Home Sweet (Haitian) Home

Often one of the nice things about going away is coming back!  That’s the way it has been at the Wesleyan mission on La Gonave.  We anticipated good reunions with our dear co-workers on the compound – but our expectations fell far short as to the welcome-back we would receive from our Haitian friends.

Madam Samy - a Haitian woman who works for the mission and also cooks and cleans for Larry and me once a week - spent three days preparing our home for our return.  Her cleaning included removing everything from the kitchen cabinets and wiping them out; washing the curtains in each room; taking books and articles from the tall bookshelves, then cleaning the shelves and wiping down the books.   Then, she washed clothes and linens that were left in the wake of our surprise and rapid departure, folded them and put them away!  And those things were just for starters!  When we walked in there was a wonderful fragrance of CLEAN! 

And…..fresh flowers in each room! 

Then, she came around today to welcome us back in person to the tune of huge hugs and kisses on each cheek!  Then came the question overflow – How was the trip?  How was the family?   How was Hannah?    How were the rest of the grandchildren?…..and on and on.  I was barely holding my own with the creole, she was shooting inquiries so fast and furiously!

Then, the sailboat captain, TiMet, who is notoriously aloof and very selective whom he talks to, tapped me on the shoulder as we came across yesterday, and asked how the trip home was, how the family was, and the grandchildren, and welcomed us back!  And, as we reached La Gonave, Joel, the young man who is a grounds keeper at the compound and who also goes to the market for us met us at the wharf and came up to me and gave me a great big hug and said welcome back – then asked about the family! 

It goes on and on!   The cooks in the guest house, cleaning ladies there, some of our students who Larry met on the street – all so very interested in our time away and how the family is!   It has been remarkable!

With Haitians, this seems to be the norm.  Our Haitian friends relate to all returning compound folks in this manner - not just us.

We should have anticipated it.   Taking the TME for each other and for us, for relationships - it's the Haitian way.  It's an everyday thing.

We fast-movin', get 'er done yesterday, high-tech Americans can learn some things about how we prioritize our time!

PS – the 20” of rain courtesy of tropical storm Isaac has greened up this island and it looked beautiful from the sea as we returned yesterday.  Fortunately, damage was minimal and the deep ravine through the middle of town is now filled in!  Thank you for your prayers during that time of concern.