Each week we have been taking the older students on a field trip to explore more of their country. Last week we went to a sugar cane museum. The students walked around beautiful grounds and learned more about this part of Haiti's history. As a French colony, Haiti was once a prosperous land of sugar cane plantations filled with slaves from Africa. Later these slaves demonstrated great strength and led a revolt against the French. In 1804 Haiti declared independence. Over time many other challenges have faced this land and its people. During this field trip we were able to see the wealth and beauty that had once blessed this place. Below is a picture of some of the older students (Desline, Wilna, Octaline, Kervens, Emmanuella, and Woobens) sitting in a meeting room at the museum. Behind them are colorful images of the heroes of Haiti's past who demonstrated great strength to earn Haiti's freedom.
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This Friday we went on a very different field trip. Most of the older students have not explored Port Au Prince as they are originally from Gonaives which is 90 miles away from the city (about a 4 hour drive). We drove into the center of the city to see the Palace. Although we have been surrounded by the devistation of the earthquake throughout our travels, seeing the building which had once been the center of Haiti's government in pieces was very shocking. The students climbed out of the truck and just stood in silence looking through the gate at the strength of the earthquake. Then they joined hands and prayed for strength from God for their country and their leaders. A crowd of people roaming the streets joined hands with the students and prayed in Creole, which was very moving.
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Along with the joyful laughter, we have also experienced many tears in the past week. Keeping in mind that the Haitian people have experienced such deep loss is difficult to do when they are so full of joy and hope for the future. Sherrie talked with Beverly and I the other night and was sharing some about her experiences after the earthquake. She was living in a large house with the orphanage kids and she said that night after the quake there were hundreds of people with injuries coming to her. She said it seemed like they believed since she was a foreigner that she would know what to do. Sherrie has a friend who is a nurse who was able to get to a mile away with her truck to drive those with serious injuries to the nearest emergency hospital. By the next morning Sherrie said there were 300 injured in her yard. The following days sound like a terrible nightmare. Trying to provide for the needs of the children was difficult. They survived on a diet of Poptarts for a long while. Sherrie said she even has a hat with Poptarts on it to remind her of the ways that God provided during that time.
We asked Sherrie if she had been able to mourn after the losses experienced in the quake. The earthquake killed 1 in 10 of the people in Port Au Prince. Sherrie said the Lord saved the school families as out of the 200 students, they lost three children, including Peterson who died in the collapsed orphanage. Sherrie said one day she went out for a walk in the woods, many months after the quake and cried out to God. This great sorrow is not something that is easily healed. It seems clear that the only peace to be found here (or indeed anywhere) is in the arms of our loving Savior.
Last week we met one of Sherrie's teachers, Lizette. As a teacher of four-year-olds, Lizette is full of positive energy and has a beautifully joyful presence. Lizette was telling us that during the earthquake she was buried under rubble from a collapsing building. Her feet were badly injured and the doctors told her they need to take them, but Lizette told the doctors that she had faith that God would save her. After a long time fighting a painful and dangerous infection, her feet were healed. With a bright smile on her face Lizette told us that she knew God had saved her for a purpose. She is trying to live each day to its fullest. What a powerful and impressive message for me, with scars on her feet she takes steps each day to make a difference in the world around her! Thank you for your patience as the power is less and less reliable and the posts are few and far between! In Christ, Jessie
Sorry for the delay in writing, we have been without electricity, internet, and water on and off for the past few days. Please pray for Sherrie's solar panel system as the inverters have all blown so we are now relying only on city power, which is not reliable, and the generators for emergencies.
The past few days have been filled with lots of laughter. Beverly and I moved into a new room for long-term boarders. The room is very comfortable. However, we have to walk through the dark to get water. The other night we were joined by an extra large, eight-legged friend. Beverly and I fought with the spider with a banana-leaf broom for a long time and finally declared victory. We were bent over with laughter after taking out some of our frustrations on the spider. The older students thought it was very funny that their teachers had fought with the spider, they imagined all kinds of different outcomes where the spider won the battle!
Spending time with the kids always leads to laughter. They are so bright and positive and love to have fun. In the afternoons during tutoring sessions we play games with the older students. We talk and the room is filled with laughter. Tcharly likes to say "WOW!" in a really goofy voice when anything even a little bit interesting happens, which has become a funny on-going joke.
Every time we walk down the stairs the younger students are eager to play and visit. This is a picture of two snuggly friends, Rosemika and Rosmarline. It has been such a treat getting to know each of these children. They all have something so endearing that I can't imagine leaving them now. I'm so thankful that the Lord has brought us together, these friendships are enduring because they are built on the enduring foundation of Christ our Redeemer and Friend. Today at church Pastor Lenny spoke about our common identity in Christ and how we will all be united in heaven to celebrate for eternity.
