the houses and always seem to be building something new.  My son Jerry first helped Pastor Pierre and others here back in about 2002 with the building of their church. Then some work was done on a school there.  I visited with my son in 2008 for the first time. What a delightful community.  We slid into church this morning before the rest of the congregation arrived. It wasn't long before Pastor Pierre arrived and we were able to catch up on families and church life. 

Soon worship began with huge oversize speakers (blown and blasting, in typical Haitian fashion), a rhythm and bass guitar, a drum, and a tambourine.  Hymns were sung, prayers were lifted, and a message was given. The team was asked to introduce itself and prayers were offered for our continued work in Haiti.  The heat was sweltering and it was difficult to stay focused, for both Haitians and Americans. Soon the final blessing was given and after greeting the congregation, we headed back to the boat for the rest of our journey. 

Next stop: Lover’s Island. Yes. Again. It is just so hard to stay away. Crystal clear waters, aqua blue and turquoise waves, and white sand that is equal to about 350 grit sandpaper granules… in the middle of the ocean. In the middle! No trees, no habitation. Just a mound of white sand in the middle of the ocean. Amazing. We swam, and laughed, played, and cooled off. Then jumped back in the boat again.

Next stop: Madame Bernarde and the orphanage for lunch. After lunch we all headed up the mountain to begin sorting our luggage and kicking back for a day of Sabbath. I drug my foam mattress outside and took my nap on the side of the mountain. The breeze was absolutely delightful and brought some well needed rest before our two days of travel. When I woke, another friend had arrived from Nan Soulette.  Dino, who had visited earlier in the week with a bucket of coconut and fruit, came today bearing two bags of fresh Haitian almonds. They are longer and skinnier, but very similar in taste to our almonds in America.  He said one was a gift from Madame Mascare (the pastor’s wife in Nan Soulette) and the other was a gift from him. Amazing how gracious and giving the Haitian people are. To walk all the way across the island is one thing, but to come bearing gifts is a whole other.  We had some good talk about the church expanding to include a Saturday bible school, serving a meal and life learnings.  How exciting for the people of Nan Soulette. I hope they make their dream a reality. 

No sooner did Dino head back and our new friend Garyson invited us to his home to meet his family. So a good portion of the team headed just up the mountain to his house. A beautiful home on the side of the mountain. He first introduced us to his sister and mother, and then called us in to see his bedroom. Amazing! He not only has carpet in his room (the first I’ve ever seen in Haiti) but also a regular bed and wall mirror!  At 25, Garyson has done well for himself going to college for economics.  He gets work on the mainland at Les Cayes whenever possible.  Then Garyson took us out back to see his three generations of pigs: 3 little piglets, 1 medium size young pig, and one pretty stout potbelly pig. He also took us over to a grove of coconut trees and had Herby (another new Haitian friend) shimmy up and cut us down some fresh coconuts.  With a huge machete in hand, he cracked them open and we all began sharing their milk and meat together on the side of the mountain. Before you knew it, we were having coconut tree climbing lessons. Shannon tried first, getting up about 4’, then Darryl about 6’, and then Shannon another 6 or 8’ up. Odlin, of course, shimmied all the way up about 20’ like it was nothing. Herby did the same even quicker. Amazing.  You have to put your hands on the sides of the tree while putting your feet flat against the front of the tree, literally walking up the side while holding on up higher. The trick was keeping the butt out from the tree in a triangle shape from the arms and legs. Pretty crazy to watch, let alone to do!

On our way out, Garyson also cut a couple of Haitian apricots out of their tree and sliced them up for us, as well. WOW! Talk about amazing. Nothing like anything you’ve eaten in the states. So firm and sweet. So different than what we can get at home. All in all, it was a great trip. But by now dinner was on, so we headed back down the mountain for our final dinner here: Haitian pizza (pizza with an upper crust too, like a pie), along with plantain, potato fries, and fried hot dogs.                    

After dinner Darryl, Tom, Odlin and I met with Sister Flora to let her know how we finished up and to offer some gifts from the team. Gifts are never given early in a trip, as they are no more than charity then. But offered near the end, they are love gifts between friends.  After sharing what we had designated in project funds with leftover funds, we offered her all the dresses our ladies had made for the girls at the orphanage (about 40 of them).  Sister Flora was thrilled! She began to beam with joy and light and life after I presented them to her. She said through Odlin “We never get girls’ clothes! They always have to wear shirts and shorts. The boys always get clothes but the girls never do!” I couldn’t believe it. I told her I felt really bad that we didn’t have any clothes for the boys and that our ladies got going on dresses and just didn’t stop! They never got to shirts or shorts for the boys.  We laughed together at God’s providence.  Here God knew the girls were the ones in need this time, so he provided graciously with adorable, fun, and beautiful dresses for all the girls in the orphanage. 

Before we left Sister Flora said “We will dress the girls in the morning and then you can take lots of photos!”  Yes!! I was sooo hoping she would say that. J  How wonderful it will be to show the women back home who made them all with their loving hands and hearts.

Back to the house for final packing and some fun around the circle in the yard. Art offered a wonderful devotion about mission work really being about love, not getting stuff done. Oh, so true. So true.  Matt then asked each of us what we would drink and eat first when we arrived in Atlanta. Answers ranged from orange slushies, to Pepsi or Coke on ice, to a tall Mocha for drinks; and pizza with ice cream seemed to be the number one answer for food, along with Mexican, Arby’s curly fries, and all kinds of ice cream. 

The evening ended with Odlin and friends giving a concert to us with guitar, vocals, and bottle pop drumming. It was delightful. Handshakes were shared and one by one the team went off to bed for the final time on the side of this mountain. Tomorrow will start our two day trek home, complete with another boat ride, a moto excursion, a long bus ride and then a van to the Methodiste Guest house for the night. The generator still runs in the background. The dogs will soon be barking.  And all that irritated us by midweek will be missed in just a few days. Touché.    

Orevwa beautiful Haiti!  Orevwa!                                             

Haiti 2014, Day 10: Coffee, Bed, and Grands

[sigh] 

Where to begin? We always come to this point in a trip where the tide turns and we all realize that we will soon be going home.  First we begin dreaming of what we miss and what it will be like when we get it back.  For some, it is a hot shower or running water. For others, the internet. For some it is their favorite food. For me it is chocolate in my coffee, my bed, and my grandkids.  I will no doubt be sipping a hot tall mocha with no whip cream and nonfat milk as soon as we land in Atlanta Airport Tuesday afternoon.  My last prayer of the night will be thanking God for my comfy, cushiony, clean bed with no sand, ants, or mosquitos landing on it.  And by the weekend, I hope to be spending a day with my kids, their wives, and all five Grands as we swim, eat ice cream, and play at the park. 

But from there, most teams then move to what they will miss leaving this place we have called home for over a week now.  Rosie throwing her head back, laughing, and clapping her hands in hopes we will do the same.  Sonson intently painting, after flying in the door in his wheelchair as to not miss a thing.  Fredno smiling from ear to ear as we compliment him on his artwork.  Both staff and children swaying, dancing, and singing to Lindsey on her guitar. Little boys flying their hand made kites of plastic bags and plant stems.  Junior catching my eye, smiling from ear to ear, and then throwing me one kiss after another after another.

