It’s another beautiful day in Haiti. Our day started early with making breakfast for the girls. Many of us helped prepare the batter, pour, flip and count the 150 odd pancakes made today. Others prepared bacon. We rounded out the meal with cups of mandarin oranges. What a team. We worked like a crew of chefs from Chez Paul, with much more challenging accommodations. Yeah, they didn’t actually look like Chez Paul pancakes, but they were made with love. This was a very special treat, both for us to serve and for the girls to eat. What joy we had in all the elements of preparation, serving and watching the girls devour this rare treat. We were amazed at their respect and restraint to wait for everyone to be served before digging in. Their pray also touched out hearts. Unfortunately, not everyone got to join us in the fun. We had a few casualties from our long, hot day yesterday. Renee, Bridgette and Catrina were all struck with aliments that we all prefer not to mention. Renee and Catrina bounced back quickly and poor Bridgette was down for the count until later in the afternoon. No need to worry, there was plenty of fun to come. Due to the illnesses, we changed our plans the day and decided it would be best to stay close to home. Change is nothing new to this team. We have been incredibly flexible which needs to be noted as amazing since many of us are ‘schedule’ people. God is always growing us.) Our new plan consisted of assembling teams of girls to come over to Marie’s and make crafts. This allowed for a change of scenery for the girls, reprieve from the intense heat for us all and an opportunity to spend some small group time with the girls. We still had some prep work to do but shortly, we were ready to roll. Once again, we functioned like a well oiled machine. We gained an additional ‘cog’ when Bridgette was healthy enough to join us. We all have learned that time with the girls is the best medicine. All the girls made a quilt square that had their picture in the center. These were prepared by Patty who is a whiz with a camera and printer. Next, all the girls got a small backpack that was stenciled to color and personalize. As a special treat, each girl got to pick out a beautiful dress to keep. I can’t wait to see them all modeled for service tomorrow. The older girls also got to make a bracelet. This is a long, tedious project that required a great deal of patience to teach and monitor with the girls. Lori, who headed this project and her crew were a bunch of angels. After all of this, we were pretty wiped out and so were the girls. We took some time to do some bonding, bed bug removal and some crafts ourselves. Karen spent some time with Andi, our interpreter, to edit a college paper he wrote. That’s our team, always serving. The title of his paper sparked a great deal of conversation, “ Is God in Haiti.” Wow! What a topic.
Then, something amazing happened. God answered our prayers for some relief from the heat, a rain storm. What an amazing blessing. As we enjoyed the coolness of the rain, the Haitians kept working. These are the hardest working people I have ever met. They do construction in 100 degree heat as well as sweep out water from the back of a pickup in the pouring rain. They never stop working. And they are happy about it. Now, that’s gratitude! We wound down the evening with a delicious meal of goat meat, rice and vegetables. Of course there were sides of American pasta for those with weak stomachs, both from illness and lack of adventure. I must admit I was one of the less adventurous souls. Sorry Bob, maybe next time. I did try a mango though. (Wow, what STRETCH!)
We end the evening with devotion and more bonding. We thank the Lord for this wonderfully, perfect day. I think a fitting verse to sum up this day would be, “From the fullness of His grace, we have all received one blessing after another.”
Blessings to all! Diane
6.19.2010
Survivors of the non-fittest!
I was in a kind and loving mood and very ready to be the “blogger of the day” but the internet depleted me of patience and any accrued coping mechanisms. It seems so unjustified to complain about the frustrations of the internet while in Haiti especially when the majority of the country doesn’t even have the luxury of electricity. So let me just suck it up – lose the pout and share our day with you.
I won’t elaborate on the nightly rooster duet or the fighting dog serenade, mainly because I find I can now sleep through it - sort of compared to living by a train station. We laid in bed until SEVEN O’CLOCK like a bunch of lazy loafers. I made scrambled eggs with cheese and bacon. It wasn’t exactly Denny’s, but we pretended it was a Grand Slam and ate it with enthusiasm. As long as I have my coffee I can enjoy most mornings.
We decided to take advantage of our free time while the girls were in school so went to the Artist neighborhood and helped the Haitian economy. We weren’t very good at the bartering business. I was able to get the artist to drop $5.00 off his starting price, only to give it to him anyway. (Don’t worry Jim – it was a very small piece…but needed for our collection!) To watch these various artists kneeling on the ground, all bent over as they skillfully hammer away on a nail to achieve their intended pattern makes it very difficult to not accept their already low asking price. The hours and talent that is required is worth much more. Most of us will return home with a treasure of their labor.
