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| THEY ARE HERE!!! PTL |
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| Rob was SO excited to see Dad at the airport :) |
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| Cuddling with the girls after arriving at our house |
-Roledine coming to COTP that same day and spending lots of time with Grandma Sally and up here with us.
-Toby getting to follow Papa around and "fix" things and ride on the tractor
-Making Christmas tree ornaments with Grandma Sally
-All of the FOOD and goodies they brought us
-a day at the pool
-Christmas, gifts and food and songs...all in person...all together
-The most PERFECT day at Paradise Beach
-A night in town for dinner
-Late night chats
-Playing with kids and going on walks
And these were just a few...
But one of the things I will never forget, one of the things that brings a knot to my throat every time...was the talk I had with my dad, on our balcony, the day before my parents left.
In the months leading up to our move, I could tell that my dad had reservations-what parent wouldn't? But in those months, never one time did he fail to be an encouragement to me...never once did he miss an opportunity to tell me that he loved me and that he knew God had a plan.
I think that as you read his account of coming to Haiti, you will see that those questions and worries were not eased as soon as he hit the ground, came to our house and saw where we were, but rather they were maybe even heightened...but even then God had a plan. And as we stood on the balcony, I saw Jesus in my dad. Through both of our tears...I saw the softening of his heart and the surrendering of his own will and ways to ways that were higher than his. I recognized it, because it is the same thing that both Rob and I have done in moving to this place.
He stood across from me, broken, surrendered, and humbled...but he stood there strong! Choking out the words I will never forget. Words that affirmed me...made me feel in that moment as an adult-one who had spread her wings and flown, yet looked back to see her daddy waving her on...telling her "Well done...I love you." But in the same breaths it made me feel like I was still a child...seeking the approval of my daddy, wanting to hear his heart and his affirmations. He tied so many of the events of my life together and helped paint the perfect picture for me of how God had brought me to this point, of the large role that Rob-our marriage relationship-has played in that, and the journey that still awaits us.
There was a day where I know is struggle was, "Please, God. Not my kids...Anyone but my kids..."
But as he stood across from me on the porch, he looked me straight in the eye and said, "I now know that there is no one else better suited to be here in this place...If not you, than who?"
I pray that you will glimpse my dad's heart in his writings...but moreso I pray that you will see the work of our Father, and that in some way you will be changed-your hearts will be open and softened to that thing that God is trying to open your eyes to...that thing He is trying to get your attention with...that thing He is trying to teach you...
Contemplations from a weeklong visit to COTP
My wife Sally & I arrived last Thursday afternoon at COTP with the main purpose of visiting our daughter Erin, our son-in-law Rob & our grandchildren since they would not be home to celebrate Christmas with us this year, and to observe where they were now living & to simply get a glimpse into their daily lives here in Haiti. We had our interest in Haiti piqued recently, for the obvious reason, and had been hearing the stories of the devastation after the earthquake.
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| Dad's first tour through the baby house |
It’s very difficult to describe the gamut of emotions that one goes through from a visit here. From the time that you arrive you cannot help but to notice the level of poverty present here. I am not a regular writer/blogger, but it is my hope that through these few short lines, I can relate something of what people live daily here at COTP.
I have to admit in writing this, that I was very concerned with my children moving here to Haiti with their children, my grandchildren ages 18 months to 7 years. Were they living in safety? Were they subject to infectious diseases that you always seem to hear of in the tropics? For the better part of a year now, as Erin & Rob prepared & planned for this new adventure I have had friends & family openly asking “really, they’re moving there?!?!” “They’re moving there with their kids?!?! “Are you okay with that?!?” The answer then & now has always been yes. Yes, I believed that the Lord had called them to this mission. Yes, I fully believe that when the Lord calls, we are to go. Yes, I fully believe that when we place ourselves in the hands of the Almighty that there is truly no safer place on heaven or earth. Yes, a very noble calling. Yes, yes, yes, but.... Lord God, forgive my unbelief. The spirit is willing, but the flesh so weak. I had to come, not only to reconnect with my loved ones, but to make sure that God was holding up His end of the bargain. Protecting my prized possessions here in this place.
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| Dad and Toby taking the kitchen cupboard doors off |
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| Carrying back our water jug after filling it at the spicket |
We arrive. I am an American. Short term observations: Chaos-this country is dirty-the roads are very bad-people line the streets. These people don’t seem to realize that if they would just get busy and just get themselves a job that they could clean this place up, provide roads, water, sewer, INFRASTRUCTURE!! Fix it for Heavens Sake!!! Life should be so easy, right?
