It was our first Saturday in Haiti, and the date was
significant – I was finally getting my first shower, in a bunk bed, no less (I
really wish I had taken a picture of our concoction before it was taken away). I was excited, but exhausted. It had been a productive and fun but tiring
day of hauling rocks at Pastor Woodman’s property. His house is right next to a church under
construction and we were helping to extend it for an orphanage. This included manually laying the foundation
by forming a path with pretty large-sized rocks. Anyway, in order to enjoy my shower, I had to
walk across to the orphanage to fill a bucket with water and haul it back to
the stall outside. As much as I wanted
to shower, I was not looking forward
to bringing the bucket back by myself, and wondered why it had to take so much
effort just to be superficially clean (while you shower, the ever present and
ever invasive dust is blowing onto you).
At the faucet, some of the orphans that were hanging out and playing
with water helped me fill the bucket. As
I started to head back, I must have looked ultra pathetic and weary, because I
heard the kids chuckling and chattering in Creole. Then all of a sudden, two boys appeared and
took hold of the wire handle that was cutting into my hands. They gestured to me to let go of the bucket,
as if to say “We got this.” All I could
do was walk briskly next to them, pointing the way to the shower and repeating
“merci” over and over again. I hadn’t
felt relief like that in quite some time.. part of me had to laugh at how God
sends people to help me carry my burdens when I feel like I can’t carry them
alone.
significant – I was finally getting my first shower, in a bunk bed, no less (I
really wish I had taken a picture of our concoction before it was taken away). I was excited, but exhausted. It had been a productive and fun but tiring
day of hauling rocks at Pastor Woodman’s property. His house is right next to a church under
construction and we were helping to extend it for an orphanage. This included manually laying the foundation
by forming a path with pretty large-sized rocks. Anyway, in order to enjoy my shower, I had to
walk across to the orphanage to fill a bucket with water and haul it back to
the stall outside. As much as I wanted
to shower, I was not looking forward
to bringing the bucket back by myself, and wondered why it had to take so much
effort just to be superficially clean (while you shower, the ever present and
ever invasive dust is blowing onto you).
At the faucet, some of the orphans that were hanging out and playing
with water helped me fill the bucket. As
I started to head back, I must have looked ultra pathetic and weary, because I
heard the kids chuckling and chattering in Creole. Then all of a sudden, two boys appeared and
took hold of the wire handle that was cutting into my hands. They gestured to me to let go of the bucket,
as if to say “We got this.” All I could
do was walk briskly next to them, pointing the way to the shower and repeating
“merci” over and over again. I hadn’t
felt relief like that in quite some time.. part of me had to laugh at how God
sends people to help me carry my burdens when I feel like I can’t carry them
alone.
