Tet Chage + God Magic = Haiti

The last two days have been action packed! 

I've had three desperate mothers at my door with no means to feed their kids, or get them the medicine they need. (I have been able to help them all, God is good)

No electricity. My batteries have gone dead. So like really- no electricity

No running water. (My pump is being fixed, and this bucket thing is way harder than it looks) 

This morning, I woke up crabby about another day with poop filled toilets and bored kids. 

I prayed. God said "go to church" 

I tried to call my friend Allen to walk with us cause I wasn't sure of the way from my new house. 

My phone was out of minutes. 

I cried a little. 

Then, my favorite neighbor boys, Frankie and Dolincie came to play with the boys.  

I mustered up enough creole to ask Frankie to find me someone who could go get me minutes.

In Haiti- you bring some money to a guy on the street, he takes a cut and adds some minutes. I'm sure there is a more efficient system that no one uses. This is just how it's done. 

So, the guy comes. I'm an energy reader, and I knew he was shady. But at this point, I needed one thing: Nicola. It was worth the gamble of losing $1000 GUD. ($20 US) I was going crazy. 

So, I send my money off with shady dude, told him to buy himself some pâté as a thank you. Pâté on the street is $25 GUD. So like 50 cents. 

Boom! Minutes! Boom Nicola! 

Nicola showed up immediately and cried to him about life without water and electricity. He showed me empathy, and support and was starting to problem solve when...

All of sudden... Frankie pointed something out to Nicola and said "EDH!" Which meant the power had turned on. I screamed and hugged all the Haitians around me, and ran into my house to flush the toilets and run some water! 

EDH!!!!! We had been waiting for the electricity to turn on again so we could blow up the inflatable pool my mom bought the boys. Day saved! Electricity is a miracle! Nicola had to take the pool to the man with the pump, and carried it back like this on a motto. Haha! 

While I was feeling completely elated that the Haitian government allowed me the luxury of not smelling poop in my house- Allen and the Pastor Leo showed up to check on me. I told them I didn't make it to church because of tet chage- they understood and came in for lunch. 

The pastor said that God was bringing me to his mind a lot in the past week. I showed him all around the house, and told him all of my ideas for programs here. 

He kept smiling and he told me that he has been praying God would send a missionary for all of the programs I told him about. He runs a program for kids, he gardens, and wait for it- he is a carpenter! 

I was like: I hadn't directly prayed for a pastor to walk into my house with all of the specific skills I need right now- but... 

Pastor Leo- meet #godmagic

While we were eating, I showed Nicola my phone and had him translate how much money had been added because its all in French. 

Sure enough, shady dude had ripped me off. 

Nicola and Allen scolded me for giving money to someone I don't know. Then they told Frankie to go get shady dude. Shady dude speaks English- so I took it from there. 

I entered the conversation lightly, and asked him if I had any change. He said no. 

I told him that I knew I did, and he should not lie. 

He jumbled off a million things trying to confuse me, and telling me the pâté he bought for himself cost way more than it ever could. 

So, I got out my notebook and got loud. 

I did the math of everything he bought, and how much should have been left over. Even if the pâté had cost his made up ridiculous amount- he still owed me. 

It was a weird moment. Because there is nothing to do in Haiti, a white chick yelling at a shady dude and doing math draws a crowd of observers. I didn't want to shame him. I didn't want to seem ruthless, but I HAD to get him to admit there was change. 

$275 GUDS ($6) didn't matter, it was the lying that had me yelling. Since my divorce from a pathological liar, something comes over me in battle with dishonesty. Shady Haitians got nothing on my ex-husband. Mama will break you. 

So, we did the math over and over. Finally I stood up, towered over him sitting, looked him in the eyes and said "I bought you pâté because you helped me when I needed your help. But you are stealing from me, and lying to me- and now I can not ask for your help ever again. Bring me $275 GUDS today! Do the right thing." And walked away. 

20 minutes later, Frankie came and found me excited saying "My money! My money!" And pointing for me to come outside. 

Shady dude brought me $235 GUDS. 

And then.... we hit the math again.

He said "I have stealed never from anyone!" 

I said "You are stealing $40 GUDS from me right now. THIS is stealing!" 

He eventually brought me another $10 GUDS claiming the pâté had a new, lower (still lying) price. 

