Our Last Day in Haiti

Well, it is Sunday afternoon in beautiful Haiti. Our last day in country. The day began this morning as a crisp, sunny day and has turned overcast...almost to match our attitude. We are excited to be headed home tomorrow, but we are also saddened by leaving.

This trip has been so much more than we expected. We have seen some incredible bugs, been able to learn more of the language (Kreyol), have experienced a Haitian party next door that ended at 3:15 in the morning, had the generator at our house break and become a two week process to repair, we have run completely out of electricity in our house, taken a week to do a load of laundry, and so much more. What an adventure that our family will not soon forget.

Also while here, we have witnessed the workings of the orphanage. We have seen countless families coming to visit their beloved children that they have been forced to give up for adoption due to no other reason but that the children would starve to death if they didn't. As we have looked into their eyes, we see love and a pain that we would never experience. We have seen a woman giving birth along side the road while people passing by stop to assist a complete stranger. There was a premature baby weighing just over 2 lbs that the mother brought to the orphanage for medical assistance. We also experienced the burden of that baby's death a few days later. We experienced the joy of knowing that a baby whose mother brought him in clinging to death because he was not breathing, but was resuscitated and stabilized by the orphanage staff; go home to be with his biological mother as a fairly healthy baby. It amazes us how many situations like these happen everyday at the orphanage.

However, now we are headed home. It seems strange that about 4 weeks ago we entered this country and struggled to come to grips as a family with the lack of technology and comfort that we are accustomed to. There is no television or radio. You can't shower everyday nor run your mouth under any water that comes from a faucet. Light in your house can not be taken for granted and the reliance of walking to and from places is customary. Admittedly, it took us a couple of days to adjust.

Now on the eve of leaving we are faced with the same kind of transition. However, instead of doing without common luxuries, we are faced with the task of how not to become distracted by those same luxuries. Life in Haiti is so simple that it seems underdeveloped. However, upon reflection, most Haitians have a joy and happiness that comes from this simplicity. We have discovered that we can be content with much less than we have and live a much simpler life. What does it matter if someone cuts you off in traffic, or the repairman doesn't show up until 2 hours after he/she said they would. Isn't life too short to cut the joy and happiness out of our life?

We think so and we would challenge you to consider the distractions in your life. Let's commit to simplifying our lives and living for the things that really matter...the Lord, love, gentleness, family, and our neighbors, regardless of how they make us feel.

We look forward to seeing our friends and family in the coming days!

Bondye beni ou! (God bless you)