Hey friends! Looking for RNStace?
I am in Haiti. And if you are trying to find a blog update you can find it here:
http://charitystace.wordpress.com
Blessings to all!
Ja Jwenn ~ They will find you
Thought this story was worth sharing. Thank you to Rick Ashley for sharing the story of this brave young man…
This is a story of a little boy. I am not sure that anyone knows his real name if he ever really had one. It is not certain whether he even knows his name.
The story goes that he was placed in a box and abandoned when he was an infant. Supposedly, there was a paper attached to the box saying that his name was Ja Jwenn which means “They will find you,” in Creole. And then his name might be Reginald at least that is what some were calling him. The other thing is that he does not know how old he is. He could be eight or nine or he could be 12 or 13 and simply stunted as is the case with many children in developing countries.
Somehow, this little boy came to be known by folks at Global Outreach, a retreat center where Samaritan’s Purse-Haiti is headquartered. We will call him Reggie for now. Reggie started coming to the gate at Global Outreach where there are guards helping to keep the compound secure. He was wearing only a shirt and was naked below the waist. These guards were saddened by the fact that he was hungry and thirsty so they started to give him food and water.
After a day or two, several people working on a volunteer medical team saw the little boy and felt so bad that they found clothing and a pair of shoes that fit him. They also gave him food.
All of this came to the attention of others and pretty soon a man named Rick Ashley who was working for the DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team) with Samaritan’s Purse got involved. Rick was in Haiti for three months and had many roles while there. One day, he brought Reggie inside the compound and several of us, including Pierre, one of the guards, talked with him. Reggie looked pretty apprehensive with everyone staring at him. Of course, only Pierre could speak with him since Rick and the rest of us knew no Creole.
It was important to find out if Reggie really was homeless or was just from a poor family. Some of the guards investigated and found out that a woman was taking care of him in a way. She was using him to watch her animals. Another man was also using him as a restavek or child slave. Once the woman became aware of interest in the boy, she was willing to sell him for $200.00.
Rick, Pierre, Fen Fen (a driver) and I went to see the local police to inquire if it would be possible to get custody of Reggie and place him in an orphanage. He had never been to school, could not read or write and had obvious trauma-related scars on his scalp and on the back of his neck. These most certainly could have been from abuse. Consequently, the consensus was that there was a case to find a better place for him to live.
The police sent us to a local judge. This judge heard the story and asked that we bring Reggie and the woman to his office the next day. We told the judge that the woman wanted money for the little boy but we refused to pay for the boy. He was empathetic to the situation and seemed to be a wise and fair judge. He said, ”Bring them in and I will handle that.”
There was a problem because the guards stated that the woman had taken the boy and hid him. However, two days later, these guards were able to find Reggie and take him and this woman to the judge. A lot of shouting ensued between the judge and the woman. It seemed that the woman was asking for money. She took off for the market leaving Reggie behind and never saying “good bye” to him, hugging him or in any way acknowledging him.
The judge asked that Reggie be brought back to him the next day so that papers could be drawn up to acknowledge Rick as the guardian allowing him to take Reggie to an orphanage. After two hours, the papers were written and became official that Reggie would now be in Rick’s custody.
After our first visit to the judge, Rick, Pierre, Fen Fen and I went to one orphanage with a school. There was no room for even one more child but one of the men at the orphanage directed us to another orphanage. This second orphanage is called Tytoo Gardens. It is near the Ocean and is in need of improvements, but otherwise appears to be a safe and secure place. We talked to Frank, one of the leaders working at the orphanage. Frank is a nurse from Canada and got involved in missions because of Operation Christmas Child. Coincidentally, he arrived in Haiti the day the earthquake happened to help reopen the orphanage. The orphanage had been closed due to the unexpected death of the owner. Frank said there was no more room for another child but he would ask the director anyway. The director agreed to take Reggie but there were no more beds available. We agreed to bring some cots To the orphanage.
Once the papers were drawn up, Reggie came back to the Samaritan’s Purse Compound to spend the night. Some other missionaries and their son gave Reggie clothes and a few toys. People on the medical team took his picture. Soon Reggie learned how to do high 5s and thumbs up. He kept smiling and it didn’t take long before he became a little celebrity. He ate with us and finished off a plate with steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, vegetables, a big dessert, two glasses of Kool Aid and a Sprite. Then he finished my food. We decided to stop feeding him by then so he would not get sick. Also the medical team gave him Vitamin A and Abendazole which is standard treatment for children in developing countries who may have contracted parasites and who can develop night blindness and even total blindness from lack of Vitamin A.
