Hot in Haiti

Last Thursday we said good-bye to our first team to visit since we arrived. The team was from our home church, Third Reformed, in Pella. It was so good to see old friends and to meet new ones. There was a good mix of men and women, young and young at heart. There were four teenagers, a couple of twenty-somethings, one of which became a thirty something while here, and the over thirty crowd, including us. Of course the real treat was having Grandma and Grandpa Nikkel come with them. They arrived on July 2nd and if I remember right it was very hot that day! (On a side note, my Tupperware also arrived that day! Woo Hoo!)

Two weeks ago we hired a few guys to clear all the debris from the house we’re working on and the area surrounding it. The contractor we hired started work on digging the footing for the foundation and making blocks for the walls. It is amazing to see how quickly things can happen here! The group was very impressive. They cleared rocks, concrete and garbage from around our house without complaint. The sun was brutal at times and sweating is a given.

The work was dirty and tedious, but spirits were high. Some sang, some joked around and others came up with quirky names for biting ants. One of the highlights was the tarantula we unearthed. It was pretty big, but nothing compared to the one found later crawling up the compound wall. I have been told if you put a tarantula and a centipede together they will fight to the death and the centipede will always win. I don’t think Will has caught on to this yet as I am sure he would try it.

We were also able to do some painting at Three Bears School in nearby Fontaine. The ride out was thrilling the first day. We left the compound knowing rain was imminent. The road was quite bumpy, nothing unusual there. Our truck was a big Mitsubishi, fondly named “Mama Mitsi” by a previous trip member. It is the same truck that rescued us from mud hole two years ago. Will and Natalie rode in back with myself and the group. Natalie laughed and screamed continuously saying “this is way better than Adventureland!” And then it rained on us. It felt like being shot with a pellet gun, but was cool and we welcomed it.

There were several kids at the school and Will entertained them with his soccer ball and newly acquired skills. He was a total mudball before it was over! Some of the girls painted kids fingernails and we were able to get the first coat of paint done in all five classrooms. We returned the next day to finish up. On the way out to the school, which is about 7 km from Pignon, a little girl was waving her craft from that morning’s Bible School. You could tell she was proud to have her foam heart that said “Jezi” (Jesus). We were all touched.

Several of the team were involved in a Bible School at the hospital. It ran Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning from 9:00 to 11:00. Kids came early for a snack and stayed afterward for a meal of rice and beans. Some walked a great distance to attend. They had a great time singing songs, hearing stories and making a craft each day. I know the team was blessed by seeing such joy in these kids. Bible School will definitely be something we will continue to encourage groups to do.

With the various talents of the group we were able to get the plumbing for our house stubbed in. All I can say is indoor plumbing is a must for me. I am so grateful to know that I will have a shower, toilet and running water in our house! It’s the little things that excite us. (Did I mention Tupperware!) We have also decided we definitely will have an inverter to provide power through the night. We currently have power during the day but not at night. It can get very uncomfortable without any air moving not to mention the cacophony of animal noises and the ever popular disco.

We also celebrated the 4th of July while the group was here. Grandma and Grandpa brought in some sparklers, which we were surprised to see airport security let through. The kids thought it was great, a couple of the cooks even got involved! Next year we’ll probably be in the states and will have to find a really good display to see.

It was such a blessing and encouragement to us to have a group around. They were always upbeat and fun to be around. We will enjoy being with various teams from around the country. Will and Natalie will have friends from all over! Having to say good-bye was very hard for all of us. There were many tears but we know we are where God wants us to be and we look forward to meeting new friends next month!

Please continue to keep the people of Haiti in your prayers. There is much hope and excitement for the future of this country.

You can also pray our truck arrives soon. It has been almost a month since arriving and we are anxious to have some wheels!

God Bless~The Nikkels