Believe it or not – the shopping actually took a bit longer than we had expected. ( Nine women must inspect all the available merchandise to make the proper decision, you know!!) I have stressed to the team over and again how they are not to give money or anything for that matter to anyone when we are out and about. A simple handout can create disastrous conditions. Well, I am writing to confess that as we got into the back of the pickup to leave the artist area, there was a very old man sitting under a tree wearing only a well worn pair of pants. He had no teeth, a sunken face, with spindle arms which had almost lost the definition of the muscles he once wore. My heart so ached as I saw him sitting there, in his effort to escape from the scorching sun. In a flash I envisioned how many years this literally poor man had endured the struggles that come with existing in Haiti. So, I succumbed and shook his hand with a crumbled ten dollar bill. Before he even knew I had put a bill in his hand he was saying, “Merci’”, just for stopping to shake his hand. His face will never leave my mind…or rather I hope it doesn’t.
Once I confessed to the team I had just broken my own rule – out came the bag of candy we had brought and root beer barrels were handed over the bed of the truck to two young boys with pleading eyes. Well – before you knew it, we had a few more boys running behind the truck and we were throwing candy off the back of the truck like we were in the Rose Bowl Parade. That’s when you just wish you could be supernaturally suspended high above the country and be able to pour all the things they need to exist from the heavens. Instead – we’re receiving huge smiles and hearing laughter over a root beer barrel retrieved from the dirt. Further down the road, naked children looked equally as excited just to jump around and return our waves and smiles.
We did stop out front of the voo-doo temple and some jumped out to see the inside. There were roosters stacked in cages, which we assumed were used as sacrifices. Marie told us later they are usually used in “cock fights”. That didn’t seem quite as creepy.
Then – because we are wimpy Americans – totally overheated at this point, drinking warm water from our bottles, we stopped at a little air-conditioned small eatery where we ordered eleven orders of French fries for starters. We gulped down our cold drinks and certainly questioned how the locals can bare sitting outside to sell their wares, day after day after day and can’t even afford to walk into this place.
We returned to Marie’s stuffed, hot and tired – but after a round up of supplies we went to the orphanage for their second ESL lesson. Today we focused on colors and the girls were very responsive. (I got called out for not paying attention and the girls thought that was pretty funny!) All the girls were provided with the materials to make bracelets. The youngest strung glow in the dark beads, while Lori taught the older girls how to make much more complicated bracelets of beautiful beads and string. The girls did a great job and were very proud of their work – with good reason. So – they left the session all “dolled up” and feeling good about themselves. They each got their OWN little bottle of bubbles and they put on a bubble display that would make the Lawrence Welk show look lame. For those of you who are too young to know anything about the Lawrence Welk show…..just GROW UP!
It was getting dark by the time we returned from this adventure and trust me that we were grimy, sweaty, and exhausted campers. Once again Karen and Renee did a great job as we proceeded with ESL. We are planning to make the girls a pancake breakfast in the morning and then visit Pastor Wislet and the children at the second orphanage. We have spent this evening in heaps here and there as we digest the day. I am very proud of the team for hanging in. They are each empowered by our creator with huge hearts and sincere desires as we continue on our trek to spread the love that can both give hope and sustain one’s ability to persevere.
Lord, please forgive our spoiled brat impatience with the internet. You clearly knew we would never be able to handle the life of a true Haitian…that is an ability none of us have been able to comprehend or put into adequate words.
Proud to be called “Sister Patty”
I won’t elaborate on the nightly rooster duet or the fighting dog serenade, mainly because I find I can now sleep through it - sort of compared to living by a train station. We laid in bed until SEVEN O’CLOCK like a bunch of lazy loafers. I made scrambled eggs with cheese and bacon. It wasn’t exactly Denny’s, but we pretended it was a Grand Slam and ate it with enthusiasm. As long as I have my coffee I can enjoy most mornings.