We called it even and shook hands. I thanked him for being honest, and told him that he will be blessed for doing the right thing. 

Victory. 

All in front of the pastor. Hahahaha!  

Later that afternoon, the whole house flooded. One of the toilets went crazy, and we had about an inch of water everywhere. 

Frankie and and his pal, Dolincie, have become my pre-teen sons. And they are soooooooo helpful. They play with the boys non stop, and take my trash to wherever the heck it goes in Haiti, and just help out constantly. I love them, and feed them mangos every morning. 

While they were frantically trying to clean up the water with the 3 towels I own, I was frantically making phone calls to the landlord, and laughing. 

Once they figured out a system that worked to move the water out of the house. 

I said "Frankie- dlo. Tausha- motege." 

Frankie said "Wi motege!"

Translation: Frankie- you handle the water, I'm going to make some food. Yes food!!

Food... Crap. I got nothing. I haven't had a fridge for 3 days, so we've been living off a pate and chicken from the street. I DID have a huge pot of Haitian rice this morning that one of the moms made me as a thank you for giving her money to buy her baby amoxicillin. But, then another mom came over and explained that she had nothing to feed her 7 sons (who I've met) today- and I gave her the pot of rice. 

In walks Lana. 

My all time favorite Haitian girl. (Note- her cute owl earrings, that God put in my moms suitcase just for Lana) She was my neighbor at the house I just moved from. Her whole family just makes me die in Haitian love. 

Lana held in her hands a pot of rice, and a pot of sauce from her mom. They sent me food from a mile up the mountain. Just enough to feed my flood rescue team, my boys, and the two little skinny girls that I didn't know that we're hanging out outside my door staring in. 

#GODMAGIC

I could tell 200 more stories from the last two days... But I will sign off with the facts: 

#tetchage + #godmagic = #peacelovehaiti 

 

God works in chaos.

The Social Work students and I had an appointment at an orphanage in Delmas 75. 

We met at the office. They were pumped. 

But...Transportation in Haiti is ridiculous. Just silly.

I had Nicola tell them the specific area in Creole, and I told them I would see it from there. 

There are no addresses. I've been memorizing everything by sight because I've got work to do.

One of my students, Gregory, planned the most cost effiencent way to pull it off. 

We need to take a tap tap to place where motto dudes wait, and then go two to a cycle from there. (So that's 3 with the driver) 

Perfect, right? Hahahaha! 

So, when Hatian men plan, they argue. 

Once we got to the mottos dudes, it was complete drama. 

I always take control in English to get things get moving- but today there were too many men to wrangle into thought cohesion. 

We pass the orphanage.

No one believes me. 

We drive two miles past it while I'm yelling "Why will NO ONE believe the white girl?!?! WE PASSED IT WAY BACK THERE!"

When all the mottos finally stop because my student believes me. We circle into a dirt road intersection, and Haitian Men resume arguing. I along with them, in English. 

Haha!

I just realized, I totally fit in and yell too. 

While I'm yelling- out from behind a gate walks a beautiful Haitian man. He had a light around him. He looked at me and said "Can I help YOU?" 

English! Yay! 

I tell him who we are, what were doing, and why we are currently arguing at this interaction. He tells me that he runs an orphanage behind the gates. All the Haitians were practically silent. 

I immediately asked if we could please have a tour. 

He Jesusy smiles and brings us in...

After we argued with motto drivers about price for 10 minutes, that is. 

We had stumbled across Child Hope International. One of the most beautiful places I have visited in Haiti so far. It was so so so legit. 

And not only were we touring a place that was full of hope, but our tour was being lead by a Haitian man that is DOING Social Work. My students see a role model. 

I was FULL of questions and praise. 

They feed the starving children in their neighborhood three times a week. 

I said "Can we PLEASE come to that and do an activity with those children?!" 

By then, my students who continue to floor me had already proven themselves as outstanding young adults and he said "Sure, next Wednesday?" 

Oh! The day my children arrive in Haiti? Yes. Please. 

My students planned soccer, and a Haitian candy game. 

Everest and Miles: meet Haiti. 

It gets better and better... Keep reading. 

Then we were brought into the skills training side of campus. When children graduate from the orphanage and Christian school- they can enter into skills training. 

Carpentry, construction, cooking, and sewing! 

By this point I am telling everyone what #godmagic is and that we stumbled across this place with divine intention from God. 

