Wash

Water is a cherished and sometimes scarce resource in our world.  In Haiti there are huge water trucks that deliver bathing and washing water to cisterns.  Drinking water is sold on the streets and at water stations in jugs or in small, single-serving plastic pouches. 

With the recent civil unrest, the normal comings and goings of the city of Port-au-Prince were interrupted.  This included the buying and selling of water.  

When the teachers came in yesterday morning, we spent our normal time in devotions - singing and praying and studying together.  Then the teachers were invited to share any positive experiences from the last few days that would be defined by many as days of uncertainty and turmoil for this city. 

Miss Losita, a teacher of the little ones, stood up and shared this sweet, simple story of gospel presence in the midst of the chaos of this life...

During the unrest, Losita went to a neighbor who sells water.  Her family was out of water for cleaning and bathing.  This man is known for being unkind and unhelpful, but apparently they were desperate for water and knew this was the only source they could turn to with road blocks preventing normal traffic from coming and going.  

When Losita went to ask the man about buying water, he was true to his reputation and refused.  She went away discouraged but returned later asking again for water for her family to bathe and do wash.  He explained to Losita that he needed the water for himself as he needed to wash his children's clothing.  He was frustrated because his wife had been unable to make it home because of the manifestations that had blocked roadways.

Instead of mirroring the aggression and anger of this man, Losita offered to help the man with the wash.  I suspect that Haitian men are generally less skilled than Haitian women in doing the laundry - which here usually means a huge basin, some powdered soap, and a long while of scrubbing clothing by hand.  

When Losita got home, her mom asked her why she had helped the man, considering that he was such a terrible neighbor.  Losita explained simply that the gospel isn't shared in what we say, but in how we live.

So, as I think on the recent unrest and trouble in Haiti, I'm thinking about a sweet Haitian lady who determined that what God wanted her to do in the middle of the chaos was to help with the wash.   I'm praying that I'll have a heart that is so gospel-focused that I'll be watching and waiting and ready for moments like these to live out the grace of Christ in everyday, ordinary ways.

Teachers take a break from the summer institute to watch the World Cup.

Many thanks for continuing to follow along on this summer in Haiti!  In Christ, Jessie