December 27, 2012

It's quiet in the plane.

Well, kinda.

In reality, it's so noisy inside the DC-3 that one needs ear plugs.  So, it's quiet inside my head anyway; I have the purple foam ones in place!

As I look out the window, we're cruising just over the clouds and I can see what should be Bermuda to the right.  And then the beautiful expanse of ocean and sky, as far as the eye can see.

We're on our way home.

It wasn't as hard to leave as I had anticipated.  The good-byes occurred over the span of about a week; so, diluted, the leave taking wasn't as wretched as it could have been!

But, there's no mistaking it; we've left a bit of our hearts in Anse-a-Galets, with the people of Haiti - our amazing students, the ever-present children, the special Haitian friends who work on the compound, our neighbors who became like family; the other missionaries and families on the mission compound with whom we have shared life this past year.

And, then there were the members of teams from around the world who came for short term missions.

The familiar faces at church in town.  The Haitians who encouraged us with our creole and those who would laugh at us when we murdered it!  The ones who would wish us a good morning when we passed on the street and those who would ask about our family with each greeting.  The amazing women and children who were making it on their own, living under a tarp or less, and cooking over the charcoal fire on the ground just outside the tarpHome, getting their water from the community fountain at the corner.

The women who cooked and cleaned at the mission guesthouse and cleaned our home and would cook Haitian for us once a week.  The men whom Larry befriended who would sit on our back porch and work on the computers under Larry's watchful and instructive eye.  All the people who would show up at our door with computer, cell phone, printer and copier issues because surely the "blan" techie could help them!  (And the "blan" computer techie learned to pray over these machines, and began to understand when he actually could work the issues out, with help from son Wade!).

Our students who would work long days which often began before day with hauling water for their families, then come to sit in English class and computer class for another 1 1/2 - 3 hours.  Men and women who wanted to improve their skills, to improve the life of their families and, perhaps even make a difference in their country.

The ones who invited us to their daughter's wedding where WE were the honored guests.  The young single father who asked Marty if she would be his new baby daughter's godmoher.  The husband-wife team who responded to the poverty plight of so many of their countrymen by establishing a ministry to enable some of the poorest to send their children to school.

Those who embraced us and allowed us to be part of their lives in many ways.

It's been a great year!  An unexpected gift.

We are taking full hearts home to South Carolina.

Musings from a quiet mission compound!

We drove the neighbors and another friend to the air strip today and watched them fly off in the little MAF plane, the first leg of their respective trips home to England and California.  

The view across the sea to the mainland, from the airstrip

The goat had to be shooed off the "runway"!

It was rough saying good-bye!  :/

      .....and driving home!

When we returned to the compound, it was SO quiet!  We are the only ones on this side of the road, (with the exception of those Haitians working in the compound office and on the grounds), with other families out for the holidays.   A new missionary couple is living  across the street and another family is  still in town,  on the WISH side – but over here, it’s just us chickens ( along with the proper chickens and dogs! ).

After a quick walk across the road to deliver to our class secretary the last of the beginner English class tests and certificates which the students will pick up when their fees are paid, we both got started with the process of cleaning out, organizing and storing.

It was deja vu – we began organizing and re-filling the same crates we filled when we moved down; except this time, we won’t be taking them all home with us.  Many will stay behind, filled with teaching curricula, supplies, files, etc., etc. 

Ate with friends at the East Coast Cafe last night - a true little oasis right down the road.

(The entrepreneur who realized his dream with this immaculate and attractively landscaped cafe/bar, is the cement block king on the island.  The hospital alone has purchased fifty thousand blocks from him!)

We sat on tables outside under large umbrellas, enjoying the balmy December temperatures and the company.  

 Funny thinking about all the Christmas "hoorah" going on in other parts of the world.  There is a single banner erected by the East Coast Cafe above the street down by the square wishing people a “Bon Fete Noel” – that’s it!  We are gearing up mentally for the  shocking clamor which will most probably greet us when we arrive in Florida next Thursday!

Life has definitely slowed and mellowed; time to regroup, evaluate, sleep in, veg a bit, take naps and walks and pictures around the town, reflect, enjoy each other and this brief last chapter of The Great Haiti Adventure!

A Haitian wedding celebration on Saturday, last Sunday at our Haitian church and worshipping at missionary church with the other two other missionary families and other Christians on the island, Christmas day with friends .......

We will soon be moving on…..

Shakespeare in Haiti!

It was a long shot, but I felt like it was worth it!

A couple of my advanced students had voiced interest in learning a bit about William Shakespeare! We had done a great deal of writing in this English composition class, and lots of speaking and listening and reading.  BUT not a smidge of exploring English literature, so I was game.

Matt Smith who is the on-the-ground representative of OKIPE, the group sponsoring Madam Soliette's childen's home here in Anse-a-Galets, is an actor at heart.  In his former life, the Californian  was on the big screen and stage - that was before the Lord got hold of him and he found himself in places like Africa and Haiti, representing an amazing non-profit SHINE - but that's another story ...

