Haiti Day 5

Wow. 5 days has slipped by too quickly.  We have accomplished much on the school project, but moreover, we have grown as a unified team and as a vessel for God's work (work for others; work within ourselves).  You've been praying that this experience will be life-changing.  It already has.  This is the whole team speaking.

Physically, PB is feeling better today, but we had a few more bite the dust today. Carol and Laura were under Sister Lou's good care at the compound today after *symptoms* at the work site became overwhelming. :(  Lou also made each member of the team a wonderful popsicle with plastic cups and spoons and lemonade  mix!  A very thoughtful and special treat. Lou is the best nurse.
Must share anecdote here that happened before transportation of the invalids off the site--

Megan: How is Carol?
Dinecia: Well she has the dry leaves.
Megan: Oh.... some kind of herbal remedy?
Carol: That's HEAVES...Dry heaves.
:)
Thankfully, Carol and Laura and also Kevin, who braved it out at the site all day but was sick as a dog all the while, are recuperating and tomorrow is a shorter work day. We end at noon instead of 2pm.  Then we plan to hit the beach!  Lord willing or "si Dieu veut" in Creole.  That is a saying that many use in Haiti!

We taught the school kids a new song (new to them), God is So Good.  They pick up on song so fast.  They just love it. Their teacher also led them in one in French, which they sang for us.
The gist is this: [Knock knock knock--who's there? Jesus. May I come in? Yes, yes, yes, you may come in. My heart is open to you.  Knock knock knock--who's there? The devil. May I come in? No, no, no, you may not come in. My heart is closed to you.]

For lunch, Sister Jonas from the mission brought us a home cooked meal again.  It was more fried plantains, pikliz, which is a very spicy slaw made of onions, hot peppers, veggies and mangoes. Mmmmm. (Except if the hot pepper gets in your eye instead of your mouth. Oops.  Also she brought what looked like steak fries and tasted like Arby's curly fries and were made from malanga root. The food was called akra.  Verrry tasty.

As usual, we sat up on the roof to eat our heater meals, and again Ed had gathered a crowd on a nearby rooftop for certain *special* dance moves and more "Hey you! My name's Ed" exchanges.  But this time it was several kids AND several adults!  They sang "Allelu/Praise ye the Lord" for us, much to our surprise, and when we asked where they learned it, they replied gleefully, "From the other white people!"  (Apparently a previous mission team).

Since Megan is flying back to the US Monday, she had to make her goodbyes to the school children today. They all asked "When are you coming back?"  She explained how expensive it was and their little eyes bugged out.  But many of our team, Megan included, have  found a special place in our hearts for this country and do indeed wish to return as soon as possible.

In conclusion for today, it must be said that his trip has not been so much about tools and re-bar as it has been about people--God's precious people, coming together from different places, talking to one another, encouraging and praying for one another, and sharing as much of His love as possible with as many others as possible.  This can be done ANYWHERE, ANYTIME.  So we invite you to join us in this very same work right where you are.  Looky there--now you're on Team Haiti too! (but without the humidity and cockroaches).  Give thanks!