THE CHRONICLES OF
HAITI…. Pt 2
The Haitian Double
Stuffed Oreo
One particular day, in the nestled
crevice of our beloved mountains in Fond Blanc, my team and I (including
Janina, one of our squad leaders) realized that we were dangerously low on
water. The closest place to purchase more 5 gallon buckets of water was to
journey the two hours into town via whatever transportation our translator Leo
could find.
We decided that only Janina, Leo
and myself would journey the trip.
So, Leo sets off looking for a tap-tap (this is a small stature truck
that has the bed walled in and a plank of wood on each side for people to sit
on. They almost always are decorated with high intensity paintings of rappers,
Jesus, and possibly characters for Lord of the Rings.) Unfortunately, no
tap-taps were available, so the next option was flagging down a motorcycle for
not one, not two…. BUT THREE PASSENGERS bringing the grand total to FOUR people
on ONE motorcyle!
PAUSE: there are very few things
that I secretly wished upon this crazy journey of World Race, but when I heard
of how we were going to descend the treacherous Fond Blanc mountains… I knew
God was giving me a tasty little treat. I love motorcycles. I love adventure.
THIS WAS BOTH.
We flag down a moto. Our Haitian
driver’s name was Jimmy. I climb on and saddle up right behind ole’ boy while
introducing myself because that is the proper thing to do before you very
closely ride into a sunset on a man’s motorcycle. Janina sat behind me, and Leo very close behind her.
Picture us.
Jimmy…. Lia…. Janina…. Leo.
A true Haitian Double Stuffed Oreo
FLYING down the mountainside into town.
As we rode along, carefully
balancing four fully grown adults on rocky, muddy terrain…. Over streams… past
villages of curious people… I realized that this was most likely the most
awesome transportation experience of my life. I saw God’s thumbprint of creation with the amazingly clear
mountain air in my hair. I gripped poor Jimmy like he was Tom Cruise and we were
in Top Gun. He didn’t mind.
That day, God blessed me with more
than a cool transportation experience. He showed me how valuable water is. He
showed me the value in relying on Him for provision, and how He blesses beyond
my requests. On the back of a
motorcycle in the hilly woods of the land, all I could say is…. GOD IS GOOD.
