HAITI DAY 2 FROM PRINCESS TO PLAY TOY to EXHAUSTED

As I mentioned in my first blog I was a little spoiled and selfish and am not proud of these flaws. They became so apparent while in Haiti. 

One of my other disappointments when I arrived to the Mission was finding out that the Orphanage on the Mission had closed. I was looking forward to spending my time there. Again it was all about ME! The good news about the Orphanage is that some of the kids found foster homes in Haiti and others were moved to other orphanages. 

My need for spending time with children was soon met when I went to the Nutrition program on our actual first full day at the mission. The nutrition program is a program that feeds two meals a day to children who are in their 2nd and 3rd stages of malnutrition. 3rd stage being the worst stage of malnutrition. These kids get two meals a day, breakfast and lunch. They come with their families and although the family is not to eat the meals that are given to the children, you know it happens, as the rest of the family is probably hungry as well. 

I walked into the nutrition program and was mobbed by a dozen children all yelling BLANC BLANC. That’s what we are called in Haiti. Translation WHITE WHITE! I never tired hearing their excited cries wherever we went. 

I had children climbing up me to be held, some grabbing my hands and others grabbing my legs. All chanting SHITAH and pointing to the ground. So I lower myself down to the rocky, and I mean rocky ground and 4 children settle themselves in my lap. Good thing I have lots of padding because this was a very uncomfortable place to be sitting. I tried sitting on a cement stoop but that did not make them happy. So on the ground it was.

I became a human jungle gym, entertainment center, science experiment for these children. You would think they had never seen a white person before by the way they reacted to me. AND surely to goodness I was not the first OVERWEIGHT BLANC they had ever seen. They were enthralled with my fat. I have never had my body poked and prodded and jiggled so much in my life by another person. I think if anyone in Canada would poke my fat I would DECK them. Here it became the NORM!

At first it was very awkward but then it became funny. I had kids measuring my wrists. Trying to make me flex my biceps. I think they thought with arms this big I must have some big muscles. Much to their dismay there wasn't a large muscle. I had kids pulling out my shirt and looking in my shirt. Just a constant poking and rubbing and shaking!

They loved my nose ring and were constantly playing with it, which isn't so bad but they also had to figure out where it went, so there were fingers up my nose or fingers turning my nose up so they could look in it. I had fingers cleaning out my ears, hands wiping my sweat, cleaning out the creases in my neck. I was poked cleaned and preened.

Christine and Shyla had similar experiences but they had hands in their mouths. Christine because of her tongue ring and Shyla because of her braces. The minute Shyla would smile five little hands were in her mouth.

On top of all of that there were kids who liked my blonde straight hair so had to take it out of the ponytail I had it in and were braiding it and playing with it. Some were fighting over it trying to unbraid what others braided.

Everyone also wanted their pictures taken. They would take my sunglasses and pose and say "PHOTO”. Hundreds and hundreds of pictures were taken. Thank goodness for digital cameras so I could just erase the multiples at the end of the day. It took me a minute to realize that they like their pictures taken so much because they don’t' have mirrors and don’t' often see what they look like. 

Some girls were a little shy when I would suggest taking their pics and would shake their head no. As soon as I said: you are BELLE! They would brighten up and let me take their picture. There was one little girl who had dwarfism. Her name is Helene. She at first said no, but if you look at my pics from Haiti you will see she was no longer camera shy. 

It was fun and heart breaking and exhausting. Kids asking if you love them. We have only just met but their need to be loved is so deep. There were kids showing me their cut and bleeding feet and asking me for shoes. Mothers pushing their children upon me wanting me to love their child in hopes that I would give money. There was a little 10 year old girl named Nadesj who particularly liked me. Her mother was one of the mothers who would push us together and say "you love her?" gesturing towards her daughter. 

I felt helpless at many times. As much as I wanted to give money or shoes to them we were also told not to do this as it can cause problems. We saw evidence of this later on in our trip. I will share more about it tomorrow in my next blog.

I did bring shoes, and food and clothes to the mission but they are handed out through the mission as they know which families need it most (although all need help) and have a system that works and needs to be followed. 

It’s very difficult not to want to help or give your shoes. I do know that some people:"forgot" to put on their shoes when they left the beach or park etc.

We did bring sharing bottles of water down to the nutrition program and would allow the kids to pass the bottles of water around. 

I was amazed at their caring for one another as well. Here are children who do not have much water and are thirsty and when given a bottle of water, didn't guzzle it all down as quickly as they could, but instead took a small sip and passed it to the next person. If they had siblings with them they would make sure their siblings got a sip before passing to another child. 

I don’t' know about your kids but I don’t' think mine would do that. In fact I often see mine eyeing to see which drink has the most, which slice of cake is bigger, thinking only of themselves. Being selfish when there is no need to be. When they know that in a few hours another meal will be served. At any second a tap can be turned on for water. 

It was an amazing morning. I was loved poked and prodded, challenged and BLESSED! I received more from these little children than I gave. 

