Haiti Trip Journal Day 4
Wednesday
This morning I got up at 5:15 a.m. to get ready to paint by 5:45 a.m. It was dark enough that I needed a flashlight but within 10 minutes it was light enough to get to work. We (Barb, Chuck, Daniel, Brogan, and Katelyn) took the supplies from the shed over to the orphanage gate. Just across a dirt road alley from where we stay at the guest house. First up, the yellow trim....one swipe of the roller and the paint was thin like milk. This could be trouble. Further investigating to the paint container and making out what we could in reading French, the paint was water-based paint. Not good for exterior painting at all. So we looked at the other paints that had be purchased yesterday and yep, water-based too. So we re-grouped and asked if the Pastor was available and willing to go to the store again. Lincoln had gone yesterday too and said that there just was no red and blue paints at all. If only we had the red and blue oil then I could make any color with the primaries since there was plenty of yellow in the shed. The guys said they would try again. Barb and I stood and prayed for red and blue oil based paints to be found.
In the wait we painted the white and got out the other yellow oil based paint from the shed and worked with that. There were only two rollers to use and about 12 to 15 brushes for the entire job of many colors, seven workers, and 2 days of painting. By the way, we are using oil based paint and there is no paint thinner- so no cleaning the brushes. Well, the Lord will see it through! And He did! The guys came back and after 10-12 "stores" they found red oil and blue oil paints! Awesome!
The day was overcast and breezy, which at 7:00 a.m. the sun is usually beating down so direct onto that metal gate that we thought we'd toast. All day was overcast. A blessing for sure. We stopped for breakfast then worked until lunch. While painting we listened to the music on my phone and talked together.
The Alex's House kids were at school except for the younger ones of ages 2 or 3 years. They'd come over and watch us. One boy came up to me and held my hand that was holding the brush and he "helped" to paint. It was an awesome moment.
After lunch I took at 15 minutes rest before we were to go to the neighboring village to ask the kids to come to the Bible lessons that afternoon and the next afternoon too. I don't think I'll ever forget that walk. We walked on the rocky trail of rounded white stones to the homes of the people who lived about a 3 minute walk from the orphanage. As one could expect, the homes were like shacks some made of tin walls, some of old boards, or some of thick cloth. All the homes were about 7' x 8' or so in size maybe a bit more.
One family was working in their garden. There was about 5 or 6 in that family. I said, "we want to invite the children to come and do activities with us today at 2:30 at Alex's House" or something like that, then Pastor translated. We walked on to another house and the family was sitting outside around the fire that was warming a covered pot. It was covered so I couldn't see what was in it, but the dad said that the kids could come. He said that some of the children were sick with "the fever" meaning the flu virus that the mosquitoes are carrying. They called it "Broken Back Fever" or chickamunga and it is apparently very painful. To think that the children didn't even have an Advil to take made me realize the simple difficulties they face.
We went to about five homes then went back to the guest house. 2:30 quickly came and we headed next door. The Alex's House kids weren't back from school yet so we waited for them. The children who lived in the village came! They had all changed their clothes from when we saw them earlier. It is very hard not knowing the language and not being able to make small talk with the kids while we are waiting to start the lessons and activities. Smiles only go so far.
3:30 and we started with the story of David and Goliath. Everything went well and the kids were able to hear about Jesus so that of course is amazing to share with them! I pray they are curious and desire to know more. There were about 85-90 kids there. Many of the children from the village had come so that was great. At the end we passed out a pack of crackers and waters to the village children. The Alex's House children would be having dinner so they did not get in line for a snack.
Lesson, songs, crafts, and bean-bag toss game
After Bible class we were able to play with the kids a bit before their dinner time. Wynda is about two years old and one of the youngest here. She really likes being held. She came to me to be held so I smiled and she watched the other kids playing around her. An empty rocking chair caught my eye so I took her over to rock. I sang to her "Baa, Baa Black Sheep" in French. A friend of mine had taught me that song in French so it was special that I was able to sing it to this little girl.
Dinner came and we headed over to the guest house for ours. For me dinner was left over potatoes and black beans. It wasn't great, but it was cold from the fridge so that was a bonus. It was very hot at dinner time. The evening was used to make templates and stencils for the mural work tomorrow. That and a shower, re-apply the bug spray, and journal a bit about the day.
Tomorrow will be a busy day. Praying for health and strength, good weather, and all the mural application to go well! Praying for the children we saw today and that they will come back again to Bible class.
So thankful to be here and be able to use the talents God gave me in these ways. It's like so many things have come together just for this week to work out that I feel like I'm in the right place - just where God wants me today.
