Back Home - 3-10-2010

Well --- we are safely back home and I have been walking around in circles trying to decide what to do first. My mind and heart are still in Haiti. As per usual, when I return I am overwhelmed with all I that I have and I feel totally excessive. The simplicity of life in Haiti speaks volumes when you compare their daily lives to ours. Even though they have next to nothing, I feel a loving,determined aura coming from them -- NOT one of despair and anxiety (a disposition I emulate WAY too often.)

I must share with you the happenings of our last full day. Besides us women whining in disbelief that it was our last day, we went at it determined to saturate the girls with love and activity in our last hours.

The oldest seven girls seem to spend most of their day HAND washing clothes. You can imagine the amount of laundry every day from 26 girls - not to mention the number of wet beds from the youngest! I always feel like they are short changed by not getting to participate in activities. (We were able to leave them with fun activities to do on their own and they were excited.)

The morning began with a father bringing his two daughters to Marie -- ages 3 and 5 years old. They lost their home in the quake, he lost his job and they are living outside and unable to feed or care for their children. He also has a 2 year old boy, who Marie was unable to receive. The two little girls came all clean, with their hair done pretty. I stayed behind as I couldn't emotionally stand to watch him leave them at the orphanage. I learned that they joined the other girls and no tears were shed. UNBELIEVABLE! How can this be? Marie explained that she rarely has a child cry. They look at this as being rescued. An opportunity to be fed and a place to sleep.

As the morning continued, I set up my "spa" area, Jeneane had a group of 8 - 10 girls SO elated to be doing math problems from an activity book we brought. They were SO proud of themselves to bring her the completed pages. The girls are truly hungry to learn. It was very impressive how quickly they solved their work sheets. We could have used about 100 more sheets! Joan had activities of singing, jump rope, and other fun things.

So -- I began with the youngest and we worked our way up for pedicures! :) The girls know the correct "pecking order" - so there were few squabbles to be "next" in line. They soaked their feet in a little dishpan I brought and I washed their legs and feet - tickling included at no charge! Then they received a massage with lotion of their arms, legs and feet. Once the toenails were polished, each got two squirts of perfume under their chin and got a layer of Sister Patty's lip gloss across their beautiful lips. Oh, my! Each one strutted off with their hands on their hips and pushing out their shiny lips for all to admire. It was priceless!! Joan and Jeneane came to my rescue as after my 9th "customer" - this old back was screaming for mercy. I can't explain the sheer exhilaration I felt as I did this and watched their tiny faces take in all the one on one attention and to be touched and loved in this way. Needless to say, I received much more than I could have possibly given to them.

In the late afternoon, our style show began. Jeneane had bought a new pair of shorts with a coordinate shirt for each girl. SO - we matched up the sizes to a particular girl. It has always amazed me that when I told up any article of clothing, they yell out who it will fit. 99% of the time they are right - so that was the order in which the clothes were dispensed. You must picture the scene as 28 girls watched and waited to hear their name called. The smallest 10 girls had to be stripped of the dirty clothes they were wearing and the dusty clothes soon laid in a pile as the style show began. It was so precious to see them admire each other and point out like colors in their outfits. By the end of the process it was getting dark and we were trying to take photos in groups and then the entire group in their new duds. I'm not sure bedlam is the right word -- but it was pretty darn close! We finally gave up trying to get them in proper rows and everyone standing still with the perfect smile and just started flashing photos. Then in the dark we had to start taking off the new clothes and replace them with the old....by the time we walked back to Marie's house we were all in agreement that we had an exhausting - but wonderful last day.

We went to bed sad that it was our last night to hear all the sounds of the night - roosters at 3:00 a.m., singing throughout the night, buzzing mosquitoes, goats in stereo and just the voices of the night. When we woke up we were all sharing faces of sadness as we knew we had to go to the girls to say our "goodbyes." We had about an hour to spend with them, so got in as many hugs and fun as we could. The older girls sang while I did a video, which made the younger ones participate as well. They LOVE watching it play back and laugh so hard at each other that you can't help but join in. I have a lump in my throat as I type this as it was just an unbelievable week. The three oldest girls wrote each of us a letter explaining how much they love us and thanked us for everything. It was so touching and I will cherish it. Then they all lined up from youngest to oldest and we went from one to the next to say goodbye. I told each one I loved them and so does God and by about the forth child my tears wet their sweet cheeks as I kissed them. I've found that they don't really understand my tears - the youngest ones anyway - as they aren't used to people crying under those circumstances. The oldest girls has teary eyes and shed tears as well - which always makes me feel even worse. I tried to assure them that I would be back again and that everything will only be getting better! They smile and shake their head.

It's never easy saying goodbye -- but this time seemed harder. I waited so long to go to Haiti since the quake and was so busy for nearly two months with the flurry of activity related to Haiti relief -- all wonderful - yet exhausting. I must say it was possibly my best visit I have ever had.

By the end of the week I could see that Marie was getting encouraged by the progress at the site. She hired 13 men who were begging for work. None had any money to feed their family. Two or more men would put shovel fulls of broken brick into a wheelbarrow, then a man would push the wheelbarrow way down the road and dump it, then there were two men waiting for the load which they would break up further on the road. This process went on for 10 hours. Noticeable improvement was made, and families are being fed. It's all good!

So - thanks to those who have been interested in following the blog, offered prayers and may I again say that I can always go to Haiti, but if is wasn't for all the generous, caring hearts -- NO progress would be made, hunger would continue and desperation would breed. But - it is such an honor to be able to assure Marie and Pastor Wislet that your united hearts intend to bring renewal and restoration. I wish I could give each of you the blessing of seeing the sparkle in their eye and feeling the sincerity in their voice as they humbly say, "Merci!"

To each of you I, too, extend my heartfelt thanksgiving. Jim leaves a week from today with a team of nine men (poor Marie!). I also intend to put photos and short videos on the website -- so keep "tuning in" - as Haiti Relief continues.

God's blessings to each of you.