day 5! I discover a new PASSION!

Today was called a “campus day” where we stayed at the Mission and could choose to work in one of the programs on site, or paint. We decided that we would go back to the nutrition program and play with all of the kids. I had forgotten that I brought a bunch of kid’s sunglasses with me that someone donated, so we brought them down to the kids. We wore them up on our heads like they were our own, knowing the kids would take them to play with them and then we would just not “collect” them back.

The little girl Nadesj that normally hangs with me was not there today, she told me she had a doctor’s appointment, so I was claimed by another little girl. Her name was Christine. What a kid! She had attitude and personality. She was TOUGH, but hilarious. She was pretty small about the size of a six year old but I suspect she is older. At first she would not let anyone else sit on me. She would punch and hit them I finally had to intervene because she was getting a little aggressive and possessive.

not sure why I am making a POPEYE face ...lol but I like the picture of the hug

Most of the kids seemed off today. Lots of fighting amongst them. One little boy was throwing rocks at Kitty and hurt her. It was interesting to watch the older kids discipline him. They all look out for one another and parent each other. The older children chastised him and then made him stand for a time out.

I noticed that with all the kids they respect authority, whoever is the eldest person around they are in charge, whether they are 8 or 50. The rest of the kids know and listen to what is being asked of them.

Many of the kids were sick today as well. I was shocked to see a mom having her child blow their nose in her hand and then she wiped it on her skirt. Then I realized what else would she do? It’s not like they have Kleenex or toilet paper. One little baby was lying on a cement step and was coughing so hard and gasping. She sounded like my Jayde when she used to get sick and I was thinking this baby needs to see someone.

Around the same time, while we were sitting and playing there was a little girl beside Shyla who was sick. Shyla said mom come and listen to this little girl breathe, I think there is something wrong with her. I got side tracked and didn’t go over. A few minutes later My daughter Christine came over and asked me what the nurse’s name was. She said there was a little girl coughing so hard she fainted. I assumed it was the baby on the step and said “Yes I saw her; I think she needs medical attention.” Later I found out this was the girl Shyla told me to come and look at.

Brian, Maggie , Shyla and Kitty took this little girl to the clinic that is on the Missions ground where she was treated and put on a nebulizer machine. They sat with her for a long time holding her and giving her treatments.

Many of the kids are not with parents in the nutrition program. So it took a little while to figure out who this little girl was. We found out her mom was doing laundry in the mission and was not able to leave her job. There is no way she could afford to take that time off. Somehow the grandma was notified and came and sat with the little girl and  cared for her.

Yesterday when I was out my young friend Weslay who is part of the bracelets bandits, said he would get me some bracelets. Not the ones with names but the black onyx type. I told him I would order some in the morning from him. So at the nutrition center Weslay is there and says you want bracelets?  I told him yes I wanted 2 bracelets and 2 cross necklaces.  A few minutes later Weslay is there again and says yesterday you tell me you would order from me today. I realize I just gave my order to his identical twin brother. So now I am obligated to make the same request so I ordered another 2 necklaces and 2 bracelets. I just spent 24 dollars on jewelry I did not need. Oh well I can give it away when I get home. No big deal. However my money is limited here as I only brought what is suggested to bring, 

A short time later a boy comes and hands me two bracelets and two necklaces. I said to him I don’t’ have my money yet, keep it and I will meet you later. He said “no you keep and I will get money later” and he leaves. As he is leaving he says “ask for John”  Obviously he overheard my order because he gave me two cross necklaces and two bracelets.

Now I have 2 more necklaces and 2 more bracelets, another 12 dollars spent. Just then Wesley and Weslay show up with my order. So I call John back, give him his stuff back but I ordered two cheaper bracelets from him and then pay the other boys for their stuff.

 the twins and me

During all of this confusion I have kids braiding my hair and fighting over the braids, kids climbing on me, a young man named Sonny asking me for money so he could get to Port a Paix to write an exam. Telling me he wants to be a doctor and needs to  write this exam in order to get into school .

I was so over stimulated I started to get anxiety. Once again I hear God whisper; this is how Jesus felt at times. Maybe he didn’t get anxiety, but he did have people around him all the time, asking for things, talking to him, touching him, loving him etc.

I had to take a break so I left the nutrition center and went over to the Miriam Center. This is a center on the Mission grounds for special needs children. There are 49 children with moderate to severe disabilities in the program. Having a special needs child in Haiti is considered a curse. Many think they have done something wrong and are being punished for their “sin”. So these children are now in the care of the Mission.

