Trip to the Big City

Last week I travelled to Port au Prince with Pere Kesner on a "shopping trip".  He wanted me to see what was available for use in the children's home, "Kay La Pou Timoun Yo."  We will need a refrigerator, a stove, a few plumbing fixtures, and paint for the walls.  All of the items are there in the stores but, much to my surprise, are much more expensive than in Florida. The only item I bought was a waste basket for the kitchen here at the guest house, plus a water melon sold by a street merchant, which I shared with the staff here so everyone could enjoy the bright red sweet fruit.

While in Port au Prince, I visited with Sisters of St. Margaret, Sister Marie Margaret and Sister Sarah Randall.  We enjoyed a delicious lunch together, real Haitian style red snapper with all the trimmings.  Fresh seasonal fruit, always a favorite, was served for dessert.  After lunch, Sister Sarah and I enjoyed conversation on a shady second floor terrace, peacefully nestled among tall trees, and began planning a retreat for women in Bondeau.  It was an enjoyable and peaceful afternoon for me.  (Thank you, sisters !)

Life in the city is so much different than life in the country side.  Port au Prince is filled with people walking here and there, everyone looking to be in hurry to get somewhere.  Where are they all going, I wonder.  Traffic moves at a slow crawl.  Cars clog the streets. Many are vehicles of the NGOs who are there helping to rebuild.  Tent camps still fill what were once public areas, two years after the earthquake.  The conditions of living in the camps are abominable.

In contrast to the city, life in Bondeau is quiet most of the time.  People live a very simple life, living in one or two room houses with no running water and no electricity.  Women cook outside, using three large rocks to support their cooking pot.  Children walk every day, carrying a big plastic jug, to a water source, and then carry the water home for the family's use.  Women and children wash clothes outside using big basins, one for washing, one for rinse.  They lay the clothes over bushes to dry.

Life in Haiti is difficult, whether in the city or the country.  There is not enough money for even the necessities of life.  Hunger is an on going problem.  There are no government programs to help the poor.  People here in Bondeau appreciate South Florida Haiti Project and all that SFHP has done over the years.  Check out the website, www.southfloridahaitiproject.org.

Gifts of God for People of God

Pere Kesner received word that our lay leader, Wilcaire and his wife were in a motorcycle accident while travelling home after choir practice.  Nine people from the parish including Kesner and me filled the car and were then on our way to see our injured friends.  The night was dark.  Bright stars lit the black velvet sky...Nature's gift to the poorest of the poor, I thought.  We who live in illuminated cities never experience the celestial lights. Although the lights of Ste. Marie Madeleine are the only lights in the village, and can be seen shining through the dark night from far away, they are not strong enough to interfere with viewing the sky.

We arrive at Wilcaire's house and are greeted by two elderly ladies who lead us to where Wilcaire and his wife are resting, their little boy beside them.  The house of two small rooms is dark.  The only light is provided by a kerosene lamp on the dresser.  Our group directed the light from their cell phones and saw that injuries were minor, only surface scrapes and sore muscles.  Pere Kesner went back to the parish clinic, returning with first aid supplies and nurse Natacha.  While he was gone, the group burst into song and prayers, thanking God that our friends were not seriously injured. 

Riding home, I reflect on the love of community, how community here comes together when one is in need.  I reflect on the gifts of God to the community, gifts of Hope for the future, especially the next generation; Love for God and for one another, and Faith that God will fill all their needs.

.

"Lambi" anyone?

Yesterday afternoon four young entrepreneurs came to the house looking for a buyer for their "catch of the day".  They had two large dirty plastic bags full of sea shell creatures called "lambi".  They were so excited about their catch and were eager to make some money.  The house staff was excited, too, because, unknown to me, lambi is a tasty seafood enjoyed by the locals.  I made a deal and bought the whole lot of shellfish for $10.00.  Today a physically challenged woman spent her day cleaning and preparing lambi for tomorrow's dinner.

Prayerful singing at Ste. Marie Madeleine

Writing again from my favorite place, today looking out to the east over the trees to the mountain beyond, I hear prayerful singing coming from some unknown place.   A hint of the sweet smell of incense passes by, unfamiliar to me, except in church.  The mystery quickly solves itself as Pere Kesner emerges from his room, music amplified when he opens the door allowing the incense to escape on to the veranda. 

Music is the heart of prayer here at Ste. Marie Madeleine.  Last night at Evening Prayer the church overflowed with people joyfully singing, arms waving in the air, accompanied by the computerized beat of rhythm set by music director, Jon Kensi, on a donated Yamaha electric keyboard.  Worshippers clapped and danced as they sang, some seeming to be in an ecstatic trance.

Smiles appeared on the young people's faces at this morning's children's bible study when I began singing "Jesus Loves Me" in Creole.  The kids all joined in, raising their hands in the air as we sung the chorus, "Oui, Jezi renmen".  A young boy sang a children's hymn in perfect tune and rhythm.    Children, like their parents, have naturally beautiful singing voices, which they use in prayer, praising God.

Morning at Ste. Marie Madeleine School

I'm looking out from second floor verandah in the guest house.  It's recess time.  I hear the happy squeals of the preschool children as they play.  Boys play soccer, (here they call it football), except they're kicking a plastic bottle, not a soccer ball.  Kids here make do with what's available.  Two boys proudly play with toy trucks that they created with plastic bottles, using red plastic bottle caps for wheels. Kids here never cease to amaze me with their creativity and ingenuity!

Lumenn, one of the school cooks, limps from the cooking area in the back of the guest house, (one leg is shorter, the result of an accident) carrying on her head a basket of aluminum bowls and spoons that will hold the children's meal for today.  Jabon follows, carrying a huge aluminum pot filled with today's lunch, probably rice with bean sauce.  Guy follows Jabon.  He has another pot that looks very heavy.  One of the boys runs over to him and helps.  A mentally challenged young man has been hanging around, probably wanting something to eat.  The ladies give him a job to do...they don't send him away.  The cooks have been busy since early this morning.  The sounds of them chopping garlic and spices with a pestle while I'm still in bed is comforting.  I know I'm where I need to be! 

OK...maybe I'm getting the hang of it.  Let's see.

I'm working on setting up a blog site so that I can send up to the minute daily reflections from Bondeau and keep in touch with friends.  I'm not quite sure how to do this and am working my way through.