Reggie played soccer with a few guys and even with the Country Director’s little boy. Earlier, Rick had given Reggie a shower and he was now ready for bed. He slept in his very own bunk bed next to Rick. He had his own pillow and clean sheets for the first time in his life. He just kept smiling at Rick.
The next day, several on the medical team and others went with Reggie and Rick to the Tytoo Gardens Orphanage. They took about 10 cots, blankets and bottled water. Reggie had a new home. Some of the boys started to teach him how to ride a bicycle. He also was able to watch a movie and acted as if he had never seen a movie before. Perhaps he had not.
This is a story of one little boy, a loving little boy who loves to give hugs. But there are estimated to be over 300,000 more children in Haiti like Reggie. He has now been officially named Reginald Moise Ashley. Did we do right by Reggie? I think so. It seems that God placed each person involved in the right place at the right time to give Reggie a safe home where he will be sent to school and won’t be used as a slave any more. As his given name Ja Jwenn denotes, “He Has Been Found.” There are other parts to this story, such as the fact that the woman who kept him was wielding a machete around when the guards and Rick went to her place to rescue Reggie. The woman was shouting and screaming saying she wanted her money and did not wish to go to the judge’s office. The guards begged her to go with them. Rick dropped to the ground and began to pray. Suddenly, she agreed to go see the judge, but she was still concerned as to whether she would get her money. It cost more money to obtain the official papers but this was nothing when you consider the life of a child.
Tytoo Gardens is a Christian orphanage. Other missionaries have expressed that it is a good place for children. The man who started it had run strip joints at one time. He was building a night club when children kept coming to him to be fed. After a while, he was feeding 100 children or more. Two of the children had no parents so the man took them in and an orphanage was born. It has room for additional children if the rooms started before the earthquake are finished. The man who started the orphanage accepted the Lord into his life and gave up the strip joints and the idea of building a night club. He has just recently died.
In this story, there is a lesson for all of us who have so much. Each one of us can decide on what that lesson is for our lives. If we are truly Good Samaritan’s, we must take action and show that we care. A little boy was just waiting to be found. He has now been found. He now has a new name, new friends and a new father. He, like Moses, has been found! We have a wonderful merciful Savior, precious Redeemer and Friend. Who would have thought that a Lamb could rescue the souls of man? In this case that soul is a little boy named Reggie Moise Ashley.
“Let the little children come to Me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14.
Haiti – The Aftermath…
Well I am sitting in Fort Lauderdale airport. So many thoughts going through my head. As I sat on the flight helping Haitian’s who cannot read and write fill out their Custom’s paperwork, Spirit Airlines attendants handed out Mastercard applications to everyone, promising 3 free flights… of course nobody can read the fine print. The whole scene made me sick to my stomach. I mean really… time and place.
I purposed in my heart that this time when I came home I was going to just blend back into my North American life and not pass judgment on our greed and wanting for bigger and better, for more and more. It has only been 2 hours and I am failing miserably. I am so confused. On one hand I am so proud of my heritage and my country. We are so blessed to have what we have and live in prosperity. And on the other hand I am ashamed at how easy it is to forget that beyond our bubble, there is so much more.
Today, on my flight out of Port au Prince I sat beside a gentleman who was a native of Haiti but has lived in the USA for many years. 2 months ago he returned home to visit his family so he could take them the money that he had been raising. He was sad to discover that many of his friends had perished in the earthquake. As we talked he told me how grateful he was to God that his family had been spared and that he was able to make money to provide for them. He told me he was also grateful that I would visit his country to help those in need. And then he said, “I am your brother because we were made in the same image of God. You are my sister. We share same love.” Ummmm…. it’s like he was quoting my own blog back to me!
Yesterday at the clinic for my last shift I was very emotional. It didn’t help that the interpreters kept saying, “We are going to cry today because you leave.” I am realizing that what is so overwhelming about this experience is the fact that I am not just creating a relationship with one person, but with an entire team of people. And all that shared love and joy and camaraderie fills me to overflowing. I have choked back sobs several times just while sitting here, the ache in my heart already more than I can bear.
