Over the River and Through the Woods

I must warn you, I now speak a dangerous amount of Creole: dangerous not in the sense that it could be used in any sort of intelligence capacity but because I can be handed the keys to the Toyota pick-up and entrusted to find my way home from the city. Such was the case on Friday morning, not long after our arduous trek to Port au Prince, when a few of the kitchen crew and I made a reconnaissance mission to Gonaives for some much needed groceries. While the girls shopped, “Mano” and I went to his one-room house and watched an antiquated version of The Passions of the Christ on an old portable television connected to a car battery. Anxious to depart for Cathor where I was expected in a conference with the engineers, I asked Mano, who spoke no English, when I could go, to which he kept pointing to his watch: the international sign for “soon”. After the crucifixion, I was told that the time had come, at which point I rendezvoused with Islen and we began our ramble home. Our trip to the market proved only partially successful as we returned with ketchup, Red Bull (for the Evangelists) and five dozen eggs but no ham or cheese. Despite having to navigate through the plentitude of Ra-Ra parades en route, not a single egg broke along the way (a testament to my off-roading prowess).

Where's Waldo for beginners

Although I could probably write a book on Evangelism after the grueling thirty-plus hours of service I endured this week, I would rather post a video and let you pass your own judgment. Highlights included an incitement from Pastor Travis to “stomp on the head of Satan” at which point the congregation became a frenzy; a cacophonous medley of clomping feet and clamorous applause. The worship probably reached its pinnacle Saturday evening when Morgan and the “Institut d’Amelioration Linguistique de Bayonnais” performed “Amazing Grace” in English in front of over two thousand patrons. Sunday morning witnessed a four hour service and there was no relenting that evening when the congregation (sans Morgan) endured another five hours. Comfortable that the parishioners were sated with the Gospel, Reverend James Brown and Pastor Travis Riley left early Monday morning.

The faces of intensity

The void left by the Evangelists was filled with a much needed relaxation. The cool brought on by the April showers provided the perfect setting for a day filled with books and light conversation with my peers as they prepared for their return to school. Outside my window eager children threw rocks at ripe mangoes, like milk bottles at a fair, and rewarded themselves with a well earned treat. Yesterday afternoon was particularly pleasant as Jacques Elies and I strolled down the road to the unfinished bridge where we met some 10-year old girls who had spent the better part of their day hauling sand and rock for the termination of the project. The smiling faces were happy for the reprieve from work and we sat on the ledge of the bridge throwing stones in the river and talking about our families. Today it is back to work as usual as we continue to work with the generator, the sponsor information, the drip irrigation, the evening English classes, and as we prepare a warm welcome for Tom Harman and Light of Christ United Methodist Church who will arrive a week from today.

It looks like I am dressed inversely