This morning I woke in the dark since the power doesn’t work 24-7. I went up to the roof for some quiet time and then saw the rising sun turn the sky pink. After a little walk around the compound I joined my team at breakfast. Today was a day to visit a nearby village with a large deaf community. This village didn’t used to exist, but after the earthquake people gathered here with their Samaritan’s Purse blue tents. Mission of Hope has a goal called “Blue to Brick” in which they intend to eventually get everyone out of the tents and into homes.
We made it to one home to pray with a lady. There were 12 people in her family living in two small rooms. The wanted us to pray for providence for them. And we prayed the truth that God gives life and life abundant over them. I do believe it can happen for them and I really hope they get to experience it here in this life. We were then called off the job since there was a more pressing construction job in another village. (Though we were told that we would return some other day to do our visits.)
As we walked back to the bus, I discovered that the Haitian Deaf actually use American Sign Language. I recalled my old days of Joyful Hands Sign Choir and the minimal conversations I had with my deaf peers to work up the bravery to sign. I told the woman that was walking with us that she was beautiful and she signed, “Thank you! What’s your name?” So I finger spelled my name….which is super long. She then gave me the sign name of tapping my hand in a C on my right cheek. (because I smile) I AM SO EXCITED! Culturally only a deaf person can give you a sign name, and since no-one at school really befriended me from the deaf community, I never had one. I feel so honored to have gotten my sign name here. I found out that the woman I was signing with was called Betty and we chatted about family, the jewelry she makes, and friends. But alas, I had to leave for the construction project. I do want to see her again, but I feel like we may have used all the sign language I actually know. Oh dear!
At the construction project we were working on latrines. My jobs included burying pipes they put in, moving concrete blocks, sweeping the dried concrete, and lastly being a part of the bucket brigade that moved wet concrete to pour a new floor. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any photos since I was in ministry…but perhaps I will in the future. Or perhaps not…haha.
All is well though, and I am excited to see what we will do tomorrow. They let us know the morning of by writing a schedule on a white board at breakfast. I had a little free time today before dinner to write this blog and to hand wash laundry down at the laundry shack. I could get used to everything here except maybe the bugs…haha. Thank you all for your prayers and I will keep you informed!
PS: If you want to know about my flight to Haiti after Training Camp see my personal blog here: http://carolinesadventuresinlife.blogspot.com/2014/09/flying-and-feelings.html
