Day 6

Journal:  (a quick morning entry)
Traffic Jam!  I guess this is the norm since there doesn't seem to be any traffic laws.  We are just sitting. It is SOOOO HOT!  Traffic here is crazy.  People drive crazy.  I'm shocked that I have not seen any accidents
(Entered later)
Today was village day.  In the morning we went to a beautiful village.  There were less tent structures and more concrete houses.  We were told not to take pictures in the town b/c there is a strong Voodoo influence and taking a picture is like sending bad luck to them.  

We first visited with three men.  Two of them were brothers and one a friend.  One of the men did most of the talking.  He asked us to pray for his walk with the Lord.  They did not attend church.  He said they used to attend church when MOH sent a bus to pick them up but he said the bus no longer comes.  
Pray for them.

We then stopped to talk to 2 women.  They said they were so happy we stopped b/c people usually walk by them.  (There were very intimidating looking at first.)  One lady had a daughter named Annelie :)  They wanted us to pray for their activities.  (We were not sure what that meant.) (Often things are lost in translation.)  She was not interested in asking us questions...she said she just wanted us to get to the praying part.  They had beautiful smiles!!  Walking further I picked up a little girl.  She was maybe 2.  She didn't try to talk to me, but she was holding on for dear life.  I carried her and sang to her until we got to the river.  I kept asking the interpreter if it was okay that this 2 year old is traveling with me further and further away from her home.  He said it was no problem.  (SO CRAZY!)  She had orange hair which is a result of malnutrition.  I didn't continue the river walk with the others, I just sat by the edge and sang and held the girl.  

Emily had been very ill since Tuesday night.  (She had the worst case out of any of us.)  Although she was still looking pretty yucky, she came with us.  Walking in the heat was hard for her...but God provided for her along the way.  I loved hearing her tell about it later on.

God continued to bless us both through the day and we were well by the end.  

After lunch we went back to a village that we painted at early in the week.  It was the home village to several of the interpreters.  It was a village that was known for prostitution and nude entertainment.  We toured the village and went to random stops that Michelot wanted us to see.  He took us to one of his friend's homes.  It was a house with just 2 chairs, a school desk with a laptop and a turntable on it.  Michelot created a serious dance party.  It was very entertaining.  As we were leaving he said....STOP, WE HAVE TIME TO DANCE!  (This became a trademark saying amongst our group :)  

We went onto the house that we painted early in the week.  We then stopped at her neighbors (the place where the other group painted her hair shop.)  She invited all 9 of us into her very, very small home.  She collected chairs so we were all sitting down.  She was SO HAPPY to have us there.  We sang and prayed with her.  It was another one of my favorite moments on the trip.

We returned to the bus where others had been playing soccer and other games with the local children.  It was so awesome to watch the youth interact with the kids.  REALLY GOOD STUFF!!

Our mission is over.  I'm feeling very mixed.  I miss my kids and I'm ready to see them....but I don't want to leave Haiti behind.  

Pics from the second village

Gas stop

 Dance party stop....

Met up with the others from our group.  

They had been playing hard with the kids.

I finally whipped out my camera.  

I got some good shots.  

I wish I would have used it more during the week.  

Notice the homes in the background.  

They were more like the homes we know.  

They even have flushing toilets!!  

When we needed to use the bathroom we would tell one of the interpreters.  

They would then find us a place we could go.

  

I didn't use the bathroom in this village but a number of teens did.

The people living in the homes would allow us in to use their bathroom.

(The lady did ask if the youths needed to pee or poop.)

She just let them come in....several times.

How would I feel about a bunch of strangers coming over to use my bathroom over and over?

This boy plans to enter into ministry.  

With God's help he wants to transform his village one family at a time!

I love this picture of Tim and Neal praying with him!

Trying to cool off at the end of the day.  

I was not supposed to have my skirt above knees.

I see here I had my skirt hiked up trying to stay cool.

Oops!

These kids were so precious!

On the bus ride home we drove by what was left from Tuesday's protest.

The bus that we traveled on the last day had MUSIC!

Party on the Blood Romeo!

These teens ROCKED MY WORLD!

One more post coming...