HAiti, day two (9/24/17): Love community home

I'm not sure if I have ever sweat so much in my entire life as I did today. In America, it is acceptable to be bad and boujee. It's a culture. We don't sweat, we glisten and although we work hard, we do manual labor when we have to, not just for fun. Today, my heart was tested. My ability was tested. My endurance and faith were tested. I'm blessed to say that I succeeded.

Myself and Rach pictured with some of the beautiful children of Love Community Home.

I woke up this morning to my favorite songs being sang in Creole during a church service outside of my bedroom window. Around 8:30am, after a breakfast of toast and cornflakes, and a glass of my favorite yogi tea, we walked to Love Orphanage, which tomorrow will open as Love Community Home. The walk was about 15 minutes long, but it was HOT and extremely rocky. This was the easiest day of the day, by far.

When we arrived at the orphanage, we were greeted by several of the children who I am just learning are not true orphans. Many of them have families which makes their living in an orphanage even more sad. These beautiful babies have families that gave them up to be raised in an orphanage because they knew that they would be fed and hopefully have the opportunity to go to school.

We got straight to business and began coating the building in white. It was so sweet that all of the local people wanted to help us. They were determined to leave their marks on the walls as well. It got a little overwhelming, but I had to remember that children in America are different than children here. Not saying that all American children are bad or anything like that, but many are lazy. I wasn't prepared for my supplies to be taken from me every time I turned my back. It was actually quite cute.
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After the walls were chiseled, sanded and gessoed, we sat upstairs for lunch. Mrs. Joanne, Pastor Reggie's phenomenal wife, prepared us beef burgers with vegetables and "tomato sauce," as my Australian team members call it.

For the second part of the day, we walked to a local home and met the mother of one of the "orphans," that is getting ready to undergo technical training so that she will be able to accomplish her dreams and make a decent income. With this income, she will be able to raise and to feed her daughter, which is huge. Her daughter, Samantha, is a gorgeous 16 year old girl who needs her mother and an education more than ever, so to see their home was a unique experience. The home was two rooms with a tin roof and no furniture. There were two sheets and two pillows on the floor where they slept. Unfortunately, the home was over 100 degrees so it is too hot for them to do much during the day. However, they cannot afford the electricity bill which is 50 dollars a month... 50 Haitian dollars a month, which is about 4 US dollars. 

Treating the walls

Emerson and Joseph doing their parts

​Could you imagine not being able to afford a bill that is $4 a month? We take very little things for granted and this 15 minute visit made me feel compassionate and compelled. For less than I would spend on a dinner out, I can ultimately provide a family with electricity and ability for an entire year.

After the visit, I attempted to speak to Samantha's mother in creole and although I got my short statement completely wrong, she smiled and held my hand. In her very sweet, motherly voice, she whispered, "I know." We walked and held hands down the block and my heart was full.

Yola, Myself and Samantha's mom (courtesy of Dave)

I mixed a really Heavenly blue to paint the inside walls of the orphanage. The outside we painted peach. Tomorrow, I am excited to paint turquoise and gold Trims along the edges. It truly is a vision to see. (I'll post after pictures.) I had great helpers; Christopher, James and Emerson. They made my job much easier... especially since I'm vertically challenged, I needed their assistance.

We had lasagna, rice and chili and vegetables for dinner. Joanne really throws down and she is such a blessing. A woman of few words she is, but a woman of God. We talked after dinner; bonded over ice cream and planned how we would distribute our donations to the children at the mission as well as the children we will go see up at Bouvier.

Time for bed.

Painting the walls blue (Courtesy of Dave)

Myself and John with the little ones at Love Community