Shiny Stars in a Pile of Trash

This morning a team of 13 left to go back home. As soon as they drove off, we began to clean up for the 30 Brazilians who were coming over for dinner. Tomorrow another team arrives.

As we sat outside during a debrief time this morning, one of the girls shared about her experience working at the clinic and she said that place is a shiny star in a pile of trash.

One of the observations many of them had was about how much trash there is all over the place. We were at an incredible beach yesterday and as the wind began to blow, the shore was soon filled with plastic bottles and trash. 

And I have to admit, that as I look around, it can be discouraging. Haiti will not change overnight. As I sat in the Constortium meetings the first few days I was here, the Haitian leaders and Americans talked about how bringing change is a long process. Its about relationship and discipleship and those are a process. Even in these states as I see the brokeness, the evil, the pain that fills this world, and those glimmers of hope, those shiny stars, get harder to see.

I love that I get a mini Bible lesson during my Creole class. Franck, my teacher, finds a way to incorporate it in whatever he is teaching me that day. One day he is teaching me vocabulary having to do with food. Why not have a lesson on what Haitians eat during the Lent season. And if we are talking about Lent, we have to talk about Easter and what and why we celebrate. These lessons are nothing new to me. But there is something different in his voice when he talks about these things. Hope. He has hope in the one who died on this good Friday. He has hope in the one who rose again on Easter. He has hope that God will one day return and make all things right. All that is wrong in this world, in Haiti, will be made whole again. All of the suffering that is seen on a daily basis. All of the broken and sick. All those piles of trash will be gone. 

But until that day comes, there are shiny stars. There are glimmers of hope all around. There is the abundance of joy the Haitians have while they sit in their tent praying for enough food to feed their family. There is a deeper understanding that there is more to this world than things when you ask what they want prayer for and their response is to have a stronger faith. And there are those incredible men and women whom I have met who have committed their lives to living in Haiti to be shiny stars, to ultimately share with the Haitians the one thing that will last, eternal life. 

Sometimes its easy to walk around with your eyes closed to keep from seeing hopelessness all around you. But I am realizing that also means I can't see all that God is already doing. 

Death looks like it wins, right up until it doesnt. He is risen. He is risen, Indeed!

How much more.

Chet and I have been dating for 6 months. I couldn't have imagined all of the joy he has brought me. 

I am living in Haiti for three months. Being away from Chet has probably been the hardest aspects of this so far...harder than I anticipated. We have been fortunate in that we have been able to communicate in some form every day since I left. Even though being apart is hard, we both agree that it will be good for us in the long run. We get to work on really communicating with one another. Listening to one another. Caring for one another. And continuing to learn about one another. All while 3000 miles apart. We are forced to be intentional with our time. It is easy to ‘be’ together while sitting on the couch watching an episode of Alias. And I love those  moments, but it takes more thought, more time, more energy to be together while we are apart.

So we have started asking each other questions everyday. Silly questions. Serious questions. Just to be intentional with the other person. Each morning, the first thing I do is read his email. I eat it up. I cant wait to see how he answered whatever questions I asked. And I learn something new about him. 

There have been moments when my own insecurities start to fill my mind and I don’t understand why Chet loves me, I hear God’s voice saying, How much more, Andrea. How much more do I love you. This human love is just a glimpse of how much I love you and want to be with you. As I laid on my bed this afternoon, I began to think about relationships and how that is one of God’s way of showing his love for us. I thought about how we are really trying to be intentional (I keep using this word, I don’t have another good one) with each other and how easy it is to stop. Then I thought about how much easier it is to stop being intentional with God. 

As I sat this morning, watching the chickens and lizards and goats (Im pretty sure these chicken lizards and goats are going to make it into every post) I was reminded of the Do not worry verses in Matthew. He cares for those chickens and lizards and goats. HOW MUCH MORE does he care for me!

The Creator of the Universe who knows me. Loves me. And wants me. All of me. Is waiting each morning for me to sit with him as he tells me and shows me more about himself. I just need to show up and listen.

Today.

