Is He coming or is He already here?

It's a quiet Sunday afternoon with the kids visiting their parents.  I have time to think.  And the thought that kept running over and over in my mind is that we Christians are waiting for the return of Jesus.  I honestly don't know if He'll return in the way that we expect.  As I see it, He has returned, and keeps returning, except we miss Him.  I see Him every day in the poor children who live with me;  I see Him in the eyes of their destitute parents as they struggle to get together another meal.  I see Him every day in the disabled man I call "Net" (because it means perfect) who comes here to beg a meal.  I see Him in the girl who I'm caring for who has returned to Bondeau after being a child slave most of her life. 

We keep waiting for the return.  And yet, He is here.  We just don't see Him.  Or is that we refuse to see Him?

Bondeau, Happy to See You!

Arrived back in Bondeau on Tuesday, September 10 to a glorious reunion with my kids at Kay Timoun and the wonderful people who looked after the kids while I was gone.  The first thing I noticed after all the hugs and kisses was that every child was visibly thinner.  Not skinny, by any means, but thinner.  So, like a typical grandmother, first thing I did was prepare a snack.  The flight steward had carefully wrapped muffins, biscuits, and quiche as a special treat for the children. 

It didn't take long for me the staff to bring me up to date.  Many problems, they said.  The kitchen faucet leaks so much that buckets upon buckets fill with water that drips from the connections under the sink.  A plumber is repairing as I write.  And then there is the recurring problem of the electricity.  We have no electicity at all!  I came equipped with new battery powered lanterns, one for each room.  A great inconvenience is keeping my laptop charged so I can go on the Internet.  All is well in the daytime, but at night, I really get annoyed at having to read with a flash light and carry a lantern with me as I make my way around the house.  The chapel is illuminated by candles at prayer time, which makes for a peaceful setting.

The good news is that the moringa tree is huge!  And there are three smaller ones growing, as well.  I trimmed some leaves from the tree and added them to the tuna salad sandwiches yesterday.  I also talked with our cook about adding the leaves to food.  She said she is familiar with moringa.  She told me that Haitians use moringa often, adding the leaves to rice dishes.  Moringa is extremely high in nutrients. Often called the "miracle tree", it is used in developing countries, especially good for children with malnutrition.  

The kids are at my door wanting attention, so I'll end my blog and hope to write again soon.