Today Jesus washed my feet

It was a long day of travel from Mizak to PaP, somewhere in the suburbs. As you can imagine traveling through the city is a lot to take in. There is trash, dirt and water everywhere you look and people everywhere you look. The sounds of people, animals, and transportation is overwhelming. As I walked through the city I saw people sleeping on the street, a blind child begging and an old man with one leg pushing himself, along in a wheelchair. I also saw incredible strength of so many Haitian people. People were dressed in nice clothes going to and from work; somehow people continue to survive even with buildings crumbling around them. There are just so many thoughts to take in. I finally arrived at a beautiful home of the area of Tabra at a friend’s uncle’s house. I found myself struggling with how someone can live like this with all the struggles going on in the streets I just came from. I reminded myself not to judge because this is the same thing that happens in my own country as well. People lose sight of the struggles of their neighbors. I didn’t know how to be in this house with all that I had just seen, but you also have to appreciate what God has gives you at different times. So I decided to get cleaned up. I went to the bathroom and cried when I discovered there was hot water for the shower. Then I put my feet in the bucket of water to let them soak in the hot water. I sat down and thought about what my feet had been through that day traveling the streets of PaP. I thought about all the people I had seen and the daily struggles and joys they may be experiencing this moment. Then I closed my eyes and Jesus washed my feet. I cried as I thought of what this meant; this action that Jesus did for the disciples so many years ago. I thought I understood this idea of servant leader but suddenly I found a new insight. Because living in Haiti I have actually seen the servants and I have also seen the elite leaders of Haiti. It is nearly unimaginable to think of one of these leaders of Haiti washing the feet of the servants after walking the streets of PaP. Jesus was trying to teach us something and still daily we struggle to understand. We continue to love our own comfort more than our brothers and sisters.

A simple Response to a great need

The other day I was talking to a young man in Haiti. I was asking him many, many questions about how organizations work, the Haitian culture, ect. It was a really good in depth talk about many things helping me to understand the way some things work. He told me a story about him working in another area called Basen to visit the school. The school only has one hallway of classrooms for 7 classes of children. They also only have 4 teachers for these classes. He went on to describe how they were also short on blackboards, writing benches and other materials. However they were still trying to work the best with what they had. This young man saw the need here so he wrote up a proposal and talked to Digcel (one of the major cell phone companies in Haiti) He had heard about them working with different projects around the country. He worked and worked at making this connection happen with the people of Basen. But they were unable to find land to be donated to for Digcel to build a new school. They were finally able to get school supplies donated but this was all.
I listened as he talked about the struggle and the frustration on working with this project.
This was something he was working on on his own time in a different area than his own. This was a place where before he didn’t have any family or friends. I found this little unusual “Why were you working on this project? It’s not in your area; you don’t have any direct connections. So for what reason were you way over in Basen?”
“oh, Oh, Angelica because there was a need I saw. A great need for the school. It doesn’t matter where you are at; if it is your area or not. You should do whatever you can wherever you can to try and help people to try and make a difference in people’s lives.”
I was speechless as tears welled in my eyes. Yup, I thought that is exactly the way I should be. You just help because there is a need – simple.

Take time to notice & appreciate the little things

I must lead a charmed life. This phrase has been popping in my head lately for some reason. I think it is because thoughts/prayers have been answered lately. On Monday I had been looking at pictures when the team was in Haiti and the over abundance of coconut milk we drank. And I was missing the coconut milk. Tuesday I visited Sonya; Nesley climbed up in the tree to get a coconut for us to drink. I had one today at Gurtude’s house too. Then I had talked about not being able to talk to Lee (the other American that lives in Mizak) for some time and last night we talked for a good hour. Sunday, I was thinking about some variety in my rice and beans diet, don’t get me wrong I like rice and beans but miss some things. Then for lunch they fixed my favorite pumpkin soup and we had cake, because there was good sun. Tonight, coming home from Jacmel, I was worried we would not find a Tap-tap to cross the river it was getting late and dark. Eddy could tell I was concerned but assured me we were going to be fine. Shortly after this, a truck came and Eddy knew the driver. We had a free ride all the way home to Mizak. Eddy says, “I told you not to worry we were safe. See no problem. Ca va?” I just smiled “Wi sa va. [yes I am good]” Maybe it’s Eddy that leads the charmed life. I suppose it’s all in your perspective.

"a good cup of coffee"

Understanding cultural differences may be found in the most basic things such as ‘a good cup of coffee’. People feel strongly about their coffee. Anyone who works as a bistro will tell you that. Everyone has their favorite drink and when they order it, it sounds like they are speaking a different language. Haitians like their coffee very strong and very sweet. One team that was down here jokingly referred to it as diesel fuel or jet fuel. After being in Haiti for about 2 weeks, I asked for them to serve some hot water with the coffee so I could make it half water/half coffee, because my teeth hurt from the sweetness. I need to delute the coffee if I was going to drink it for the next 7 months. When I make my mix in the morning of ½ hot water and ½ coffee my Haitian family just shake their head and chuckle a little. This morning in Haiti I made a cup of coffee pretty close to the way I make my coffee at home. And you know there is nothing better than ‘a good cup of coffee’ in the morning. So as I was enjoying ‘my good cup of coffee’ made with ½ coffee from Haiti, ½ hot water, and a package of hot cocoa. I decided to have Joana try it. She did, then shook her head and said, “why?, with a look on her face that said “You ruined a perfectly good cup of coffee.” Just like a good cup of coffee many things can be seen in very different ways, especially when working in another country. But remember, both people are right, they know what ‘a good cup of coffee is”.

Why don't the braids look as good on me as the Haitians??

