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.

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.

A Reunion

In my travels this summer spending 5 weeks in Haiti, I was blessed to return back to La Biche in the mountains. My first mission trip to Haiti was in March of 2009 with the Solar Oven Partners. We traveled to the area of La Biche – a 7 hour trek up the mountains on the southern side of the island. Besides working in Partnership with the Haitians to build the ovens and distributing over 150 ovens; we made friends. I fell in love with the community and especially the children. So when I had the opportunity to return to La Biche for a weekend, I was over joyed. I have been on several mission trips over the years. You form a relationship with the people you serve with but it is rare that you are able to visit again, or at least that has been my experience. Now I have learned that many people go back to a specific area year after year. The ride up to the La Biche from Mizak was very rough; four hours of travel on very rough roads on the back of a motorcycle. There were some areas in the travel where the road was too steep for the 3 of us to be on the bike so we had to get off and walk to meet back up with the bike. There was another area we had to cross the river, we walked across about a half a block distance in 2 ½ foot of water. If I had not been to La Biche before I am not sure I would have made this trek. But finally we arrived, the whole experience was very surreal. They were surprised I had remembered them. I nearly cried at the idea that they had thought I could possible forget them. After all meeting them has changed my life quite literally. And I am blessed by that experience I had in Haiti in March 2009.