The rooster is crowing. We wake every morning to his enthusiasm for the day. The smells of food cooking, coffee brewing, and (campfire, it always smells of something burning everywhere here...) fill the guest house and the friendly chatter of the lovely guest house staff. It's really a lovely way to start the day. LIGHT!
This morning, after a delicious breakfast, we piled into the the Tap-tap to head to Cite Soleil. With full bellies and full hearts we made the trip to Cite Soleil as a group of 15 friends. Studies show that it only takes a few days in Haiti on a mission trip to become friends ;) COMMUNITY!
We arrived right on time to Hope Village as the kids were having recess! Everyone instantly became a kid again and joined the fun. Some of us played jump rope, some did sidewalk chalk with our eager, smiling playmates. There were balls flying through the air and shouts and LAUGHTER, so much laughter. Many of us gathered to play the parachute game with a huge, round, nylon parachute. As we lifted, the littles came zipping in giggling and chattering...the parachute would waft down on them and that was equally thrilling for them if the giggles and shrieks of joy were any indication! ENERGY!
Next up was laundry. Everybody loaded up the tap tap with quarters and Tide and headed to the LaundroMat.....nahhhhh, just kiddin! The elder ladies showed us how to laundry their way, of course with the tools and resources available to them. Clean water is limited so it is all done in a few large basins, minimalist and efficient. There is a soap bar and a special way of scrubbing and squishing. There is a method and process. It's surprisingly hard to get right! Sitting on the concrete in the blazing sun, those ladies showed us how it's done with patience and good humor. I wonder if their backs are sore right now, like mine? Do their hands hurt too? HUMILITY.
Once we got the chores done, it was time to head to the water truck stop. Pile in the tap-tap, load up on sunscreen and water. Mop the sweat from your brow. Clear your mind for the next experience. We arrive to curious and excited faces, so many people already gathered with water buckets. Children zipping around but always aware of each other and us; they are "polite", respectful. The occasional motorcycle that comes right through the crowd beeping as the people part the way. There is a musical quality to the combined sounds of voices, the pump generator, water splashing, the "Hey you, Hey you's". It is hot, there is no shade. We pile out and get right at whatever it is we are drawn to do. Watch. Fill buckets. Haul buckets. Pick up littles who eagerly present themselves. Hold a hand, or two or four. We have talented photographers on this team who are stealthily capturing amazing moments and simple moments and profound images from perspectives and novel vantage points. Time flies when you are just being present. Scratch that- time is irrelevant when you are truly engaged. We get the signal it's time to go after being there only a few minutes, or that's what it felt like. We were there for almost 2 hours. PRESENCE.
To wrap up an exhilarating and to be honest, exhausting day, we showered and went to Max's Pica Pollo restaurant for dinner. A shower after a day like that is truly glorious! The little restaurant behind the door was surprisingly cool, and very welcoming and smartly decorated with twinkle lights. With a brightly painted wall on one side and bamboo, open air walls in front, and upbeat Haitian music playing, you feel festive and eager to re-engage in this kind of group activity that has been so missing from our experience over the last year. We happily chatted and recounted the days events as we await our chicken or spaghetti dinners. Max prepared the whole meal behind an iron door in a space that was not more than 5x5feet. He had the most proud an happy smile on his face. I know that feeling too, being happy to have people in my kitchen. The food was dee-lish! The fellowship was natural and fun. It was the perfect end to a perfect day. CONTENTMENT.
