Find the Beauty

There were many items on my to-do list for today.  So easily my day off gets filled with the practical tasks such as cleaning my room, responding to emails, and just trying to catch up on life.  I pulled myself away from my tasks for a short time this afternoon to take a few pictures.  None of the pictures I took are especially great, but I needed a moment to look for and find the beauty.  That is the great thing about creation, there is always something beautiful we just need to open our eyes to see it.

(I was planning to post more photos but the internet is not cooperating.)

As I look at the on-line news and my facebook feed I feel sad and my heart aches for the people being denied entry to the United States especially refugees fleeing horrible situations who had been cleared to enter.  I wonder who are we (as Americans and human beings) if we can not welcome the refugee?  At the same time, I have been inspired by the number of people speaking out in various ways.  I am so glad that many of my friends are protesting this injustice.  If I were there, I would be standing with you.  Thank you, everyone who is speaking up, your actions are encouraging.

Have a good week. Take care.

HOPE

“The cross, our only hope.” 

Those are the words of Fr. Moreau, the founder of the Holy Cross congregations.  Friday, January 20^th was his feast day.  Here in Cap-Haitian, the Family of Holy Cross celebrated the feast day together on Saturday night at Leocaide Convent where I live.  The celebration began with a prayer service, which seemed to have been well prepared; I wished I had understood more of it (it was mostly in French.)  The prayer was followed by a game of Holy Cross Bingo.  Trivial questions regarding the history of the Holy Cross Congregations were asked and the answers were written on Bingo cards.  I enjoyed observing the excitement of people as they called out correct answers to the questions and especially their enthusiasm when they won.  That evening, our dining room was filled with laughter and conversation as we enjoyed a wonderful meal.  As we began to eat our desserts some local communities entertained everyone with singing and dancing. One of the priests told a joke in Creole (I could not understand much of the prayer service or the French Bingo questions, but at least I got the joke!)  It was truly an enjoyable gathering.  For those of us who live here, the celebration was followed by washing dishes.  

Two years ago at the end of my first Fr. Moreau's Feast Day Fèt in Haiti, the sisters at the high school convent who had hosted that year announced that the Holy Cross men of a particular house would host the following year. Last year at that party one of the priests announced that Leocaide Convent would host this year.  When the party was over, I realized that we had not continued that tradition and wondered where next year’s party will be held. 

Regardless of where the party is held, what I am really wondering is whether or not I will be in Haiti next year.  The original agreement between the Marianites of Holy Cross (my congregation) and the Sister of Holy Cross regarding my ministry here was for three years, which if not renewed will end in September, or actually since the orphanage operates on a school schedule more likely it would end in June.  My preference at the moment is to stay in Haiti, but know that I am called to be open to respond to whatever the Spirit may seemingly ask of me. 

   

There are so many unknowns right now.  I wonder where I will be next year and what my future holds. In preparation for meetings we will have this summer I find myself pondering possibilities regarding the future of my congregation.  When I consider the current political situation in the United States, fears arise within me that potential policy changes will have severe detrimental effects on those who are most vulnerable and at least for four years move us further from the possibility of creating a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world.  Today, I sat down to pray,  tempted to try too hard to sort out all of the unknowns.   I share with you the words that came.

    

Unknowns abound

but so do the certainties

of seasons

and Paschal patterns,

For even if what seems the worst of all possibilities

one day arrives as reality,

Then from under the abandoned ashes

seeds will surely sprout

and rise from death’s decay

to flower and offer fruit,

proudly proclaiming the certitude

that hope cannot be killed.  

Many blessings!  

The flowers will return

Manman yo (the mothers)

On Monday mornings, for 30 minutes when the children have school (and when nothing else that is  seen as more important arises,) I meet with and provide some training for the manmans, the women who do most of the direct care of the children.  Some of these mothers have children of their own who live with relatives.  It is not that these women want to leave their own children, it is the reality that there are few employment possibilities in Haiti, so in order to provide at least minimally for their own children financially, they accept work away from their families caring for children whose own families can not.  During my brief formation on Monday, I told the mothers, "travay nou pa fasil", (your work is not easy.)  They clapped because apparently most of the time they do not generally feel that this is acknowledged.  I told them they should clap for themselves and for each other; for some reason just because I spoke what I thought was an obvious truth they said they were clapping for me (I usually work with small groups of children at one time and I go to a convent that is not at the orphanage every night and sleep in my own bedroom; they sleep at the orphanage in the children's rooms.  Imagine sleeping most nights in a room with as many as 17 children between the ages of 3 and 11.)  Really, everybody should be clapping for them all of the time, every day.  So often it is the people with the most difficult jobs, who do the direct caring of those who are most vulnerable who are least respected and at least in most places that I am aware very poorly compensated (financially and otherwise.)  This is not just true in Haiti, think of nurses aides, teaching assistants, and day care workers in the US.

