WRITTEN on 1/19/18…
I sit here under bread fruit, mango and coconut trees at my home for the next 25 days. And I wonder just how this came to be. Yesterday was my first full 24 hours here in Montrouis, Haiti at the Supply and Multiply ministry site. As I reflect on the first 24 hours I am blown away with what has already transpired.
After being awake for about 48 hours (minus some scattered 20 minute naps) I had my first full night’s rest in my new home. I woke up to no alarm and started the day by some luxurious circuit exercise with a couple of my teammates. Then at 7:30, breakfast was served by our Haitian hosts. All 16 of us delighted in bananas, peanut butter, bread and (for some) malaria meds. Then we dispersed and had quiet time until 9:30. At 9:30 we met with our 2 translators and 2 American hosts. One by one we stepped out of the gate for our compound, and embarked on our first visit of the local community. We trekked through the streets with repeatedly butchered attempts of “bonjour” to every person (“bonjour” is Haitian Creole for “good morning”). We went to the other buildings for the ministry we are working with. These included another missionary housing and 2 elderly homes (one for men and one for women). We entered the elderly homes and were greeted by the sincerest smiles and hugs (we will be spending much time with these residents this month). We were then lead to an agricultural site with plantains, okra, and beans (this site was surrounded by a plant that will burn your skin!?!)… Upon our walk back to our cute little pink home, we were served a rice dish for lunch with more bread and peanut butter (if desired) (if you are wondering peanut butter is NOT normal here, but the ministry we are working with brings loads of it from the states so it is available to us at any time to eat with bread…)
After lunch. we ventured to the river and saw the first stages of making concrete (shifting rock through strainers to get the good stuff for concrete).
THEN one of my HIGHLIGHTS for the day… I got drafted in to play soccer with the kids!!! It started as a game of pass and then as more kids flocked, I asked (with my butchered up universal body language) if we could start a game. Hence our first Haitian soccer match transpired. In the midst of the game I was oblivious to the heat as I immediately broke into a full sweat running back and forth the dirt field/road trying to help my team hit an 8×8 inch rock (equivalent to a goal) to score. Lesson learned from my first soccer game in Haiti: Haitian kids are hard core strong and tough! They play in the rocky dirt road with bare feet running at full speed kicking the ball with no reservations across the entire “field”. After our game of soccer, I was drenched in sweat and dirt so I ventured to take my 120 second shower. After my shower, I took some time to see the animals at our home. I met the mamma and baby bunnies and the chickens (which are all raised to eat) and the tiny 3 day old kittens.
For dinner, we had pasta with some hot coleslaw-ish mixture called “pickly” (a popular mixture that is brined for weeks to months in advance and eaten with EVERYTHING!). Then we had some team time reflecting on our day and supporting one another.
As I climbed into bed that night I was so overwhelmed with how much Jesus loves me. He knows that I love to exercise, play soccer and that I love animals. He placed those things in my day and life on purpose. He is such a purposeful God and I love how He knows our every need and supplies for them in better ways than we could attempt to.
Thank you for reading, I greatly appreciate your support. Feel free to comment below. Love you all.
Live loved,
Micaela
