After Whitney led us in devotion and reminded us that Jesus can walk on water, and calls us to do the same, reaching for his outstretched hand, it seems water became the theme of the day. The plan was to head out for a couple hour hike down the mountain to visit Basin Bleu, a God-carved pristine waterfall system of basins and pools surrounded by gargantuan rock walls. By the time the aroma of breakfast arrived on Pastor Paul's front porch, the rain had begun to fall again. I say again, because it had come during the night in a pretty steady stream of showers. Nothing monsoon like, but for a community who had to pay for a truckload of water to be brought up for the cistern last week, the showers were certainly a blessing... overnight... but now, we were hoping to make our trek on a day when the bossmen worked just a half day and there were not other tasks for us to accomplish.
After asking Pastor Paul his thoughts, he replied "It's not going to rain anymore...well, 50/50, anyway." His prediction fell on the side of the second 50 and it rained some more and then some more. We were contemplating staying home till early afternoon when the rain stopped once more and Pastor Paul said "Time to go!" We thought "Really?" After 5 or 6 intermittent showers already in the day, we didn't quite have his enthusiasm. But he was right. We never received another raindrop all day. In fact, the sun shown with brilliance and the breeze down the mountain was delightful. The newbies stopped often with their mouths open wide and their cameras held up at the beauty before us. A few of us lost footing a time or two, but nothing more than a scratch or bump.
Several Haitian friends guided us down the twisty, turny path, sometimes less than 10" wide, otherwise opening to wide vistas or fields. Once we hit the edge of the mountain, it was down, down, and down some more. About 2 hours later, we reached the first basin. Beautiful blue waters that are hard to describe with words. It looks fake to the eye, as if an additive was dropped into the water. But if that is so, it came straight from the palm of the Lord God Almighty. It was amazing to see how many others were visiting the Basin this day compared to our last visit. There was a team there from France, another from the Dominican Republic, and an older hippie-type in a speedo speaking Spanish and posing for the camera. All true. All true. There were three or four additional groups that arrived before we left, so the mood was exciting and filled with joy. The energy was contagious.
Some swam while others stood under the falls on rocks below. Some met up with a huge white crab, face to face, while others were brave enough to jump from 40' above down into the largest basin. Others of us sat perched on a huge boulder in the middle of it all, taking it all in as butterflies floated above. Once we were all waterlogged, we made the trek back a basin or two and rested for a couple hours. We snacked as locals brought by baskets of tangerines and bananas. I took a little rest on a large rock, surrounded by the chatter of Haitians and Americans, sharing stories and laughing the sun-filled afternoon away. The sun felt incredible on the skin of a Michigander who hasn't felt it on my skin in many, many months.
The trek back home was a little easier, as we had a van pick us up about a half hour up the mountain in a little village. A homestead there offered us ice cold pop, including Coca-Cola, for just one American dollar. I would have paid $5! We were surprised to see a much newer van awaiting us, than year's before. It is so nice to see one improvement after another in the quality of life for so many Haitians in this area. We saw rows of newly built cement block homes up and down the mountain, painted with tangerine and Pepto Bismol pink. Some were mint green and others a Caribbean blue. There were brand new outhouses covered with metal corrugated roofs with air pipes stretching out the top, all along our journey, as well. Mizak is doing its best to beat Cholera and other water borne diseases. Educating the community, as well as the children, has been paramount in that task. Getting them all outhouses to contain waste and keep it out of the water supply is a huge first step.
We were home by 4 and had a lazy afternoon. I had been assigned tomorrow's message in worship, so I spent a few hours writing. Just when I thought, "Yes! I'm done!" Pastor Paul asked if I had the rest of the worship service in order, as well. Must have been a busy week! Ha! So the team and I laid out some prayers, some scripture readings, hymns and testimonies to fill out the service. As we worked into the night, the Shalom Singers came by to practice for worship in the morning. They used their new wireless microphones that Jerry's team last week had sent with us to drop off. They were thrilled and appreciative, to say the least. The youth gathered around the wood tables on the porch with new friends and old, as the cards began to fly again. I broke out some chocolate and shared a bit with all. With the band playing in the background, the evening was rich and layered. Community is real here. We are born to be in community. It's easy to forget that at home. Each of us hide in our own homes most evenings and even though we jump online to meet up with friends, I am quickly reminded that is not enough.
Tomorrow's a new day...a day of worship and praise. Psalm 118 will guide my message. His love endures forever... drop by drop, basin by basin, day by day.
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