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.
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