When I was in Haiti in May my interpreter’s name was Luco. He is a gentle man who has a slight limp and limited use of his hands because of a childhood illness. We emailed a few times over the months and always asked about my family and friends. Before I left to return to Haiti a friend (Anna) gave me an iPod to give to one of the interpreters and I knew that I would give it to Luco. So yesterday for our last day I ordered take out (street meet) and cola’s and we had a party at lunch time. We listened to music and shared some laughs and it was quite lovely. Luco asked if he could see me in a private room which worked out fine for me because I wanted to give him the ipod without the others seeing. I wish there was a private video so I could capture how excited he was to receive the gift but take my word… he was overjoyed! I even gave him a wall charger so he could plug it in to charge and not need a laptop.
In the meantime he turned around and said that he also had something for me…
As you can well imagine there were some tears. What a beautiful gift. Note the spelling of my name… I love how he spelled it exactly as it sounds. The team back on the compound think he was sending a message.
Anyway… as I was typing this out there was a request for folks to give up their seats to take a later flight to accommodate some stand by passengers. Does this sounds familiar? I volunteered immediately but did not get my hopes up because the last time I thought it was going to play out in my favour I ended up boarding last minute.
Today I am happy to report that I was able to make the switch and for compensation in doing so I received free round trip airfare to anywhere (Haiti) and a first class seat home tonight.
Thank you all so very much for your love and prayers. I truly love each and every one of you. I pray that as you read these blogs, the eyes of your heart were opened to the needs of the world but also to the need to just love each other.
That being said… I met this fella at the airport in Port au Prince this morning. He would like to marry a Canadian. He is either 23 or 30 (offered both ages) but either way I told him I would do what I could! I have his number if anyone is interested :)
One Love xoxoxoxoxo
Haiti – Ready for a Challenge?
Hey friends!
I might as well just say it since it’s on my mind non-stop: only 2 more sleeps.
In only 2 more sleeps I will be hugging my children, eating take-out, taking a hot shower, wearing perfume instead of bug spray. I will also stop doing bed checks like I have OCD. I will be able to go to the bathroom and the only thing I will keep my eye out for is one of my son’s Archie magazines, not tarantula’s.
So my brother and sister in law have been house sitting for me and emailed me last week to let me know that my hot water got turned off. I remember Union Gas or whoever calling to remind me to pay and between all the shifts and all the planning I just didn’t. Also because I procrastinate. So anyway… what I am most looking forward to is a hot shower and of course that’s the one thing that won’t happen until early next week.
I’ve been thinking about this all week and half heartedly bugging my brother to suck it up and take a cold shower. But now I’d like to make it a whole-hearted challenge for not just my brother, but for all of you reading this: for one day, or one time, do something that is uncomfortable to you. If it’s a cold shower, a missed lunch, sleeping on the floor, turning off the A/C… whatever it is that even as you read this you are thinking about changing websites! But why not, even just for one time, make yourself uncomfortable and while you are ‘suffering’ think about the people who do not have such luxuries… And yes, I have heard the argument ‘if they don’t have it, how do they know what they are missing?’ But I’m not buying into that. Because WE know…
Anyway… that’s about all I have for tonight. Lame, I know. But to tell the truth I am emotionally and physically exhausted. I couldn’t have one more deep thought if my life depended on it. Not tonight anyway. But I did talk with Eddie and Jackson from Cite Soleil clinic about their friend today and they wanted to share with you folks about their experience and how much he meant to them… hopefully as you watch you can understand why it is so easy to love them.
See you soon :)
One Love
Haiti – Crayons and Pictures…
So today at the clinic a few of the interpreters were tired. When I asked them why they confessed it was because they were up late listening to music. They truly cannot thank you all enough for the MP3 players. Funny enough I loaded the players with gospel music including Kirk Franklin, Deitrick Haddon, Israel Houghton… and don’t get me wrong – they love it. But their favorite music? Michael W Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman!
Today was another great day. Yesterday while going through random boxes to see what sort of supplies we had to work with I came across a box filled with colouring sheets and crayons. So first thing this morning while the patients were lined up for clinic (they start lining up at 0600) I handed them out to all the children to colour. What a great way to keep their minds off the heat and unwell! And then we taped them up on all the walls. They were so proud of their work and prouder still to see it up on display for everyone to see. Even a few mothers took crayons and paper and sat colouring… I used to love colouring with my kids (and sometimes without them).