First Full Week

For me the first full work week back after vacation went well.  I made a few adjustments to the Sunday therapy schedule to give the oldest children a choice regarding what kind of group or program they would like to attend.  This improved attendance among the adolescents.  Attendance is not usually a problem with the younger children, in fact, some of the littlest kids actually often ask to come.

My English class resumed and seemed to go well.  I hope my students enjoy it as much as I do.

Earthquake Anniversary

Thursday marked the 7th anniversary of the earthquake that did so much damage to this country.  This year the children had school.  There were prayers during mass.   Certainly, it seemed that there was a deep awareness of the anniversary, but it was not considered a holiday this year; things went on pretty much as they would any other ordinary Thursday, although nobody has forgotten.  

Buds

After a particularly long day at the orphanage, while walking towards the house I looked up and saw a bud on my favorite tree, the tree whose beautiful flowers fascinated me last year.  The flowers have been gone for months now.  The leaves recently began to fall from the tree; for whatever reason, this tree needs to let go of the leaves before the flowers bloom.  The tree looks a bit awkward at the moment; I suppose this is normal in the midst of any transition, growth, or major transformation.  It has also been significantly pruned since last year, too.  The visible buds remind me that the flowers will return.  Yes, the flowers will return.  There is hope.  I can trust the paschal mystery.

Have a good week.     Remember, you can let go of the leaves you are clinging to because the flowers will come. And, I challenge you to be sure to tell someone who is doing the underappreciated and most important work of caring for people who are vulnerable that you know their work is difficult and that they are appreciated.  Many blessings!  Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings.  

Retounen

Other than the five-hour delay in the airport in Paris, my return to Cap-Haitian was smooth.  The bus from Port-au-Prince to Okap, actually left pretty much on time, which since the bus going in the other direction three weeks earlier and every flight on the entire journey was delayed this was a welcomed and much-appreciated surprise.  Traveling was a great experience and it is also great to be back!  

When I made the travel arrangements last summer I did not yet know the dates when the children would leave for their family visits or when they would return to the orphanage.  I might have planned a bit differently since as it turned out I left and returned before them.  Actually, it was good to have a day to rest and two days to get organized before the children arrived on Sunday.  I enjoyed being present to welcome them back.  I had missed them.  Most of them seemed to have had a good visit with their relatives. School resumed for the children yesterday, as did my therapy sessions.  

While I was away screens in the windows and a screen door were installed in the playroom as well as in the other rooms in the same building.  This project is thanks to generous donations that we have received recently. I am very appreciative!  I had wanted this for a while believing that it will greatly reduce the number of mosquitoes present during play therapy sessions, and hopefully make it more difficult for rats and tarantulas to enter too.  They also made the step into the playroom higher which should prevent water from entering again if we have heavy rains like we did a couple of months ago.  

I decided to include some pictures from inside the play therapy room too.      

When I returned I was glad to see that the mud had turned to dust and the large puddles that I had to cross to travel from the convent to the orphanage had dried up while I was away.  Then on Sunday night into Monday it rained and was very windy.  It also rained at times during the day yesterday and this morning as well.  I am glad the rain was not heavy. There is mud once again but, nothing like the flooding we experienced in November. Fortunately, it is possible to walk around the puddles as opposed to needing to wade through them.  Yesterday, I went on-line to check out the weather in Cap-Haitian and it looks like we can expect light rain at least at some point every day for nearly a week. Oh well, at least it is not dusty!

Have a great week!  Take care.    

    

The Beauty of Burkina

Since I am currently living in Haiti and was visiting Burkina Faso I am tempted to make comparisons.  There are striking similarities and drastic differences in the cultures, the people, the poverty, and the beauty.

There are images of Burkina that I will always carry with me.  I want to share some pictures I took of Burkina.  None of the pictures really capture the experience.  I am still needing to reflect.  It may be a while before I understand what this journey has meant for me; somehow it seems to have expanded my perspectives.  I know that I am grateful for every minute of time I spent in Africa.  It was a wonderful experience of being in community, and getting to know the sisters there a little better.

(Out of respect for people's privacy I generally don't share identifiable photos of people, so hope you enjoy the plants, animals, and landscapes.)

There were many gifts of the past week.  They included interactions with various people, a visit to the Sisters of Holy Cross at their convent in the capital, a new year's eve luncheon for priests and sisters of the diocese hosted by the local bishop, celebrating the parish feast day, being with the Marianites who serve in Burkina, and just enjoying and attempting to learn from Africa.  
  
I am on way back to Haiti.  There is simply no direct route between Yalgo and Cap-Haitian.  Because of flight schedules, I am spending a night at a hotel in France and will continue my journey tomorrow.  The internet at the hotel is very fast!   They also have a very nice shower with hot running water.  I had thought maybe I would try to see a little of Paris, but my plane getting in was delayed, getting to the hotel was a little more complicated than I thought, and it was snowing when I landed, the snow turned to rain, (my winter coat is in Rhode Island.)  Thanks to modern transportation one can be in a very dry warm climate one evening and find oneself in a cold wet place the next morning.  Amazing!  

Happy New Year!  Many blessings!