Healing Haiti-RL: Day 4-Grace Village, Elder Visits, Mass Graves

Beauty in Many Forms

Our day began with a group breakfast of french toast, oatmeal, mangos, bananas, scrambled eggs and fresh squeezed juice, not to mention more than a few pots of Haitian Rebo coffee. Fully fortified, we packed into our tap-tap (bus) bringing along our water and lunch for the day. We maneuvered through the uneven roads into town where there is a traffic signal that no one appears to notice. We headed past Haitians going about their daily routine: selling soda, water, fried plantains, working on cars, and manufacturing metal gates. The boys and girls in their school uniforms chatted happily as they walked to school.

Once outside of the town, we whizzed by banana trees, multi colored tap-taps full of people and many others selling their wares roadside. We began to climb into the foothills. The landscape changed from tropical to more desertlike, with cacti that villagers use to created fences around their modest homes. Soon the ocean appeared to our left - Caribbean blue and amazing. The views of the ocean were with us most of the day.

We pulled up to the purple metal gate of Grace Village school and clinic which was built by Healing Haiti. Beautiful things are happening in Grace Village. The school is educating 400 children, from age 3 (pre-k) through graduation (grade 13). It is home to 75 orphans, most of whom live in small home-like settings with a Mama and Papa. We walked through the cafeteria that feeds the 400 school children every day as well as the 100 Haitians who are employed at Grace Village. We visited the Grace Village clinic that treats about 50 sick and injured Haitians a day who live in the Titanyen area that surrounds Grace Village. We peered down on the barrels of tilapia that are raised and harvested every three months to feed those who at Grace Village. We learned of the plans to use garden space to teach agricultural skills. We looked down the hill to the bakery that is getting ready for production and a pizza restaurant that should open this summer. More skills and jobs for the Haitian people. The beauty of work and all that it brings: self-respect, the ability to educate and feed children, hope for the future and learning of the gift of Jesus during the journey.

Heading down the hill from Grace Village with hot meals and supplies for care, we wove through narrow, uneven and unmarked roads through a maze of small cement homes with metal roofs. We were headed to visit several of the elders who are assisted by Healing Haiti. As we sang to each of the older folks we washed their feet, massaged their backs and worked to brighten their day through service. They brightened our day by showing through their lives and their faith the peace they find by living in the Lord. Some of the village children came running to us hoping to be held and played with. We practiced our Creole, learning their names and ages and asking other questions about their daily life that is so different from ours. Their smiles filled us with happiness.

Back to the tap-tap to visit the mass grave where over 300,000 Haitians were buried after the earthquake on January 12, 2010. Over the last year a large memorial and garden has been built at the site. One of our translators told of his personal experience during the earthquake, including seeing the injured and dying and the months of terrifying aftershocks.

Sobered by that experience, we were surprised by a quick detour to take a dip into the ocean. Smiles all around as our group was alone at the end of an earthen pier, immersed (literally) in beauty that exists on this island. There was little hesitation as we jumped, fully clothed into the sea for a little fun and a welcome chance to cool off. Our day was another full day of giving and receiving love and being the hands and feet of Jesus.

-Ann