We decided to take advantage of our free time while the girls were in school so went to the Artist neighborhood and helped the Haitian economy. We weren’t very good at the bartering business. I was able to get the artist to drop $5.00 off his starting price, only to give it to him anyway. (Don’t worry Jim – it was a very small piece…but needed for our collection!) To watch these various artists kneeling on the ground, all bent over as they skillfully hammer away on a nail to achieve their intended pattern makes it very difficult to not accept their already low asking price. The hours and talent that is required is worth much more. Most of us will return home with a treasure of their labor.
Believe it or not – the shopping actually took a bit longer than we had expected. ( Nine women must inspect all the available merchandise to make the proper decision, you know!!) I have stressed to the team over and again how they are not to give money or anything for that matter to anyone when we are out and about. A simple handout can create disastrous conditions. Well, I am writing to confess that as we got into the back of the pickup to leave the artist area, there was a very old man sitting under a tree wearing only a well worn pair of pants. He had no teeth, a sunken face, with spindle arms which had almost lost the definition of the muscles he once wore. My heart so ached as I saw him sitting there, in his effort to escape from the scorching sun. In a flash I envisioned how many years this literally poor man had endured the struggles that come with existing in Haiti. So, I succumbed and shook his hand with a crumbled ten dollar bill. Before he even knew I had put a bill in his hand he was saying, “Merci’”, just for stopping to shake his hand. His face will never leave my mind…or rather I hope it doesn’t.
Once I confessed to the team I had just broken my own rule – out came the bag of candy we had brought and root beer barrels were handed over the bed of the truck to two young boys with pleading eyes. Well – before you knew it, we had a few more boys running behind the truck and we were throwing candy off the back of the truck like we were in the Rose Bowl Parade. That’s when you just wish you could be supernaturally suspended high above the country and be able to pour all the things they need to exist from the heavens. Instead – we’re receiving huge smiles and hearing laughter over a root beer barrel retrieved from the dirt. Further down the road, naked children looked equally as excited just to jump around and return our waves and smiles.
We did stop out front of the voo-doo temple and some jumped out to see the inside. There were roosters stacked in cages, which we assumed were used as sacrifices. Marie told us later they are usually used in “cock fights”. That didn’t seem quite as creepy.
Then – because we are wimpy Americans – totally overheated at this point, drinking warm water from our bottles, we stopped at a little air-conditioned small eatery where we ordered eleven orders of French fries for starters. We gulped down our cold drinks and certainly questioned how the locals can bare sitting outside to sell their wares, day after day after day and can’t even afford to walk into this place.
We returned to Marie’s stuffed, hot and tired – but after a round up of supplies we went to the orphanage for their second ESL lesson. Today we focused on colors and the girls were very responsive. (I got called out for not paying attention and the girls thought that was pretty funny!) All the girls were provided with the materials to make bracelets. The youngest strung glow in the dark beads, while Lori taught the older girls how to make much more complicated bracelets of beautiful beads and string. The girls did a great job and were very proud of their work – with good reason. So – they left the session all “dolled up” and feeling good about themselves. They each got their OWN little bottle of bubbles and they put on a bubble display that would make the Lawrence Welk show look lame. For those of you who are too young to know anything about the Lawrence Welk show…..just GROW UP!
It was getting dark by the time we returned from this adventure and trust me that we were grimy, sweaty, and exhausted campers. Once again Karen and Renee did a great job as we proceeded with ESL. We are planning to make the girls a pancake breakfast in the morning and then visit Pastor Wislet and the children at the second orphanage. We have spent this evening in heaps here and there as we digest the day. I am very proud of the team for hanging in. They are each empowered by our creator with huge hearts and sincere desires as we continue on our trek to spread the love that can both give hope and sustain one’s ability to persevere.
Lord, please forgive our spoiled brat impatience with the internet. You clearly knew we would never be able to handle the life of a true Haitian…that is an ability none of us have been able to comprehend or put into adequate words.
Proud to be called “Sister Patty”
6.17.2010
June Team - Day 1
So, we have just completed our first full day in Haiti and boy has it been eventful!
To start, we were serenaded at 11PM, 12PM, 3AM and 5AM (these were the times that I heard) by either the roosters or lone hound who barked at nothing in particular. Since the rest of the team also lost sleep to the wacky rooster time clock, we have named two of them Willy and Kenny and we would have no qualms eating them any time some! We did catch one break last night, it was not incredibly hot, at least not for those of us in the front bedroom (Karen would probably disagree with me though!)
