Back in Haiti ...Day 2

It’s wasn’t the ride from the airport sitting on piles of luggage, hanging on to each other for fear of being catapulted from the bed of the truck at the next huge crater in the road. It wasn’t the smell of diesel and burning garbage in the street that immediately absorbed our clothing. It was arriving at Marie’s and the orphanage and being overwhelmed with the clutter and piles. That defeated old feeling returned of “Where do we begin? This feels so hopeless!” A mind set I detest!
But, by last night I thankfully fell back into a more realistic perspective. All of the unrealistic expectations I concoct when I am at home were put back into “When in Haiti…” American based dreams would not be applicable if they did come true. No one is sitting around crying or begging us to rescue them – they are going about their daily chores and share a smile when we offer one their way. There is no way we can even keep up with their stamina and determination. Marie runs circles around us all day long.
I must say the heat is a bit draining. It wasn’t this warm when I was here in March and it’s nearly impossible to ever get cooled down. We’ve decided that Kami is receiving a Haiti baptism every day as the girl looks like she was continually immersed. Speaking of Kami, she is also the reason I googled “cockroach bites”. She has more bites than we could count and can’t figure out who or what is doing the nibbling. We are trying a new bed for her tonight and going to pray the bed bugs don’t bite.
Today was filled with many blessings. Marie was gone most of the day shopping. We were excited to anticipate a new refrigerator which actually works and we were waiting for the power to come on so we can actually chill what has NEEDED to be chilled for weeks. She also purchased 6 new batteries so we have power again through the inverter. The country functions just fine in the dark without electricity – but to us it’s an “event” which we found less than desirable, I might add. Marie even started the generator so we spoiled brats could have a fan to woo us to sleep in our sweaty nightwear under our mosquito net.
The roosters seem to get way too much attention on this blog sight – but let me tell you that they need to be gagged and put into a gunny sack until at least 9:00 a.m. We finally got ourselves together this morning and carried three large, HEAVY plastic bins of toiletries to the orphanage. Merlinda – the oldest girl explained to the children that they were going to be missionaries, themselves, and make “relief bags” for the people in the tent city near Marie’s house. It started as chaos – as most projects do, but pretty soon we had a group of girls rolling up washcloths and putting them into a baggie, while the smaller girls filled the bags with shampoo, lotion, toothbrush/paste and a bar of soap. We made up 100 bags which some men who live here at Marie’s will take to a tent city nearby. We will also be filling a quart size bag of rice to include, as well. I’m really excited about this because my heart aches for these people living in such desperate conditions. It is truly hard to comprehend and absorb.
After our “mission project” and a small bag of M & M peanuts, the girls each got to pick, from the youngest to the oldest a box that housed a beaded bracelet made by a generous supporter. They were so excited to have the bracelet AND the box. We ended our visit with doing the Hokey Pokey with about 10 of the youngest who looked at us like we had lost our minds – but still shook it up with every body part announced.
We returned to Marie’s hot and tired and welcomed in the new frig! We threw away some things we couldn’t quite recognize in the frig and discovered that the foul smell we had been trying to locate was behind the old frig. I will keep you in suspense of what we found which was the cause of us holding our nose for the past two days. We are having FRESH goat tonight, which Marie felt compelled to show us earlier – uncooked. I understand that the hind quarter is a delicacy…I suspect we will be fighting over the cute little tail which was exposed.
Our team has totally jelled. When we asked Marie of her utmost desires during our visit – she said laughter! We have surely given her a few of those, but as usual – she wins the award for creating the most laughter – the most tears - and the most profound Godly advice. Oh how good it is to be back!
Patty

Haiti - Meeting Her People

Met a young woman and her new baby that live on Marie’s compound today. The baby is a newborn and looked so angelic, smiling and beautiful. I can’t help but think what awaits him when he grows, struggling to get a good education, constant worry about meeting his basic needs and working for wages next to nothing. I ask myself why would someone want to bring a baby into this kind of a world, especially since the recent earthquake. As I spend more time getting to know Haiti and its people I am reminded of three important blessings God has taught us, faith, hope and most importantly, love. Without these, how could the people we meet still be marrying for life long commitments and having their firstborn be so happy , orphan children continuing to dream of growing up to be doctors and young orphan girls who once very shy, open their loving hearts unconditionally to perfect strangers serving in the name of our Lord and Savior. They are teaching and reminding us about the joys of a simple life. I know I can find it in my heart to keep helping them no matter how small a difference, can you?
Renee