it's been busy in Haiti

It's hard to believe what all has happened in the past 2 weeks.  In a culture that runs on "Caribbean time," I think I can officially say that I have been busy.  We've had a lot of visitors from out of the country the past 2 weeks, and this blog will be devoted to them.  Quite often I hear, "I wish I could do missions work, but I have nothing to offer."  Hopefully these examples below will give you something to think about!

Barb and Friends

Two weeks ago, about 50 missionaries and 25 missionary kids traveled north of Port-au-Prince for the yearly MEBSH missions conference.  It was anything but relaxing, because we stayed so busy, but it was a lot of fun.  I am still waiting to get photos from friends before I post about the retreat, but there are a few sneak peaks below :)

While the adults listened to the teaching from Pastor Joe out of Chattanooga, TN, the children spent the sessions with "Barb and Friends."  This group has been serving the missions community for over 20 years and they come from all over the US.  I was unable to get a photo of the group since I wasn't in any of their sessions, but I did get a photo of the kids evening performance on our last night shown above.

It's common to hear of groups coming to countries to run VBS programs with a translator, but I'd never heard of a group coming to do VBS for mks.  The kids LOVED it, and were singing songs all weekend.  And, what a blessing it was for their parents to know that their children were safely taken care of and they could focus their attention on the lessons.

Pauline, the counselor

 Just because you're on the missions field and doing the Lord's work doesn't mean that there aren't difficult times and struggles.  Pauline is a Christian counselor back in the states, and she spent the weekend of our retreat talking to anyone that needed a listening ear.  She's planning to start counseling for missionaries via Skype in the near future.

Pauline spent 2 mornings at Centre Lumiere with our ladies.  She led devotional for the girls and talked about their heart.  The girls discussed things that break their heart and how only God can make it whole again.  She also answered their questions that they had, ranging from how to help a friend that is depressed to how to handle your emotions when tragedy strikes.  Below are pictures of the girls gluing their hearts on a quilt that is now hanging in our classroom.

The Bluegrass Band

 This group came from several churches in Indiana.  They teaching evangelism in several of the Christian schools, and playing blue grass music in their free time.  I don't know if the students at the centre had ever heard such a thing, but my toe was tapping the whole time.  All I can say is that I felt like I was back home for a half hour.

Extreme Makeover: German Style

 Why did I not know that such mission trips existed?  Olga has finally finished her building project!  Many of the husbands of the ladies pictured above came to Haiti last Fall to build the house you see them standing in.  Olga wanted to build a home for her and any short-term missionaries to stay (that might've been me if it was finished 3 months earlier!)  So what did these women do?  What ladies do best: DECORATE!

These ladies have been hard at work the past week and a half painting walls, hanging decorations, and organizing furniture.  I've learned a lot about German decorating techniques; I like most, but some are rather peculiar.  Still it looks great and it's coming together quickly.  I know Olga's just ready for it all to be done!

(Retreat Sneak Peak)

Info in the hotel guide on how to treat our lizard "friends"

 

Most of the missionaries our last morning at Kaliko

gentle reminders

I've been here in Haiti for nearly 2 months (where has the time gone???).  The living conditions and culture have become "normal" as far as adjustment goes.  I guess it's true with overexposure to anything: you become desensitized overtime.  Those things that initially excited and startled me when I first came to Haiti last August and stepped off the plane this past January not only became easier to overlook with time, but I was not even aware of them.  This past week God has gently reminded me of why my heart was moved and burdened to come to this country in the first place.  Those reminders came from the most unlikely of places.

This past week we had our first team stay at the Medical Teams house since my coming to Haiti.  Eleven people from First Centenary UMC came to share their time and skills with the people of Haiti.  The group varied from electricians to physical therapist to dentists to business men and women that came to do the dirty work that makes a mission run.  We had some people here that were on their first mission trip to some that had been overseas more times than they could count.