Day One: We get the nickel tour of COTP. This is here, this is there, this is what we do at this time, that time etc. I am looking around with the critical eye of a Father, Grandfather, American & seeing: “no, not good; this will never do long term”; “I will have to fix this, clean that, oh my, we need a crew here” & so on. Emotions enter in. My kids are full grown, they can handle this. My grandchildren however are in an environment where children, their playmates are poor & have no parents; rats, roaches, bugs of everywhere! Red Alert! This goes on for 4 days with me feverishly cleaning, sorting, fixing... Then the realization. You cannot possibly...there isn’t enough soap. There isn’t enough time in the day...not enough money for what we need to accomplish this task... I’m running out of energy! I can’t quit now, so much to do yet. No, keep going, you only have a week! I’m tired... Dear Lord, Help Me!!!! I can’t. I am spent. Father in Heaven, hear my prayer. I can do so little. So much is needed. Save us Father! Come TODAY LORD JESUS! This goes on for 4-5 feverish days...
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| Off on a moto ride with Rob and Toby |
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| Waiting for direction from "the chef" on what to tackle next |
Day 5, or so: (Day of Reckoning?) A typical day here starts very early, and with what one may call a symphony. At least an hour prior to the sunrise you can lay in bed & hear it begin. The ever present dogs seem to get things going with their continual barking at something known only to them. They are joined by the roosters that begin then as well & seem to exist in every direction surrounding the COTP property. Add to that the huge toads singing base and the occasional murmurings of the cows & goats...and then...what self respecting symphony would be complete without the percussion section? Enter in the dump trucks!
Side Note: Dump Trucks having been traversing the road past COTP for the past year hauling fill dirt to the airport runway project in Cap Haitian just a few miles north of here. I have to digress for a moment to give you a somewhat fuller picture of this hauling process. The roads leading from Cap to COTP are a mixture of rock in a very hard pack soil. The combination of the wet climate & heavy traffic of the trucks creates a road that is so bumpy & full of pot holes that the average speed of driving on them is 5-10 mph at best, with continual navigation from one ditch to the other to avoid the more “crater” sized holes. It is not uncommon for some that don’t travel well anyway, to feel ill in even just a 30 minute road trip here from Cap Haitian. Now, you have the dump trucks. These are, as one would expect in this economy, not newer trucks, then add to that the fact that they also traverse these same roads continually & it leaves you with a truck that usually has at least 3-4 of it’s 10 tires wobbly & wildly out of balance as the truck’s diesel engine (usually poorly muffled) chugs down the road. This, along with the bumpy roads start the large metal gravel boxes clanging & banging loudly as they clamber down the road. These trucks start running around 4 a.m. & probably average around 1 every minute or so. Now you get the picture of the “percussion” section. Oh yeah, I almost forgot...the diesel powered generator hums to life about then as well.
Back to the Symphony. Now, this goes on for 30-40 minutes when, while still pre-dawn the 65-70 babies & children begin to awaken, most of them either with wet diapers, or hungry & many of them expressing their unhappiness most vociferously! Add all of this together & you have a cacophony of noise that you literally think would wake the dead! This is daybreak COTP. I can only imagine how this all sounds to God.
At any rate, I decide to get up. Take a walk, watch the sunrise, etc. My chain of thoughts still include, basically: 1)this is NOT okay; 2)I don’t think that this will ever be okay; but wait, so finally...the question is presented: Whom shall I send? No hesitation...answer: 3)I personally know no one person/persons that I would trust for this job other than my wonderful daughter Erin & my amazing son in law Rob.
Dear God! You do know what you are doing! Praise you, Jehovah God! Dear God, forgive my unbelief! Thank you for showing me what it is that you desire. James 2: 14-17
To God be the glory! More later if I am able.
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| Replacing the motion lights on top of the water tower. |
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| Walking with Addy outside the gate |
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| My kiddos love this man...love being with him, love taking him places to show him things, and love following where he leads :) |
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| Gra and Papa during gift opening |
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| On the small boat that we had to take to get to Paradise Beach |
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| Mom and Dad with all the kids in the ocean |
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| Full heart...Love my daddy! |
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| Hanging out in the freshwater that comes down off the mountainside |
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| Love the moments where we catch ourselves content to just "be" with each other |
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| All of us outside the front gate on the day my parents left |
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| Papa and Grandma with all of the kiddos |
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| My parents and I-We wouldn't be here without them! They have truly loved us so well and only 8 days after they arrived back home in the US, by dad was back on the ground in Haiti (my mom, uncle, sister and brother-in-law to follow the next day) to help us through a cholera outbreak we had in the baby house. My parents have truly begun a legacy in our family...a legacy of loving well, of putting each other first, of serving, and of just being there whatever the need. My family speaks truth in love and sometimes in pain...we disagree, but we are intentional to work through things together for the sake of the bigger body. We love each other...but above that, we love Jesus. They are some of the "iron" that God has placed in my life to sharpen me, encourage me and call me to a higher standard. I am SO grateful for them!!! |
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