Taking things for granted.

Many people wonder if I miss the luxuries of home. How does one live without electricity without running water? Or without Walmart? ;) But honestly I feel blessed everyday in Haiti. I have a roof over my head, a clean dry bed (most of the time), a place to get cleaned up, and food in my belly. There are homes I have visited in Haiti which this is not the case. Many people are still living in tents all over the country. Others are still living in their homes that have been patched with plastic, sheets, and tin; the walls cracked and crumbling from the earthquake or from the hurricanes in the past. The people have to walk for miles just to collect water to cook with or bathe. And even though when we come home late for dinner and have to eat a cold meal (no microwave to warm it up for us); we are still grateful for the food we have and we pray daily for the homes that the children may go without dinner.
But I was still raised in the United States; so what do I miss and what do I want you to not take for granted? A flushing toilet – which we do have at the team guest house, when there has been enough rain or if it isn’t clogged. A variety of foods – I really wanted to order pizza the other night, and man I would love a chef salad with some ranch dressing or some ice cream (although there is a place in Jacmel for ice cream, just have not got there yet). Ice – I don’t even use ice that much but for those of you that do, don’t take it for granted, you miss it when you can’t have it. As I said before microwave – if you get home after the food has been cooked there is no option but a cold dinner. And ‘entertainment’ – when it is 7:00 in the evening with no electricity, no TV, no movies, no lights to read by or play a games – just means extra sleep, which I do love. But it may also mean waking at 4:30am.
These are just a few of the things once in awhile I miss a bit. But it is fleeting when I hear the frogs and crickets at night singing to me and when I really think I can see every star in the sky. Or when I see children running around playing and giggling with one another, barefoot and half dressed. Or taking a long walk to visit someone who is sick and I am warmly greeted by each person I see, as they are happy to greet me and see how my day is going.
. . . one last thing I miss and should never be taken for granted family and friends being around you (although I have some of these around me in Haiti). So be thankful, take time to appreciate all the little things that you truly do have. If you have a roof over your head and food in your belly – you are blessed beyond measure!

A busy week on the mountain!

Monday there was an organizational training for general knowledge based from the book “Leading from your Spiritual Center” Pastor Frank (a Haitian/ American) who is serving down here for one month led the class. Then on Tuesday we had an English class. This was a lot of fun and the Haitians are all very energized about learning English. This is something I hope to continue after Frank leaves. Although I keep telling them I know how to speak English but not how to teach it. However many of them know all the rules of English, they just need the proper pronunciation and some examples and tools.
On Tuesday afternoon and most of the day on Wednesday and Thursday; I worked with the artisans on making journals. They make journals out of recycled cement bags. The process involves cutting the bags apart and then washing them. After laying out in the sun to dry, they are cut into the exact dimensions for the journals. Then they wipe down the paper and count up the bundles, drill holes in the centers, where they are to be sowed together. Then they bound three of those together and tape them.. The journals were in stacks underneath boards and cinder blocks so they are nice, smooth pages for the journals, ready to be finished off in the US.
I showed some ot the ladies how to make babies hats using a loom I brought from the United States, just as we use to make with our Hookin for Jesus group with CoffeeLoft.org. They were very excited because usually it takes a day to make a hat and I made 2 this morning while I was there.
I continue to discover more products they have been made and am working on ways they can improve upon them to sell them in the US market and in Haiti. Next week I will meet with the women who are starting a jewelry business to show them some samples that I have and also work with what they know and have already been doing. Hopefully we will have some of those jewelry products for Christmas.

International Day of Peace

Last Sunday Mizak, Haiti celebrated International Peace Day! It was a huge success. The new pavilion started by the Canadian team this summer was getting finishing touches the morning of the party. At about 8:00 people were cleaning and decorating. I had helped the children make color Peace Flags to hang with the Peace Flags that the children in Vermillion, South Dakota had made this summer at VBS. It was a beautiful thing to see them hanging together blowing in the breeze. The day had several speakers including Paul, the pastor of the church, Pastor Frank, a Haitian American who is down in Haiti for a month doing Communities of Shalom Trainings, Valerie, the American director of HAPI, Depute Valentine, (I think the equivalent to our mayor), and I spoke about what the Peace Flags were and shared the love and prayers of the people in the United States. There were many, many different types of music. Several singing groups shared their talents. One group of young girls sang and danced to "Lord I Lift your name on High". There was also theatrical interpretation of the Earthquake. It was a moving day. In the middle we share food and drink with the over 1000 people who were there. Thank you for being a part of this day with the people of Haiti.

Returning back home to Haiti

For the first time being in Haiti the sights feel natural to me. Mwen sonje se sa e se sa. I remember this and that. The sounds and smells help remind me of so many memories of being here just 3 months ago. It brings me joy, but also a certain amount of sadness because nothing much has changed. Change in Haiti is very slow, much like the 3 hour wait at the bank or being in stand-still traffic for hours. I arrived safely at Montas’ house (hours later than expected, he had a radiator hose tear), but all is well. As Montas says, “that is just the way life is in Haiti”. It just makes me smile, he’s right you just keep going. God provides you with what you need at the time. I slept wonderful minus a few mosquito bites and woke to the rooster – my long lost friend. I think we have definitely developed a love hate relationship with each other.