It’s Friday morning. I have my cup of coffee. Im staring out the balcony window at the clucking chickens down below who are scratching the ground underneath the mango tree, looking for worms I assume. Down the street, mama goat is frantically calling for her baby who likes to wander around. Baby goat, who is quite possibly the cutest baby goat, pretty much ignores mama goat’s cry until she gets scared or is hungry. A lizard just jumped onto a giant leaf and scurried away. Drops of water are still falling from the trees after a big rain last night. 

I have been here two weeks now and am beginning to figure out the routine of daily life here. When I think about all these 3 months entail, it overwhelms me. I am reminded to be present. Today. Right now. 

“This is the day that I have made. Rejoice and be gland in it. Begin the day with open hands of faith, ready to receive all that I am pouring into this brief portion of your life. Be careful not to complain about anything, even the weather, since I am the Author of your circumstances…I knew what I was doing when I divided time into 24 hour segments. I understand human frailty, and I know that you can bear the weight of only one day at a time…there is abundant life in my presence today.”      -Jesus Calling

I laughed to myself as I read, Be careful not to complain about anything, even the weather… It’s hot. It’s humid. It’s kind of gross sometimes….a lot of times. 

The Lord is my Shepherd today. He restores my soul today. He gives me what I need today. For his name sake, he leads me in paths of righteousness, today. I will fear no evil, today. He is with me, today. He comforts me, today. My cup overflows, today. 

A few random facts about Ayiti

In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue...to Haiti!

Children are taught in French in school. They don't  have a Creole class even though Creole is the official language.

Haiti's currency is the Haitian Dollar. However, the dollar doesn't actually exist. It is all in gourdes. When you go to the market, the price will be in dollars. There are about 44 gourdes to 1 Haitian dollar and about 8 Haitian dollars to $1 US. Confused? Me too! 

I see almost as many Haitians walking a goat or cow as I would Americans walking their dog. I love that! The goats are cute. Really cute. 

Geckos are often guests at dinner. 

Geckos make noises like birds when in love….according to my sister. ;)

When counting in Creole, it is all very normal until you get to 70. Instead of counting 71, 72, 73 ect. You say 60 11, 60 12, 60 13 ect. Once you get to 80 you are back to normal….until 90 then its weird again. 

Also, I spent the last 30 minutes trying to get some pictures on here. Slow internet and a computer freeze means only two pictures made it.

At New Horizons Orphanage

One of Haiti's Beautiful Beaches

Week 1

I have been here about a week now and have spent each day in meetings. The first several days were with just the team as we talked through our top strengths individually and as a team. We discussed the cultural challenges that can come up working on an international team as well as working in Haiti.

By Monday we had 30 people here who are part of the Haiti Constortium (Haitian Partners, US churches, International Church). We spent the next few days in meetings talking through what it looks like to bring the vision of the Consortium to a reality in Haiti. “To see an indigenous, disciple making and multiplying church, with in walking distance of every Haitian, which demonstrates and engages in proclaiming the transforming power of the gospel.”  

Some of the topics included disciple making and the Haitian worldview. Each night my head was spinning as I sat all day listening to these Haitian men who have incredible influence in their country, talk about what the need is in Haiti and how we can play a role in that and how the Haitian Church has just as much to give to the American church as well. The issues such as disciple making and world views are just as much of an issue in America as they are in Haiti. It was cool to see how we can learn from one another.

The last six months have been an emotional roller coster with incredible highs and really difficult situations. The last three months have been a whirlwind of getting ready to come here. Combine those with little time to process through it all with the fact that I am now in a foreign county for the next three months and that makes for a melt down my first night in Haiti!

Actually the melt down started at the airport and continued on the airplane. My dear friends sent cards with me, with the intention of reading one a day…well, I hadn’t even made it to Miami before I had them all opened. 

But God has been gracious to me and each day has been a little better than the one before. I am looking forward to figuring out more of what my role will be while I am here!

And once I figure out how to get pictures from my phone to my computer to this blog, you might actually be able to see a bit of Haiti...maybe... :)