Day 6 - God is Already Here

Today was a little more laid back than it has been.  Tomorrow begins the Easter Holiday here in Haiti so the artisans will have the day off.  We decided to spend our day around the house, seeing how everything works.

My morning began with this sight.  We try to respect the Haitians by not just randomly photographing them on the street.  These ladies were a few blocks down the street and on the other side of a tree.  Gotta love that zoom lens.  I just love this picture - it's just Haiti.

We had a wonderful rain last night.  Crazy though.  The rain comes in, settles all the dust and makes everything fresh again.  But I can't help wonder about the lovely people not too far from where I sit.  The roads become rivers with a small rain shower and things can become very dangerous for them.  Hard to wrap your mind around.

A five minute walk from the Guest House and we are at Apparent Project.  So very excited to share this with Russell.  Love that he is here with me this week.

Look Hickory Grove!  Our boxes!!!!  How exciting is that?

Their box room looks like ours.

Can you see the bead she is rolling?  She is rolling it on a needle!!!!  They are so tiny!  Stuck to the side of the bowl - all are hand rolled.  NUTS!!!

Rick installed some locks for Shelley, while I helped with Payroll.  I love doing that.  It is so awesome to see the names on that paper and how much to put in each envelope.  

Some of the others in the group tried throwing clay - 

Mike

Chey

Donna 

All said it was a lot harder than it looks.  The stuff these artisans are making is absolutely amazing and they just keep getting better and better!

Mdm Bessa and her team still working on the quilt for Keziah's room.

LOVE this!  I'm bringing one home!

Haiti!!!

After lunch, Elysia and I went back to AP to pack up all the stuff we are bringing back for the fair.  Goodness - we have LOTS!  Can't wait to see what God is going to do.  Ten days at the Clay County Fair - thousands of people!  It's going to be awesome!!!!!

While we were packing, several others decided to hike up the hill behind the houses that they had been painting all week.  Such a beautiful place.

Apparent Project from the hill

This is Watson.  He is 14 and he and Jarod have become good friends this week.

Jarod loved going into the community and meeting all the people.

This beautiful country will change your life.  I came last year and have never been the same.  God made it clear that Jarod was to come with me this time and I have been nervous about it but also feeling like God was going to do something big in his life.

Tonight we all sat around the table after dinner and shared about our week.  Jarod spoke up and shared - quite passionately - about how "we in America are poor.  Not these people.  They may not have "stuff" - but they love each other - they care for each other - they help each other.  They have a sense of community here that we don't have. " 

As most mothers, I sat at the table and cried.  My prayers had been answered.  He gets it.  God has been working in his tender heart this week in a way that I think we are still yet to see. But I have to say that I sit here in tears being so proud of my son and the way that he has stepped up and been a part of our team this week.  The way that he has allowed his heart to be teachable.  I know he's only 13 and he will struggle in this as he steps back into the teenage culture in America.  But I also know that God is in his heart and has been very real to him this week. 

Why is Haiti the way that it is?  Maybe one of the reasons is to open our eyes.  To cause us to look at ourselves. To make us aware of something/someone outside of ourselves.  To cause us to see Him.  Thousands of people come to Haiti each year to "bring God" --- to share Christ with these "poor" people.  Crazy thing is - God is already here.  He is in this place.  He's been here the entire time and He is working!  He is well aware of the situation.  He loves these people more than we ever could.  I think we have more to learn from Haiti than we ever could offer them.  If we would only open our eyes.

Until tomorrow......


Day 5 -Celebrating Life

Day 4 -Bel Ayiti

Day 3 - Paint!

Day 2 - Getting Out in the Community

Day 1 - Getting Here