This was all I saw as I walked from Paul's house to my house. Joana had noticed that everyday I wore a bandana in my hair to cover my braids. So she was going to fix my hair so that it would look better and I wouldn't have to have a bandana.

When I got to my house I looked in the mirror and grabbed a bandana ;)
A picture really is worth a thousand words. I hope this gives you as good of a laugh as it did me. Joana could not figure out what was so funny.


Much better with the bandana - that is cute ;) hahaha. Oh the little things in life. You have to laugh at yourself.

Just keep loving it is all you can really do.

To my Sunday school teachers as a kid (I’m sorry I don’t remember your name).
To the countless pastors who have touched my life.
To my counslers at camp.
I want to THANK YOU!
Sometimes you have no idea what you do today will affect the future There have been times when things have been difficult in Haiti as far as not being able to see ‘concrete’ results. Often times in Missions you go and work on a project and you almost always literally see those ‘concrete’ results. However, living in another country you are working on the system to make a difference. And for any of us that have worked on a system of change we know that this takes a lot of time. You don’t really always know how your daily activities will impact the future and really the world. So just keep loving because it is all you can really do. And what a blessing we have been taught how to do that. We are given countless examples in the bible and here it every Sunday how we are supposed to live our lives to give to one another. So keep working at, keep loving your neighbor and do whatever you can for the sick, hungry, and those in prison. Keep practicing and “Be the change you want to see in the world.” ~Ghandi

Are you Rich?

There is a song that I shared with the team when they were down here called “If you eact each day your rich” by Bryan Sirchio, every day I am thankful for the food that I am able to eat (even if I may grow a little tired some days of rice and beans) and I think about the families who may be without. I pray for an answer to this problem that baffles me. Today I was reading a book called “Change the world: Recovering the church” and they brought up what I am sure you hear people say all the time, but I love the answer. “How can a loving God let innocent children suffer and starve?” God doesn’t God’s people do. A disciple chooses to follow Jesus in living more simply so others can simply live.” This is a really profound statement and I pray for simplicity of life for so many not only so that others can simply live; but I think living more simply helps you so appreciate the really important things in our lives that makes us truly happy. In our capitalist society we are taught that the more you have the happier you will be. And we here things like ‘the person who dies with the most toys win’. But we all know this a fleeting happiness. And all those extra ‘things’ really do just complicate our lives and make us loose touch with the most important things in our lives. So as you reflect on this song. I would also add if you have a solid roof over your head then you are rich. In saying that, I ask you to lift up a special blessing to the families who are living in the tent cities during this hurricane season.

What is my typical day in Haiti?

Well, first of all I don’t have a ‘typical day in Haiti’. But yesterday was a very good day and was an example of some of the beauty of what I get to do on a daily basis if not necessarily every day. I awoke in my little house around 6:30. I did a little devotional and wrote in my journal a bit and read then got dressed and headed over to Paul’s house for some breakfast. Joana was cutting up onions and peppers for the eggs. She set it down for a minute so I took over in the dicing up of the veggies. Then we added ham to the mix. I asked if I could cook up the ham and veggies first and then the eggs because I have been trying to get them to use a bit less oil in the cooking. So they did agree and we just added a little oil. They turned out delicious over handmade bread in Haiti that we buy every morning from one of the neighbors.

We have a young lady with a baby that stayed with us last night at Paul’s house. She has been in some desperate situations lately and has now found herself homeless with a young child. She was staying with a friend but that can only last for a bit. So the HAPI staff is trying to figure out the best situation for her and her sweet little boy. The boy had wet pants from the night so thanks to a team that brought down some clothes I was able to give him some clean ones and his mom gave him a bath. After getting them settled I walked over to the Co-op to meet with the jewelers. I brought some of my jewelry that I have bought in other countries to show them the possibilities of what they can make. None of the jewelers showed up but Eddy, Francious and Chantel were very interested in the possibilities. They were already thinking of natural products in Haiti that they could make things out of. I also spent my time there painting a little gourde piece for a necklace and helping the artisans cut piece signs for the yoga bags they are making through HAPI. Bebe showed up with the truck and the cement bags to make journals that we had collected yesterday in Jacmel. He studied from my Creole/English book for a while. Then we headed back over to Paul’s house giving a ride to all the artisans’ part way home. Some of them travel very far to get to the Co-op. Bebe and I studied Creole and English for awhile on Paul’s porch and then we were served a little something to eat. We had ‘banan’ – which is like a banana but isn’t ripe like we eat it in the States and it tastes like a potato. We were served this with chunks of salami and tomato in a red sauce. After eating we went down to the market to look around. On the way we stopped by the radio station and said ‘hi’ to Bebe’s wife.
We passed through the market. Many people always try and get the ‘blan’ attention to buy from them. ‘Blan’ literal translation in English is White but I am told that it really means ‘foreigner’. A friend of mine who is Haitian but lived in Canada for a while was called ‘blan’ for a while when we first came back to Haiti. So walking through the market I did tell Bebe if we found an avocado I would like to buy one. They are not in season so they are difficult to find. We found 2 and Bebe was sizing them up. He finally asked how much they were and I don’t know what the lady said but it was some ridiculous price because Bebe put them down and walked off. It was funny, I just laughed. Because you see the ‘blan’ cannot buy product in the market because they are usually double if not more the regular price. We then headed back up to Paul’s for dinner. Bebe borrowed my Creole book to take home for the evening. I have a feeling he may be wanting to teach his wife some too. Rice and beans for dinner around 4:00pm and then we just hung around the porch. I wrote some in my journal and read some English kid’s books to the children. Then we played phase 10 which is always great fun for the family. At around 8:00; I headed back to my house to read for a bit and then head to bed. Early to bed early to rise are my days in Haiti, I enjoy the early mornings.