Tonight, our devotion centered on the gifts God has given each of us and how they are special, needed, and bring joy to both ourselves and others. We went around the circle and shared what each of us most enjoyed this week. Answers varied from spending time loving on the kids, to working with the impaired kids and their new equipment, to singing for the kids. But all day I have been thinking about just one thing… or maybe I should say, just one child. His name is Isaiah.

Isaiah is one of the blind boys that Sister Flora found abandoned at a hospital on the mainland in April. These five boys had been there for two years. It doesn’t seem that anyone knows any history, why they were there, what their names are, or anything else about their situations. But Sister Flora doesn’t need any of that to bring kids home… and give them new names. All she needs to know is that they need a family… and she can provide one.

But Isaiah is different. Isaiah will not wear his clothes. The staff try their best to get a tee shirt on him, but he works just as hard to get it off… immediately.  He does not speak either.  He moves from one person to another, listens for a passerby, and then grabs them with both of his arms around their waist before throwing both his legs around them like a monkey hanging onto a tree.  He does it to adults and other children, staff or strangers. If you peel his legs off (and I do mean peel), he will still hold on for dear life, and simply follow. If you go upstairs, he will go upstairs. If you walk, he will walk. If you stop, he will stop. He simply becomes one with you.  The staff is trying to get him to be independent so they ask that we peel him off and sit down and allow him to sit next to us, but not to remain clinging on. It’s hard and constant.  He doesn’t make it easy… even after the fiftieth time. My thoughts keep going to this: how will Isaiah adjust to life in his world? He will soon be an age that being naked just will not work anymore, especially out in society, outside these protected walls at the orphanage.  The movie “Jungle Book” comes to mind. It is almost as though he was raised by animals.  He crawls around on the ground, he climbs on railings and hangs like an animal, he howls and cries and wails uncontrollably. And yet he is not an animal. He is a child. An 8 or 9 year old child.

Will he end up living the rest of his life in a psychiatric ward? Or will I return next year or the following and his new environment, plenty of love and acceptance, and some strict guidelines have begun to have an impact on him… and he will be talking… and wearing his clothes… and holding hands instead of climbing on people for attention?  (sigh)

I wish I knew the answers, but I don’t. What I do know is that Isaiah will be cared for here. If he can never be well and whole and fit in society, he will still be welcome and belong here. There are older impaired adults who allow Isaiah to wrap around them for hours, or follow them around with arms wrapped tightly around their waist, or will share their food with him, even though he is buck naked and they are not. He is already home here. If nothing changes, he has found home.  But I still will pray for more. All things are possible through Jesus Christ, and it is my hope there are new possibilities for Isaiah. 

So tonight, several of our team sit around a circle with Haitian friends, singing and playing guitar, clapping and laughing.  Others are indoors, sharing their favorite experiences with each other, retelling stories that are funny or touching or will change us forever.  Others are already in bed, exhausted from the week already given. We will get up early tomorrow and load into a boat to go around the island to another Methodiste Church that my son helped work on, one of his first trips to the island years ago when he was just a teen.  Afterward we will return to Lover’s Island for another few hours of heaven on earth before returning to the orphanage tomorrow afternoon. It is quickly winding down… and then chocolate in my coffee… and a soft, safe bed to sleep in… and hugs for my healthy, well cared for and adjusted grandchildren… 

Haiti 2014, Day 9: A Little of This, That, and the Other

Today was one of those days. You know them. You wake thinking you had a plan, but something doesn’t come through so you figure you’ll find something else to get done instead. Only each thing you try, well, you get interrupted and have to hurry so you can wait, so you can hurry some more. Yep. It was one of those days.

We got down to breakfast only to find out we were early once again. With a sick cook this week, schedules have been a bit off. But soon food arrived and we were well on our way to getting the day started. We had planned all week to spend today painting floors; three of them to be exact. But floor paint was nowhere to be found on the mainland. Sooo… step back and punt. One team began cleaning out a caged room full to the ceiling with equipment for the impaired kids and adults… and I mean to the ceiling. Walkers, standers, wheelchairs, and arm braces.  Foam boots, back braces, eating trays, and miscellaneous wheels, attachments, gadgets, and cushions. From floor to ceiling, wall to wall. We spent the first half of the day just taking apart the puzzle of appliances and lowering them to the grassy lawn below (about 8’ drop). Then we sorted and inspected. Like items with like items, missing pieces found and attached, broken items removed to another pile for scrap metal. 

After lunch we began sorting by need at the orphanage, or usable elsewhere. It seems there is another orphanage on the mainland that is in relationship with this one, so the plan is to make a delivery on Tuesday of any items not being used here. This way their kids will have some needs met, as well.  Because the Physical Therapy Room is more usable now, we were able to incorporate several new items into their repertoire of equipment.  Kids who have never been mobile were moving themselves around the room on new apparatus. Little ones who only laid on mats were now sitting up and looking around at the world surrounding them. It was amazing.

Another team kept work moving in the kitchen. Although Haitians were actually laying the tile, our team was overseeing, guiding, and inspecting each step.  By the end of the day, the backsplash was installed and the whole for the sink was sized. Tomorrow the sink should be placed and caulked, and the plumbing tied in. Then we can finish the painting of walls surrounding the countertop to complete that room. The kitchen was another room we had planned to paint the floor, but again, that wasn’t possible without the correct paint.

Another team installed the permanent equipment in the Therapy Room. A concrete drill was obtained so the new set of parallel bars could be bolted to the ceramic tile floor. This will allow children to be assisted in their walking therapy once they graduate from the stationary Standers.  So many new opportunities will be available to the therapists now. Exciting! Some screening was also installed over half the pergola outside the Impaired Classroom. This will help when the staff are out there washing down the wheelchairs and other equipment.  It does not block the sweltering sun, but it at least diffuses it. 

Another team got the kid’s canteen painted. This is the room that the kids that are not impaired are fed their meals.  The upper half had some really cute murals and were in good shape, but the bottom half was in pretty bad shape. So a new coat of paint, and voila! What a difference. Kelly was the painter extraordinaire in there today!

Several of the guys had to head down the mountain to the dock to retrieve a delivery of water and Gatorade today. That might not sound like much… but you would be mistaken to think so. I can’t do it. Tried once. Bout killed me. Some of the older teen girls have helped out a few times this week, but each time another one or two fall off the team.  We’re down to all guys now. What a job! Hard to explain but think of it this way. You get out of Sam’s Club (with no cart or boxes) and have to carry everything you bought for 13 on your team (or 72 kids and a staff of about 20) from the check-out, through the parking lot, up the side of a mountain covered with large, loose, sharp rocks, while moving to the side each time a local rides by on their loaded down donkey, or simply to miss piles of goat, horse, dog, or donkey poop piles underfoot.  Yah. It’s like that… For some, that’s a 45# five gallon container of water. For others a 25# bag of rice or case of Gatorade or canned milk. I am so glad I am not a guy, nor am I a feminist. I’m too much a wimp to be either.

