Children are hope...

Four days since arrival…

What a day today was… We switched up the schedules and headed out first thing to the orphanage. We were a bit worried because when we knocked on the door, no one answered. After about 5 minutes of knocking our general door person finally opened the door. We flashed the diapers (2 more big garbage bags full) and the man closed the door on us! He came back a few minutes later and let us in! The nuns there had told us we could come back between 8-10 today so we are glad he went to check. We started making our way down to the orphanage (into the compound a ways) and were stopped by a large group of women on their knees in prayer. They were going through the stations of the cross! As we were driving through Port-au-Prince we saw several set-ups for these! I feel so blessed that we are able to be here during holy week! 

We got to the orphanage and I went straight for Jr. and lucky me, it was time to eat! Wednesday we were feeding a porridge/cream of wheat mixture, today it was a bland looking jello-like mush. I can’t blame the little guy for not wanting to eat! It took me a good 10 minutes to convince him, but after rubbing his belly a bit he caved and ate. 

We went out to the courtyard where we cuddled for a bit. All week I have not been able to get him to interact much with me. He would cry anytime I moved him… and by cry, I mean a low sad moan that shows he doesn’t even have the energy or want to cry. I tried putting his hand to my face but he just wouldn’t make much eye contact at all. He only wanted me to hold him so he could cuddle up against my chest and wrap his thin, long arms around me. 

Today was different. After a few minutes, he gripped my hand. I told him that I don’t think he would smile for me and that is OK. Then he started looking at me. So I wiggled my finger against him and all of the sudden I got a smile. A SMILE! Not just eye contact, but eye contact and corners up smiling! I couldn’t help but cry at the sudden feeling of gratitude that God would give me such a special gift to see such a special boy, so desperate for love to smile and show me what happiness is all about. He didn’t just smile one… he smiled over and over and over! I even got a full-fledged, tooth-showing grin! It was almost as if this little mal-nourished, neglected baby, knew that I needed him to smile and show me that I did my job. God gave me the gift to love these children, and I do – so a reward of a smile was perfect for me. 

As always, time to leave came way too soon…. And when I put Jr. down, he did not cry. He just looked at me, as if to say, “It’s OK.” So of course my water works turned on just as much as they did when I received the very first gift of a smile. A smile I will never forget. Leaving the orphanage was so hard to do… knowing that we wouldn’t be able to come back and hold them again. By 11 am, I was emotionally drained.

We headed back to the hotel to get changed relax and eat an early lunch before heading to Caradeux. When we got there, some of the children had arrived, some had not – so in the disorder we concluded that we would teach them the hustle! I think the translators enjoyed learning it more than the children! But regardless, it was fun! We made our way up to the sanctuary, sang a song, said a prayer, and started the lesson about trusting God, no matter what happens.

Unfortunately, one of our team members became ill at Caradeux today. Being away from home is bad enough, but to be sick in a country where finding a bathroom can be difficult, and finding a clean one is even tougher is not something any of us wished to experience. But God has reasons for all things, and though this he showed us how gracious, giving, and caring the Haitians are. Our prayers continue to be with our team member, the God’s healing embrace surrounds here and she starts to feel better soon.

While at Caradeux today, the children colored, did yoga, played games, blew bubbles, and drew with chalk. Our interpreters were great as always! And even with a few people gone to Market and back at the hotel, we still accomplished what we set out to do. Since our team has been doing well with the budget thus far, we were able to purchase food to give to Delmas 89, so they can pass it out to their congregation as they see fit. We bought rice, corn, sugar and oil. Our original plan was to bag it as a team after Easter service, but Wes might just have some other people do that instead.

Wilnande is one of our teacher helpers in Haiti. She does not speak much English, but she is incredible with the children and one of the most kind, strong, and generous people that I have met not only in Haiti, but in my whole life. She was in the school during the earthquake 2 years ago. In that school, two levels of their building collapsed, and she has some scars from where she was hurt. But she continues to give the children love and welcome us to her country graciously. 

Wilnande had sang a song that I included video of a few blogs ago, about the children being the hope of Haiti, and she spent time with Alli and I today (probably a good half hour teaching us the Creole pronunciation. I hope the children sing it again today so I can join in and get more video of this song! I never want to forget it, I even had Jamie (our most experienced translator) write it in English so I could share the meanings line by line. 

In Creole:

se bél bagay nan socyete

le gentimoun toupatou kape jwee

paron rejoui tristés yo ale

sa fem konpran ketimoun se lave

timoun se lavi, se les pwasou laté

an amkadreyo, admire, prootegeyo

se lé sa jezi va kontan pase nou

trete timoun yo fason lite mande

tout granmoun you gen pou ale

se tmoun you kiprale ranplase yo

an kadreyo, mete yo lekól,

lé sa jezi va kontan pase nou

And in English!

It is good, in society,

When we have children wherever playing,

Parents are happy, sadness is gone

And I conclude the children are life

Children are the life and the hope of the earth

Let us take care, admire, and protect them

Jesus will be happier than us

Treat children just like he asked us to do

Every older, person will be gone

But children will take over

Giving instruction, and education, by opportunity to go to school

Jesus will be happier than us

I love this song. I think that is all I can say – it is the whole reason we are here. I am trying so hard to commit this to memory in Creole, and I am making good headway!

It seemed like by the end of today, many people were running a bit ragged, tired, scared, and lonely too. It’s not that it wasn’t a good day, but it is scary to have someone get sick. We are all a bit tired, and with all the stress of our fearless leader being out and about today, others had to pull rank and take charge. Overall we did a great job, but with today being so emotionally draining day, it was definitely a challenge to say the least. 

Our journal today is across the room for me and I don’t feel like going to get it, but I will update more on that later. Basically the word of the day was Together. It was a good reminder that we are here together as a team, and that if we work together as a nation, a congregation, or the world, we can accomplish so many things. It was a good reminder for me today, since I was feeling a bit alone. But it also had a good quote, if your presence isn’t noticed, than your absence won’t make a difference. I think we have a presence here. Especially with the orphans… when we put them down, they notice we are gone. And also about the mark that this work will leave on us. The mark on my heart will last forever, and I want a tattoo to remind me. More on that later!

Tonight we had a chance to play Apples to Apples!!! It was good to decompress and kind of relax. We have all been so tired lately that no one has had much free time. Tomorrow we are headed to Caradeux in the morning, then changing quickly and eating on the bus when we go to the beach! It sounds like we will get some mangos to take with us there, but we still don’t know after asking 3 or 4 times how much mangos cost… all Joe and Leo would say was “Cheap” or “Cheap, Cheap”! 

 

After the beach we will come back to the hotel for dinner, and then tomorrow is Easter! We will get up for service in the morning, and then we may or may not bag the food from the Market. But then we are going to go to Market and do some shopping! Leo invited us over to his house on Sunday for Pizza so we can meet his family! He is so gracious to invite us into his home on Easter! Then we will be off to Church again for the concert with Boys of Christ, and Leo is even going to be playing his accordion again! 

It is hard to believe today is our last day of VBS… This trip has gone by so quickly… It makes me sad that it is almost over, but it is an experience I will NEVER forget.

PS - I have been taking tons of pictures, but haven't had time to really sit down and go through them to see which ones I want to post on the blog. Please expect those to come on my way home during layovers at the airport. I apologize for the delay, but I just don't have time right now - it is either blog or pictures - I choose blog - I can forget what happened, but the photos will never go away!

As always, please keep my team, their families, and the whole nation of Haiti including the children I will be teaching and helping all in your prayers.

I love you - from Haiti

  - Jen