Today was a true Monday morning. Up shortly after daybreak, downstairs for coffee, and setting the plan for the day. Bill and I agreed, he would repair the remaining broken chairs and I would work on the “list” for the boys bathroom. Took a before breakfast walk to check out the bathroom and to come up with a list of materials and tools. In the bathroom with pen and paper in hand I realized I had forgotten a measuring tape, back to the store room for the tape. Trip number one! Back to the bathroom. Took the needed measurements and compiled a mental plan for the day. Back to the shop. Trip number two! The distance from the bathroom to the shop is approximately 200 yards. In Haiti nothing is ever easy. Whether it is working, sleeping, showering, meals (God Bless the wonderful staff), going to the store, or whatever. I could be described by others as a “somewhat of a put it in it’s place kind of guy” and what I found in the shop was a little out of my comfort zone. I spent about the first day and a half this Monday morning trying to find my listed items for a job that should only take an hour or two. Most of the items on my paper list and mental list were not to be found be it materials or tools. Change of plans. Change number one! The breakfast bell. Thank God, I needed a break. Back to the two hour job. Ten hours later, after trip number 50 or 60 and change number ? I had proudly installed three 3’ by 3’ plywood doors on the boys stalls. I am so glad tomorrow is Tuesday, in an hour or two I should have the screen door repaired and rehung, the toilet seat installed, and the rod and shower curtains hung on the three showers. Got the list in my head. ( Next trip I’m driving my work van down here!)
I thank God for the busy day. The first thing I did this Monday morning was to visit my child Alex. I’m glad my mind was occupied for most of the day with my small part of this trip because it kept me from wondering whether this child was going to pull through and become a part of Haiti or be carried into the arms of Jesus. Although I tried to block out what I had experienced yesterday when Alex was placed in my arms, I could not, he was already a part of me. He was on my mind all day which most likely accounted for many of the extra trips and changes. The hardest part of Haiti is living. Over my career I have held dead children, but I have never held a child that was so dead in my arms, still breathing, and looking at me with such a stare of death through exhausted eyes. Nothing I write can explain the experience of yesterday. I checked on Alex tonight and there isn’t much change, this time I prayed, not that he would survive or not that he would be carried into God’s Kingdom away from this hell, but a prayer of thanks to God that He is the one that has to make that decision. One last thought before the cold shower and bed. I will be asking everyone I know and a lot of those I don’t to support New Life Rescue Center by sponsoring a child and or a monetary donation. All of us can do without something, a couple of bottles of wine a month, morning Latte’s, dinner out, use your imagination it’s not difficult. Personally we sponsor four children and who knows, if he lives, maybe a fifth. Other than driving my van down here next trip, I wish that I could carry Alex back and gently lay him in your arms right before I ask you for the money. Maybe I will, he’s already in my heart!
God Bless,
Tim G.
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