As the kids sat and coloured I walked around with my camera and took pictures. It was just a fun morning (slacking off) and spending time with the patients who were just waiting for triage. There was one older lady who kept wanting me to take her photo because she thought the playback was the funniest thing she had ever seen. Every time I would show her the picture she would laugh and laugh and then her laughter would get everyone else around her laughing.
I hope that when I get home I remember these simple moments that brought smiles to my face and to those around me. When I am stressed because bills are piling up or because of the expense of 2 new wardrobes for back to school I think I should have a video collage of the silly pics that brought smiles and giggles. Often times I give the camera over to the children to take pictures of each other. More times than not they never turn out but they have fun running around and snapping photos. Remember the brand new camera that I bought for my last trip? Well it has been through the ringer. Often times it won’t even turn on properly or it gives me an error message. It is cracked and chipped and I could care less. You can hardly see the playback image because it is covered with dirty little fingerprints from the children who love to point themselves out in the photo or from the masses who crowd around saying ‘hey you hey you’… It’s just a thing. I love to have it so I can capture the precious moments but I know that their are some images that the camera could never capture. Some moments and expressions that will be etched in my soul (fromage, I know but it’s so very true).
So Cite Soleil clinic has the luxury of a generator which means electricity which means we can listen to music. Today while we were listening to music a group of the interpreters who were in the room with me became very quiet and almost solemn. Because I hate not knowing what everyone is thinking and doing at all times I immediately went up to them and pestered them to tell me what was bothering them…
Kidding!
One of the guys came over to me (while I was working away minding my own business) and apologized for the quietness. He began to share with me about the history of the clinic. I think I knew this part but had forgotten, that the clinic was there before the earthquake happened. Another organization was using it for the same purposes, and a few of the interpreters worked there before Samaritan’s Purse came along. These boys soon became like family to each other (much like it is in any work place). On January 12, they lost their close friend in the earthquake. They were devastated, to say the least. And today as we were listening to music his favourite song came on and their discussion turned from silly jokes and playing to reminiscing.
And then Eddie, one of the interpreters, pulled out his wallet and took out a picture that he had stored away in it. Not a picture of siblings or of family or even his girlfriend. It was a picture of the group of them smiling and posing for a photo. This was touching to me not just because of the sentimental value but if you can imagine the length he went to just to have a print of this picture. It’s not like you can just take in a memory card to the local Black’s Photography shop… But he went to the trouble of getting it made to carry with him. (The lost friend is the one in the middle in the blue and white striped shirt)
And then once again I am reminded why I am here. What it was that drew me here in the first place was not the booming voice of the Lord saying “Go Forth into the land of Haiti and do good’. No, it wasn’t that. And just like that the headlines flashed again through my mind. It was a bittersweet moment for me as I realized that if it weren’t for the earthquake I would never have come to this country that has now captured my heart and soul. I can’t imagine what it must be like to carry the memory of the events that took place here during and following the earthquake. But I know that I will do my best to honour those whose lives were lost by remembering every day to love and to forgive.
3 more sleeps. That’s all I have left. I can hardly stand to think about it.
One Love
Haiti – A Lesson in Humility
Back to Cite Soleil today… My happy place. I gave the rest of the MP3 players to the interpreters and they were completely over the moon! They send many thanks and as soon as I am home with a stable internet connection I will post them for you all to see.
Sidebar… I ate Goat for supper tonight. They don’t use goat for cheese or milk which seems like such a waste of a perfectly fine resource. But they grill it. And it was delicious, bony, but delicious. Of course anything was delicious because I haven’t been able to eat the past few days because of the canker sores in my mouth. I am happy to report that this morning when I woke up they were GONE! I went from having painful sores where I couldn’t eat or smile to waking up this morning feeling nothing left. Prayers of the saints…
So today I had the opportunity to serve in the truest form possible. A gentleman came in with a deep cut on his under toe. He had stepped on something dirty and walked in bare feet through the dusty city to come for treatment. And when the script came in to pharmacy for ‘antibiotic cream to foot’ I was just going to put the cream in a baggie and send him on his way. But the doctor wanted the patient to be shown how to do his foot care for the following days and since nobody else wanted to do it I was sent out.
