Sometimes I'd like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine and injustice when He could do something about it. But I'm afraid He might ask the same of me.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

• Monday •

Waking up knowing it was a day to work brings a smile to our faces. Different than home (I'm the first to admit physical labor is not my forte.) ;o) but definitely a nice change of pace. We had plans to paint at the school today and Roberto had to go into port to take a test so Alex is escorting us to the school. We're off to paint! Our long walk is a welcome trip, as we get to see the village kids and families along the way.


We thought it hadn't rained much the night before, the puddles we were dodging weren't too bad. But they seemed to be getting slimier all the time. And, oops.... Kelsey didn't quite make it over one before she slipped and plopped right down in it. We can laugh now because it's past, but at the time we felt bad. Being the farm kids that we are, Kelsey just brushed herself off.... well, okay so she couldn't brush it off. She flung a bit of the mud off of her hands and walked on. I know it had to be uncomfortable but what can you do? There's no 7-11 on the corner to stop and wash off at, and no water hydrant at the nearest park to wash off at. When we got to the school one of the men was kind enough to bring Kelsey a bucket of water to wash off with. Her entire leg was covered with mud, you couldn't see any bare skin. :o( It was turning out to be a very hot day too so I know she was uncomfortable, but she never complained. :o)


We painted a classroom and some of the outer walls with blue paint. Well, blue water... paint. I think it was paint. There was about three inches of water settled to the top of the buckets and we had to shake them a bit and dug through a scrap pile to find a piece of wood to stir the paint with. I don't know how they keep anything painted with that stuff. I'd think it would wash right off with a power washer, but then again, they don't have those in Haiti either. lol It washed right off of our skin and came out of our clothes with ease. But, it served it's purpose and the kids have fresh paint on their walls. With all the construction we couldn't paint as many classrooms as we hoped to. There were boards and lumber piled up in front of the doors and workers making rebar frames and supports for the construction. After a couple of hours we were finished and decided to walk home.

Alex had errands he was tending to when he left us at the school and said he would return around 1 or 1:30. We were finished with our work by 10:30 and it was pointless to sit and do nothing for a few hours. So, we walked to Mike and Marion's house (within spitting distance! lol), and borrowed the 4-wheeler to go home on. We couldn't all fit on the 4-wheeler so Kevin took us in shifts. Riding behind Kevin on a 4-wheeler.... more of a risk than walking through a Haitian village without an escort? Debateable. lol Kevin took Kelsey and I back to the house and then went back for Taylor and Diane as they walked along the road waiting for him to come back. And, believe it or not, I was never worried. About us, about Diane and Taylor, about Kevin riding alone to go back for them. The people are loving and accepting of us knowing why we're here and very few look away or point fingers. It's an odd feeling. Everywhere we go we're the only white people, and I've never felt more comfortable or safe. There's places in Kansas City I wouldn't go alone. But in Montrouis, Haiti I feel welcomed.



Kevin didn't dump us going back to the house and he and Taylor rode back to Marion's house to pick her up and bring her to our compound for a visit (and a 4-wheeler lesson). lol She stayed for a while and we had a nice visit before Alex and Roberto came home. We feel lost at times without them since we're not supposed to go anywhere without them. There was some painting to be done at the house where repairs had been made to the bathroom so Taylor and Diane took care of that.

Kevin of course is off to swim again, and Roberto is taking us girls for a walk through the village. We were getting a feel of what the children and families go through ona daily basis. How the kids work to carry water, everyone doing laundry by hand and how far they all have to walk to get to anything (anything meaning the river for water, or a well, or the school). We got to meet Brian and Kristi's cousin and John Lee (their brother) surprised us at the school before we left too. :o) Diane is happy to see familiar faces and the kids all remember her. I'm so busy savoring all the smiling faces I wasn't paying attention when I stepped off of the walking path and stepped on an ant hill. Red ants. Fire ants. :o) Aaaah..... Did I mention they sting/bite? LOTS of them. I had red welts all over my feet very quickly and my feet went a bit numb and tingly. But, no point in complaining and nothing you can do about it.... walk on. Lucky for me I'm not allergic to anything and by nightfall and my shower the red welts were gone and you never could have known I'd been bit by anything. Diane's jealous. ;o) lol
After lunch (4pm) we decided to relax and play a game of volleyball tonight. Of course the darker it gets the harder it is to see that big rubber ball coming straight at your head. lol We had a blast! I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard. Laughed at the kids, at myself, at Roberto and Alex. We had a great time. See, it is possible to have fun without electricity! Without video games and internet! lol The only part that wasn't fun was getting bit by a centipede! Darn Haitian bugs! Mosquitos are the least of my worries! lol You never know what's slithering through the grass. ;o)
All the walking and interacting with the kids from the village and listening to Roberto and Alex has inspired me to be a sponsor for a child. Now.... to pray about it and find just the right child. Too bad Eric's not around to keep me company. ;o) I found two little girls on the sponsorship page of the mission website... Roberto says we can meet them both tomorrow.

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