We are all so happy. 

The staff in skills training, gather us around for a prayer and thank God for bringing us all together. 

Yep, circled up thanking God for #godmagic with my students. 

#godmagictetchage (hash tag creole translation: god magic brain load) 

We exchange lots of numbers, hugs and blessings and start to travel down the dirt road by foot to the orphanage we had missed. Full of Hope for Haiti.

Haiti was hard on my body today. The heat killed me, and my stomach must have caught a little bug. I was even whining to students today when we were walking. I have disdain for whiners. 

My favorite part is: they never offered to stop once. They just kept telling me to keep going. 

They just keep going. 

When we finally got the second orphanage- Two parents that currently have their children in an orphanage because they can not feed or house them were there waiting for us. Hoping for a solution that could allow them to be parents. 

I did full on engagement and assessment and planning thru the translation of my students. And they asked my questions in excitement because they love problem solving too. 

Some of the students strengths were loving and engaging the kids. There was a soccer game going in a small cement area by the time I was done.  

I was beaming with pride. 

The conversation we had about our day over cheap Haitian food that made me even sicker,  brought me to actual tears. 

I am certain, without a doubt that God called me to these kids, it's going to be so much better to have an army of Haitian Social Workers. 

And these are the ones we want. 

Rice Tears

Social Work in Haiti: 

This morning we set out to visit an orphanage down the mountain. 

When we stopped off to call for directions, I saw a lady selling bananas that had about an hour of hope in the hot sun, so I bought all 16. 

She screamed in joy. 

100 guds made her squeal. $2.25 USD completely changed her day. And now I was armed with a healthy snacks for the babies. 

The orphanage I visited has 14 sweet children, that are loved. Like a lot caretakers in Haiti, they are weary from political corruption, and low on resources. 

I made friends, and offered support. And I'm thrilled for the opportunities this meeting provided. I am excited to bring Miles and Everest to love those kids. I see my boys understanding the love those kids need better than me. I look forward to meeting with some of the parents of the children, and hope we can bring some families back together. 

Then we headed up the beautiful mountain. Montage Noir. To meet with a mother that asked me to help her daughter. 

She was at our door at 9AM from a village up the hill. I'm assuming she walked about 4 miles. 

We stopped to call for directions as is the custom, and she met us at the end of a rural road. We took the motto over complete rocks the rest of the way. As an American you are just waiting for a tire to pop. But we got there. 

There were pigs and trash in the side yard, and clothes lines hung from bananas trees. She brought me in and gave me a seat. Nicola my driver translated that her daughter is having pain all thru her arm, and her finger no longer works. It was bizarre. Her pinky was completely curled up, and it hurt to touch it. 

I looked at the finger, and had no assessment skills whatsoever. I have no idea what can be done for that. But this girl deserves to see a doc, right?  I told her to let me know what the expenses will be to see one. She was incredibly grateful. 

I carry snacks around with me for kids. When I gave her kids some crackers, it was obvious they hadn't eaten for a while.

I asked her what food they have at home right now. 

She said they did not have food for 3 days.

I asked her how many people she feeds. She said 6.

Her children both had school uniforms on. I asked her what she pays for their school. 

She said $30/mo. 

So many Haitians choose between food and education. It sucks. 

I asked Nicola to stop translating and asked him what I could get them to eat that would help. 

He raised his eyebrows like 'really, white girl?' and said "rice?"

Duh. Rice. 

So I got back on the motto, and bought them a 30 pound bag of rice. We punctured a tire on those rocks hauling that rice back up.  

But, people cried about the rice. I just can't handle leaving people hungry yet. Maybe I will eventually grow accustomed to it. But, I am still hauling rice up mountains right now. I am not ready to go home and eat dinner knowing a family God placed in my life this morning is on day three of hunger. I know I can not feed all of Haiti, but I really wish I could. They deserve food. 

$3/usd to get the tire fixed here. Thanks for hauling me around the mountains, buddy.

I love Haiti. I am so excited to get the employment program rolling. Woman need jobs, so bad. They deserve them. Every woman I've met so far would do anything I asked her to to make money. They would happily do anything. Product development has resumed! I just need a space to work with them now. 

I have this vision for a community center in my village. There are some beautiful houses mixed in with cement huts. I want to have a place to run my employment program, that is also a place children can play, and learn, and starving people can eat. Pray for that with me. My only limitation is money. But I know if God gave me the vision, He's got the moola. 

