Haiti - is really an action word!

Suffering with “bloggers guilt” and having too much in my heart – I decided to blog today, even though Renee has already bogged as well.  That way – for those of you who have been waiting for an entry….today is bonus day!  If tomorrow does not offer us an opportunity to actually sit and type one, may this one cover us! J

ALL the days are now running together. I don’t know if it’s my feeble mind, or if an alert 20 year old would experience the same.  Today, Little Patty’s father (my God child) told me that after visiting me here on Tuesday, she has been getting dressed early each day thereafter asking if she can come to work with him here at New Life so she can see me and swing on the swing.  I suspect her first experience of swinging on a swing such as the one here has now taken top priority over me.  I shall weep over that reality later…

As I mentioned in a previous blog, my child from Compassion International did indeed come to visit on Wednesday.  It was an amazing reunion as he ran to greet me with arms so tight around my neck I thought he was going to hold me tight forever.  I met his father for the first time, who is now supporting and raising him as a result of his mother dying in March.  Before he left I asked if he would sing a song for me, as he told me before that he likes to sing.  With just a few moments of hesitation he stood and began.  The song was very long and his sweet voice went both high and low and the tune was very interesting.  The translator explained that around Christmas time the country had a national singing contest and many people tried out, singing this newly written song.  It basically asked God to bless the country after all that was lost in the earthquake and not to forget them as a people.  Just knowing he was singing that message so heartfelt made me sad.  I guess I don’t want anyone here in Haiti to have the burden of their poverty in their heart.  But why wouldn’t they?  To know MY prayer requests NEVER touch on God rescuing me from the depths of nothingness – I can’t imagine the faith and hope it takes to trust God that He will rescue and restore their lives.  I have had their prayers translated to me, and the MAJORITY of their prayers are prayers of THANKSGIVING to God vs. prayers asking for help!

Before leaving for Haiti, two sponsors gave money to buy a treat for all the children while we were here.  We were given a “tip” by one of the older children here of a place to go where the ice cream and other treats are actually manufactured cheaper.  By it resembling something a “sale price” , I was all over it! Silly me is half expecting a big building on the main street….but it was down a dusty narrow road.  Soon we came to the usual huge tall gate and after a few honks of our horn, with caution, we were allowed in.  We went up many stairs and at the top we were greeted by a Canadian woman who spoke English and she welcomed us into her air conditioned office which looked quite American. NOTHING you would have expected to see by the condition of the surroundings.  We bought cups of ice cream and little single packages of cake for each child and we were so excited for the party to come!  On Wed. night during devotional time – in the dark of the night the children were surprised with the treats!  Lots of happy faces, and many chins dripping with white ice cream.  I had the humble experience of hand feeding one of the disabled children who can’t feed himself, nor speak but his eyes expressed his delight.  

Yesterday, I had the fun of being included by a team here who was treating the children of New Life to a trip to the beach.  The morning was filled with excitement as everyone prepared for their day away.  We were told that there were about 10 of the children who weren’t going to be allowed to go, based on behavioral issues.  We all loaded into a small bus – housing sometimes 4 to a seat meant for TWO – we sat there and sweat – waiting to leave.  All at once it was announced that three of the little boys had to exit the bus, as they were still under the consequences of poor choices.  I could hardly watch them walk away slowly….tough love abounds and is needed to raise up respectful children.

The children sang songs and used the back of seats for a drum all the way there.  It also offers them the chance to see beyond their walls of life in Haiti and what one day will be the place where they will have to use what they are learning now – to survive.  As you would imagine – fun was had by all.  You can’t imagine a scene SO beautiful is part of the ugliness that exists on the road behind you.  Lots of fun photos taken and all you could hear were their voices exclaiming their deep pleasure.  As I sat on the shore I frequently heard “Sister Patty!”  When I looked their way they would do some kind of trick in the water or show me something that required me to clap and yell, “Bravo!” And then that antic would be followed by another and another… No matter where you do – children LOVE attention and affirmation. 

The ride home in the bus was longggg and hot.  Many kids sleeping after a day of fun. All of a sudden there was a very loud bang – I expected to find a bullet hole somewhere - but thankfully, I guess, we blew a tire!  In a flash, I could picture all 80+ of us standing alongside a hot dusty road waiting for a repair.  Thankfully, it was reported as an “inside tire” and we were told we were OK to continue – only now we traveled at 25 MPH instead of 45.  Dusk was around the corner after we returned and Renee and I found ourselves in GREAT need of a cold shower and our beds were looking pretty darn good!

