Como Rele?

Sunday March 7th- Ferrier, Haiti Day 2
"We rode in the truck to church, a few of us did. When we got in the truck one of the boys named DoDo was standing by the trunk and they invited him in. DoDo has down syndrome and he has the biggest smile and all he does is smile. We got to church and they had us sit in the front. From there I could see everyone who was there. The singing was just as beautiful as they said it would be. It flowed out the open windows and doors. I had to record it on my camera. Everone was dressed up and although the town has been muddy they were clean and crisp and white. They sang songs in both english and spanish and the kids sang just as loud as the adults. I could not help but wonder how they can have such strong faith despite such harsh lifestyles. They sing with such fervor as if they have so much andthey have little to nothing. But they are thankful for what they do have...

After church we came back to the house and had a very good lunch of beans and rice and french fries and fried plantains. Afterward we went outside to play with the kids, we played jump rope a long time. We had so much fun playing with them. We were starting to learn and remember names and faces, playing with each other and forming friendships. It was nothing like the first day where they were on the street staring at us and we were staring at them. One of the girls, Guermanie, taught me the song that you sing when you jump rope in creole... Guermanie later taught me how to count to ten in creole and other basic words..

Today we went to church and prepared for the clinic tomorrow. We divided medicine into bags based on the number of drugs. We put them on a shelf and put everything in place for the morning. After dinner we jump roped some more and played with the kids. We ate dinner, gruel again (but a different texture) and had a short meeting and talked about things that have really touched us. One of those things is one of the little boys here is albino. He is about six years old. Guermanie first introduced me to him by telling me to take a photo of him and his mom. Later on I see Dr. Nick and the other adults talking and Jennifer holding him and overheard something about cancer. Later Eric tells me that Nick was telling them that the boy was dying from cancer. Jimmy said later that the cancer was malignant and Nick had just confirmed it. The boy has skin cancer. The boy has wounds all over his body. Jimmy was telling us that Jackson said if the boy lived in the US it would be different because they can treat him. But there is nothing that can be done for him here and his mom brings him to the clinic every time to get him checked on. Janet also told us the story of how they believe he came to be that way. They say that his older brother made a deal with the devil and when the devil came to get his pay the boy wouldnt give it to him and while the devil was there he saw the boys mother and fell in love with her because she was so pretty. The albino boy is said to be the son of the devil. What is sad about that is that it is difficult to explain to them the biology and genetics of it all because they would not be used to that. They have a way of putting reasons to the things and how they explain it. We also talked about witch doctors because there is one in each town. Jimmy was saying they are not anti- church type of people and people only really use them as a sort of back up if you may. Like christians may still carry around a rabbits foot or catholics wear a cross around their neck because they believe it will keep them from dying... I already know that when i get back i will have a deeper appreciation for what i am blessed with and when i over dramatize things i will think twice about the magnitude of my situation. It feels like i have been here for five months already. Jim said thats because we are emersed int he town. Its not like we are on vacation and we can go back to our hotel rooms and watch ouf tv and have air conditioning. I think he is exactly right... I wonder if this is how they feel. Like the days last forever and there is no hope and they just want to get out. I'm pretty sure they do. The only thing is we can get out. They on the other hand, they live this life... I only hope my camera stays alive to document this trip so that maybe i can bless someone elses life. But i know pictures are just like those help save a child commercials. They only temporarily make you feel compassion, but not enough to influence action. In order to do that they have to experience this trip. They have to live it. They have to go through is and live among these people..."

Phillip after church (actually wearing clothes)











As you can see Phillip came out of his clothes


Me and my jump rope skills



My double dutch skills




















Guermanie

Boys will be boys

She is a mess

On our way to the clinic

Sorting medicine



Learning the wash your hands song









Sorting more medicine



And more medicine


and more medicine