Although initially I was annoyed at having to leave my post to do teaching when I barely speak the language turned into a beautiful lesson in humanity. When I went into the room where the gentleman was sitting, immediately the word ‘servant’ came into my head. And all I could think was, ‘If you came here to serve here is a true opportunity to truly show a servants heart’.
The last night Jesus was alive on earth He washed the feet of His disciples. It was an act of love and humility. His disciples were shocked that He, their teacher and leader would stoop to wash their feet. And what was His response? “What I have done you are to do also.” There is actually so much that can be pulled out of that one account but today all I could think of was how I had to do likewise.
And so I got a wash basin, filled it with water, gathered supplies and knelt before this gentleman. Though I could speak no words that he could understand I took his foot, and soaked it in the basin of water. I washed it clean, patted it dry, and dressed his wounds. I did this knowing full well that I would be sending him out, still in his bare feet, still to walk the dirty roads. And I did this because he is worthy. I wanted to show him that although I am walking around with my fresh scrubs, and my clean hair and washed face that he is still my equal and I will gladly sit on the dirty floor and wash his feet.
What an amazing opportunity to show God’s love without ever saying the words.
One Love xo
Haiti – Cite Soleil… Feels Like Home
Week Three has begun and this week my assignment is Cite Soleil! What a happy reunion that was :) I practically flew out of the van and into the welcoming arms of all the interpreters who has been waiting to see me for the past 2 weeks. It felt like coming home.
But I’ll tell more about that after I tell you about my day yesterday. Another beach day! This time we went to a beach called Indigo which incidentally used to be a Club Med. It was gorgeous…. and CLEAN! I spent the day swimming in the ocean and resting under a straw hut, then more swimming, resting… and repeat. And when we got back to the compound everyone who looked at me did a double take because of the pretty shade of red my skin had turned. But it was worth it. The week has been exhausting, both emotionally and physically and a day of recuperating was just what the doctor ordered.
Last night for church I shared my life story, in the condensed version. And basically the end of the story was filled with hope. And renewed joy. In my awkward way I tried to encourage them that although we go through many valleys and it may seem that nothing is going the way it should that God is still in control. And hanging on to excess luggage is not only going to slow down their journey but it also makes a mockery of the cross. The majority of the people working here are signed on for a year at a time, with the exception of the medical team who do short terms of 2 weeks. Although my heart would love to be here for that length of time I can’t imagine how draining it must be, and even how frustrating to be in a country where the need seems to far outweigh the supply.
So sidebar… I have 2 canker sores in my mouth. BRUTAL. I have not been able to eat the past 2 days. And it’s not like I can run out to the closest Shopper’s and pick up some orajel or something to rinse my mouth with. I have been gargling with salt water and popping ibuprofen like it’s candy. They are very painful and I am even having a hard time smiling – which sucks since I just gave testimony about joy! And now I am walking around looking like I am on the verge of tears. And all I can think about is the story from a few years ago where someone ate a taco that had a cockroach in it and that roach laid eggs in the mouth. It was probably untrue but just the same… I’ve been pretty paranoid. I think the tarantulas did me in!
Anyway Cite Soleil… ahhhhhh. What a love I have in my heart for this city. For the people. For the interpreters and staff at the clinic. And even through all the ‘manifestations’, as our security team likes to call it, I have felt nothing but peace and calm. I know that this is where I am meant to be. It helps having an AMAZING security team that literally spends day and night keeping eyes and ears alert for danger zones. Please pray that I will not have to miss one day in Cite Soleil this week! I would hate to miss even a moment with my friends…
Before I left home for Haiti I had a brilliant idea that I would get stories of the people and post them. This has failed me for a few reasons: When I am working at clinic, either mobile or Cite Soleil, I am dedicated to that work. It is not the time to pause so I can get my camera and record their conversation with my camera in their face. Also because we have been having awful internet connections because of all the tropical storms it has slowed down our connection considerably. But I have been collecting stories as I go and capturing some videos which I will share with anyone who wants to listen when I get home.
Joany and Steve, if you are reading this Gary wants to know when are you coming back to see your brother?!
Ok my friends… I am going to go see if there is any pudding in the kitchen and then have a nice cold shower before bed. (not that there is any other option)
One Love xoxo
Haiti – Orphanage Day Take 2!
