"Honey, it's 6 o'clock!"
"Hmm? What?"
"We gotta get up!"
"Oh, oh boy, ok..." And I stumble out of our bed. I fumble around for my glasses and move in that slow-fast speed that results when you're half asleep but late. It kind of feels like doing zumba in water actually.
After making myself presentable, I casually stroll past the rest of my team already faithfully reading their Bibles. Oy, the team leaders sleep in! Thankfully there has been nothing but a spirit of grace on this team through all the ups and downs already. No one ever even mentions my delinquency.
The rest of the morning carries on as usual. First, time in reading the Bible (though mine was cut short by the breakfast bell- there was literally a bell they rang when it was time for breakfast), then breakfast and a Creole lesson before heading out for the day. I learn a very encouraging phrase and motto for our team, 'Nou kabob fe sa,' which means 'We can do this!" (Exclamation point added for, well exclamation.) Come on, try it with me, Nou (Noo) Kabob (Kah- leave the BOB off) Fe (Fay) Sa (Sah). Nou kabob fe sa (Noo Kah Fay Sah). Very good! We can do this!
Back at the school/church site, we split up to work on two projects: framing LARGE maps for the classrooms and organizing that closet we met yesterday. I had told Alexis (the missionary's daughter who was in charge of our team for the week- she's pretty awesome by the way) that I would gladly finish organizing, so she put me back in there today. Galyinn, Turner, Jan, myself and several other staff workers at Mission of Hope International (Gadith, Ruth, Mary Ange, and Jameson-he wasn't staff but he was every where we went), sorted, labeled and sized everything, getting rid of clothes that were particularly stained or ripped. Just a tangent here on donating clothes. If you wouldn't wear it, don't send it. *Hands up: I myself am guilty of leaving behind my paint stained clothes to be 'washed' and donated in a third world country, but I am officially cured of that. I know folks have good intentions, but people in developing countries want to look nice too. So before you leave or send that stained t-shirt or worn pair of undies (um, yeah...), think about your true motive for getting rid of it and maybe just pitch it. Then go buy a new pack of underwear to send.
Galynn and Turner organizing the closet.
After lunch, we finish both projects and clean up. We have a great team. It just seemed like every one eased right into a place that was meant for them. They knew their strengths (and weaknesses) and skated their lanes in a very productive way. Good job team!! Furthermore, it was extremely satisfying for this result oriented lady to see that closet organized (hopefully it stays that way, *bites fingernails or I guess I'll just do it again next time I go). I mean it felt like extreme makeover-closet edition, minus Ty Pennington. Inwardly I was beaming, outwardly, well, it was pretty hot in there, and I was super sweaty and dusty from all the clothes and suitcases we dug them out of. So a cold-ish single stream of water kind of shower back at the base felt pretty amazing.
Later I meet up with Galynn who is gathering rocks on the beach. We discover a plethora of green rocks that are quite pretty (though at the time we were questioning what made them green exactly.) We discuss how this whole mission trip thing isn't as difficult as it seems (the base at the beach has a way of making you forget the hard work you put in during the day), when she stops and digs up the biggest green rock ever. "You're taking that with you??" I look at the rock that must way 15lbs and laugh out loud! Luckilly Ron wasn't too far behind to carry it as we continued to walk! We joked later with her husband about the rock (which she took home!). He said he wasn't surprised.
All that rock gathering made me tired. I had time for a quick snooze and dinner, before it was back to the church for a Creole-English service. Kyle preached again with a translator and we met a another missionary couple who had just moved to Haiti eight months ago. They expressed gratitude for a message preached in English. I imagine constantly translating while learning a particular language AND trying to do the things you are used to doing, things you have to do to function, is an exhausting task. Add to that trying to stay fed spiritually when the preachers don't speak your native tongue. Encounters like these are a sort of pro to short term missions: the chance to catch a glimpse of what it's like to be a fulll time missionary. Seeing all the work Lex, Renee AND their children do on a daily basis and all there is to do gives you a greater appreciation for those folks that send update letters to your church or stand before you giving you their testimony. I don't know how they have TIME to write update letters while so inundated with the work of the field, but they do, because they care that you care. So, if you don't read those letters, now would be a good time to start.
Every evening we had the habit of meeting to discuss the day and reflect on all that we were experiencing. I dubbed them our 'family' meetings, since many of us had left family back home and we were each other's family for the week. We started by saying something positive we learned about each other and this quickly turned into a time of encouragement and team building. Then we turned our thoughts on how we saw God working that day and what we could thank him for. I think it was last night that we thanked God that Turner got his luggage back and also applauded Turner for his positive attitude despite not have a change of clothes for almost 4 days. Not a complaint out of him! We were also thankful many nights for good health, the work being done at MOHI, and the unity of our team. To end, we prayed. We mixed it up night to night praying as a group, in partners, or for the person next to us. Many times these debrief sessions continued as long chats under the chakoun. At the end of this day I saw a deeper connection in our group, like we had bonded. I'm really thankful for this team and how they worked together, got along with each other, and showed grace to each other when things got tough. We would need that kind of unified spirit in the next few days as the work was about to get a little tougher.
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