Nov 8

Today was food distribution day.  We left Moh in a canter (a truck with cage structure for the bed to carry people) which, thanks to Will's negotiating ability had open sides to see through instead of a big closed box.

Just about every stop had us riding through "neighborhoods" with extremely small "roads".  We got off to a bit of a rough start when we ripped ripped down a power line when the truck ran through it.  Luckily, the locals didn't seem too concerned.

We worked very well as a team by forming an army-style line ( or a royal navy line if you ask Phil) to pass the supplies from one person to the next until they got to their final destination.  Everyone on the team just seemed to automatically fall into place without really needing any coordination.  We ran through most of the stops pretty quickly by delivering the supplies, giving a quick look at the place, saying a few bon-jours and giving some smiles, and then jumping back in the truck.

We saw a mixture of orphanages and schools that were well taken care of to some that obviously didn't have very much funding.  It was really tough to walk around the places that were really in need because we were presented with situations that simply wouldn't exist back home that we couldn't do anything more about than act as delivery people.

By the end of the trip we had spent over 4 hours in the  canter and delivered to maybe 10 places.  Luckily, we had the opportunity to spend some extra quality time at the last orphanage.  We played with the children, prayed with them and took a bunch of pictures (at their request).

After dinner we walked down to the church for worship time.  The church is a large open-air building with pews in a T shape facing a center stage.  There was a distinct smell of burning plastic from the trash fires in the distance.  I could see dusty shoes as I bowed my head to pray.  The music and sermon were in creole but some of the songs had melodies that we sing to back home.  The pastor was speaking with such energetic passion that I would have thought he was instigating a riot if I hadn't known better.

The spirituality was so thick in the air that you could almost taste it.  Haitians were jumping around with closed eyes and raised hands and occasionally I saw them wiping tears from their eyes.  Almost everyone from the group was was moved by the service and we discussed that in detail in our devotional meeting that followed.

Personally speaking, the spirituality I am seeking is as foreign to me as the language that the service was in tonight .  I am quite sure it is due to the fact that that my eyes spent too much time looking sideways to see what people are thinking of me instead of looking up to God.  At least I know what work needs to be done and hopefully I'll get some Devine assistance.

Joe H