About midafternoon a couple more friends came across the island to visit. Jean Gary stopped by with two of his fellow elementary teachers with a gift in hand.  I slowly untied the bag to receive a whiff of homemade brown sugar encrusted cocoa cookies embedded with whole cashews. Mmmm mmm bon! Can’t wait to eat them after dinner tonight. How gracious of friends to make the 45 minute walk after a day of work, but then to bring such a thoughtful gift? Oh the hospitality to learn here.  

The work day ended with Darryl, Tom and I moving off to a private room at the back of the orphanage to go over expenses, project funds, and anticipated expenses during travel home come Monday/Tuesday. We made some decisions as a team to use part of the funds to help Sister Flora get the building torn down she had originally planned for us to do this week before seeing the multitude of needs in the Therapy Room.  The building is about 5 rooms in length and two stories high, so it would have been beyond our capability with the orphanage’s tools anyway. This way, a local demolition team can get it down and break up the rubble to be used along the mountainous road that leads to the orphanage. It has bad wash out so it will be used well there. It will also put some locals to work. 

We also made the decision as a team to purchase a stereo for the Therapists to use with the kids. There was an old one on sight but Art said it was beyond repair. So a new one will be purchased for them with our project funds. We were also able to assist the staff with a couple weeks of adult diapers for the teens and adults, as well as the kids.  This cost runs about $250 each and every week.  With little to no water, cloth are not an option… especially for the 30 or more who need to wear them.  We will also be leaving behind some undesignated funds for Sister Flora, Alishe, and the other directors to use, as needed. How wonderful that God has provided in such gracious ways that we are able to meet even a few of these needs. Yaaay God!!

With the day’s work done, we’ll sit on the top of the mountain tonight with a breeze cooling our swollen and blistered skin. Cards are being passed, pistachios are being cracked, and dreams of the lobster we’ve been smelling all afternoon will soon be eaten in reality.  Oh, the sacrifices we make as God’s servants… Ha! We’re so spoiled. J

Haiti 2014, Day 8: Mobiles and Dancing, a Hike and a Swim

A day that started on the crappy side, ended quite glorious. Who can ask for more? I woke up ornery this morning and wasn’t sure why. Just tired, I suppose.  The two inch foam mattress seems flatter each morning and my ankles no longer seem to have bones.  I never remember swelling down here before. Tina says it is because I am getting older. I suppose she is right.

The morning definitely got worse before the day got any better. I finally rolled by Michelin Man body out of bed and opened my suitcase to get out the day’s work clothes… and there were a hundred micro ants crawling all over my clothes, which made no sense. The suitcase was zipped closed and had no food in it. But make sense or not, ants were swarming. One piece of clothing after another, I found another hundred micro ants under that one... and the next... and the next... 

ARGGHH!! I hate starting the day with creepy crawly things in my clothes… or anywhere, for that matter. After Tina saved the day and began spraying as I pulled out one item after another, I finally got to the bottom. With a pile of clothes now on my bed, I had to wash out the inside of my suitcase, dry it, and start over. Did I mention I had not had any coffee yet?? That's at the bottom of the mountain.

So eventually we made it off to the orphanage and breakfast. For some reason, all the coffee pots were empty. Yah. Figures. The day was not feeling promising at this point. We did get started on the day by getting the second side of all the mobile pieces painted. Since we were limited on types of saws and basically made most of our items from butterfly shaped foam pieces, we had to get creative.  We began collecting pop bottle tops in a multitude of colors, broken toys and other plastic parts laying around on the ground, and a few empty pop bottles. We couldn’t find any fishing line either but we did find a plastic netting material that was a wonderful shade of green. J  So we drilled holes in the caps and other items, began slicing the netting at the joints, and threaded each item with the plastic netting strings.  We painted sticks and used them along with sawn pieces of Masonite for the upper bars on the mobiles, and used caulk to adhere small stones to some of the foam pieces for added movement and balance. The foam pieces alone just floated, more than swaying, without the extra weight. 

But once we began tying it all together… oh man! It looked great! One by one we began hanging them from the newly painted rafters. Some were strategically placed where kids would be lying on their backs in therapy. Others we simply placed around the room to add movement, color, and eye candy to a once empty and ineffective room.  We also brought in some Haitian workers to finish up the roof repairs and painting of the roof, as well as a welder to fix some of the rebar grids over the windows that had been broken.  The place was spiffing up nice. But even better than all of this, was the sound coming from the Therapy Room mats.  

There at one end of the newly painted and decorated room were about 15 or more impaired children, a therapist, a teacher, and our very own Lindsey with her guitar. Lindsey brings out her guitar about once a day and plays songs for the kids. Some sing along, while others sway or yell or just listen. But today, everyone was joining in. The Haitian staff were singing even louder than the kids and dancing and smiling and were so filled with joy, that I was touched, as well.  Watching them have so much fun at what they do, was so fulfilling to see. I don’t know if they are like this every week, or if the new space just gave them hope, or what… but it was a blessing to be an onlooker.

That little peek filled the entire team with a new found energy.  We all seemed to step it up to finish up what we could. Tom and Odlin spent the day in Les Cayes trying to find floor paint for the Therapy Room Porch and the kitchen floor, but no luck. We were hoping to get that started today, as well.  Instead, after dinner we took a hike about 45 minutes across the island, up a mountain and down the other side to the ocean’s shore. There were a few times I thought I was going to just die right there. Huffing and puffing and breathing like my throat was going to drop into my gut. I am sooo out of shape. My thighs were burning and my calves were blowing up like balloons.  But we made it and it was all worth it. The water was so warm. I have never been in the ocean when it was warm. A warm salt bath was exactly what my cankles needed because when I got out I actually had a few bones in my ankles again!! … for a minute anyway.

The way back was much better, as Odlin decided we could take a less arduous route. Duh! Why he didn’t think of that going in the other direction is beyond me!  But the trip was beautiful with cows, goats, sheep, chicken, donkeys and birds all along the way. Women carried buckets on their heads, children rode their horses into the ocean for a swim, and men sat on their stoops welcoming us as we hiked by.  The sun was quickly setting so we got home as soon as we could to eat another delicious dinner. Vegetable soup was on the menu, along with Nutella and bread.  Then we all circled up for devotions again, before people started heading off one by one to hit the sack for the night. A nice breeze is coming up the side of the mountain. The few of us that are left are sitting around laughing at Emma as she repeats every word I am typing… Another wonderful day with our friends in Haiti.

Haiti 2014, Day 6 & 7: The Heart is Willing but the Body, Not So Much...

Mornings are getting harder and most of us have lost our bounce. Don’t get me wrong. We are still enjoying ourselves and doing some great work. Our bodies are simply taking the toll. Food is quite different. Lots and lots of carbs here with little to no fruit or vegetables.  Very different than prior communities in Haiti we have worked with.  Meat or other proteins are rare, as well. We’re living on bug spray and sunscreen and between the heat and lack of water, we’re dragging. First morning all the girls were up 2 minutes after Darryl’s first wake up call. I was the only one still laying on my 2” foam mattress when his second call came.  This morning only one responded with first call and after the second, seven of the eight girls were still in bed. One still remained a half hour later.  Yup. We’re wearing down.

