An October week with my tiny Haitian Princess- by Christy

When your in this place, each day passes at an easy going pace.  Some days seem to go on and on, but in a flash the week is over and your back in the truck with a heavy heart headed down the windy mountain road. This is my 3rd time headed down this long mountain road dreading being back to my upside life after spending an incredible week on this mountain with these beautiful people.  Each trip has been completely different but all emotionally challenging.  In June I went to Haiti and met so many new people I have prayed for and spent countless hours thinking about.  This time, I spent a week with those who are now dear family and friends that have such a hard time just doing life.

I was excited to have Emma, Grampsie (my dad) and Zeke (my nephew) with me.  I was so excited to be able to introduce dad to his new granddaughter.  When we arrived at the orphanage, she was getting her hair done.  It was a repeat of the June arrival. Benia immediately greeted us as we stepped off the truck. Somehow it's a relief and a burden to be back here.  Emma ran and found her sister and introduced Grampsie to her.  He immediately picked her up and gave her a huge hug.  It was a beautiful site.  She soon warmed up to the fact we were there, but she seemed so much quieter and reserved than she was in June.  By the second day, I realized she had a bad cold.  I gave her some triaminic strips I had brought along.  Emma even commented she came to life about 30 minutes after her medicine kicked in. 

We immediately began showering her with gifts and didn't stop all week.  She soon found the high heel black sandals Nina (my mom) had sent for her.  She was so excited and said "por ou?"  I said " no por ou!  (for you!).  I helped her put them on with her blue jean shorts and pink flower tank top.  She pranced around almost falling for about 4 hours.  All her friends pointed and smiled.  I heard several Oh..la..la's.  It was so much fun seeing her in this light.  We had a small altercation the next morning when I told her very sternly she could not wear her heeled sandals to school, but she had to save them for church.  She was very intent on wearing them.  It was very entertaining to say the least. 

Dad spent the week arm swinging little girls.  He would pick them up by their arms and say 1-2-3...  and swing their feet.  It got to where he could barely pass one of the girls without hearing the words 1-2-3.  They all called him Grampsie. He spent countless hours working on the bottom level of the orphanage putting in lights and plugs in these 5 empty rooms.  His work will allow the occasional clinics held there to be more productive and remain productive after the sun sets.  He took 350 pounds of wire, tools, plugs, drills and even light bulbs.  All of which he paid for or got donated.  He occasionally worked around the clock to complete this project in less than a week.  He truly was the hands and feet of Jesus. 

Zeke (11 years old) did a great job all week.  He spent the days playing with all the girls.  He never complained about a thing.  I was really impressed with his immediate love for all the girls. He and Benia hit it off immediately as did he an Antonia, one of the new tiny girls.  All the girls loved painting his nails and putting ponytails in his hair.  He, Emma, and Jarrod (Cardonia's 11 year old brother who was spending his first week in Haiti too) walked the girls to school every morning and stood waiting on them daily to be released from school.
 

Emma immediately fell back into her role of big sister.  I am so happy she and Berline love each other so much. I think it was a really hard week for her.  She insisted on giving Berline a shower every night, taking her to the potty, helping her brush her teeth, picking out her clothes daily.  I had to remind her that I was the mommy and I wanted her to just enjoy being her sister.  She didn't have to do everything.  By the 3rd day, she was letting me share the responsibilities of mommying our little girl. 

I can't share with you anything about this trip without sharing with you the news we got on Saturday night when Rico arrived.  I knew Berline's mom Cenita had missed her October 5th appointment at the US Embassy and that it had been rescheduled for November 3. I did not know that the US Embassy only gave Haitian parents 2 appointments before they "closed the file".  Rico had called me into his office to ask for another $100 to again pay for her travel expenses to Port Au Prince.  I immediately took care of this.  At this time, he told me how important it was that she make this appointment.  Rob and I have learned to deal missed appointments with the idea things were just slowing down.  We had never been told or had an honest thought that "they would close the file".  It was a very difficult night for me.  We had seen Cenita earlier in the week and she was very short with me.  I feared the worse.  I couldn't eat dinner that night.  Instead I found a place on the roof and just poured my heart out to God.  Emma soon found me and just sat and cried with me assuring me the entire time that "she would go".  She kept saying "it's okay mom, she will go.  God will get her there."  I told Emma that she was too good to me and I didn't think I deserved to have her.  She just matter of factly replied, well, God thought you did.  Dad later joined us and held us booth telling me that God would handle it all and to simply trust Him.  Well, 13 days have passed since our night on that roof.  Yesterday, we received an email from Rico saying "evrything good thanks God."  My wonderful Haitian friend Agathe assured me over and over that she would go that night and over the phone several days since that night. Rico spoke with Cenita's mom at church the following Sunday and explained to her how important this appointment was. Dad gave Mona (Rico's car owning mom) gas money to go and get Cenita in case she didn't show up on her own. Rob put minutes on Agathe's phone and she called Cenita multiple times to remind her to be there.  We had a multitude of friends and family praying for the completion of this small step.  God is good.

She knew exactly what her Grampsie was trying to do!