Barren lands and rice fields; azure ocean and mountainside slums; French and Creole – Haiti is a land of many paradoxes. But the greatest paradox I’ve seen is the HATS-Haiti compound at the edge of a canal, sitting next to villages where there is no evening light and I am reminded that Jesus is the Light of the world; that He, and He only, can bring a nation out of darkness.
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| Ocean |
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| Mountain slums |
Seeing “tap-taps,” crowded markets, rolling mountains, azure oceans, welcoming smiles and children
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| Market |
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| Children |
Hearing children singing, roosters crowing, goats “baa-ing”, a rice mill grinding and generator working
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| High school student singing |
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| Goat |
Tasting fresh mangoes, “mini” bananas, pumpkin soup, rice with sauce and veggies I can’t pronounce
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| Bananas (called “figs” in Haiti) |
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| Papayas |
Smelling food cooking, charcoal burning, and yes- sweaty smells from working in the intense heat
Touching children’s braids, hugs from a child, kissing the cheeks of our cooks, net-covered bed
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| Djemima |
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| Mosquito net |
Feeling joyful, thankful, useful, and humbled. In Haiti, people will build “with another” level in mind; in case they want to add another floor. I am reminded that we, as Christians, need to build with another level in mind; meaning to not only lead people to Christ, but then teach them and grow them- to become disciples. HATS is striving to do so, as they teach the next generation about the gospel; even as they learn their reading, writing and arithmetic. It is our privilege to be here and so, we’ve been painting; a lot. Lovely colours are being rolled and brushed onto the walls of a church built by Haitian contractors. Another team will paint the outside and those who are waiting for the colour scheme, with bated breath, will have to keep waiting.
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| Church |
~Francine
