Well, I've had a hard time getting back to the blog lately. Between hosting and organizing and driving 20 people around, I've been grateful for the few hours of sleep I can sneak in when I'm not manually starting a generator in the middle of the night or trying to program a battery inverter backup system. I think I finally have that solved after last night, but we'll see if the fans make it through the night for once.It's been really crazy around here. One major part of our job duties is to host mission teams that come here to stay for short-term trips. I have been blessed and exhausted by having two very large teams right in a row. At least I had three days to get ready and learn where everything is and adjust t
o entirely new surroundings before I had to be the expert. No problem. Semper Gumby. It has all gone remarkably well, and we've accomplished more than we expected so far, even with all the supply problems we have faced. Normally, we would never have more than one team in one month, but there is a big push to finish the new building. (It will house a medical clinic and additional classrooms as well as additional missionary living quarters.)I have been asked numerous questions on the following topics by our visitors and employees so far, (and I'm supposed to be the expert on):
Plumbing, carpentry, legal paperwork, US consulate relations, visas, road construction, Haitian history, Caribbean culture, voodoo, water tables, water wells, septic sytems, presidential elections, crop irrigation, hurricanes, water pumps, cooking, goats, and the Creole language, to name a few. I think I've answered most of them fairly well. I'm mainly trying to avoid just making stuff up.
All that being said, the great thing I can see already about having mission teams here is the fresh perspective they bring as they experience this different world for the first time. I can already see how it has changed some lives just like it has changed mine. We have had a lot of laughs and made new friends.
Having visitors reminds me how different and amazing this place is. Seeing all the poverty and the need here reminds me how blessed I am. Sensing the desperation of so many people makes me see deeper needs and understand how small my part is in this world. I am thankful for the opportunity God has given me to be a tiny part of His huge and perfect plan.
Here is the group I worked with during the first week:
