Haiti -THE PRINCESS IS DETHRONED

I was expecting to be enlightened on my trip to Haiti. I left with great expectations that GOD would SPEAK to me. I was expecting warm fuzzy feelings while I was in Haiti. And while this did happen, it happened in ways that I was NOT expecting. It wasn’t always a warm fuzzy feeling in Haiti. Everything was HOT and uncomfortable. The weather, some of the ministry experiences, the sleeping arrangements, the food, the conditions in Haiti ...I could go on and on.

First thing I learned while I was in HAITI. I am a spoiled brat. Not just because of the obvious of what I have, but my whole attitude. I SUCK! After 24 hours of travelling, many challenges in the airport, which I will discuss in another blog, and very little sleep I arrive at the Mission.

I wasn’t expecting the HILTON, but I wasn’t expecting the Mission to look like this. Pictures clean it up, pictures do not add smells, and pictures do not reveal all the little ants and bugs and imperfections. I don’t think I was disappointed but I was shocked. A few days into my mission I realize that I am in the “Hilton” compared to the rest of Haiti, but until then I am a little shocked.

The kitchen staff has kept lunch for us and I get this plate of food that looks good, but the taste is different. There are also lots of flies landing on our food. I decide to share a plate of food with Shyla, but upon tasting it, decide I don’t like it and can’t eat it. I think to myself, that’s okay I can stand to miss a few meals. Not going to hurt me. I also realize again “what a spoiled ungrateful brat I am” I have a wonderful meal when many of the people in Haiti have NOTHING! I turn my nose up on a beautiful meal because it tastes different. (don’t’ judge me...I am being honest! ;0)

There is a bathroom and showers but we have limited water. No showers allowed, only bucket baths. No flushing toilets or tp unless its “brown flush it down, Yellow let it Mellow. I’m ok with both these rules but add 40 + temperatures and you get some pretty ripe smells everywhere you go!

In the evening we are getting ready for bed. My tent was lost enroute to Haiti and my suitcase that has my queen size air mattress in it (I know! SPOILED!) has not arrived. There are foamy mats available for us to grab and sleep on the roof. I am all up for an adventure. It’s warm outside! I came here knowing I would be challenged and knowing I would be sleeping on the roof. It’s all good.....until the rain hits. This rain is not a gentle sprinkle, a refreshing shower, it’s a torrential downpour where we are SOAKED in seconds.

settled in for a few minutes before the rain starts

the roof we slept on

We ran to the eating hall and I sat soaking wet shivering, thinking “I can’t do this! I can’t sleep outside for the next 10 days THIS IS NOT FUN!! I do not like this at ALL. I thought I would be having FUN. I was up for adventured but this is beyond adventure. ” boooo hooooo suck it up Princess.

After an hour of trying to figure out sleeping arrangements and getting some dry sheets and all of us being split up. Shyla and I go to the church where there is a small bench with a cushion on it and we curl up end to end on it. I pray to God and whine a little, okay I whine a LOT, I tell Him I am being obedient and I am thankful I am out of the rain now and a little more comfortable. But I am still not a HAPPY camper. Thankful, a little more appreciative, but still a SPOILED Brat.

Minutes later one of the interns comes into the church where Shyla and I are sleeping and says “ Melonnie and I were talking and one of the missionary families is off campus for the next two weeks. You can stay in their quarters if you like.”

We are ecstatic! I go and get Christine and Brian and kids and we grab our mattresses and head over to our new “home”. It is a garage package with ceramic floors, no furniture but it has a bathroom! Its a HOME of our own. It’s out of the rain, its great and now I am getting more appreciative.

our little house

I am thankful to God, he heard my cries and whines and he answered my prayers and Blessed us with something even better than we expected.

After a short night’s sleep I am up and whining again. I know! I know! You would think by now I would get over myself, but not yet! After sleeping the night on a 2 inch foamy I can barely move . My back and hips are killing me. We go down for breakfast and it’s a dry tea biscuit with some gravy. Neither appeal to me, so I miss another meal. That’s okay I can stand to miss a meal or two.

My motto for the day “I can’t do this for the next 10 days” 2 days into this I realize I can do it and I will do it and I DID DO IT !  

I am thankful to God who has answered many prayers to this point from the costs of our suitcases and messed up airline tickets, to us getting nice accommodations out of the rain and our luggage arriving. There are some people in our group who received their luggage a day before they were to go back home. I was blessed to get mine the next day.

God spoke to me my first day! He showed me how spoiled I was! How much I take for granted! How selfish I am! He showed me that MINISTRY is not always warm and fuzzy and it isn’t about ME feeling good and being comfortable.  It’s about bringing comfort and love and food and whatever I need to bring to those in need no MATTER how I feel, or how uncomfortable it is! Its about being OBEDIENT no matter the cost!

But the biggest thing God showed me was that HE LOVES ME! HE hears my cries or in my case my WHINING, he answered my prayers and my cries and on this first day of my trip answered my prayers INSTANTLY! 

He is changing my heart!

Change my heart o lord, make it ever true

Change my heart o Lord may I be like you

You are the potter I am the clay, Mold me and make me this is what I pray