Bonswa and Komen ou ye (Good evening and how are you),
Despite the devastation what a beautiful country this is, traveling through the mountains the view looking down onto Port au Prince and the ocean, spectacular! The hills are lush green and the fresh coconuts and mangos are wonderful. Today is the first day we’ve stopped moving. I just soaked my feet in a bucket, first time in two weeks they have been really clean
The sites we’ve seen… imagine a two story building collapsed onto itself creating a 12 ft. mountain of rubble AND one man sitting on the top of that with a hammer just chipping away. Looking at the remains of the largest grocery market in Port au Prince and spotting a lone shoe imbedded in what remained of a cinder block, one wonders the fate of the owner of that shoe. A small store, about 8 ft wide, open and selling hardware wedged between two huge piles of rubble that used to be buildings. A lone shirtless man standing in the sewer shoveling garbage out of the drain in order for the rain water to stop flooding the street vendors. A young man named Joshua who stopped me and asked if I had seen his parents. He has been walking and looking for them since January. I could hardly speak… We are so thankful that God is bigger than all of us and all we see. He provides for all his children and will continue to do so, he’s loving, forgiving and our comforter.
Everywhere you look you can see what God is doing here, in the midst of all the devastation. People going about their daily lives, trying to recreate some sense of “normal”, (please pray that the tent cities won’t become the new normal). There is frustration that the government isn’t sharing plans with the people as to how removing rubble and rebuilding will occur but they just keep pressing on. Traveling through towns where people are trying to move rubble (with a make shift shovel) and create a home. To see a older woman with very bad teeth but the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen waiting to get her teeth cleaned. You could feel her peace and sense of contentment. The smiles and waves when you pass by. The traffic is unlike anything I have ever seen but unique. Cars, trucks and motorcycles cut in and out, making two lanes into five at times but the drivers are always allowing others to cut in and out. How they can constantly be aware of where all the vehicles around them are and not hit them, divine intervention
The teams arrive willing to do whatever they are asked in order to serve the Haitian people. Teams with medical, construction and childrens’ ministries doing their thing in POURING rain.. with smiles on their faces. I’m so proud of my fellow Americans! Two dental hygienists treated over 200 people in four days, two nurses saw over 300 people in four days. The child like amazement of the team (me especially) as we had our first encounter in “cooking” and eating a MRE, the same food packs our soldiers eat on the field. Evenings spent sitting on the concrete wall looking at the most spectacular sunsets, each one totally different, the colors are amazing and the islands are beautiful. We have debrief and devotions there and it’s so peaceful. You should see the pigs, they walk down the beach and take a dip in the ocean, so funny! Watching God work in the hearts of team members, very humbling…
We spent the last two weeks at the Wesleyan campground in Petit Goave, about 3 hours from Port au Prince. The first week was rain, rain and more rain. Remember those camping trips where you find yourself peeling your clothes on and off like a wet bathing suit? But God blessed us and we discovered a stock pile of tarps we could drape over our tents and stop the leaking.. The second week was hot, humid and sunny every day. I think some of those crazy birds from the dinosaur age were stirred up during the earthquake and about 4 AM the “pterodactyls’” start their day. They are the strangest looking birds, big wing span, weird shaped head and a cackling that is truly unique. (Makes one wish for a slingshot) Their serenade is followed by the sound of tent zippers as everyone makes their way to the “bathroom”, and then tries to catch a few more minutes of sleep. Always a big rush to the coffee maker in the dining hall as power to the campground is turned off about 6 AM. After breakfast we are off to set up clinics, visit tent cities or work with children. David has been working on rebuilding the walls of the Wesleyan compound. It’s hard work, as few tools are available, and the heat is oppressive but they have made good progress.
The World Hope Haiti staff are amazing, they have been going non stop since the earthquake and have provided help to so many people. The translators are four young Haitian men that were brought up together in a orphanage here. They speak perfect English and are great fun to work with. Please continue to lift the staff and the people of Haiti in your prayers. I find myself becoming very frustrated that Haiti seems to be old news in the states and there is so much work to be done now. They desperately need our prayers and continued support.
David and I will temporarily live in a empty office on WHI compound until we can find housing. It’s very difficult here, prices are high and availability is slim. It’s more than adequate with lights, air conditioning (sometimes) and internet facilities. No kitchen or shower facilities but we are making do. It’s secure and we can leave most of our things here while traveling with teams.
Thank you for all your prayers and emails. We so appreciate the encouragement, you can’t imagine. We are still a little short on our funding, if you can help we’d greatly appreciate it. If you’ve made a pledge that you can not meet, please let us know. We can help by praying for your situation and it helps us in adjusting our budget. Check out our website for information on how to contribute www.thewattersfamily.blogspot.com. We will be posting pictures soon!
Bondye benediksyon ou (God bless you)
David and Beth
P.S. We continually encounter the rest of the baby tarantulas’ family and they aren’t small
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