January 10,2012

Today was a day of contradiction: we saw and felt great joy in reuniting with those that we bonded with on our last trip one year ago: and we experienced great frustration and pain while attempting to distribute aid to local children.

We caught up with more children that we know from before, and were warmly embraced and even invited to their home! Peter, the student that I sponsor, was one that invited us to meet his mother. She is home recuperating following an accident that broke her femur. When we arrived at the temporary shelter house in the former tent city, I was surprised to see her sitting on a bed with a rod and screws in her thigh! She was very gracious and seemed happy to see the group. We also visited the home of Stephenson and Melisa, two of the other kids we know. Melisa asked us to pray before we left. We stood in a circle, American and Haitians, holding hands and repeated the Lord's Prayer in our own languages. Different words, same pattern: different colored hands, created the same in form and function. More than one of us ended the "Amen" with tears in our eyes. Here we were standing in a plywood dwelling, consisting of 3 rooms that housed all of this family's worldly possessions, and it could still fit 12 people in a prayer circle! Melisa cried too, and smiled shyly. It was very important to her for us to pray before we left. She told me that she "loves Jesus" and I assured her that we will pray for her and her family even when we are back at home.
In the afternoon we thought that we had a great idea of putting on a puppet show, having a brief bible lesson, then handing out craft crosses and a snack of crackers and juice...  It was a good idea...we spread the word, and the children showed up in droves....all ages, all sizes. Some came with parents. Even the preteen and teens showed up. Amid the chaos, we performed the show and lesson. However when the time came to extend the crosses, and snacks, the nature of the experience shifted to a shoving competition. It is hard to understand why the people could not stand in line to walk through an aid station of sorts.... this was a good lesson for us. While we can visit and do some good (there were over a hundred children who did receive a nutritious snack today). We also learned that there are many many things about this culture that we do not, and will not understand.  At dinner Pastor Strom talked about Jesus speaking to the crowds of people. That he felt what we felt today. That he reached out and let the people touch him, and he healed who he could. He had to withdraw or be crushed. He and his disciples used a boat. We did not have a boat today, only our hands and smiles, to comfort and assure that we are reaching out in the best way we can for these people. That we care. Perhaps that, for now, is all we can do.
Tonight I am weary. But I am choosing to be thankful. That we were here, to guide them, calm them, and smile assurances that we care. I hope someday they fully understand that we did the best we could. I also hope that someday we realize that they did too. And thankfully, God loves and forgives us both.
Lastly, one footnote: I have come to believe that the many roosters on this island are blind, because they crow all night long....and tonight is a quite beautiful full moon...it's gonna be a long one. And I can also be thankful for that, because in between the rooster crows, I know 15 people who need every minute of rest to recharge and go out and do even better tomorrow.