But the work continues and friendships are being formed.  I have been spending quite a bit of time with Sonson. Thank you all for your prayers, as bright and early he rolled in to begin painting again. We were pleasantly surprised, to say the least.  He wore out early and took a few naps in his wheelchair, but there he was anyway.  Everyone kicked in on the murals so we could get them finished up.  It was totally crazy. I mean totally. Busted butt, but we did it. I got each person started with a shape and a color and then would move to the next and the next and the next… until they would say to me “Now you need to do your ‘thing’” and I would go over and put the final highlights and shadows. Great to see what a community can do together. 

Tina has been such a blessing to the therapists here. You can tell they love what they do and care deeply for each child. And it’s hard work. Really hard work. Tina has been unboxing all kinds of new equipment that has been piling up in storage rooms since who knows when and now that the arrangement in the room has been set and approved by therapists in Port au Prince, Tina has been asked to train the therapists here, in using each piece of equipment.  It’s awesome to see the smiles on both the child’s and the therapist’s face as they are learning together all that is possible. 

Today, we experienced one of those incredible moments in the life of a mission team.  Matt and some others were in the Therapy Room painting the rafters. There were sheets of Masonite nailed up for a ceiling to keep the heat down, but it was rain damaged and downright ugly. So we were asked to tear it out, and paint the corrugated roofing after repairing some pieces that had holes in it.  Our plan was to create some mobiles out of the good Masonite to hang up in the peaked roof for kids who must lay on their back most of the day.  So anyway… Matt is in there painting and he yells out to me on the porch “Pastor Melany! Come in here… you gotta see this…” And sure enough, there was Junior (one of the kids I first met 6 years ago) standing in a walker with his therapist leading the way by moving each of his feet, one by one, and Tina coming from behind, holding his upper body straight and upright.  Junior was holding the hand grips on his own accord and smiling from ear to ear. It was amazing!! You have to understand, Junior has never walked. Junior sits in a chair every day, or stands in a chair that allows him to lean safely up against a cushioned board while tied in.  But walk? Move from one room to another?? Yes. Today, with a community surrounding him, yes, he walked.  Everyone was cheering and clapping and walking right alongside him. It was just so very beautiful to witness. Tears were welling up in several eyes as Christ became tangible in the room, right next to us.

We thank you so much for your prayers. Where everyone we have seen with the virus are in bed for three or more days, Sonson rolled into the Therapy Room today, bright and early. He had a little more energy today, though he still fell asleep once at the painting table, waiting on me for some prep. The first half of the day he watched me attempt every tool possible to cut some shapes out of the Masonite. This would be easy with the right tools, but we don’t quite have the right tools. We had two full size hand saws, a hacksaw, a pair of tin snips, and a 10 in 1 fold-up transformer pocket tool… none of which were very helpful to cut Masonite.  So the plan got downsized and after hours of tearing through a few shapes, I was ready to move on.

So after lunch Sonson and I really hunkered down and got painting all those shapes and several packages of foam shapes. All we found in the storage closet were butterflies but we cut additional animals out of the butterflies and came up with caterpillars, dragonflies, fish, coral, dolphins, worms, and more. All the girls had assisted Trish (one of the directors) take fifteen of the kids to the ocean to swim this afternoon. So when they returned about 5 pm, we put them to work painting all the shapes we had painstakingly cut out with kiddie scissors. They also painted a couple dozen brown hand cutouts that we will be using in the mobiles. 

The kitchen team was very productive today too. They had a Haitian team of young men helping with the new counter. They struggled with the leveling of it and had to start over a couple of times. There are no 2 x 4’s in Haiti, so using luan for forms makes it difficult enough… especially with hand saws.  Tom got them back on track and the second time was a charm.  The group of girls had worked in the kitchen all day before heading to the ocean. They painted the entire room, really adding light and brightness to a very dingy, otherwise dull, room.  They also painted a huge shelving unit that will be used in the kitchen.

Tom had another team over at the orphanage’s school across the street. There were open transoms above every classroom door and it seems the local kids climb into the rooms and trash them. So Sister Flora asked if they could do something about closing the spaces. Some were covered with chicken wire, while others with wood, but all were covered by the end of the day. 

Darryl and Art played plumbers most of the day with clogged and/or broken toilets. I won’t go into all the details but wow… what heroes. Crazy gross stuff they’ve been dealing with. But God bless them, they did it! The changes will help the health and safety of every person here. 

After Shannon gave an awesomely incredible devotion tonight, half the team slipped off for bed early. The other half won’t be far behind. Tomorrow we have another list to cover, loose ends to tie, and new problems to solve.  We never know what friends might stop by (Jean Gary came across the island from Nan Soulette to visit today!) and we always want to make time for them in the midst of the day, as well. So off to bed we’ll go, knowing it won’t be long enough, no matter what. 

Haiti 2014, Day 5: Let the Children Come to Me

After a day of rest and Sabbath, we woke ready for a great day of work. Breakfast was quick and everyone received their assignments from our Bossman Darryl. Tom’s team included Shannon, Lindsey, Tina, Summer, and Odlin.  My team included Matt, Kelly, Emma, and Olivia. Art was sent back to the Depot while Darryl moved from work site to work site once again.

“My team, started the day out by looking for the key to get into the tool and supply room. Once I walked up to the top of the hill to Alish’s house to get it, we finally got into the room. We started out by tearing out the old sink and countertop in the dining room. Once it was all torn out, the wall was covered in black mold, cockroaches crawled out of the drain, and there was a huge spider (like a full size hand size) under the countertop. Herby cleaned up the mold with bleach water, and Shannon, Lindsey, and Tina finished scraping off the goo that was covering the wall so that it can be painted. Once everything was cleaned up, we all started making the forms for the concrete legs and tabletop. Everyone worked together to cut the wood forms, rebar, and nail the forms together to make the table. Once everything was put together, we tied the rebar together and set in the forms and cut out the sink opening. Tomorrow we will mix the concrete, pour the concrete into the forms, and set the tile. We should be finished with the sink tomorrow.” ~ Tom

“Today Team Paint was able to accomplish quite a bit! We started the day by putting a second coat on what we painted on Saturday. Our team had some extra help from our new friend Sonson.  For a young boy he has some great art skills! He helped PM finish some detail work on the bottom of the wall. While we were waiting on some of the paint to dry we helped. Tina was pulled over from the Kitchen Team to put together some equipment for the kids physical therapy needs. After lunch and our trip to the market, we came back to finish some painting and setting up the equipment.  PM started to draw some murals for us to paint tomorrow. We were hoping Sonson could help us some more, but he has come down with the virus effecting many at the orphanage. L We’ll be adding him with others to our prayers tonight.  We finished the day up with some touch ups, cleaning up, and putting everything away.  It was a GREAT day of work and we’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Plus we got a thumbs up from Sister Flora for our work so far!” ~ Matt

“Soul of Haiti had bought therapy equipment and sensory wall mount toys for the disabled children. The equipment has been sitting in boxes waiting for this room to be painted, repaired and overall cleaned up. The staff have so much to do with the daily care and exercise for these lovable children, there really is not time for anything else. At the end of today’s workday, we were able to put equipment together and setup the therapy areas. There is still so many details to get done but it was thrilling to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We were also able to show our work to Sister Flora. I wanted it to be as perfect as possible, as she has given her life to giving these kids the best chance possible. I did not understand what she said but she seemed very pleased.  She did add more to our vast list of things to work on. It was a good day.

