Bonswa,
The heat and rain have arrived! It's so hot and humid, rains everyday now for a few hours. It's tough because it causes flooding on a lot of the roads/paths. Between Port au Prince and Grand Goave a bridge was destroyed by the earthquake and all vehicles are routed through the river. It's quite the ride! The sign before the "detour" states "deviation". New road sign:)
The new president, Michel Martelly will take office this month. Everyone is waiting...we pray that he will make some very positive changes in Haiti. We look around and see such potential in this country, if it's only allowed to be developed. Please continue to lift the new government in your prayers!
I seem to be struggling lately, probably too much time on my hands between teams. I get so frustrated at how quickly my "old" expectations creep back into my life. Sitting in the shed the other night with David watching a DVD on our computer and the rain started falling. After a couple of minutes I became frustrated that I couldn't hear the DVD because the rain hitting the metal roof was so loud. As soon as that thought hit me, a mental image of people sitting in tents with no floors and holes in their roofs followed. I pray that years of "expectations" continue to fade away. We've been living in a shed or one room at headquarters for a year now. It's hard, living out of your duffle and picking up and moving at a moments notice, it wears on you.
Sometimes I miss having a kitchen to cook in, a bathtub to soak in and a comfy couch or chair to sit on. Day in and day out, plastic lawn chairs leave a lot to be desired:) David and I share a Coleman queen sized blow up bed in Port au Prince and if one of us turns over, it wakes the other up. In Leogane, we each have handmade (by David) twin beds that we push together and try not to fall in crack during the night. In PAP we have a small refrigerator and a hot plate but we have to walk for water... I have to walk down the hall to access the faucet, I don't have to walk 3 miles with a bucket on my head. But still sometimes I find it so inconvenient. I am thankful each day for what I do have, but there are times I "want" more. Thank you God I know the difference between want and need. I can allow myself a very small pity party but then I do a reality check. All I have to do is walk down the street, step outside the shed and I become so thankful for everything He has provided for us. We're safe, housed, have water and food.... all the rest is frosting on the cake. There may be a time in the future I won't have a room full of Coleman gear, foot lockers and Luggable Loos... or maybe not! God knows his plans for us and he'll reveal them when it's time:)
David was sharing his heart with me the other night. When the project started in Leogane there were many people living in tents on the site. One young woman, raising three small children caught Davids' attention. He came home that first day and said he saw a woman that had no hope and it broke his heart. He said she never smiled, looked on the verge of tears constantly (which is unusual for Haitians) and as he described her "she had given up". He mentioned her almost daily and the sadness in his voice was painful to hear. David began charming the young children on the site (as he does so well) and soon they were following him around. As she saw David with the children, she began to take interest. He would speak to the children each day and greet the families. Finally one day she brought her baby out for David to see. She has a darling little girl of 8 months but was covered in bites, heat rash and running a high fever.. but smiling... The next day David gave her lotion and infant tylenol for the baby. Day after day David reached out to the people on site and when a team was here the woman invited them to her home. The team was not prepared for what they saw... she lives in a house made of pieces of sheet metal and tarps that she shares with another family.
There were makeshift beds but no mosquito nets. David and the team rigged up nets for her and the baby. Day by day she began to smile.. David said it was hard to tell at first, but he noticed she was out and about more often and playing with the kids. Now she's mingling with the workers and everyone on the site and laughing and smiling. This woman has had an impact on David like nothing I've ever seen. He believes God placed her in his life to confirm His words to encourage and love your fellow man. David feels his biggest accomplishment in Haiti has been to encourage and share Gods' love through this woman. If he does nothing else.. it will be enough.
It's exciting, people in PAP are beginning to recognize me on my daily walks. They greet me, we converse (limited for me) and many imitate me walking fast (mache vit) down the street. It makes me feel I belong... I love the people, their smiles, laughter and the crazy hand gestures (which I can relate to). I think I have fallen in love with them because they are so resilient and steadfast. They never stop moving and living. Early yesterday morning, I watched two mothers with their daughters coming out of tents walking through mud to reach the road. The girls dressed in their clean and pressed uniforms, black mary jane shoes and lacey socks and the mothers holding their hands and laughing and chatting. It appeared so "normal" it struck me again how much I learn about living life on lifes' terms here. You do the best with what is given to you and the people here have accomplished so much with what is available. I look around and see smiles and laughter and a camaraderie I envy.. Who is poorer? Those who have much and don't realize their blessings or those who take what they have and make it mean something?
• God has given me the courage to overcome my worst fear... snakes! I killed one in Zambia, out of sheer fright, but last weekend while sitting at the beach reading a book one slithered by and I just turned to David and said look honey, there's a snake... Calm, didn't scream or jump up.. it's SO not me. Our friend who sells lobster came over, saw it and said it was "deadly". Hmmm.. still didn't flip. Amazing... We found a beautiful beach in a isolated area that many missionaries go to for a little R & R. We try to get there a few times a month just to relax. Fresh whole lobster cooked on the beach and you can even pick out the one you want, all for about $10. What a treat! Then there is a little restaurant, run by Corsican man that has the best food I have ever had, he's a gourmet chef and has such pride in his work. The presentation of the food equals a five star restaurant in the states. It's so pretty you don't want to eat it, quite impressive... It's pricey so we only splurge and eat there once a month or so.
We have a crazy couple months coming up... our oldest sons' wedding is now in mid-June and then we go to Family camp in early July. It's so exciting to see him find his life partner, and she's a great person. It will be a family affair as the youngest two are in the wedding and our granddaughter will also be in attendance. Church family camp... we can't wait! We always looked forward to camping (okay maybe not so much the camping idea this year) but daily bible studies, evening prayer meetings and spending a week with others that shared our faith. We are hungry for spiritual guidance and companionship.
Yesterday was a very difficult day for me, why I'm not sure, but I know that at some point I felt a calm come over me that I attribute to prayer. Thank you for being there and praying for us. My words fail me...(which you all know doesn't happen too often)
God bless you
David and Madam David
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