Tree and Community

The tree in our yard which I wrote about in a previous blog entry continues to fascinate me.  link to blog from Feb 9th  The tree had lost most of its leaves when the flowers began to bloom.  Now that the flowers have all fallen to the ground, leaves are returning.  This tree seems to concentrate on only one activity at a time as it grows.  It relinquishes the flowers for the leaves to come and in time, releases the flowers allowing for leaves to be born, trusting that the flowers will come again in due time.  In each stage of its cycle, there is great beauty despite dramatic differences in its appearance.  

This picture was taken on February 2nd when flowers were beginning to bloom and there were still some leaves on the tree.

In this picture, taken a week after the other, you can see more flowers and fewer leaves.

By late February, there were a few new leaves when the flowers were passed their peak.

On March 22, there was one branch that had developed large leaves, but the others were mostly bare; I took a picture of one(perhaps the last) flower that day too.

Here is the tree today. In the photos below you will see some other views of its leaves all taken today.

Looking up from under the tree

Reflections on Local Community 

On Saturday, we had a local community meeting, for the sisters and postulants who live in the house.  The sharing of others and my personal reflection increased my gratitude for the experience of residing here at Leocaide Convent.  The eight people living here were born in four different countries, so we bring four different cultures, and think in different languages.  Each brings her own gifts, history, challenges, perspectives, skills and experiences.  It is truly a positive experience for me and I appreciate each of the women residing here.  I am grateful for all that they teach me, for their presence and for their varied expressions of our shared faith, and simply for people they are.  It is a great place to come home to at the end of the day; not living and working at the same location has been very helpful for me this year.  We have planned a community outing for the upcoming weekend, which I am looking forward to, and may write about next week.             

Thank you to all who take the time to read this and all who are supportive and encouraging. of my ministry here in Haiti.  Many blessings!  Take care!