A Rainy Day in Haiti

5/31/2012 

May 31st. The last day of May...I can’t believe how fast time goes and how much has happened this month. A month ago I was bracing myself for the last few weeks of school and finals. I was still living in Portland and enjoying the last few weeks with my school friends. Then I packed up and moved home and 48 hours later was on the way to Haiti. It is just crazy how much can happen in such a short amount of time. 

That’s kind of how I feel about Haiti as well. Even though it’s only been 10 days since I first left, I feel like it has been forever. I have gone through so much challenge and change and personal growth. God has taught me so much and blown my mind in new ways in only 10 days. But yet, it also feels like the time has flown by and that it will continue to do that for the next 4 weeks I am here. I am so excited that I still have 4 weeks in Haiti...4 weeks from tomorrow I am flying home...29 days left in this beautiful country. 

Today was another slower day. It felt like all of us volunteers were exhausted and hit our wall. It felt like we were all dragging. Having the energy to keep up with little ones was extra hard today. We made it through the morning and then had lunch. Little Mr. A thought it would be neat to spit up almost all of his bottle on me. The first round made it all the way down my front and into my lap. I burped him some more and thought he was done but round 2 came and that went all down my back. Being here with this many babies is giving me an idea of what Motherhood is going to be like: constantly smelling like baby puke and dirty diapers! :) I have a new appreciation for every mother out there now! 

After lunch we had a massive rain storm. It was pouring down rain. Within a few minutes it came on fast. This isn’t like Washington or Oregon rain, it was dumping buckets. Everything got soaked and our space to play on the porch got even smaller. In a matter of minutes the toys that got left out were drenched and a part of the roof was leaking. But we were all loving it! 

Even with the inconvenience of a smaller space, it was such a refreshing treat! Haiti has a certain smell. It is a musty, dirty smell. Everywhere you go you smell it. There is no such thing as a breath of fresh air. It doesn’t happen...or so I thought! With the rain came a breath of fresh air. The rain smelled better than it ever has before. It cooled down the deck and we were all refreshed. The rain was a reminder of home and it was a reminder that God is the giver of every good and perfect gift...even if that means something as simple as rain. 

Remembering this was essential for me to realize that even in those hard days, like this morning, God can change things in an instant and can brighten even the gloomiest and hardest days. Tomorrow is Friday. 2 full weeks of my babies are going to be done. Only one more week to soak in all the loves, cuddles, spit ups, and diapers I can. Some moments this is an incredibly saddening thought. Other times I am completely relieved with this fact! But both feelings are from the Lord and I know that He knows my heart even more than I do...and with that...I am resting in His perfect will and timing.