Ok I know I said no blogging on the weekends but I just re-read some of the blogs from during the week and I realize I definitely flaked out on a few of them! I’m not sure what thoughts I have floating around in my head tonight but let’s have a go and see where the train leads…
This morning we said good bye to some good people. Dr Anna, my fellow Canadian and now my friend, finished her 2 weeks and was flying home today. Bobby, our cook extraordinaire who served here for quite a few months truly learning how to be a servant was going home today and starting back to school on Tuesday. And Chris, who I met my first Sunday here, was sitting playing guitar outside one morning and immediately I was at his side ready to sing along. And although I never really learned his role here (not sure he ever really did either), I was also sad to see him leave this morning as well. (stay tuned in to facebook for more information regarding my new relationship status with one of the people mentioned above)
I had a very lazy start to the day. I’m not sure if it was heat related or just sad to see people leaving or if I was just tired from my late night out. (latenight = 11PM, eating fresh homemade brownies on the helicopter pad)
Once I finally did get mobile and checked in with the medical team we were given news that we were on lockdown on the compound and that we would not be able to go anywhere today. I didn’t really have any trips to the mall planned or anything like that but it’s a bit unnerving when news like that gets delivered because of the ‘unknown’ situation outside our bubble. During early afternoon we were allowed to leave the compound but only make a right-turn into the mountain towns, not to head towards Cite Soleil. So we piled in the van and visited a few more orphanages!!
The first one we visited was started by a teacher named Isaiah who started the orphanage for the displaced children after the earthquake. He is the first person who has an ‘organized’ system and he has actually taken down all the information for each child, and printed an information and story card for each one of them. And when we walked in the gates those children greeted us and ran into our arms as though we were long lost relatives coming for a long overdue visit. We gave them t-shirts and suckers. Dr Kara (another fellow Canadian, an Anesthesiologist who is the medical director for SP) wanted the children to sing and play a game with us when they were done their suckers but those kids were not going to crunch and munch their suckers away… oh no, they savoured every last piece. And then we played. It was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon – just playing. No worrying about triage and assessments and treatments… today our medicine was laughter!
I was thinking about how much I love to hear the children’s laughter. I love the sound of it. I love knowing that there is something that gives them joy overflowing that it escapes out of them in the form of a giggle. I love the lingering smiles. And not because it makes me feel good that while I was with them I was able to make them laugh or smile… I, I, I… because it’s not like that. I just happened to be there to witness the beauty of it. And that’s what makes me feel good is knowing that despite their loss and sadness they are able to find a giggle and set it free.
You know how sometimes something fun happens during your day and when you lay your head on your pillow at night you think on it and a smile spreads across your face? That is my prayer for the children. That although it might not seem like much, as they lay their heads to sleep, the memory of enjoying a sucker today will put a smile on their face tonight.
As we left we asked the children if we could pray with them. Let me tell you… those kids can teach us a thing or two about prayer. If ever there was a prayer said in earnest I can guarantee it came from any of those children.
‘Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul’ ~ Ghandi
I know that tonight my prayer, my souls longing, will be for God’s love to surround those children. Will you do the same?
One Love xo
Haiti… Love of My Life
Well week 2 is nearing an end. I can’t believe how time is flying by. I refuse to allow myself to feel the ache of longing in my heart until the very last moment… although I can already feel the tugs. That being said, sometimes I miss TV. Or having a lamp beside my bed. And sleeping in a full size bed that is not covered in mosquito netting. And waking up without itching from the bug bites. I miss toilets being available at my convenience and not having to train my bladder to hold until the shift is over.
I miss my kids and family.
I miss my friends.
I don’t like to dwell on those things too long because I think it is a dangerous place to let your mind wander into. I know that all those things I miss will be mine once more.
And today I realized that the same cannot be said for the little orphans that we visited today. And for many of the people of Haiti who suffered a devastating loss. And it saddens me that they are not given the opportunity to mourn and grieve the way we would in North America. But as they keep telling me, “This if life.” And no matter how much I want for it not to be their life, it is the only life they have known.
Today when we were at the orphanage it was report card day. For the few fortunate kids who were able to afford to attend school it was a good day. The director of the orphanage we visited today was given boxes and boxes of medical supplies from another organization after the earthquake. And he has been trying to sell it so he can send 10 children to school. Not so that he can buy the latest computer or car or grown up toy but so he can send 10 children that are not even his flesh and blood, to school so their lives may be bettered.