First thing this morning we went to the orphanage to see the opening of school. While we were waiting for things to get going, one of the wooden box that the workers had built to encase the upright columns of rebar, came loose while a team of men were trying to nail it in place. The 15foot box fell over and hit Cathy Jones (from the House of Hope) on the head and grazing Renee’s left upper arm causing a scape and bruising. Cathy was stunned for a few minutes but appears to have survived the assault with only a bump on the head and a stiff neck. It was lucky that none of the children were standing near them at the time!
After our return from the orphanage, the team spent several hours unpacking and organizing all of the items that we brought down here. A big portion of what we tried to do was to separate those things that we want to take to the second orphanage when we make our trip over there later this week. Several of us spent a couple of hours stenciling backpacks for both orphanages. The stenciled outlines of various items such as flowers, fish, rainbows etc. will allow the kids to color and decorate their individual backpacks. They turned out pretty cute so we can’t wait to see them finished!
We went to the orphanage after lunch and started our first concerted ESL lesson. We arranged the girls by age and each team member helped Karen and Renee with the lessons- Renee taking the younger girls and Karen taking lead with the older ones. Several different lessons were covered during the couple of hours we were there. It was pretty hectic and the older girls became quite competitive when we tried to play the “Memory” card game with them. Every type of “cheating” technique was tried during the game!
The girls treated us to a chorus of several songs, all song in English. They were really good and even the little ones had all of the movements down perfectly! We made videos of their performance and hopefully Renee will be able to post them for you to enjoy too!
On our return to Marie’s, we brought one of the girl’s with us as she had an abrasion on her forehead that appeared to be infected. Karen and Catrina took lead on the medical response and they were able to clean out the wound, apply ointment and bandage it up. We will be keeping close watch on the injury site over the few days to make sure it heals up properly.
For dinner tonight we were invited over to the House of Hope for bratwurst, potato salad, pasta salad, sauerkraut, carrot cake, brownies and ICE COLD Pepsi, Teem, Coke. A good time was had by all and we ended the night singing worship songs accompanied by guitar under the flashing lightening in the sky.
Well that’s about it for our first day here. The yappy dog has just arrived outside our window and Ethan is trying to entertain him by chasing him with a laser light. At least this is keeping him quiet! Guess we will have to have Ethan stand out on the balcony all night! As for Willy and Kenny our musical roosters, hopefully they have developed a case of laryngitis!
Lori
To start, we were serenaded at 11PM, 12PM, 3AM and 5AM (these were the times that I heard) by either the roosters or lone hound who barked at nothing in particular. Since the rest of the team also lost sleep to the wacky rooster time clock, we have named two of them Willy and Kenny and we would have no qualms eating them any time some! We did catch one break last night, it was not incredibly hot, at least not for those of us in the front bedroom (Karen would probably disagree with me though!)
First thing this morning we went to the orphanage to see the opening of school. While we were waiting for things to get going, one of the wooden box that the workers had built to encase the upright columns of rebar, came loose while a team of men were trying to nail it in place. The 15foot box fell over and hit Cathy Jones (from the House of Hope) on the head and grazing Renee’s left upper arm causing a scape and bruising. Cathy was stunned for a few minutes but appears to have survived the assault with only a bump on the head and a stiff neck. It was lucky that none of the children were standing near them at the time!
After our return from the orphanage, the team spent several hours unpacking and organizing all of the items that we brought down here. A big portion of what we tried to do was to separate those things that we want to take to the second orphanage when we make our trip over there later this week. Several of us spent a couple of hours stenciling backpacks for both orphanages. The stenciled outlines of various items such as flowers, fish, rainbows etc. will allow the kids to color and decorate their individual backpacks. They turned out pretty cute so we can’t wait to see them finished!
We went to the orphanage after lunch and started our first concerted ESL lesson. We arranged the girls by age and each team member helped Karen and Renee with the lessons- Renee taking the younger girls and Karen taking lead with the older ones. Several different lessons were covered during the couple of hours we were there. It was pretty hectic and the older girls became quite competitive when we tried to play the “Memory” card game with them. Every type of “cheating” technique was tried during the game!
The girls treated us to a chorus of several songs, all song in English. They were really good and even the little ones had all of the movements down perfectly! We made videos of their performance and hopefully Renee will be able to post them for you to enjoy too!
