Anger

Well it seems customs is going to take a month or two or whatever. I know the American government is broken, but it’s nothing compared to Haiti. Socialized anything is a monster for the people. Oh well, have to roll with the punches on this one, but my American counterparts on this transaction are going to hear it about it. All they had to do was say something. There, I let off some steam! I was upset when Robinson called and gave me the news from Port. To think he went all that way again, spent that money, and they get to say, well this is hard and is going to take time. So much for a government that says it’s for the people. Gas down here is $70.00 Haitian, which translates to almost $9.00 dollars American. You can stop complaining about high gas prices, you haven’t seen anything yet. This government seems to know how to hit this people where it hurts.
But maybe this trip was about something else. This week we have learned much about how to navigate through the time and circumstances of visiting this country. We are much more prepared to be able to bring groups in. It seems we need to get a couple more things accomplished at the property as well, specifically the guardhouse needs to be done and we need the well finished. Who was it that said: “God’s pauses are not without are not without purpose.” Oh, that was me!
Yesterday we made a mistake in our calculations, as we entertained all those that came by, we gave out too many of our drinks. They were in a plastic bag in the cooler. By the time we discovered what had happened, it was after church last night, and was too late to get more. Beth boiled water late and we all lay on our beds waiting for it to cool, we were so thirsty. The kids and Beth fell asleep before it could cool, and I drank mine hot. We didn’t get anything more to drink until 10:00 this morning. We take so much for granted walking to the sink and drawing a simple glass of water. I don’t ever remember being quite so thirsty, but not able to get a drink. It is a very threatening feeling. Yet these people live through that all the time.
It was amazing to here them sing “Count your Blessings” at church yesterday. ‘Name them one by one’ that song says. I have sung that song much over the years, and with great gusto, but never with such clarity as I now have. There is a woman in the attached apartment this morning writhing on the floor in pain, we took her some medicine, and not sure of the outcome. I think she might have appendicitis; we will have to wait for Robinson to get here to see about getting her to a doctor. Beth said she needs to go right now, but there is no ambulance, there is no car. So she must suffer, while we sit rather helpless. Such a hard country.
But even in the midst of that, God’s blessings flow. Here are our bright stars, Robinson and Naromie, ministering to the needs of these people, an extension of our CCC family in Michigan. I want this network to grow; this is a great opportunity that we have in the states to make a difference. If a difference is to be made, it must be done this way; the government is not going to fix this problem. The church will. Robinson made the comment yesterday that if it were not for the Christians, Haiti would already be just a jungle. I agree.
So here’s to counting your blessings! 6 days in this country have cleared my perspective more, and I pray that I will be changed as a pastor in my ministry as well. God bless for now!