Erin
Wednesday
This morning I got up at 5:15 a.m. to get ready to paint by 5:45 a.m. It was dark enough that I needed a flashlight but within 10 minutes it was light enough to get to work. We (Barb, Chuck, Daniel, Brogan, and Katelyn) took the supplies from the shed over to the orphanage gate. Just across a dirt road alley from where we stay at the guest house. First up, the yellow trim....one swipe of the roller and the paint was thin like milk. This could be trouble. Further investigating to the paint container and making out what we could in reading French, the paint was water-based paint. Not good for exterior painting at all. So we looked at the other paints that had be purchased yesterday and yep, water-based too. So we re-grouped and asked if the Pastor was available and willing to go to the store again. Lincoln had gone yesterday too and said that there just was no red and blue paints at all. If only we had the red and blue oil then I could make any color with the primaries since there was plenty of yellow in the shed. The guys said they would try again. Barb and I stood and prayed for red and blue oil based paints to be found.
In the wait we painted the white and got out the other yellow oil based paint from the shed and worked with that. There were only two rollers to use and about 12 to 15 brushes for the entire job of many colors, seven workers, and 2 days of painting. By the way, we are using oil based paint and there is no paint thinner- so no cleaning the brushes. Well, the Lord will see it through! And He did! The guys came back and after 10-12 "stores" they found red oil and blue oil paints! Awesome!
The day was overcast and breezy, which at 7:00 a.m. the sun is usually beating down so direct onto that metal gate that we thought we'd toast. All day was overcast. A blessing for sure. We stopped for breakfast then worked until lunch. While painting we listened to the music on my phone and talked together.
The Alex's House kids were at school except for the younger ones of ages 2 or 3 years. They'd come over and watch us. One boy came up to me and held my hand that was holding the brush and he "helped" to paint. It was an awesome moment.
After lunch I took at 15 minutes rest before we were to go to the neighboring village to ask the kids to come to the Bible lessons that afternoon and the next afternoon too. I don't think I'll ever forget that walk. We walked on the rocky trail of rounded white stones to the homes of the people who lived about a 3 minute walk from the orphanage. As one could expect, the homes were like shacks some made of tin walls, some of old boards, or some of thick cloth. All the homes were about 7' x 8' or so in size maybe a bit more.
One family was working in their garden. There was about 5 or 6 in that family. I said, "we want to invite the children to come and do activities with us today at 2:30 at Alex's House" or something like that, then Pastor translated. We walked on to another house and the family was sitting outside around the fire that was warming a covered pot. It was covered so I couldn't see what was in it, but the dad said that the kids could come. He said that some of the children were sick with "the fever" meaning the flu virus that the mosquitoes are carrying. They called it "Broken Back Fever" or chickamunga and it is apparently very painful. To think that the children didn't even have an Advil to take made me realize the simple difficulties they face.
We went to about five homes then went back to the guest house. 2:30 quickly came and we headed next door. The Alex's House kids weren't back from school yet so we waited for them. The children who lived in the village came! They had all changed their clothes from when we saw them earlier. It is very hard not knowing the language and not being able to make small talk with the kids while we are waiting to start the lessons and activities. Smiles only go so far.
3:30 and we started with the story of David and Goliath. Everything went well and the kids were able to hear about Jesus so that of course is amazing to share with them! I pray they are curious and desire to know more. There were about 85-90 kids there. Many of the children from the village had come so that was great. At the end we passed out a pack of crackers and waters to the village children. The Alex's House children would be having dinner so they did not get in line for a snack.
After Bible class we were able to play with the kids a bit before their dinner time. Wynda is about two years old and one of the youngest here. She really likes being held. She came to me to be held so I smiled and she watched the other kids playing around her. An empty rocking chair caught my eye so I took her over to rock. I sang to her "Baa, Baa Black Sheep" in French. A friend of mine had taught me that song in French so it was special that I was able to sing it to this little girl.
Dinner came and we headed over to the guest house for ours. For me dinner was left over potatoes and black beans. It wasn't great, but it was cold from the fridge so that was a bonus. It was very hot at dinner time. The evening was used to make templates and stencils for the mural work tomorrow. That and a shower, re-apply the bug spray, and journal a bit about the day.
Tomorrow will be a busy day. Praying for health and strength, good weather, and all the mural application to go well! Praying for the children we saw today and that they will come back again to Bible class.
So thankful to be here and be able to use the talents God gave me in these ways. It's like so many things have come together just for this week to work out that I feel like I'm in the right place - just where God wants me today.
Erin
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