We're back...

Almost a month has passed and Renee Plaza and I are back in Haiti. We came with no agenda, no expectations.  We are here to visit with Marie and love the girls.  We spent our first 24 hours doing just that.
Marie's house felt pretty empty with just the two of us when we arrived.  We brought frozen burgers in our suitcase and good old American cheese.  So - I fried us up a cheeseburger for dinner and slapped it on to the crushed buns that traveled in my carry on.  Marie was excited to have a REAL burger!  We didn't sleep too well, which is often the case the first night as you get reacclimated to the night noise, confines of a mosquito net and the climate.  But I MUST report we woke with NO bug bites and were pretty darn happy about that.  (I am writing this about 9:ish p.m. and can no longer say the bugs aren't bitin')

We started the morning with pancakes, our instant coffee bags and and a beautiful day.  The breeze is totally fab and the temperature has been in the 80's.  Renee commented that it almost feels like we are on a Caribbean Island...of course we are - but not how you would necessarily picture the surroundings.

Regardless of how many times you witness and experience Haiti - the first day is always the hardest for me.  All you see, hear, smell and feel comes rushing back and the feeling of hoplessness creeps its way into your thinking.  Nothing seems to change and I have to remind myself that while I go home and resume my life of what they would consider luxury, theirs is the same day after day after day.  A pace that would put most American's in a frenzy.  When you don't have a job and there is nothing to really do - you sit.  So - in addition to the activity of people selling in the street - many sit and just take in the day in any shade they find.
Renee and I haven't decided which pace - theirs or ours would or could bring us insanity.

We visited the girls at the orphanage this morning and shared many hugs as we reunited.  It's quite all consuming to be greeted by about 20 girls at once - each wanting her fair time of being acknowledged and hugged.  We decided to take the youngest 11 girls back to Marie's house and do puzzles and such together. Well - that took constant entertainment to keep them confined to the allotted floor space and from climbing all over the couch with their dusty feet and legs.  So - after some puzzles, stickers, a little singing, dancing and a few tears from agressive "sisterly love", we corraled them and put them on the porch where they sat like little wooden Indians NOW under the watchful eye of Madam Marie Major.  We gave them each a couple swallows of good ole Tang to wash down their treat of trail mix.  Then off they went in a jagged line back to the orphanage.  While this is my FAVORITE age to experience ONE AT A TIME - I was reminded that it was probably a good thing I didn't become a pre-school teacher.

We shared good conversation with Marie and laughs were many.   She has been so busy with the construction, running here and everywhere.  The roof on the orphange was suppose to be "poured" today (one bucket of cement at a time) but there was insufficient rebar to do the job.  They are having trouble finding rebar to purchase - which is surprising as we surely aren't seeing much construction.

There was a wedding in the area and many in Marie's house were invited to attend.  She also agreed to five of her girls to go.  So, Rene was the chauffer of the pick up truck - and about 20 people were on their way - all dressed up and ready to celebrate.  The girls looked beautiful and no one thought anything of getting in the back and putting down on handkerchief on the dirty spare tire on the bed of the truck to protect their clothes.

We went to Hope House for about an hour and met the team who is there.  Turns out - at least five of them were from Naperville and Bolingbrook.  There were a lot of "Oh my gosh-es!" going on. I also met Marnie - who is on the board of Lazarus Project and does beautiful water color paintings of the children of Haiti

This evening we brought out the projector and Marie, Renee and I watched a movie off a wall at Marie's house - The Secret Life of Bees.  When it ended Marie said, "Who would have thought I would have been watching a movie on my wall in Haiti!"'

The winds have picked up and Renee is presentlly on her computer checking out Hurricane Central.  Here we are commenting on the beautiful breeze, which keeps getting stronger and stronger and the site flashes Port-au-Prince right off the bat!! 

Guess we may be in for some rain and heavy winds.  Sounds like Chicago land folks have had some crazy weather, too.  Well - I will close for now with the request for continued prayer.  Several of Marie's girls are sick and need prayer and affection, too.  We have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but will greet it with anticipation as there is always an experience you never expected!

"Sister" Patty
NO FAIR grading my spelling and such - there is no "spell check" and there's always that fear you will loose power and loose your entry!