I've heard so much about the joy and friendlieness of the people and the deforestation of the land. The first is true and obvious; the second is true and not so obvious. The country is so much more beautiful than the Dominican Republic; the mission base (school and pharmacy) we're working on is in the slums... on ocean front property. Today I watched a man in a traditional canoe keep bailing it out.
There's a part of me that is completely stir crazy. I've seen 1 (delightful, but still 1) patient. And yet, the Lord is good. My joy, of course, is in the people. Laura, 15, and Mary Lily, 5 are my buddies at the children's home we're staying at. Laura has a quick smile and we manage to communicate through a crazy mix of French (6 years later, some little bits are still in there), English, Spanish and Creole in that order. Mary Lily is so hungry for love; I've tried to keep that balance between showing her that she is loved and knowing that I will be leaving on Monday and that its wrong to make that too difficult for this tiny child.
Oh, and I've gotten my hair done in cornrows. Solidarity? Maybe, that's my intention at least, but it was also just fun (if painful) to have Laura do my hair. I was going to let it just fall out, since I look pretty goofy but Mary Lily redid it for me today. Ah well; there are pictures; Tia will be jealous I'm sure.
The best part of today was spending some time on the beach with the kids. Its literally right next door to this house as well. We had to climb through a construction area because they walled off the old stairs. In the US everyone would be all about the beach, but here's its mostly pebbles and trash. The kids can't swim and there are stinging sea urchans anyways so we didn't go too deep but we did mess around in the surf (not my original plan). I'm really holding to Tony's words, the missionary from here in Haiti, that the most important thing for a missionary is "flexibility." He told me about a missionary doctor that God took through 3 continents learning languages - and never doing medicine until he finally got back to the states. I pray that isn't in God's plan for me, though that flexibility is a lot harder than I would have expected.
I've also talked with Monolo a local pastor a bit while we were en route from Gran Guave back to Petite Guave (the Happy House). I was interested to hear that he didn't know anything about Zanma Lamnasti (Partners in Health), though my accent could be part of the problem.
The country and people are beautiful, but I couldn't be in Haiti long term. It isn't where my heart is called, though I do hope that God chooses a beautiful place like it for me to work. I'm glad Ed Lockett has been called here.
Finally I think the most beautiful thing is seeing the missionaries from the US, DR and Haiti all really working together; getting supplies, people, dreaming and laughing together. In this mission field it really is all one big family. I've been made part of it so quickly and without ever thinking to take that title on myself. I guess I have though, amen.
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