Why no, I am not Haitian

Tomorrow is Flag Day in Haiti. This is a day to celebrate Haiti and Haitian culture. Music, dancing, parades, everyone dressed in red and blue, the whole works. By the looks of it the kids didn't really have class today. Instead they seemed to be preparing for tomorrow, practicing music and dances.

After watching the kids a while I figured it was time to walk around and purchase a small flag to join in the celebration. I headed down the street to an area where I knew there were many shopping stalls and figured someone would be selling the little flags that kids wave during parades. They were actually harder to find than I anticipated, but I found one, paid my 25 gourde and attached it to my back pack for the walk home. 

I have been many places where I would not be all that surprised if someone asked if I was a local, i.e., England, Canada, Scotland, etc., but I was shocked how many people asked if I was Haitian when they saw me walking with the flag. I am white (blan). Too be honest, it was likely about 5 and some of those were likely having fun at my expense (pa gen pwoblem), but there were a few that meant the question honestly. One even pulled out his national ID card asking if I had one. I was just shocked anyone would confuse me for a local. Besides the questions, I did get a lot of smiles, waves, and thumbs up. 

Haitians are proud of their country and proud to be Haitian. This is the same in most countries. Unfortunately, it can be said that some people in western countries look at countries, like Haiti, as if they shouldn't be proud. I think Haitians feels this deeply and I think that is partially why when they see a blan waving a Haitian flag or attempting to speak their language it makes them smile. I will have to let my Haitian friends verify if that thought has any truth in it. 

Haitians know that there are problems in their country and they strive everyday to work towards a better country, just as we in the United States know we have problems and strive every day to work toward a better United States of America. Please join me tomorrow in wishing any Haitian you know a happy Flag Day and if you have it, ware something red and blue so that you can tell people about Haiti, it's history, it's people, and it's culture when they ask. 

This afternoon I offer a prayer of thanks for the successful minor surgery my son underwent yesterday on his finger. I pray for a safe and joyous flag day tomorrow here in Haiti and for Haitians abroad. I pray that the children are able to travel outside the center tomorrow to be part of the celebration. Amen. 

Gunshots, Waiting, Dominos, and a Walk

There was a little bit of reminder last night that Port-au-Prince is not always safe. Sometime in the early morning hours five or six gun shots rang out. It sounded like a hand gun to me and closer than I would prefer, but I was never in real danger. It could have been someone protecting their property for all I know. I have never felt in any real danger here and I suspect the area in which I am is no less safe, and perhaps safer, than many places in the U.S. 

Yesterday, I did ask someone about the changes since the UN left. They said that areas actually have become less safe as now no one comes when there is trouble. I suspect if the UN would have worked harder to respect all Haitians that their mission might have been more accepted. It was and is a complicated relationship, no more so by the cases of abuse by the UN and the introduction of cholera without taking responsibility. 

The kids are in school for most of this week, which means I get to see them for a few minutes here and there as they are in class. After school they have their homework, study, and meal; none of which I want to interrupt. So the early evening is when I get to see them a bit more. But then the trick is to make sure that you keep things quiet. What all this means is that there is a lot of waiting on my part.

The kids get Friday off for Haitian Flag Day, which is a celebration of all things Haitian. Last year some of the kids were able to visit the celebration in the city center. It is unclear if they can go anywhere this year. I am hoping we can talk the correct people into it, so that the kids can have a fun day out. I wouldn't mind seeing the city center during the celebration. 

On my walk between the guest house and the school there seems to always be a game or two of dominos going. Generally, there are 4 guys per game and for a table they rest a square board across their knees. They are playing with a set that goes up to double 6s, so 28 tiles. They are not gambling so it is all in fun, but they play very quickly and there are penalties which will earn you a clothespin on your face, such as when you can't play. It also appears the loser of a round gets any clothespins from the others. It can be quite funny. The guys are nice and let me watch when I asked. We did buy some dominos for the older kids in the center, so maybe if I can get enough practice in I will be brave enough to join the game on the street. 

