Updates and Brokeness

Ministry Update
For a long time, I have wanted to be more available and involved with the families of the children at the orphanage.  The children spend the entire summer vacation and a couple of weeks at Christmas time with whatever relatives they have.  While out of an ethical commitment to confidentiality I can't share details of the meeting I had with relatives of the children, I can share that I am glad I invited them to meet with me.  I learned a lot from those who came, and we are planning to do it again next month!    

Housing Update
There are three young woman soon to be postulants who moved into the convent where I am living  The postulants who were here last year are now entering their second year and are out living and working in different locations.  Currently, in addition to the three newcomers, there are two Haitian sisters, one sister from Burkina Faso,  one Canadian sister, and two Americans.  Two other Haitian sisters who officially live here are away in Canada at this time but will be returning next month.  It is a gift to be able to live with people of various cultures and ages, to be exposed to different worldviews and ideas. It is also a gift and a welcomed change to live with someone else from the United Staes.    


Relfection 
Lately, I have found myself reflecting upon brokenness.  I share this simple reflection/poem with you.
Brokenness
So much seems broken:
inconsistent internet
warped bed frame
pot-hole laden roads
dull knife
will the water run?
will the lights come on?
will the pilot light in the oven ignite?
will the bicycle slow when the handbrake is pulled?

Most difficult of all:
broken promises and
broken hearts



Have a good week.  Take care. Many blessings!

Preschool Pilat

The first day of school is kind of scary for many young children.  I was thinking about that a lot during the past couple of days.  I traveled to Pilat over the weekend to welcome the new kindergarten class on Monday and Tuesday at the sisters’ school there.  As one can expect many of the 33 new students cried as their mothers left and several continued to cry intermittently throughout the school days.  Since they were short a teacher’s aide, I was quite busy those two days.  Many of the children became more comfortable as time went on and certainly will continue as school becomes their familiar routine and hopefully a positive pleasant experience.  

It was great to see the second year preschool children as well, who have grown since I last saw them in June.  They, of course, asked for Ti Tòti, (the turtle puppet)  who came out to play with them during recess; that little puppet received many little kisses!  

Early this morning,we were nearly twenty minutes into our journey leaving Pilat, to return to Cap-Haitian, and had just crossed a river (without a bridge) when we saw one of the young kindergarten students in her school uniform dress holding her mother's hand as they walked the rocky unpaved mountainous roads towards school.   It was well before 7:00; the school day begins at 8:15.  

This afternoon, after various delays, I officially began to see the children at the orphanage for groups.  It never ceases to amaze me how children express themselves through play and art.  It is a privilege to accompany them.  I am grateful that I am here. 

Many blessings!    

Lakansyèl (Rainbow)

While on the orphanage playground with the children late yesterday afternoon, I looked up to notice a beautiful rainbow. 

  

This is a perfect metaphor for my first full week back after vacation.  It was bright and sunny.  Overall I was very happy to be back and it was a good week.  Yet, there were some storms; a lack of clarity in a particular situation and a disagreement which I would not have predicted and do not fully understand and could have handled better.  Sometimes we look at the sky on a beautiful day when thunderstorms are on the way and say, what is the weather doing?  I looked around and wondered what I am doing?, what God is doing?  Yet somehow just as the beautiful rainbow came,  a sense of joy and consolation entered my heart.  It was not because of anything I or anyone else did or said, not because all was suddenly settled, but it was simply a gift from God.  I may not know exactly what I am doing from one moment to the next sometimes, or what God has planned, but God will use both the sunshine and the storms to create great beauty.  

May you experience joy and recognize the rainbows in your life. Thank you for taking time to read this.  Many blessings!    

Return to Haiti

Sometimes it still amazes me how modern day travel can allow us to be in very different places within a short amount of time.  Sunday night I was at my cousin's wonderful wedding eating chowder and clam cakes at the reception in scenic Newport, and the following afternoon I was in a convent in Cap-Haitian chatting with sisters and eating a mango.  

I am grateful that I was able to spend time with family and friends during vacation.  My time in Rhode Island which also included a fun trip to visit family friends in New York and also a trip to Massachusetts to be with my twin sister on our birthday. I am also equally grateful that I have returned to Haiti.  School was scheduled to start this week, but for reasons that are unclear to me, it will start next week.  Only a few children are at the orphanage now, the others will come on Sunday. Today I was happy to see those who came early as well as the employees.   I am very much looking forward to seeing the rest of the children, but am also glad that I have a little time to get organized before the children arrive.    

Now that I am back in Haiti, I intend to resume weekly updates.  Take care!  Many blessings!