After lunch we went to do grocery ministry and hut to hut evangelism. 10 dollars will buy a bag of groceries for a family. The bag will consist of rice, carrots, soup stock, cabbage, beans, candy, flour, and a few other things.

We went down to the market first to purchase the groceries. The market is rows and rows of bamboo or straw thatched coverings about 4 feet off the ground and the Haitians sitting on the ground or a bucket with their goods for sale. The smells in the market are ripe with many having fish out on the tables or grounds covered in flies. Day after day the same fish sitting on the ground or a table waiting for someone to purchase it.

It was hot and crowded and smelly in there. Again people are calling BLANC! BLANC!  reaching out their hand for money. Some were lifting up shirts to show their ribs and saying GRANGOO (sp) which means hungry.

We left the market with our 4 bags of groceries and let the spirit lead us to the huts that we thought could use the food the most. Everyone is in need and hungry but there are homes a little better off, or another group may have dropped off groceries the same day. We had our kids decide which houses to stop at. One house we stopped at we asked if we could pray with them. The lady said yes and asked us to pray for ourselves and the work we do and for protection on us as we are in Haiti. I was so touched. Again, I observe such love and selfless acts. You would think she would want prayer for all of her needs. But she thought of us FIRST and then herself. AMAZING!

 While going hut to hut we have the a dozen or more kids following us, holding our hands. My protector Wezley is with me keeping me safe.

I am exhausted by this point. The climb up the hill to the mission is a tough climb. It’s a hill of boulders and broken cement blocks and garbage. I would have been fine climbing it on my own but I have kids who feel the need to want to help so hang on my arms, which only makes it more difficult.

After we were done the grocery ministry I went over to the birthing center to see if I could help out. Inside a small hot room I saw 4 beds with 4 women all in different stages of labor. Birthing and labor is so different in the Haitian culture than in ours. In Haiti it is not a "big deal" to be in labor. You wouldn't even know these women were in labor if it were not the obvious very swollen belly and the fact they are in the center. They make no noise while in labor. NONE. They have no meds. In fact the nurses aren't even really checking on them. Our instructions were to call if we saw the baby crowning.

It was also so strange to just be able to walk in and start massaging a woman’s back or swollen belly and nobody finds it odd. I cannot imagine walking into the labor room at the Grey Nuns and sit down and start rubbing a tummy.

Kitty and Maggie were able to witness a delivery of a baby girl. They pretty much let anyone into the delivery room. One of the women in the delivery room from our group was able to name the baby as well. Little Sarah was born to what appeared a young mom.

I sat with one woman who remained very quiet only during really hard contractions would she whisper JEZI JEZI PAPA PAPA. JESUS JESUS FATHER FATHER. I would pray with her and when her contraction was done would massage her back or wherever else she would guide my hands. I offered water and a cloth to wipe her brow and try and make her as comfortable as possible. Almost impossible on a little cot in a small overcrowded hot room with no air at all. Thankfully one of the ladies brought little portable battery fans and she ran back and brought them so we could put them on the beds next to the woman.

About 2 hours into my time being with her it was obvious she was ready to deliver. She must walk to the room next door, so I assisted her stopping midway for another contraction.

Hopping up on a table with no help from the nurses. There is no real excitement from anyone. There is just a weird feeling. This is an everyday event. Another mouth to feed maybe? I don’t’ know. But minutes later a tiny little girl enters into the world. The nurse cuts the cord and hands her to me where I take her to a bassinet to clean and weigh her.

I pray over this 7 lbs 3 oz little girl and get her wiped off and dress her in a cute little pink outfit that the nurses hand me. I swaddle her in blankets and bring her to her mom and leave them to have their time alone.

Originally when I knew I was going to Haiti and knew there was a birthing center I imagined I would be in there all the time. I love the idea of helping deliver babies. I love the idea of the excitement and the gift of a child entering into the world.

That was the only time I was in the labor part of the center during my trip. I did love the experience and loved being part of it all. But it wasn’t as much of a passion as I thought it would be.

Was it because they aren’t as excited about another child entering the world? Another mouth to feed? Is it because it happens every day and it’s not a big deal. Yet I would hope that’s not the case.

It also could have been that I felt awkward and helpless. Not being able to talk with them to ask what they needed. Only guessing at what I could do to help and praying for the situation.

In some ways I like that giving birth was considered and treated so naturally, because it is a natural process. In Canada we have make it an unnatural event with drugs and sterilization and in bed on our backs. I do believe we are getting better in some areas but it is still very private and sterile.

I do like that we have an excitement in our births. That hospital staff and family members are very excited and everyone rejoices with you when you announce the arrival of the birth or your child. Everyone is waiting on pins and needles while you are in labor. Taking bets on the date and the weight etc. It’s a joyous time.  In Haiti it didn’t appear joyous. I know that the moms love their babies as much as we do, but it brings many more concerns responsibilities and hurts.

I am blessed to have been able to pray over a woman while in labor and delivery and to pray over a beautiful baby girl. I am blessed to have spent my day with some wonderful children. To see love and joy in a place that appears filled with hopelessness and despair.

I am tired but thankful that I am here and God is using me teaching me and molding me.