After seeing the kids at break this morning, I decided to take a walk around the area a bit. I generally stay on the roads with more foot traffic and shops and again, I always feel safe. I do get looks, but I suspect that is mostly because people see it as uncommon for a blan to be walking around looking at the shopping stalls and saying hello to people. The moto taxis always ask if I need a ride, I wonder if they think I am lost. People are nice and mostly just going about their day. Now and again someone will stop me to practice their English, which I find ironic as I would rather practice my Creole with them. So it ends up being a bit of an odd conversation with the Haitian speaking English and the American answering in broken Creole. These walks are one of my favorite things here in Haiti and my range is slowly expanding. Maybe sometime I will grab a moto taxi back to the school just for fun. 

One less happy thing I would like to add today. Corporal punishment is still widely used in Haitian schools. While I would prefer that it didn't exist here, I also understand this is a bit of a cultural issue. What I would like to see is a couple of changes in how it is carried out, such as two adults always present, one being a female, especially when punishment is being given to a girl. Also, a shift from the intent of the punishment to cause pain to an intent where pain is not the main objective. I realize this is not only an issue at schools, but in the home. Again, I am not against corporal punishment, but I do think it is practiced a bit too frequently and harshly in Haiti. Nothing like what I saw many years ago where the person giving the punishment was clearly out of control, but still I think there are methods between dong nothing and corporal punishment that should be leveraged. 

This afternoon I pray for those in Haiti suffering from violence. Those that need a safe place to sleep. I pray for safe travels for additional people that are arriving from the US today. I pray that the children may get the opportunity to leave the center and celebrate their heritage and culture with the rest of the country and that the celebration will be safe and fun for all. Amen. 

Back in Haiti with Questions

I have been struggling to start my first posting from this year's trip to Haiti. There are a couple of reasons, I suppose, but I think the main reason revolves around the value to the children with my continued trips. I am not looking for sympathy or "you are doing good work" support messages, so please don't. I am not saying that I will stop my support of the work in Haiti nor am I saying I will stop supporting the mentor program. I am attempting to make a realistic evaluation if the monies spent on my trips could be better utilized in other ways. Are my annual trips the best use of God's provision for God's work in Haiti. 

I enjoy being in Haiti. I enjoy spending time with the kids, but I am acutely aware that it is local Haitians, like Pastor Ronel and Wilkens, who work with the children daily that affect the lives of the children most deeply. This is as it should be. The people that work daily with the children need our support, but it is less clear if they need our, my, presence on the ground. 

This has me wondering if it will be a while until I return to this island after this year. This island that was once the crown of the Caribbean and with God's grace can be again. 

One of the reasons I have returned to Haiti every year is because I have told the children I will be back before I leave. This may sound small, but these kids have a lot of one trip people in their lives and I have felt it is important to bring some constancy, particularly after the group with which I originally came decided to focus elsewhere. 

In the past couple of years I have seen this situation start to change as I have become more aware the General Baptist Association of Virginia (GBAV) have taken a more predominant role in the Source of Light Center and as the Now We Play group has started to come more frequently. So, I ask again, with these groups providing some constancy, what is the best use of the provisions God has given to aid these children?

As a concrete example, if I do not travel to Haiti the amount of money I would spend could be used to support additional hours for the mentors to work with the kids or even provide a bit of a raise for the mentors. Either of these options provide tangible benefits to both the children and the mentors. It is expensive to live in Port-au-Prince. 

This is all hard to think about and saddens my heart some, but in the end I must remember it is not about me, but about what is best for the kids and ultimately what is it that God wants. 

And so I wonder if part of the reason for this trip is to say goodbye to the kids.  Not forever, but perhaps for a little longer than usual. 

If anyone reading, assuming someone reads these things, has experience in short term mission work over multiple years, I would be grateful for any thoughts or words of wisdom. 

This afternoon I pray for the children as they get older that they mature into young men and women that will shape the future of Haiti. I pray for my wife and kids at home as they take on a burden and support me in my efforts in Haiti. I pray for the minor finger surgery my son will have this week while I am away. I pray for guidance and wisdom for my continued support of Haiti. Amen.