This night, he was guest professor with students from my combined English Composition classes.

From the beginning of the evening, the adult students

                             were held / by Matt / in rapt / revere / and awe

and we all learned new things and even tried our hand at producing some verses in iambic pentameter!

After sharing the high points about this mysterious and fascinating poet and playwright, Matt treated us to an amazing soliloquy from Henry V, full of dramatic passion and inspiration - and the Haitians and Americans alike broke into applause as the final words died off.

And, then - the piece de resistance!  Romeo and Juliet!

After the disclaimer ( and warning!) that in Shakespeare's day, women were not allowed to act on stage, the project manager of the new Wesleyan hospital which is being built on our compound, arrived in a white sundress and wig ( those of you who know the movie "Brave" might have recognized the long, curly red wig that was donated by one of the missionary kids!!!).  What followed was a magnificent rendition of the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet!  Matt and a visiting English teacher and drama coach had worked together with Julian for three weeks - and the finished project was nothing short of amazing!!

The applause that followed Juliet's departure from the "balcony" (a folding chair) and Romeo's leaving the ''Capulet estate grounds" (the chapel room in the hospital!) was thunderous!

And, a great evening was had by all!   Matt worked hard to communicate in ways that ESL students could understand.

 The students made a great effort taking in the information and understanding new things about a renowned figure in English literature.  We all were treated to some fine theatre.

I was wondering if anyone was going to ask for autographs!

Instead, there was the request from a couple of the students to have another night like this when they can learn more about English literature!

It was well worth it!

The Lord's Day

More often than not, Sunday finds us in church - rather, a couple churches.

The Sunday morning program at The Wesleyan Church in Anse-a-Galets starts early, with Sunday School at 6:00 a.m.  The church service begins at 7:00.

Entering the church at the front door.

We generally arrive just before 8:00, slip into our usual seats at the rear of the large sanctuary and join in with our Wesleyan brothers and sisters in song, prayer and listen to testimonies. That consumes the better part of an hour, sometimes longer.  The Haitians are very passionate about worship, through prayer and singing with hands raised, and in agreeing with a speaker, especially after "Bondye beni w" - "God bless you."  Words and phrases are repeated when delivered by the worship leader - "Mesi Jezi!"  Scripture reading is proclaimed with everyone standing.

The sanctuary at the Wesleyan Church in Anse-a-Galets.

After announcements, more testimonies and musical specials by individuals from the congregation, the sermon begins around 9 or 9:15.  Larry and I are beginning to understand more and more spoken Haitian creole so the time at church is spent listening carefully to the sermon and not just worshipping silently or reading our Bibles.  It is a thrill when we understand the page number of a song or the scripture reference and can participate in the service.

And then, there is that compassionate Haitian worshipper who, when noticing that we are trying to locate a song or chorus in our copy of Chants d'Esperance, or flipping uncertainly through scripture, politely takes our book, finds the passage or hymn we are searching for, and smilingly returns it to us!  Mesi!

Commonplace things that occur with regularity in church on Sunday mornings are the attendance by animals!  Not to be blessed, but rather just to stroll down the aisle and in front of pews filled with people.  Often, a dog will raise up on his hind legs and place his fore legs in the lap of an unsuspecting parishioner, looking for a pat or a treat.   Other animals seen inside the church during service include cats and chickens!  No goats yet........

The sermon is usually over around 10:00.   Leaving the church service is GREETING time!  Vigorous handshakes, touching cheeks or giving a hug.  These are such loving and demonstrative folk!  Often, big Haitian smiles of recognition or welcome are met with pigeon creole ( "Crenglish") which produces a Haitian chuckle and a hug!  Always, a "Bondye beni w!".

We usually get back to our house in time to make a cup of coffee to take to the next worship event - Missionary Church in the guest house dining room.

This past Sunday, we had two different short-term mission teams with us- one from Pennsylvania and the other from Indiana.  Also attending were a father and his teen-age daughter from Canada, a husband and wife from California, workers from the children's village project, and the Haitian husband-American wife owners of a small children's home outside of Anse-a-Galets.  Worship songs were accompanied by a guitar and the meditation was given by a team member.  We had a full house!

Listening to the devotional given by a team members at Missionary Church.

The Lord was present at both the Haitian and the Missionary churches.

Sunday afternoons often find us accompanying teams to our favorite swimming hole - the beautiful, Caribbean blue sea.  There, we are refreshed and amazed by the reef, tropical fish and other sea creatures   ...

On the way to the reef for some swimming and snorkeling

.... and continue this day of rest with a heartfelt worship of our Creator God.

So there you have it - Sundays on the mission field.

Oh, and one more thing - after lunch with our visitors, we OFTEN head back to our house for the  "Wesleyan hour" - the much-anticipated Sunday afternoon nap!

Mission field or not - some things never change!  :)