I was blessed to sit in on their first devotional Sunday evening where they discussed the "shock" factor of what they had experienced since first arriving in Haiti.  As they shared, I began to realize that I had come to overlook and take for granted that which moved them so greatly: the beautiful voices and outstretched arms in praise that morning at church; the family of 8 that lives in a 2 bedroom home with one mattress, yet still has so much pride in the house they built; how braided hair, bows, and well-shined shoes turn tattered dresses into "Sunday best" because it is that important to them; the presence of God in a country that has endured more than it's fair share of tragedies.  All reminders that I desperately needed coming from fresh eyes... thank you FCUMC!

FCUMC team at Gelly beach

Jill, Paul, Margaret, Sarah, Maxin, Corky, and Marie Joe playing spoons

Barry decided to hang half of a bucket on a column and play "Around the World"

Me and Jacob coloring with the most recent dental patients

Karaoke Night!  Singing a classic oldie with Dr. Lee and Patsy

My second reminder came on Friday when Meuze, Marcelle, Esther and I trekked to Karunkat (sp?) to visit one of our students.  Jocelyn ha been sick for a few weeks and missed quite a bit of school because she had moved from Les Cayes to be with her family.  We were going to visit her and take some money to her family to help pay bills.  Our trip ended up being 7 hours on Haitian public transportation, 3 hours of which was on the back of a mototaxi squeezed between 2 other people.  I had decided before we left that morning that I wasn't going to get discouraged or frustrated no matter how uncomfortable I got (lengthy trips on tap-taps and mototaxis are not on my list of the top things to do in Haiti).  I had no idea what I was about to see or learn.

As we set off on the back of a motorcycle, I began to realize that I was entering a part of Haiti that few ever see.  We were on country back roads riding on small dirt paths and through rivers and streams.  I'm sure I was one of the few "blanc" (white person) that many of the children had ever seen.  We passed a beautiful lagoon and gorgeous palm and papaya trees full of fruit.  At one point I was pretty sure we were in a desert out west that was covered in cacti.  Many of the people were so poor; it's not untypical for people to go without shoes, but many of these kids didn't even have clothes to protect them from the elements as they worked in the fields.  I was constantly reminding myself that people live here in these conditions, most of them had probably never ventured on the hour ride out to the main road.  These is what the center is investing in: training people like Jocelyn to take her skills back to small villages like this, educate the people, and give them a way to make an income for their families.  It took me seeing the poorest of the poor to finally "get it."

The only shot of the countryside on my 3hr. mototaxi ride

Lastly, I had the pleasure today to go with Rod, Debbie, and Katie to Sunday School in the slums of Renol.  Their family has been missionaries here in Haiti for 8 years, and when I first heard of this outreach project, I knew I had to see it for myself.  They usually take medical teams out into remote villages for medical clinics throughout the year.  Three years ago while helping with a clinic in Renol, they observed that all of the adults but none of the children attended church on Sunday.  They came to realize that these families were so poor that they were unable to afford clothing for their children, and since it is so shameful, they would not bring them to church.  Rod and Debbie were moved and decided to start teaching Sunday School for these children regardless of what they were wearing and to feed them a nutritious meal enriched with vitamins.  Since that time they have come to feed over 1,000 kids every Sunday.  They have a group of Haitian youth the lead worship songs, manage crowd control, and present the Gospel message weekly to these children.  When the service is over, everyone receives a packet of food to take home and eat.  It was unbelievable!  

With all of these realizations, I have begun to think, "What else can I do with my time here in Haiti?"  I've had the desire since the first week to get involved with a weekend ministry since I have nothing to do during that time.  Please pray with me to find additional ways to serve over the next few months.  It may be bathing kids every Sunday before church at Renol or sewing dresses for the little girls to wear.  Maybe it's something else God has in store for me.  But, pray that my eyes will stay open to the needs around me during my time here and that I will have will hands and feet to assist in ways that I can.