Saturday

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30th...

This is Jane, from Red Wing...the other “first timer” here.  

It’s our last full day in Haiti. “I want to go home, I want to come back” is tugging at all of us.  

Church, this morning, was at the men’s campus of Haiti Teen Challenge.  It is a newer open air structure, bursting at the seams, and they are very excited about that.  A three hundred seat addition is coming soon.  

The Haitian people were so warm and welcoming here, so genuine.  Those brilliant white smiles say a lot.  Church was a lot like church at home, with a live praise band getting people excited.  “This is Amazing Grace” sung in Creole was quite something to hear.   They gave us head phones with a live translation to English.  Sure didn’t need it for the music.  

They do their sermons in a series, like many of us at home.  Today was the last in a a series called “I Love My Church.”  They had tee shirts to go along with that theme.  Next week, they will begin talking about “family.”

Speaking today, was the lead pastor’s spiritual mentor, over the years.  She was a wise woman who had simple, but solid ideas to grow your church.  “Attend church.  Be in a small group. Contribute financially.”  You need to do this if you are going to be authentic.  She said to “be proud of all of that, but don’t take a selfie while putting your money in the collection plate.” 

Right after church, our three teams climbed aboard three tap-taps and headed north, along the coast.  The water is a crazy beautiful blue, and looked surreal against the mountains.  Our destination was a resort called Wahoo.  We passed the “mass grave” site from the earthquake again, a most humbling place.  I vaguely remember Samaritan’s Purse arriving quickly to help.  Indeed, the hillside was covered in Samaritan’s blue tarp tents, then.  Now, many families have stayed in their small shanties, to be near their lost loved ones.  Unimaginable.  

We settled in for lunch at Wahoo, an hour or so, later.  Creole fish and rice, so good.  Some of us sat and relaxed, journaled, chatted.  A few snorkeled, although there was talk of leaking tubes and masks, lol. 

Tina and I sat in front with Valerie, our driver on the way “home.”  Valerie is a pleasant, easy going family man, with a wife and small daughter. He is proud of Haiti, telling me “it is the friendliest country on earth.”   I wouldn’t call him “friendly” behind the wheel though.  I don’t know if I’ve been on a ride where the speedometer settled at 100 much of the time.  
It was our last look at the neighborhoods, the countryside, and the daily struggles of many to stay alive.  We passed a funeral procession walking along the road.  It’s the third we’ve seen.  Everyone wears black and white, walking behind a marching band.  it looks like a celebration.  

Our last dinner, and team time tonight.  Leader Jess says this was a successful mission.  We talked about transitioning to home, and the array of emotions that might go with it.  New friends feel like old friends.  I’m eager to tell of this place, these people, but have no idea where I’ll start.  Heartstrings were tugged many of us didn’t know we had.  I’m dreading the “goodbye” tomorrow...those brilliant white smiles.

It certainly sounds like Healing Haiti is helping to heal Haiti.  My teammates see improvements in just a year.  Roads are better.  Orphanages are cleaner, several things.  A school, church, and clinic are rising from a garbage pit and burial ground in Citi Soleil.  It’s been fascinating, and validating for me to see children clothed, fed, and educated, because of sponsorship in one of the global efforts you hear about, at Christian concerts, for example.  Individual sponsorship can happen, as well, at “Teach Haiti” as just one example.  It’s real.

To my teammates...Your kindness, and patience (with all our questions, and me) was always there.  I never heard a negative word, not one.  I loved watching you spread your love at every stop.  Jessica, I hope I hear “HEY YOU” (how the kids great us) in my dreams, for a long time Angels, you are. 

Finally, I say a huge “thank you” to Ann and Jessica for their unbelievable leadership, this past week.  Their passion, love, experience, watchful eyes, and humor, were constantly on display.  They made sure we had crafts and snacks at every orphanage.  We never went empty handed.  We had food and gift bags for all the elderly.  I couldn’t have  anticipated the joy that resulted, from their thoughtful preparation.

Godspeed more help to Haiti, and safe travels back home, beautiful ladies