Also, began a relationship with the nurse/therapist that provides care. We need him to have ownership of these changes so that he will learn to use the equipment and see the benefits. He told us, ‘thank you, thank you’ and ‘good, good, good’.  This was interesting that he knew some English, since every time I tried to talk with him he seemed to have no idea of what I was saying.

In addition, my sweet daughter has grown in her faith and her confidence. Amazing experience for us but to a young lady, this has unending benefits in shaping the woman she will become”.-Tina

“When arriving we were tasked with organizing and cleaning a storage/tool closet. Once the door was opened there was no room to get through the door.  The room is full of medical supplies, tools, clothes, and assorted other things. Now the like items are together in areas. The room is still full but things can be found. All the medical supplies that are not needed here are supposed to go to the hospital in Port A Prince next week.                                            
~ Darryl (on behalf of Art…because Art doesn't type... just ask him... he'll tell you.)

As we continue to work here, there are certain kids that have tugged at my heart. God does that, I suppose. But Jericho… oh Jericho… how he breaks my heart. Little Jericho looks to be about 3 or 4, but is actually about 7. He sits in a wheelchair interacting with no one. His hands are wrapped in sleeves and tied off. His eyes are no more. There are empty caverns, surrounded in puss, where they once were.  His mouth is deformed and often foaming.  His knees are no bigger than a plum and his legs like small kindling. The first time I saw him, I stopped breathing. Literally. I didn’t want to act shocked but my heart stopped beating. My soul fell to the depths of hell as I wondered, “What has happened to this child?” Could it be a disease that has done this? Or did someone do this to him? Anything I could have guessed would not touch the truth I was given.

Jericho gouged his own eyes out… and his mouth off… and no one knows why. He was found at a hospital on the mainland in April. He had been there for two years along with four other young boys, all blind for one reason or another. No medical histories, no visitors, no explanations. So now they are here.  Sister Flora talks about the possibility of getting him surgery and new eye transplants. But I don’t see how until/unless they find out why he did what he did to begin with… He still gauges at himself. That’s why his hands are covered. He still attempts to gauge even with his hands covered.

What happened to this young boy that would bring him to this behavior? Is there some kind of schizophrenia? Voices telling him to hurt himself? Trying to get out? Fearful of self? Or did this poor child see something so horrific, so mortifying, that he never wants to see again?

Likely, we will never know the answer to these questions. But we know this: Jericho needs love. Love can truly heal all wounds, and this precious child of God needs healing. Today I was painting on one of the murals in the Physical Therapy Room and Jericho was wailing in the next room. I mean, wailing… His pain and fear and cries of deep anguish came from somewhere so far within him, it didn’t even seem human.  I tried to keep painting and knew that someone would stop him. But they didn’t. And he continued to wail. I just couldn’t take it anymore, so I went to him… and laid my hand on his head… and circled it with a mother’s touch… ever so gently over his black, wiry patches of hair, praying the Presence of Christ with each circle… and with my left hand, I began to rock his wheel chair back and forth… right hand on head, left hand on chair, round and round, back and forth… And his wailing slowed to whimpering. And the foam that was bubbling out of his mouth slowed.

But I was afraid if I stopped, he would begin again… and I knew I just couldn’t take it… my heart just could not take it. So I kept touching and rocking…

What is it about life that can leave such a small child in such despair? Is life so cruel here on earth that children have to go through these types of horrific experiences? And what can we do to make a difference? A hand on the head, encircling with care… and a slight rocking of a chair? Can that really take the pain away? If even for a moment?...

Yes it can. Yes… it really can. My wish is that I could take it away for a lifetime.

Christ, Our Redeemer,
please be with the broken and the battered,
the gouged and the disturbed,
the abandoned and the lonely.
Show us how to ease the pain,
if only for a moment.
And teach us love that is strong enough 

to tear down the walls of Jericho.

This is bigger than us.
Hear our prayer.
Hear our prayer.
Amen.

Haiti 2014, Day 4: And on the 7th Day They Rested

We woke up excited for the day! We would begin with getting ready for church by putting on our Sunday best, some good walking shoes, and packing a few snacks, a couple bottles of water, some money for offering, and a bible.  After eating some breakfast the adventure began.  We walked from Madame Bernard, the village where the orphanage is located, to Nan Soulette where we planned to worship with old friends.

The walk began down the mountain which is covered with white rock. At the base, there is a market square with rock walled, thatched roof huts; one after another.  On Mondays and Thursdays, locals bring their wares and the entire island comes out to shop for the coming week.  From there, we moved east along the palm lined, sandy shoreline. Family after family were out in their yards, sweeping dirt, heading out to fish, or socializing with neighbors. “Bonjou! Salute!” was heard over and over as we greeted the locals and they greeted us.  After about a half hour of walking, we stopped to meet the rest of Odlin’s family (his mother is a cook at the orphanage). His father, two sisters, and nephew all greeted us at the back door, before we continued our journey. Soon the trail moved off the shore and back onto rock as the elevation began to rise again. 

Nan Soulette’s church is on the highest point of that tip of the island so the trail continued to rise, turn, rise and turn, before opening into the familiar backyard of pastor Mascaree and his family. My first two missions to Haiti were with this wonderful community. Madame Mascaree met us on the porch with her delightful smile held wide and her arms outstretched.  We hugged and kissed, and she then hugged the others with me, before asking where Tom was. Tom is famous on the island, spending much time with several of its communities.  After giving Tom his due adoration and affection, it was then she shared that her husband was down with the new Chikungunya virus that has been hitting so many, and she was just getting better herself after two days of high fevers and illness.  So we continued onward from their home to the church, atop the mountainside. 

Worship was filled with lively, rousing, Jesus-praising. We all clapped and drummed, sang and prayed. Women gave their testimonies and sang songs of thanksgiving. Youth sang songs of adoration.  The entire congregation offered praise, listened to scripture being read, and sang hymns together. Joslin gave the message today and what a message he gave! Just returning from seminary, he shared his experience and showed us his certificate for becoming a local pastor.  Joslin was our cook my first trip out to Ile a Vache, and we had become quite fond of each other. He preached on John 8, reminding us that we have no right to judge others. Jesus asked those who had nothing to hide, to throw the first stone, and of course, no one qualified. As Joslin got excited his arms and voice would both rise. His message was filled with passion, as he closed with “Amazing Grace” being sung in Haitian Creole. I offered prayer after his message and then our team came up and sang “Amazing Grace” in English.

