The New Normal

O Happy Day! The internet is working today and I am glad to finally blog about our week.

Haiti is working hard to survive the earthquake and busily finding the new normal. You cannot miss the resiliency of the Haitian people that is evident all around the city. Although the city looks nearly the same as it did 3 weeks after the earthquake, the people seem to be looking for ways to begin again.

Not much has changed in regard to the rubble or the rebuilding. Some areas look exactly the same as it was in January. No large equipment has been rushed in to clean up and begin rebuilding. Hand excavation is still the main method of clean up and Haitians working with Haitians still seems to be the way things are getting done. Some commerce has returned to the streets and some of the city appears to be what I imagined pre-earthquake PaP was like, with street vendors and all types of produce for sale, among the seas of people, mud and a rubbish on the street.

There are still vivid reminders that much of the city 'fell down'. There is no denying that there was deep loss and death here. I am not sure it is evident to those that were not here immediately after the quake, but that is right where my thoughts go when I see a downed building. I think of those that I met that suffered the deep personal loss of family and my heart aches for them again.

We have spent our week working on the Seminary grounds helping Curt and Franz organize the workshop and finishing additional space in the workshop. We hope to put a new roof on the building tomorrow. This is work that they have needed to finish for a long time and we are honored to help them in this way. We hope that our time here has been good for them. We have commented that we feel we are here to serve the servants, so they can continue to do the work the Lord has put before them. We have enjoyed being a little part of the big picture and just spending time working busily for the betterment of the church in Haiti and supporting our church here. The work we have done this week will equip many to continue ministry in Haiti... what an honor to be a part of the big picture.

On Wednesday we visited the BelAire Church and clinic. Mark, JonWeiss and Calixt were there and had big hugs waiting for me. It was so awesome to see them and the growth of the Heart to Heart clinic since we were here. What a blessing to have been a part of this work and to have these Haitian friends.

Mark and Calixt walked down to Sandy's house with me. She was not there! How awesome is that? She was out and about (on crutches) with her external fixator and all :) She is to have another surgery to remove the hardware from her femur on July 16th, and her mom reports that she is doing well. I left her a years worth of vitamins and calcium to help with her recovery and Mark promised me that he takes someone from the clinic down to her house about once a week to check on her.

Curt, Beth, Grayson, Jennifer, Franz and Alise are our team in Haiti. They face many challenges today and in the months to come. Please pray for them.

Today... we will attend church in PaP and then a short visit to the beach. What a great Sunday.

What an honor it is to have a front row seat to so many awesome things that the Lord is doing. How did I get this life... I sure do not know.

I miss my family like crazy today.

From Haiti with love...