Our next stop is to Gertrudes who takes in the handicapped children that probably would not survive if not for her generosity. These little ones are cared for and taught as much as they can learn. The small outdoor courtyard became an Indy 500 track for one handicapped boy in a wheelchair and became a baseball field for a game of catch or became a place to soak in not only the sunshine but some love. One group of children was singing and Jan launched into Jingle Bells. We had several rousing choruses of Dashing through the Snow in the 90 degree heat.
We drove through the city to pick up one of our translators before heading to the orphanage. Miles upon miles of tents. One of our translators told us his story of surviving the earth quake. He was in a college of 500+people on the day of the quake. He left the school for a few minutes to go get some water at the market. When he left the market to return to class, the earth convulsed, dropping the roof on the school where he would have been, killing all 500 - 1 people. The market behind him collapsed killing everyone inside. He alone survived this small section of disaster of a much, much larger devastation.
Driving in Haiti is a mix of slowing over rough pitted road and then surging forward to take advantage of the relatively smooth road and no vehicles blocking your way. Fast forward, quickly slowing, bump, bump, lurch, swerve around another hole, lunge forward. every encounter of oncoming traffic is a game of chicken. who will move the fraction of a yard to miss the other vehicle. Junior, our driver, is the Mario Andretti of Haiti and is awesome at this game. Rules of the road are pretty simple....the larger vehicle gets right of way. The slower vehicle gets passed on whichever side of the road is open. Honk, honk..I'm coming around. Honk, honk...okay I see you. Honk, honk....get out of my way. Honk, honk....you first.
We arrive at Guillames orphanage and school. The children recognize Karen and Jenn who have now made four trips in the last year. There were lots of cries of recognition, hugs, kisses....tears. SO GOOD to see friends who love.
We have set up four stations of activities to do with the 40+ children. Paul is a dentist and Jan is a dental hygienist so they will do a tooth check and a flouride application with Paul as their faithful assistant. Maureen and Bill will do an English lesson with dry-erase boards....dog, cat, flower, tree, Jesus Love me. Anita and Lynne are doing an art adventure with a photo from 1920's New York. Their creativity is wonderful to see. You know they are being cared for because they can now do more than just think of how to survive...they can create beauty. Heather and Karen will do a Menstruation education piece with the older girls. And Jenn will float making sure everyone is cared for.
A design course at the University of Minnesota has made dresses and shorts for the orphans as a class sewing project. Baseball T-shirts for the boys were donated by one of Pauls' dental patients. The kids looked absolutely adorable in their brand new outfits. Every color of the rainbow and as bright as can be. They sang songs for us and we danced and praised God for his goodness. This group of orphans will move to Grace Village sometime in the next month.
Karen and Jenn have been wonderful leaders...kind, gentle, encouraging, affirming, uplifting, firm, caring, in love with the people of Haiti. Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to be on their team.
We are tired but grateful to be given this opportunity to serve and to love. Words of the Day....Dust, Progress, persistence, Jingle Bells, hard, favorite.....
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