It was wonderful worshipping with all our friends again, as it has been four years since our last visit here  on the island.  Florofkla was now nine now, instead of the little girl who used to woo us all. Her eyes were as big and dark as ever and her beauty remains stunning. Yolanda was also there with her little girl. Her baby was still at breast when we were last there, not yet walking or talking. She has grown into a beautiful girl, resembling her mother in many ways. Our cooks, construction crew, church friends, and more were all there in worship, each excited to see us, and us, excited to see them.  John Gary and Dino said they would be out to see us at market tomorrow in Madame Bernard. Can’t wait to catch up some more.

After worship we took some updated photos and then headed back down the mountain, along the shore and into a boat for our return trip.  After changing into play clothes and eating lunch, we were picked up by the boat for our play time.  We moved across the ocean from one wonder of the world to the next, each time picking up new friends and adding to the number in the boat. By journey’s end, we had added two French girls on internship, a sick elderly man who had contracted the Chikungunya virus as well, and needed a ride to the hospital on the mainland, five or six friends of Odlin’s friends, and two NGO (non-profit government organizations) women from Ireland. The joke in Haiti is “How many Haitians can you fit in a Tap Tap (taxi van)? The answer: “One more.” Ha! The same can be said for boats.  Wonderful people, each of them though. 

Our first stop was called “Lover’s Island” by tourists or “Naked Island” by the locals because of the absence of any flora or fauna.  But talk about stunning! A tiny little island created by a sandbar surrounded by mint green waters, engulfed in hot aqua, crystal clear ocean.  AMAZING!! The boys and Shannon played soccer, while other girls waded in the water. Most of the adults swam in the deeper water, while some walked the shallow shores searching for shells and fossils. A live silver dollar and starfish were found, as well. 

Our next stop was called “KayOla” or “House of Water”. This island was still quite small (we walked its perimeter in less than 20 minutes) but filled with life.  There was a village that filled it from shore to shore. All of the homes were thatch roofed and walled, and young children ran naked all over the island.  It was like going back in history about 100 years. Incredible to experience and be a part of.

Next we rode all the way around the south shore of Ile a Vache and down around its western shoreline where the Abaka Bay Resort can be found. I had stopped here before with my son on our first journey to the island to buy a cold Coke.  That same son returned to the resort with his new wife for their honeymoon the very next year.  But much has changed. New villas abound and a new restaurant on stilts has been added out over the water. Two helicopters were nearby and we were told that the Haitian President’s son was having lunch there today. We went down into the outdoor café and had refreshments and a bit to eat. It didn’t take long for some to return to the water for a last swim of the day before heading back around the island for home.

Our last stop was the only additional resort on the island, “Port Morgan”. It is an amazing French owned sprawling resort made of cut stone and mortar. The covered pavilion rambled on different levels, while the pool included a stone waterfall, in-water bar, and infinity edge. Several men were sitting about watching a World Cup soccer match on a television, the first I’ve ever seen on the island.

We were all wearing out from a day of scorching sun, crystal clear ocean waves, and a rhythmical pattern of climbing over the high walls of the boat to enter and exit along the way.

We returned home by dark, and collapsed around the dinner table to share some of the day’s stories. Then back up the mountain to our house where some played cards, while others settled into conversations about something, and yet nothing at all.  A day of Sabbath to fill the soul, though we probably wore our bodies out more than ever. Tonight we will sleep well, as tomorrow we report back to work, painting and building, comforting and loving.  

Haiti 2014, Day 3: First Day of Work

What a day, what a day! Up at 6 am, off to the orphanage for breakfast at 6:45, and being assigned our first jobs by 7:30.

Work Team 1 – The Depot, Art
Art spent the day digging through a dark room infested with rat poo at the back of one of the buildings at the orphanage. It is also filled with tools, supplies and materials to do most maintenance in the complex… only it was a mess.  Nothing was organized and it was very hard to find anything. So Sister Flora, the saint of the Orphanage, asked if we could have someone clean and organize it.  Art was the man for the job. He spent the entire day, stacking piles of paint, rollers, nails, tools, and other items into sensible groupings that would make life at the orphanage just a little more sane.  After 32 years here raising hundreds and hundreds of children to productive adulthood or the arms of Christ, what Sister Flora asks for, Sister Flora mostly gets.

Work Team 2 – Shopping for Supplies, Tom, Garyson, Alice, Trish, Jude, and Mamay
After gathering a list of needs the night before, Tom headed back across the ocean to Les Cayes to pick up any materials and supplies that would be needed that the orphanage did not already have on hand.  While there Tom and Garyson picked up tin to repair the roof over the physical therapy building, ten bags of concrete to cast a new kitchen counter and sink from, new door handles for several rooms that have broken ones, a lock, roof nails, plywood to make concrete forms with, and ceramic tile that will finish off the new kitchen counter.  Jude, our incredible Haitian chef and his assistant Mamay went along to pick up our groceries. So far the food has been delicious! Amazing what he can do with what he has here.  No stove. No fridge. Just a fire pit, some pots, and a magic touch with food.  Alice and Trish went along to pick up diapers for the mentally handicapped adults at the orphanage. They hit the waters just after breakfast and returned late afternoon.  Eight of us were called down the mountain to meet them at the dock to carry everything back up to the orphanage.  Talk about huffing and puffing!  Whew!

Work Team 3 – Prepping and Painting the Physical Therapy Room and Porch, Melany, Tina, Matt, Kelly, Odlin, Lindsey, Shannon, Summer, Olivia, and Emma
Water has not fallen at the orphanage in some time, so we had to be creative in how we would prep for painting.  With no windows and few doors, dirt and dust are the norm and concrete walls are easily filled with dust holes. Wanting the paint job to last and not waste paint or labor, we decided to use a three step approach. First we took broom heads and rubbed down all the walls, ceiling to floor, including window wells and sills, porch railings, and corners.  After loosening the big stuff, we went back with toothbrushes and covered every inch that remained. Every crack and crevice was brushed out and the loose dust was blown away with our breath.  Lastly, we found one lone towel which we used to rub down and dust off every last speck we could find. With no rain, the dust was dry and easily shook off the towel time and again.  By mid-morning we were able to begin painting the walls. With old murals of animals brightly painted in primary colors on white walls, it took multiple coats. By multiple I mean like 6 or 7. The paint in Haiti is watered to a consistency of nonfat milk. It goes on transparent so multiple layers are needed for any coverage at all. Eventually it began to build up and by about 2pm we were able to break for lunch with confidence. Once we returned, we went from white upper walls and porch, to chocolate brown near the bottom. This allows those mopping and cleaning to have a darker color where it is nearly impossible to keep white clean. 

Once the orphanage heard a professional artist was on the team, we were encouraged to go creative for the kid’s sake. So the plan unfolded with plant fauna and flora on one end, and a water and sea theme on the other. We plan to echo greens and blues above the base line of brown, as the murals begin to formulate next week.  Odlin did a great job interpreting for us, as well as following behind to wipe up spots of paint from the newly tiled floor.  Garyson also joined us with a scrub brush in hand before they left for Les Cayes.  Matt led a team outdoors in scraping, prepping and painting an old pergola. Others crawled, walked, and rolled in throughout the day to lend a hand. 