For one child who lived next to the orphanage report card day did not fare out so well… He failed. And we all knew because we heard the kid get a beating. I’m talking serious get a branch off the tree whipping. And all of us ex-pats just stood looking at the Nationals wondering who was going to do something to stop it. And nobody moved an inch. In fact, many of them didn’t even flinch. We stood there with tears in our eyes as the poor child was screaming bloody murder and there was nothing we could do because, “This if Life.”
Ack! God is teaching me that I can’t fight every battle. And it is a hard lesson to learn.
Anyway tonight we are having a party for a few of the fella’s who are leaving tomorrow. So this is going to be short and sweet as the pool party starts in 5 minutes!
xoxoxo
One Love
Haiti – Titayen 2
Hey friends!
Well in case you haven’t heard: The government postponed their decision on who can run for President until Friday. This did not sit well with the people who fear they are being screwed and so they started rioting anyway. Last night the streets going in and out of the city were blockaded with burning tires. So Cite Soleil medical team joined us today.
It was a much smoother day. My teammates all call me BOSS and I usually remind them not to forget the Y! I truly feel in my element here and I love the interaction with the Haitians and the volunteers that come and go. It’s nice for me to have the advantage of being here before and being here for an extended period of time. I have already seen team members come and go and am able to help ease new members into their role.
There are a few funny stories that I forgot to share with you so while I am waiting for my video with Balthazar to upload I thought I would share them…
As most of you know, this organization that I am involved with is part of Franklin Graham ministries. That being said it is Christian based. Now they don’t expect us to live like monks and nuns but it is expected that we maintain appropriate conduct. Anyway… we have this air conditioned lounge that we all meet in to watch movies and the other day we chose one that wasn’t inappropriate, it just happened to have A LOT of cursing in it… Which is par for the course but it also happened to be the day that new staff was arriving and as they toured them around the compound they would walk in and be greeted with an F Bomb every 5th word.
So me, not wanting to miss the movie but also not wanting to make it look as though I had anything to do with the movie selection would ‘fake’ sleep every time the door opened and they would bring in the new folks. I had my line all ready to go should they ask: ‘Hey who changed the channel? I was watching Little House on the Prairie!’
Smoooooooth eh?!
Anyway on Saturday when we went to the waterfalls a few of my guy friends helped me climb the falls. Along with the Haitians who want to help you so you will pay them. Anyway I had just made it out into the middle of the opening and was talking to my friend on a rock about 4 feet away. The plan was for him to reach over to me and support me while I jumped over to him. As we were planning this leap our friends were on the side of the waterfalls saying “I wonder if Stacey knows that there is a big hole right in front of her’
No sooner had they said those words and I slipped right into it and in doing so I pulled in my friend with me! I looked over to the team on the sidelines… laughing or shaking their heads as if to say… “Yup…”
The next day at the resort we went to the plan was to snorkel. After quite a bit of coaxing my friends convinced me to jump off the side of the outside bar and into the ocean, even though I was terrified of the sea urchins, jellyfish and whatever else would be lurking. But I crumbled under the peer pressure and took the leap into the waters only to discover that someone has set my snorkel up backwards so I ended up inhaling a litre of dirty ocean water before I even got started!
After they fixed me up properly (all from the deck I might add) I went on my way snorkelling around. I just want to say at this point that my goggles were foggy and therefore made things difficult to decipher. That being said… when I same up beside a black garbage bag I assumed it was a sting ray and had a freak out… as I was swimming away in a furry I swam into a clear plastic bag which I assumed was a jellyfish and had another freakout… all the while my friends are on the deck laughing at the sound of hearing my cries through a snorkel!
It’s all good. If we can’t laugh at ourselves than who can we laugh at? I truly am enjoying every moment here, the laughs, the tears, the cold showers, the rice and beans… all of it adds up to an amazing life experience. I think half of our experiences in life are what we make of them and how we interact with the others.
And yet… the highlight so far? Skype with my sister and hearing my niece say my name for the first time!!!
So today I would like you to meet Balthezar. He is my brother and friend. He has a precious heart and his love for his people and especially the young people of Haiti is admirable. He talks about his life in Haiti, the earthquake and how much the MP3 player means to him…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VadCuPL-KGY
One Love xoxo
