One Month in Haiti

I have officially been in Haiti for 1 month now so I thought I would share some stories of my Haitian experiences.

Haitian Experience Number 1: Cockroaches

In my second week here I stayed at the Rumford’s house while they were away in Florida. I was there alone so I had been using just one of the bathrooms but when Lindsay became officially staff she came to stay with me. One night we were getting ready for bed and she went to use the other bathroom as she had used it that morning and her stuff was in there. She found cockroaches, I tried to be all brave and went and got my keens and threw it at the large cockroach… not a good idea… it jumped and I screamed. After a few minutes of that we decided to just close the door and use the other bathroom, the Rumford’s would be home in a couple days. The next morning in class the van der Mark children told me they could hear us screaming at 10pm. It was good times. Lindsay and I’s  first Haitian experience together.

Haitian Experience Number 2: Church of Hope

Haitian church is my new favourite… I look forward to it every Sunday morning and Tuesday evening. As I’ve said in my previous blog, God is at work in the lives of the Haitians and I am honored and excited to experience it.  That have also had kids church once since I’ve been here and there are about 400 children in a small semi covered room singing and dancing. Diana told a story with one of the interpreters and we gave out Candy! It was so much fun!

Haitian Experience Number 3: Tarantula’s 

I was sitting in the classroom on day, just minding my own business; teaching the girls. Out of nowhere came a tarantula sitting on the bin beside me. I think Bridgely pointed it out! I screamed and then I got the kids all worked up so we had to take recess so Teagan and Diana could catch the large spider. Diana and I ended up saving the day by trapping him and setting him free in the trees.

Haitian Experience Number 4: Mice

After the Rumford’s arrived home I moved into a room at the guesthouse.  One night last week I was ready to go to bed around 10pm and I walked into my room and there was a little mouse sitting on the top bunk of my bed. I silently screamed and thought about what I should do. I went over to the van der Marks to get some help; Cheryl gave me some sticky traps to catch him with. I took those back to my room and in a few minutes I caught the mouse. He began to scream and I ran out of the room because I didn’t want to hear the mouse struggling. A lady from one of the medicals team came and helped me get him off the tray and set him free.

Haitian Experience Number 5: The Market.

This past Saturday I went into Cabaret for the first time with Diana and Sadrac (one of the interpreters. His friend is teaching him to drive so we went in his friend’s car. We went out for lunch to a place called Yolty’s then went to the Market. It was huge, people everywhere selling stuff, children coming up to you trying to get you to buy stuff from them. I wanted to pull out my camera many times but didn’t think it was a good idea.  

Haitian Experience Number 6: Animals in the Village.

Saturday I moved into what is called the Village of Hope. It consists of 4 buildings with 4 one-bedroom apartments in them each.   Right now there is only people living in one of the buildings, one is almost done and they’re 2 more still in the building process.  Sitting on my porch I can see cows, horses, goats, chickens and turkeys.  I hear them at night and the rooster starts at random hours of the night. I am getting use to the sound of roosters and soon it won’t even wake me in the night.

Haitian Experience Number 7: Rain

I thought I would touch on the rain since I’ve had so many people asking me about the rain. We experienced rain on Saturday night but in other parts of the country there was flooding. Pre- earthquake rain would break the heat and would be a joyous thing. Post earthquake rain took on a new meaning. There are many people in tents, not North American tents but tents made up of long sticks and a bed sheet on top. Needless to say these tents are not weather proof, after 5-10 minutes of rain the sheet and people inside the tent are very wet; some of which are amputees or injured which means open cut getting wet and infected. We here at Mission of Hope are okay as far as the rain but please pray for those who are in what we call “Tent Cities”

In my evenings, after dinner I walk down to the makeshift ward, which is in the High School. I visit a couple patents and their families as well as hang out with some of the Hope House kids who are at the ward periodically. This is also my form of exercise as it is about a 7 minute walk down the hill, coming back up is the exercise.

Some of the Creole phrases I know…

Koman ou ye? How are you?

Koman w rele? What is your name?

Sak ap fet? Whats up?

Bon jou/ Bon Swa/ Bon nwi Good day/ Good Afternoon/ Goodnight

On Ale! Lets Go!

Jezi se bon!  Jesus is Good!

Mwen Grangou! I’m Hunry

Woy! Is something you say when you are surprised meaning “oh my goodness!”

I moved into the Village of Hope on Saturday and I can’t wait for Lindsay to get back today so the three of us can get settled in. Yes three… things change everyday! The Johnsons now have a teacher, who lives with us her name is Jeanine, she is really nice. She is pretty busy getting things organized with the Johnsons so just pray for her and her transition to Haiti. Also pray as the three of us walking together and live together, 3 girls at 3 different staged in our lives.

Overall the last month has been incredible. We have awesome neighbours... on the one side is the Worship pastor and his 3 Children, they are very nice. Two doors down on the other side are 6 of Mission of Hopes interpreters. They are all very nice Godly guys who are going to be change their Nation for God someday! Pray for them!

I’ve met the most amazing people, Godly people with incredible stories. I feel so blessed to be here surrounded by so many people who love the lord and have such wonderful servant hearts! I am joyfully anticipating what will happen in the next 4 months.

Prayer Request:

-Pray for the van der Marks as they are away on Vacation this week to the Domincan Republic. Pray that they are having a wonderful week of rest.

-Also pray for Diana who is in Florida for the week with her parents.

-Pray for Grant and Sandy as they take on the new roles this week in the van der Marks absents.

-Pray for my time with the girls this week as they have been somewhat hard to teach, adjusting to their parents being gone and Diana being away too!

-Pray for all my new Haitian friends! 

-Continue to pray for Gabby! I go visit him often and play cards… he is healing very well! 

-Pray for Lindsay and her travels back to Haiti! Praise the lord her brothers baby arrive so she could see him before she left. She flew to Fort Lauderdale last night and then into Port au Prince this morning morning! I can’t wait to see her! 10 days has seemed like forever!

Love, Blessings and Wonderful Haitian Experiences,

Leeann