Work Team 5 – The Bossman, Darryl
Darryl had an easy day today, as he sent others into town to buy supplies. He moved from worksite to worksite, checking in on teams throughout the day. He kept us with our hydration breaks, meal times, and lent a hand wherever/whenever needed. Sometimes he was keeping Art company in his solitary confinement; sometimes he was cleaning brushes for the painters, and sometimes he was planning for the upcoming week of projects. 

Work Team 6 – Job #1, anyone and everyone
We were reminded our first night that no matter what we came to do, the number one job always and forever was the children. If one was crying, pick them up and rock them. If one was hanging off your waistline, sway back and forth with them. If one wanted to play pattycake, even while slobbering profusely all over both her and you, well, then, play pattycake! Everyone did a wonderful job of remembering that priority. Emma was painting out on the porch when a young boy continued to wail just outside the therapy room. Without hesitation, she asked “Is it okay for me to go get him?” Absolutely! And off she went. Before I knew it, she was back painting with a brush in one hand and the little boy whimpering while wrapped in her other.

At one point many of the kids were in therapy together and didn’t seem very happy.  Some were yelling, some crying, some just making a ruckus.  So Lindsey asked if it might be okay to go get her guitar up the hill and bring it back to play while the kids were in therapy.  Absolutely! And before you knew it, not only had the kids all stopped crying, they were singing along, shouting out key words, and swaying to the music.  After many songs were sung over more than an hour time period, Lindsay stopped playing… and it was like an encore being sought at a rock concert. Kids began to wail and scream and yell and pound themselves on the floor until Lindsay picked her guitar back up. No sooner than she began to strum, a hush fell over them all… Amazing.

Olivia put a feverish child to sleep, Tina took another in for medicine, Shannon played patty cake till the roosters stopped crowing, and Summer gave lots of attention to those desiring it.  I was able late in the evening to watch an old vintage Mickey Mouse cartoon with an entire group of kids, after they patiently waited for me to finish prepping for worship in the morning. 

All in all, it was a glorious first day of work. Tomorrow we worship, we visit old friends across the island, and we play in the ocean. Tonight, we sit in circles telling stories with our new friends, take part in devotions together, wait in line for a bucket bath, and admire the breeze coming up the side of the mountain over the tops of palm trees and house roofs… did I mention the cockroach I found on my head as I was climbing into bed? Or the spider that Emma saw about 3 foot above my bed just after I tossed the cockroach off my hair?? Or how Tom came and saved us all by killing both the varmints while all the other men snored through the fiasco??? Well, it is certainly past bedtime and worship is in the morning, so we’ll have to keep those stories for another day…

Haiti 2014, Day 2: A Bus, a Boat, and an Orphanage

Up at 5 am, breakfast at 5:30 and on the road to the bus stop by 6. Our second day of travel began with a bang, only to slow to a hurry-and-wait pace an hour later. Best laid plans are always flexible in Haiti. We had the option of splitting our luggage over our bus and another that would be about 45 minutes behind us, or waiting to take the second bus ourselves and retain all our luggage. We took door two and hung out in downtown Port a Prince watching the day unfold around us.

Young professionals walked by right and left in dress clothes or professional uniforms. Laborers were heading on foot with wheelbarrows or saws, cement forms or shovels in hand. Salesmen and women carried their brightly packaged wares on their heads, backs, and shoulders, while offering a simple gesture of outstretched arm with sample in hand. Bananas, mangos, cookies and Pringles. Flip flops, jeans, purses and dresses.  Hand carved wooden chairs, tables, and headboards. Oil, tires, wheels, and car parts. On just one corner, the mini mall wandered by.

Soon the second bus arrived and all 26 pieces of luggage were hauled atop and tied down under a tarp.  An additional 13 backpacks or shoulder purses were carried onto the bus with us, as we settled into our comfortable, plush, high back seats, with air conditioning overhead.  A four hour ride was ahead of us, so some slept, while others took pics out the windows, read books, or gabbed with those sitting around them. 

On my fifth trip through Haiti’s countryside and I am still in awe of the beauty God has created here.  Breathtaking views of layered mountains off in the distance laid as a backdrop for everyday life. Some were selling their wares, while others were doing laundry, tending to their crops, or playing with their siblings. It is summer vacation for the kids who are schooled, so children abound at every turn. I shared with others on the bus that I have always wondered if God has not painted such a stunning panorama for a people he knew would not have a lot of other stuff.  He gave them deep, abiding community, friends that make time for each other, and sheer paradise as their backdrop. Palm trees tower over the other trees and additional fauna. Ocean beaches are pristine white with multiple shades of blue, aqua, and mint green water shimmering under the commanding sunshine.  A gift from God, for sure.

A couple hours in, we made our only stop at our usual gas station/potty break/snack counter. Well, well, well… to our surprise a one cooler, one counter, couple shelved store has grown into an all-out convenience store stocked to the hilt! Standing glass-doored coolers ran down one entire wall and around the corner across the next. Beer, wine, juices, milk, water, pop and more abounded in neatly lined rows in the latest refrigeration units.  Aisle after aisle after aisle resembled a hometown Dollar General with picture frames and greeting cards, children’s toys and gift baskets, grocery items and junk food.  I was stunned at the growth in just a few years since I had last shopped this venue. It was exciting to have my items placed on the conveyer belt before being scanned by the cashier just before the price showed up on the backside for my viewing, both in Haitian goudes and American dollars.  We all reentered the bus loaded down with chocolate filled cookie bars, plantain chips, mango-carrot juice, and more. Ahhhh… the benefits of progress and growth.

A couple of hours later we pulled into the port city of Les Cayes. It was here we would meet up with our captain and his boat… eventually. We were now on Haiti time. Under the sweltering sun, we stood on the hand poured cement dock waiting for the boat to arrive. About a half hour later it did. We were quickly reminded that the captain still had to go into town to purchase gasoline. So we waited some more… and more… and more.  Eventually one 15 gallon jug arrived, and then a while later, another and we thought we were good to go… but no. Still another was on its way… and more waiting… The day was nearing full sun and many were reminded to lather on their sunscreen. Eventually the captain returned, and so did a huge box of frozen chicken, about 15 dozen fresh eggs, and a container of LP. Looks like we’ll be traveling with a few of our meals, as well. The team was pleasantly surprised to see our boat was about four times the size we had anticipated from prior trips to the island. 

Once we got on the water, those along the outer edge didn’t hold their pleasantries for long. It seems this larger size of boat rides just a bit differently than the smaller ones.  The ocean was more than a bit choppy today, so as the boat went up over one wave, it dropped over the next, throwing a shower of salt water onto everyone sitting along the outer edge. A half hour into the ride and several of us were soaked to our skin from head to toe. After the sweltering heat earlier in the day, I have to admit, it felt pretty darn good! Like, really, really good. But a few others weren’t so thrilled. The second half of the trip went from wet to soaked… but that was soon forgotten.

As we pulled up to the small concrete dock, many friends had gathered from the orphanage to greet us. They began grabbing our luggage and carting it through the village, up a very steep mountainside road, covered with sharp rock and concrete slab. It didn’t take us long to realize just how thankful we were for new friends.  Less than half way up, we were huffing and puffing, stopping for breath. Each time we stopped, another new friend picked up the luggage and carted it the rest of the way. Thank God!

