How do you put the shower on pulsate?

I was not informed in the Haiti brochure that I would be required to Blog….
Yesterday, three of us woke up before the alarm, that is to say that 3 o us woke up before the Roosters crow. It was 5:30, and we did not hear from him, so I have written a stern letter to ……well I wrote one!
We were a little low on protein, so I invented the “Haitian Danish” – Cathy didn’t think the ants would give the coffee a true Columbian flavor, so we went with instant again. We skipped the standard beautification routine and threw on our grubs for the project ahead , putting a coat of polyurethane on the new church pews to protect them from the elements.
Walking down the stone road to the orphanage has become more of a routine, and you learn the people that you meet. I adore the woman that lights up when I say “Bon Jay Ben ou” which means God bless you – We say it back and forth and I adore her sincerity in the daily blessing!
Arriving, we found that the swing the girls had improvised in the old truck bed the night before, had been taken down and it made us sad. We got started. It was only about 95 and we wanted to get started right at 9. Apparently, my drawing of a paintbrush did not translate well, so we started the project with rollers and art foam brushes. When the heads fell off of them, we jut held the foam on with our fingers and painted with our two fingers …Sure , that’s do-able…..The polyurethane lack dripped from the sponger and plopped into our flip flops , which we now called slip slops. Soon , Raynay delivered real paintbrushes and we were in a production fury.
Some of us went to serve hot dogs to the kids. Cathy said they served 200 kids and they set up an assembly line to pass out the dogs. The joy was in their excitement when served something that we all take for granted.
The rest of us stayed to continue painting, The school kid found us fascinating at lunch. I think they are quite impressed t the big sweating Bohemian women who has all of those bug bites. The work was tough, but I always found a moment to stop and flash a duck face when the kids yelled “you , you “ –
The pastor from yesterdays service was watching too. I looked at him and said “John 15” and he smiled and said “You remembered!” Though the entire service was in Creole, the people took the time to point in our bible so we could read along. I felt his passion toward the end of His message and praised God, for the love for our the Lord translates better than anything I have seen here during my stay. Merci!
Patty came by just after lunch, which was and answered prayer. She had been back at the suite preparing with Marie for the trip to the adoption agency. I wanted to pray for them. The Haitian government is next to impossible. Please pray for all of those who are trying to bring a child to America. Patty was off and we continued, determined to get done, sticky, sweaty, dirty, and scuffed from lumber, we managed to laugh and sing “ You are Holy”, lead incredibly by Renee. Though our preparations were admirable, we did not prepare for turpentine in the eye, and had to rush Sue back to the bucket. She is amazing, because it never broke her stride, and she is always our constant and reliable rock. I have thanked him many times.
We took some time to have 3 pieces of jerky, 2 sips of Koka Kola and 1 bucket I mean, shower. It was nearly three and we were exhausted, but knew we should get back to the school before the girls were served their meal at 4.We took picture and I told the girls about Johie, Jonny an Zak, American children who sent their love to them! We have planned a with a parachute and were excited to play with the girls. After the meal, we made some fish from paper plates and spent some real quality time with the girls, tickling , “embrace” and loving – embrace is Creole for hug…..and here’s the thing, although the word is a little different, sounding different the process if exactly the same. Extend your arms and wrap them round with all the love you can mush over!
So Renee and Jessica took the parachute out to the common area and began to round the children to paint it – I cannot decide if I was distracted because of the fun I was having with the little ones, or if it rolled in faster than Naperville, but suddenly the black clouds opened and He poured a mighty rain down on us. The parachute was barely saved and there was a glorious excitement as the children ran through the waterfall and frolicked in the immediate puddles Again, God blessed us intensely – the backdrop of the cool breeze and the impromptu lockup while waiting for the storm to subside created quality cuddle time with the kids. Glory!
The stone and gravel roads that were left after the earthquake can be treacherous when dry, puddles can be incredible. We received a car ride back to our suite. When we returned, we watched the tenants here catch the rain from the down spouts in their buckets, many buckets. The intense down pour provides water for many days of washing and bathing. The kids just run in the puddles and spin in the waterfalls. I found it joyous and a boy stomped through the puddles of His goodness.
Praise God, Cathy had offered to crank out some Pasta Aiola ……sans garlic. It was amazing. You should see what an Italian can do with pasta when improvising! And we danced and sang “when the moon hits your eyes” – The generator went out and our Lord provided a meal by Lantern. It was a great way to end to a very full day.
The generator stopped, and the government was hanging on to their electricity, so we decided 9 pm was time to rest up. We have been praying together each morning , before each meal and each night, but His timing gave us some one on one time to spend with Him and submit our requests. I believe we have great expectations to His answers, because He has not let us down even once. I lay in bed collecting the evidence of His Glory. He provides in any circumstance, and situation. I started to think about my team, and how His design has put us together in the most amazing way.
Our great Father has sent a Leader in Patty, who’s heart can drive us to anything by its sincerity and sheer beauty. Patty exhibits His great love when she looks into the eyes of absolutely every child she meets and I find it incredible and glorious. He has sent a calm organized strength in Renee, who will reassure even the smallest soul of His great love. She directs when adversity arises and we follow gratefully. He has sent an improvising, joyful lead in Cathy, who continues to keep the situation light in the most amazing persevering, way….she brings His music with our laughter. He has sent radiant beauty and adoring love in the gentle spirit of Jessica. Her love for these girls, her compassionate heart and willingness touches my heart with the very finger of God. He has sent a steady certainty of faith in the conviction of Sue. Her spiritual faithfulness is an armor we all reach to put on throughout each day. And he has sent me, a gift, to experience and know His glory in the midst of all of this. I am hoping He chose me to share it with all of you.
In summary, praise Jesus, I have found this: GOD IS GLORIFIED IN HAITI! What a gift we are given in adversity, to know His faithful love, to know His constant provision. I believe The Haitian people know it, and there may be some of us that need to learn it. You may be wondering what it ia like to come on a mission to Haiti. I can tell you that it truly is a place where you can find His truth, His presence, His loyal love. The stages of life that we may be familiar with have been removed and what remains is creation, His creation, and His provision. You find Him in the smallest challenge, you know Him in the biggest heart break, knowing He has a plan that is magnificent. You can’t help wonder what He will do , one day with all of this, and how He will be glorified by the transition. Everything is completely different, and God is EXACTLY the same! Glorious!
I thank Him for the time to share what I can with you , I thank Him for the love He shows me, for the example of His sovereign promises , for the assurance he lends. I love Him for His death, and forgiveness of all of our sins, and I love Him for the gift He brings us all.
So…there is some commotion, I believe we are making a trip in town. Patty has promised a trip to the starbucks if it is open. She said it is sometimes closed on Tuesdays, isn’t THAT weird? But I got over it because she said it is a long Haitian tradition. She is so good at explaining things to me And she just presented me with a shower cap for the potential rain ! YAy God! Can’t wait to get home and tell you more in person so you can pray for a chance to some your selves!
Bon Jay Ben ou!