Today I am hoping to help children with the remaining thank you notes to sponsors. It’s a project that has lasted all week.  I am not complaining because the more notes to write, means the more sponsors who have stepped forward. If you are reading this as a sponsor – please know your child is MORE than happy to give their personalized touch with a sincere thank you!  Many sponsors have also written their child a letter – so I will get the blessing of sharing those words of love with the child as the days continue.  I have never stayed here two weeks before – I normally leave after one week, which would be tomorrow.  I couldn’t imagine going home so soon and am thankful that I have another week to share with these precious children of God and only hope Renee and I have given them even a moment of joy compared to what they have given us which will be part of us forever!

Another Day at the Beach!

Patty and I had the privilege of accompanying a team from Florida/Tennessee and most of the New Life kids to the beach yesterday. Going to the beach as a child of NL is a very special treat. This only happens if a team has been blessed enough by others to have the ability and resources, so most children here take it very seriously. Just like at home, if the kids have not been behaving properly, completing their chores, being good examples to others and treating each other with respect, they can loose their privileges for this. As we loaded up the bus yesterday some of the children had to stay behind. I am sure they have learned their lesson. So it was off to the beach as the weather was beautiful! The ride out is always an adventure with children sitting on missionaries laps, beach bags stuck in-between and listening to the sweet voices of children singing worship songs. We stopped one time along the way near the site where there is a mass grave for all the earthquake victims and prayed. All the children bowed their heads and covered their eyes humbly. It was a short time after that we were turning into the steep road that led down to the beach. It didn't take the kids long to pray one more time, thanking all the missionaries that made their day possible and for everyone's safety and they were off. The missionary team and Patty had brought many beach toys, beach balls, sling shots, Frisbees and kites. The kids had a blast, most only leaving the water for snacks and lunch. Mid morning snacks, hotdogs, were handed out and a sweet or two. For the missionaries, it was a time to play with the children in the water, soak up some rays and enjoy some fellowship time with other missionaries. We had the blessing of three deaf people visiting us from this team as well and the kids were curious and interested in learning how to say "I Love You" in sign language! What an experience for them. Soon, a vehicle arrived from NL with lunch and all the children reluctantly came out of the water to eat. We all enjoyed a lunch of spaghetti and salad eaten with a spoon. Soon we were watching children and missionaries slurp up long strands of pasta making funny sounds! You just have to make do with what God provides sometimes :). Four o'clock brought the sound of Jean Rony blowing the whistle for "all out of the water". Had prayer of thanksgiving to God for the wonderful day and off we went. The ride home was not boring by any means, children sleeping in your arms and the older boys giving us samples of Haitian tunes complete with drum sounds coming from hitting the back of bus seats. About twenty minutes into our journey, a loud "bang" came from the middle of the bus. Our driver cautiously slowed down and pulled over with horns honking behind. He got off of the bus to inspect the under carriage. We all had a picture in our minds of us standing along the roadside waiting for another bus to arrive trying to keep one hundred kids from getting hit by passing traffic. Luckily, the driver returned telling us, no worries, as we blew an inside tire that, "we don't really need"! So, he started the bus, pulled back into traffic and limped along causing us to get back quite late to NL, but safely. I never thought a cold shower with water trickling out could feel so good. Then it was down to join everyone for homemade pizza, salad and the best peach cobbler this side of the DR! Unfortunately, by our return being so late, the kids were not able to have devotional time. For me, it was off to see my sponsor child and say good night.
Patty and I have been sharing where we see God working in our lives and others here, so I have something to share with you in closing. My sponsor child is a boy, Chiniado's who is ten and has hydrocephalus. Simply put, when he was in his mother womb, the embryonic fluid flowed into his brain and stop causing him to have a enlarged head and weakness on the left side. As a result, he stays in a wheelchair most days. So when I went down last night I asked him if he just wanted to sit on a bench under the mango tree and hang out. He said yes quickly! He has a friend who is also handicapped, deaf and mute. This friend has been watching my sponsor child and my relationship grow over the last couple of weeks. Of course, it's God's love that he has seen! I have been trying to include Chiniado's friend in everything we do. So last night, Chiniado's friend rolled his wheelchair over to me and gave me his hand and smiled looking in my eyes. That's God, pure and simple! Through all of the days up and downs we can depend on Him to carry us through and give us hope for all of our tomorrow's.