The orphanage was hustling and bustling with children of all ages.  Toddlers were crawling, teens were standing, and elementary age kids were playing. Many kids were in wheelchairs with disabilities, while others leaned against buildings or laid on the ground.  As we walked through for our tour, I simply began touching, one child after another.  “A-lo” (hello) and “bonswa” (good afternoon) are greetings we often use.  One by one, I greeting and reached out for a hand, or rubbed a head.  It didn’t take long for a child to latch on. He wrapped his arms around my waist and began to sway… oh, how I love to sway.  So my arms wrapped back around him and the rest of the tour we walked as one. If we stopped to listen to instruction or explanation, we both simply rocked in unison, he humming, I caressing the top of his head, covered in pitch black tight curls.  And then we would move again, back to our swaying.  Several children I recognized from my prior trips. It was nice to see them doing so well. 

A teen girl who loves to clap and laugh came bouncing in like Tigger.  A little boy grabbed two of our teens’ hands and joined the tour. One by one, they added to our group and one by one, we learned their names… More will come as the week goes by.

But tonight, we’ll eat another wonderful meal and settle into our new home.  Just finished today, we have new ceramic tile underfoot (it was dirt as of just yesterday), gorgeous embroidered curtains in each doorway (girls were hanging as we arrived), and a new washroom/bathroom installed behind the girls’ room (they were still working on it as we began to unpack). The porcelain was set earlier today and two 5 gallon buckets were placed just beside. One will be used to collect used toilet paper, while the other to gather rain water for flushing (“If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down”). They are excited to show us all they have done to prepare for our arrival. We are overwhelmed with their hospitality and generosity.  Some get tears in their eyes. It is hard to allow others to love on you like that. But friendships are two way. We don’t come simply to help others. We come to be helped. Together, we will change the world. 

Tomorrow the work begins. Tonight we get sleep.  

Haiti 2014, Day 1: Three Airports, a Pool, and a Guitar

Sometimes it felt like this day would never come. After a few years of traveling to Haiti each winter, last year I stayed home. I struggled with the decision, but just didn’t feel God was calling me to go with the team… even though my hubby was.  But this year was different: A new community. A new church. And a new adventure.  We began planning last year about this time as we were arriving to Marshall to begin a new relationship with our new faith family.  We offered the opportunity to join me and Darryl on a journey to Haiti to help some friends of ours at the Ile Aux Enfants Orphanage.  Ten new friends took us up on the offer. 

My son had visited this orphanage many years ago and his heartstrings were tugged. Each time he returned to Ile a Vache (Island of the Cows) to help other friends at one of the two Englise’ Methodiste Churches there, he would take a walk across the island to spend a little time with the children at the orphanage.  The first year my son invited me to join him, my heartstrings were more than tugged… they were yanked to the depths of my heart. And the next year, they were forever tied in knots.  And so this year we are not visiting for a couple of hours one Sunday afternoon, but instead are spending our entire trip there.  We will be assisting with several building repair and maintenance projects.  And of course, we’ll be loving on the 60 plus kids who call it their home. I’ve held a one pound baby here and I’ll rocked toddlers to sleep. I wonder what blessings God will place on me this year.

So today, we gathered at the church and took our first shot of this year’s team. Many more will follow.  We packed and repacked, weighed and adjusted until we could fit not only our own necessities for the twelve days away, but also about 40 adorable dresses some of the ladies at our church made, a bunch of tee shirts for the boys, over 1000 toothbrushes an awesome local dentist gave us, and a bunch of kiddie cups we found at a yard sale.  It’s hard to not bring along some gifts when you begin falling in love with these kids.  But we made it and flew out of Bishop Airport in Flint this year. That landed us in Atlanta for a short layover; just long enough to get a bite to eat, then arriving in Haiti.

 

There is something about looking out the window of an airplane seeing the beautiful aquas and blues in the waters surrounding Haiti. It is stunning. I have never found those colors in paint tubes.  As we enter the capital city of Port au Prince, the land is dotted with plots of soil and foliage, small houses and flat roofed industries. There are still some tents scattered from the old tent cities, but so much has changed. The airport is magnificent now. Luggage carousels, customs counters, escalators, and large oversized tourism posters line the walls. That may not seem like much, but the first time I came through this airport just a few years ago, luggage was taken off the planes and tossed into a large pile on the floor in a pole barn. People surrounded you like bees swarming their honey as they hoped to make a few dollars for their family while assisting you with your baggage… hundreds of bees.  So proud to see all that the people of Haiti have accomplished.

As we drove through the city, life was as vibrant and colorful as I had remembered with walking pharmacies and mobile furniture stores lining the streets.  But no one ran up to our bus to try to sell us anything. No pop, no fruit, nothing.  I almost missed it.  As we wove in and out of the streets, climbing the mountain toward Petionville, there were signs of poverty, yes… but there were also many signs of hope. I saw new businesses, freshly painted signs, new construction underway and new life dotting the landscape. 

As we arrived at the Englise’ Methodist Guest House, we saw previously earthquaked and tumbled walls both rebuilt and painted. They were never painted before, unless you call “concrete” a color. A new ramp had been built to assist teams with their luggage and the pool was cleaned for our swimming pleasure.  I have never seen it clean and usable before. And we did find pleasure. Although the temps weren’t too bad today, topping out in the mid to upper 80’s, we enjoyed the plunge. As I jumped in the deep end for a good cooling, Darryl actually said “I’ve never seen her do that before.” I’m one of those who creep into cold water over the period of about a half hour, only to tip toe around the water attempting to keep the next possible inch of my flesh both dry and warm.  But something was different today. I never thought twice. I just jumped…. and it was… well, like dropping a warm pan in a cool sink of used washing water. It just felt good. 

We also met up with another team from the West Michigan Conference of the UMChurch. Mona, David and others had brought a team of young adults down for some work. Fancy running into them here. It just isn’t a strange place anymore. Familiar faces surfaced all along today’s journey.  Dinner was splendid, as always, and then we settled into a time of devotion and worship. Lindsey brought her guitar and led us in praise songs. She also sang her song about the kids in Africa, the one she wrote. [sigh…] I saw love surface in her face. It turned her skin from fair to red, but she kept singing.  A tear welled up in my eyes as a reflection of that “love, love, love…” she sang about so passionately.

Most of us are turning in early tonight. Getting up at 2:15 this morning and traveling all day does that to you. Tomorrow our wake-up call is at 5. By 6 we’ll be loaded back in the van and headed into the heart of Port au Prince to be dropped off at the bus station. Another full day of travel ahead.  You might label tomorrow “Busses, Boats, and Brand New Experiences.” But tonight I smile. Fan in my ear, giggling teens downstairs playing cards, and memories of a journey begun, simmering in my deepest being.

God is good. To draw each of us away from an overscheduled, goal focused, busy life, to slow the pace… reconnect with friends… and capture new heartstrings in the palm of our hands.  “Good night” friends in Michigan. “Good night” friends in Haiti. “Good night” friends in heaven. The world just got a little smaller tonight.