Tomorrow I meet the Social Work students I will be teaching. Tausha the teacher! Whoop! :-) 

Time on this island is like LOST. 

It's been a week in your world. It's been a year in mine. 

I love it. 

He has not forgotten me.

Tonight, I told my mom about my first day as a Social Worker in Haiti; in conversation she asked: "How does that get done in Haiti?" I thought. Then replied, "God. That's seriously the only way anything gets done in Haiti."

June 3rd, 2014:

My day was planned by the God that loves Haiti.
It began with our journey to pick up Moses.
On the back of a motorcycle.

The air was thick and wet, the flowers that bloom in the hills of Haiti are a new, beautiful smell to my nostrils; and I now have complete trust in "my driver", Nicolas (Neek-o-la); it has become obvious that God gave him the job of weaving me through Haiti. I hired him for the summer. He is my first paid Haiti Mama employee- my moto driver, navigator, translator, guards-dollars converter, Haitian culture coach. He asked me for $200/month to work for me everyday. Done. (He has no idea how much he is helping me- he's just happy)

The orphanage I visited this morning was hard on me. I knew it was going to be. The desperate feeling of  "there's nothing I can do to fix this" is an emotion I have never learned to cope with. But, because I can't deal with that feeling: I always do SOMETHING. This morning, all I could do was cuddle and cry. I picked these babies up, walked to the end of the balcony furthest away from any staff with them in my arms, rubbed their backs, cuddled and cried. We brought Moses home, because he is starving. Because he is unable to eat without a feeding tube, because he most likely needs surgery, because he definitely needs medical interventions to survive. We brought him home because God sent Rhyan there to find him. All the those babies need more, but Moses is in crisis.

I asked the Haitian staff for a blanket for Moses as we were leaving. They did one better and gave him a bomber jacket. He came home on a moto, and I think I was the only person who's culture translated how awesome that was.

Taking Moses home. 

 From there, I continued on a solo mission and Rhyan brought Moses home to assess if he is at all able to take food by mouth. Which he is not.

God sent a request for me to visit a family on the other side of Port-au-Prince at 11 pm on my first night. I offered to take the trip, and assess.

God purposefully used this as my grand tour. I spent 5 hours weaving through chaos on a moto with Nicolas to provide a little Social Work in Haiti, but I couldn't have asked for a better way to get to know Port-au-Prince. When we stopped to buy me a sim card in a hole in the wall, and the men explained that I needed to take the card to another hole in another wall to have them cut it to fit my phone; I asked what the Creole word for "crazy" is. It's fou. "Fouuuuuu Haaaaiti!" and "Bondye beni ou" (God Bless You) are the two things I've learned to say through repetition so far.

Nicolas in stripes helping me at the
Verizon Store. Haha! 

I was sent to an extremely impoverished area, to meet a mother and son. Beddly, the 9 year old boy is severely disabled, and his mother doesn't feel capable of caring for him any longer. My assignment was to assess if the son needed to be moved to an orphanage. This community is far off the beaten path. The people there have no access to anything. Upon arrival I met a group of people suffering from Chikugunya in isolation. I will have much more to tell you about Beddly and his mother, as I am currently navigating Haiti to understand how I can do what is best for them. But, the most powerful moment of my day came from the grandfather of this family.

I was feeding Beddly an avocado, when grandpa walked into my sight. He was convulsing from his fever. His hands were aggressively flailing, and he could not maintain his motor function. As I first watched in fear, a woman that spoke English told me he had gotten dressed in his nice clothes to see me. I ran to him. I took his hand, held him as steady as I could, and brought him to my chair. Through convulsions he showed me how badly his knees were hurting from Chikugunya. I fed him three Tylenol and rubbed his back.

When the medicine kicked in, his muscles settled. He mumbled something in Creole over and over, and the woman who spoke English there started to cry. Through a shaking voice she translated his words.

He was saying "Glory be to God, He has not forgotten me."

I could write you a 1000 stories more. But I am going to finish the blog post while the power is still turned on.

The people had nothing, but a little girl brought me a 7-up, and they chopped me down a coconut to drink.
White girl be sweating. Thank you, Haiti for understanding.

Thank you for your support. I am thankful for the donations that brought me here. Thank you for letting me do this.