We finished eating at Jerry's about 1:00. The orphanage is only one block away. It houses about 150 kids and is a two level building with 3 wings forming a sort of "U" shape and an open courtyard in the middle with a playground. The kids range from 6 to 18. The kids absolutely swarmed us. It was a little intimidating at first but they get so little one on one attention you can understand it. The 150 kids are split into 5 different "families" each headed up by a Haitian couple. These couples are truly giving everything for the Lord and these kids. Can you imagine being the parent for 30 orphans?! These couples need your prayers!
After we got settled, we gave our VBS skit one last time :(. It went very well and the kids enjoyed it. After VBS, we tood the kids swimming in the ocean. This was turn out to be another of those "Haiti" moments that will forever by burned into my memory.
So many ironies stuck home again. To get the two blocks to the ocean, we and the kids walked through a garbage strewn alley to get to the "beach". Keep in mind the view is spectacular. The beach itself is narrow, with the gutted, decayed buildings that squatters occupy right up against it. The sand is black / gray and absolutely littered with garbage and broken glass and flies swarming about. A pig was tied up on the beach and had no shortage of garbage to consume. Some of what pigs leave behind was seen as well. Several of the kids peed right after getting the water. Some had suits, some didn't.
The water appeared clear but the bottom had a very large concrete "shelf" submerged there and several other obstacles underneath. Only Neal (from our group) and Curtis Rogers from the mission dared to get in with about 50 of the kids. The kids were having a blast.
Later that night, Penny made a tearful comment that struck like a hammer. When she got to the beach and saw these kids running barefoot through the garbage and glass. She imagined it was her 5 year old son and said she wanted to rush out and pick up every one of these kids and keep them safe.
I had not thought of that while I was there and I feel SO guilty for not noticing that. We are no better! My kids are no more important than these kids! Yet my mind is creating this unconscious "seperation" that keeps me from fully understanding these conditions and empathizing with these people, our fellow children of God.
I pray for this "seperation" to go away.
After returning to the orphanage, we handed out peanut butter sandwiches and gift bags for the kids. The little ones were especially excited. My wife Lisa spent a good deal of time talking to Tigans, who is sponsored by one of the families in our church. A very bright, intelligent boy. He is almost 18 and soon will leave the orphange and enter the world.
We left the orphange about 4:00 and made the last trip to St Louis du Nord. After returing we started our final packing preparations as we would leave at 4:30 am to head into Port de Paix to the airport. We ate pizza for supper. I didn't like it and ate little. At 7:00 our group gathered for our final nightly devotions. Each person got up and shared our highlights, feelings, and things learned from our time here. MANY laughs were had and MANY tears were shed. It was awesome.
For me, it is the "images" I will never forget: the "miracle" at Le Bay as we ministered to over 300. The lifting up of 50 simultaneous prayers from the workers at the mission each morning to heaven and marvelling at how God hears and responds to each one of us. Walking down by the ocean delivering food to the utterly destitute. The image of the poor old lady bent over like a crab. The joyful praise of Sunday morning.
All of these great memories involved praising God and obeying his command to love one another. Living as Jesus would and did!
Why, why, why is it so hard to this on a daily basis in our lives!? Lord, please help me to keep my eyes and heart open.
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