There are a number of the kids all bent and twisted lying on mats, some children in make shift wheel chairs and some able bodied walking around.

The wheelchairs in the Miriam center are in rough shape. Some are those white plastic Wal Mart lawn chairs screwed onto 4 wheels. Some are older wheelchairs but are ripped up with flat tires that are hard to push around.

I walked into a room where they were doing massage therapy on a group of  children. This beautiful little girl with cerebral Palsy looked up at me and gave me the biggest smile. I picked her up and carried her outside and we just sat and I held her and she just smiled.

I had nothing else to give but cuddles and that’s all we both really needed. We both needed each other. In that moment I felt so much peace and love. What a JOY!

In the afternoon we were supposed to do VBS for the street kids at the church across the street. There was an incident the night before where VBS was taught and when they went to hand out candy a young woman was “mobbed”. She had approximately 40 kids knock her down. The guards stepped in and were whipping the kids with belts and sticks to get them off of her. It was scary and we had already experienced a little of that already so felt this might not be something we are ready to do at this time.

We decided we would do grocery ministry again so went to the market to buy enough groceries for another 4 families.

 Two young boys grabbed my hand as we ventured out. One boys name was Ricardo. They took it upon themselves to keep the paths cleared for me and stop the bracelet bandits from harassing me.

We all brought lots of water to give out on our trip to the market. It was very hot and crowded today in the market.  Ryley had a bottle of crystal lite and a little girl had asked him for it. He gave it willingly to her and a little fight ensued amongst some parents that their child should get some as well.

We carried on and a little old lady started following me. She asked me for money and I told her I didn’t have any money. She handed me an empty whiskey bottle and I filled it with water. She then turned to Ryley and tried to take his bottle of crystal light that he was drinking. He told her politely that it was his and she started yelling at him in Creole. We understood that she was calling him a bad boy for not giving his juice to her. Poor Ryley felt so bad. Brian intervened and guided Ryley away and we continued on to deliver our groceries.

 We started to go up a hill which was not very steep at all, but Ricardo and his friend decide they are going to help me up this hill so they both go behind me and put their hands on my bum and start pushing me up the hill. One on each cheek LOL.

Being in Haiti is either going to make me more self conscious of my weight or make me laugh about it. I think it did a bit of both. I giggled all the way up the hill with these boys pushing me along my way.

Ricardo appeared to be sick as well today. I asked if he was “Malade” and he told me he was. I suspect that he has asthma as well because any exertion and he ended up coughing and having to stop.  I gave him water and he was so grateful.

A few times when I offered water he would say no and then let the smaller children drink instead of himself.

At the mission there is a huge Mango tree that is higher than the roof of the mission. There are boys who climb the tree to get or attention to sell us bracelets and to just look in and see what we are doing. My grandson Ryley had apparently made friends with one of the young boys and the boy pointed his home out to Ryley. Ryley had asked if we could bring groceries to this boy’s home. So our last bag of groceries was saved for Ryley's friend.

We went behind the mission and Ryley found the house. A woman came out. She was wearing only a t shirt that just barely covered her. No pants, no bra, just a long, but barely long enough tank top.  A bunch of little children peeked their heads out from behind her. The kids were in t shirts as well with no pants on. They also appeared to be sick,  horrible coughs and really runny noses. The mom told us there were 8 people living in their home. Their home was probably a 12 x 12 hut made of cement, and again no furniture and nothing in it.

The woman asked if we could pray for her to find work. We prayed with all of them and left them with groceries.

I am so proud of Ryley and his gentle heart. That he would think of these little friends to bring food too. That he gave so graciously and sadly was yelled at but took it all in stride.

When we got back to the Mission I decided to go in to the Miriam center. I am surprised at how much I love the center. For those who know me well, know that I often say I do not have a gift with special needs children. Odd thing for me to say considering I have a special needs child. However I have made this statement long before Jayde came along. As a foster parent that was one of my stipulations in choosing children. I will take other issues over a special needs child. God obviously thought differently when he gave me Jayde.

I am finding a new hidden passion within the Miriam Center. As soon as I walk in I see a young boy sitting in the WAL MART style wheelchair. He makes these excited noises and squeals at me. He can’t talk and his little hands are crippled and bent. I take his wheelchair and we go out into the courtyard for fresh air and to play.

I take his little hands and blow on them to make noises and he laughs and then does it to himself. We play and laugh. I am re energized and filled to capacity once again. I am surprised at how much I enjoy this. I think it’s because all these kids do is love. Its unconditional. They don’t ask for anything else. They give love and it is so easy to give it right back.

I am Blessed !