We started the day almost
before the rooster crowed. Bright and early, around 515am, giving us enough
time to board the tap-tap and head to tent church for the early morning
service.
Church was very
interesting and enlightening. Although it was entirely in Créole, we could pick
up some body language. Some Haitians, wept while several others walked back and
forth, praying, singing praise and joy for God. We commented to each how nice
it was to see the young school age kids in attendance before their school day
begins. We decided to take the short
walk home as breakfast was ready. Our hearts were fed and it was time now to
nourish our bodies before going out into the field for our daily service.
Next up we were able to
make a water run into a different district deep into Cite Soleil. As
As with all water runs we
experienced this week, the citizens all welcomed us with buckets, barrels,
anything and everything water can hold. Women and children quickly massed, all
there to wait in line for water. That very staple we come to take for granted.
We were able to fill most, yet not all buckets before we emptied the truck.
Seeing the faces and hearing the thank-you’s (some even in English) was both
heart wrenching and fulfilling.
One more short stop to the
guesthouse to change out of wet clothes, then off to the Monfort School for the
Deaf. A few members of our team visited here just last May, and were completely
in awe at the transformation. The changes included the development of empty
spaces into a full size basketball court, boys and girls dorms, an almost fully
working, nearly self-sustainable, farms. Everything with the goal of teaching
these great kids valuable lessons that they may share with their families someday.
We played basketball with several kids, played
soccer, and gave many hugs. I was a bit disappointed
when Sister called the students back to class, cutting our games short. The kids
react to verbal cues very well and love to laugh and smile, how sweet a sight!
We hugged goodbye, waved goodbye
and chose to head straight to the newly built Grace Village restaurant Fleri (Creole
for Flourish) for pizza. Our translator
suggested that rather than trying to navigate through the crowed and slow
moving traffic, we head straight to supper. Driving past the Earthquake
Memorial was still as chilling as the day before when we stopped to pay our respects.
Following a long and
rather adventuresome drive, we arrived at Fleri. We dined in the newly built outdoor
patio area. Here is another shining example
of a newly constructed business focused on hiring local Haitians (some from
Grace Village). Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the pizza and appetizers. We were
all impressed by the staff, service and excited at the opportunities the bakery and restaurant brings to people here.
The sun is just setting behind a mostly overcast sky and the breeze
feels good through the mesh in the tap-tap. Although its completely dark with very
few streetlights, nighttime gives us another new perspective. I don’t think
this country, these people, ever stop. Morning, noon or night, it’s a constant
bustle. Yet I think, in most cases, their survival depends on it!
Have a good night!
`Jamie
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