On our return to Marie’s, we brought one of the girl’s with us as she had an abrasion on her forehead that appeared to be infected. Karen and Catrina took lead on the medical response and they were able to clean out the wound, apply ointment and bandage it up. We will be keeping close watch on the injury site over the few days to make sure it heals up properly.
For dinner tonight we were invited over to the House of Hope for bratwurst, potato salad, pasta salad, sauerkraut, carrot cake, brownies and ICE COLD Pepsi, Teem, Coke. A good time was had by all and we ended the night singing worship songs accompanied by guitar under the flashing lightening in the sky.
Well that’s about it for our first day here. The yappy dog has just arrived outside our window and Ethan is trying to entertain him by chasing him with a laser light. At least this is keeping him quiet! Guess we will have to have Ethan stand out on the balcony all night! As for Willy and Kenny our musical roosters, hopefully they have developed a case of laryngitis!
Lori
6.16.2010
9 American Women, 27 suitcases, and a Stick Shift Truck
Finally all settled in after a very long day starting at 3:00 a.m. for most of us. Everyone arrived on time and met Patty and Jim to start the process of checking in. Some of us said hello for the first time to Catrina Greeno and Lori Bird. Checking in went fairly well considering there were 18 max-ed out bags. Our flight to Ft. Lauderdale ran a little late but made our layover a bit shorter. Our flight to Haiti was short and uneventful…that of course gave us a false sense of security upon landing and proceeding to customs. Had Patty not given us a heads up on what lay ahead, most of us would have turned around and gotten back on the plane. However, everyone stepped up to the plate maneuvering carts, the crowd, and the unbearable heat. We managed to walk to our truck, load it up, and jumped in. We found solace in the relative safety of our vehicle and handlers (Rene & Ethan). It was quite a ride to Marie’s. As one could imagine what has happened here, the Haitian people continue by sheer will and faith to eke out a life worth living. I personally could not fathom how my presence would make life better for them. Upon arriving at Marie’s, we quickly dropped our bags and went to see the “girls.” To see them made the strife of the day melt away. They were so very happy to see us…some of us for the first time! I am now known as “Miki Mama” and waited for my turn at hugs and kisses after…Miki got hers. The girls returned the favor of sweet treats by singing us a song, “I Am So Happy to See You.” Do you know that they sing in harmony without even knowing it? It’s so beautiful; I think it is in their genes. Well this weary blogger is about to hit the sack…everyone is fine, tired but fine. A good night sleep will do everyone well and we look forward to all that God has planned for us here.
Miki Mama,
Karen Campbell
Miki Mama,
Karen Campbell
6.15.2010
Another day in Paradise ( I Think )
Things are quite different down here without Jim and the boys. For dinner last night Marie broke out the T-Bone steaks, twice baked potatoes, fresh asparagus, and a nice chilled salad. All pared well with the wine selection. After dinner we enjoyed watching the World Cup on the big screen while savoring our Key Lime pie. Bed came early after such a fine and filling meal. A little rough during the night, I had to get up and turn up the central air, Ethan must have been the one to set the thermostat at 60, sure glad I had the down comforter…. Then I awoke to the sound of the rooster. Dream or reality I’ll never tell. Up at 5:24, still able to make the coffee thanks to the inverter (no city power again last night), Morning Prayer, finish the book of Job and start Psalms. Blueberry pancakes all around. The young one downstairs ended up pretty sticky after eating pancakes as finger food. Ethan received a call from Andronic the young interpreter used on occasion by Impact and the other groups that stay here at Marie’s, Andronic stated he was on his way and would see us in a few minutes. Due to the traffic he arrived about two hours later. We had a nice talk about his dream to study medicine in the US and his desire to return to Haiti and open a clinic. Like all too often in Haiti the passion to succeed is strong but the funding is weak. Andronic was able to fill my request for two Haitian Creole Bibles (sorry Chris Ethan has yours) and I also received a bonus gift, a small paperback entitled “ Angle’ pou tout moun” which should help with the Creole lessons. Andronic bailed about 1:00, he was going to try to watch today’s World Cup match. I offered to let him stay and watch it with us on the big screen but he didn’t seem too interested. Ethan and I are going over to orphanage to try the new drain system and inspect yesterday’s concrete pour on the new quarters then another fabulous dinner and packing. As with past trips tonight’s goodbye session with the girls will be so bitter sweet. What keeps me grounded though is the fact that I will be back. Tim /Not Bob.
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