A Full Day

I took Lovena's stitches out this morning and it was perfect. I had a little tiny pair of scissors which are extremely dull and they have been unable to cut anything since I've been here. I pray the scissors would work and they do! They actually cut the stitches. I know this seems like a small feat but to me it was huge. I even specifically asked Jen (part of the medical group coming) and my mom to bring me little scissors because I haven't been able to do what I've needed to. And yet they worked for me today. Thank you Jesus. Claeme handed me all my supplies and cut tape and gauze when I needed it. She is my little helper today. Lovena's leg looks perfect and I am happy for it. I visit the sweet family of 10 and look at her foot. It's totally healed with no infection. Yes. Judelin and I go to town to buy a tarp for his aunt and uncle in the mountains literally sleeping with nothing. They said they were squatting all night in the pouring rain huddled together. I stay behind and tell Judelin to bring the tarp to them himself. I try to do as little gift giving as possible. Haitians helping Haitians. People in Port au Prince sent their clothes and food. Excellent.

Papa and I go to Yvrose's house to borrow her truck to pick up the medical group at the airport. The group consists of Poppyseed, Jill Freeman, Jen Rayder and my Uncle Jay. They will be here in 30 minutes and I'm super excited. There is so much for them to do. We are on our way when I get the phone call from Poppyseed. There is too much rain in Port and they won't be able to leave today. Shoot. My heart sinks for a minute but not for long. They'll be here in the morning if God wants. I see Makenzy and Edo at the "gas station," and Papa and I get gas.

I pretend to be helpful in the kitchen cooking. We laugh and talk about life. I tease my friend for being fat and she teases me for the way I hold the knife to cut the bañan. Haitians are honest. Don't ask if you don't want to know but sometimes they'll just tell you anyway. I leave my cooking for a little boy at the door waiting for me with blood dripping down his hand. He cut a good piece of his finger off and the skin was hanging. I clean it and cut some of the skin away but all of it hasn't died yet so I'll wait until tomorrow. I clean it and bandage it. Another boy comes and I take care of his foot which is infected. I have to cut dead skin away and scrape all the dirt out. He sits silent and strong. Tough. I love that people are coming all the time to Papa's house for me to care for their wounds. Some green and terribly infected and some just splinters. Every single one of them matters. They all matter to me and they definitely matter to Jesus.
Night comes and Judelin takes me to see Madam Tom. Afterward we are about to go home and Edo comes to meet us in town. I get a call from John Draxton from Williston ND saying he's in Jeremie and wants to meet up. We drive to their hotel and meet up with them. He is with his Haitian friends and two blan girls from the states. We all went downtown and had dinner together. We talked and laughed. It was awesome. John is kind and his heart is good. The girls they brought are wonderful. I tell them Edo and Judelin can bring them back to the hotel so they get a Haitian motorcycle experience. They are elated and as we zoom through the streets I can hear their giggles and see their smiles. They had a rough day and I'm happy to see them laughing and loving everything. Olivia is their photographer and she is impressive. Excellent humble spirit. She will go places and I would take her along with me ANY DAY in Haiti. Jacques, Judelin and Edo come to take John, Megan and Olivia to the orphanage. We sing and they brush their teeth. The girls and John jump in and snuggle the kids.

I have a few clingers and I kiss their sweaty stinky heads. A little girl has a hernia and they are going to take her to the hospital. No word from Poppyseed. I wish the medical group was here. Lord please help this little girl.

I take the group to eat and John buys everyone breakfast. He says there's a truck with $25,000 worth of food in it and we might be able to take some. I talk to the blan that brought the food and he says he'll probably be able to give us food to distribute. Which means my friends and their families will have food and we will have extra to bring to the mountains. Praise the Lord. Answered prayer. We go to where the semi is and it is chock full of rice and beans. Edo immediately jumps in to help followed closely by me and then Judelin, Delice and Jacques.

There is quite a ways to walk and we haul sack by sack. I have no idea how long we spent but as soon as I would see the men tiring I'd dance or sing and cheer them on. We haul bag after bag. I feel strong and am never tired. I'm even able to sing loudly through the hallways to keep peoples spirits up. I am so proud of my friends.

They are absolutely incredible men. I love them so much. Every. Single. One. They help without question and work hard for what they have. They are all working in hopes they can bring food to their families and I am proud of them. I'm thankful I grew up hauling grain bags and hay bales. They tell me I work like a man. I laugh and tell them God gives me strength.

It's true. Joshua 1:9. Strong and courageous. These men certainly are. Man they're amazing. After we finish working, the blan says he won't be able to give us any food to distribute. I can see my friends hearts sink and I hope they aren't too discouraged. John and Megan give me money and I'm able to give each of them some money. I am so grateful and they are as well. Little by little. Thank you John and Megan and Olivia.

The "crew" has to go their separate ways. Jacques to see Kati. Edo to fix his mom's house. Judelin takes Delice and me to buy a tarp for the sweet man who's house is completely destroyed.

He has a meeting and so Jacques takes us to bring it to Numero 2. I check on the girl with a fever. It's gone. Thank you Jesus. The old man is elated to have a tarp for his house. He's so so happy. He hugs his tarp and smiles a huge toothless smile. Can you imagine being him? Can you imagine being that grateful for a tarp, so grateful that you raise your hand to the sky and say, "Thank you Jesus." I can't imagine it. I can't.

We go visit Kati and hang at Jacques' for a little. We talk about fun things like their love lives and dancing and food. Colors they love and what they want to do with their lives. Their dreams are wonderful and beautiful. I love them. Delice asks me to go to his house. We walk through tight alleyways passing people who talk about me thinking I don't speak Kreyol. We arrive. His mom is sitting washing clothes and his dad is cooking. They stare at me for a moment and then immediately tell me how happy they are to see me. I "help" her wash clothes as Delice changes and cleans his shoes. I am honored to be here. There's no better way to put it. I am honored to sit here in my friends house. I am honored to meet his family. How lucky am I to be friends with these people. I can't even begin express my joy. I bought a case of Prestige for the medical group coming tonight. They weren't able to fly again today and so Poppyseed got a truck and they were on their way. I'm sure they are dying to be here. I am excited to see them. Poppyseed needs to be here. He's the best. I've wanted Uncle Jay to come for years and now that he's actually coming I can't wait to see him. He's gonna rock. Jacques and I carry the case up the mountain. They'll be happy. Hopefully they'll arrive by 9. I have the crew ready to pick them up on their bikes as soon as the bus gets close. Sorry I haven't written. I've been busy and by the time I lay down I'm wiped out. Thank you so much everyone. Your encouragement is unreal. I feel undeserving but I am grateful. More grateful than any of you know. You keep me upbeat and strong which in turn helps me encourage my friends. Team is an hour away hopefully. Claeme looks at the sky and says "look look! Look at that little star in the sky! It's moving!" I told her it was an airplane and she gets even more excited. She screams excitedly and says "airplanes can see through the sky because they have those red lights!" It's the little things. Papa looks at me as we sit drinking tea and says he is going to miss me because he's gotten used to me being here again. Mama says she can't wait for me to return. Thinking of leaving leaves a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. Papa wipes his eyes and we sit quiet for a moment. I forgot I would have to leave at some point to go back to work. My heart is full here. My heart is happy. I am completely content. We are a family now. We eat together. We cook and work together. I take Claeme when I have to run errands.

Papa says he remembers taking me to town on his moto when I was little and as he watched me take Claeme he said his heart was happy. Tears fill my eyes and I'm not going to pretend to be tough. I love my family here. I'm going to miss them. I have a few more days. A few more days.