Haiti - Day 5 (delayed)

(Sorry for the delay. The Wi-Fi was down yesterday.

I wrote this Sunday evening. Big apology to my Mom who was waiting for me to Skype for her first time ever! Here’s how yesterday went…)

We woke up Sunday morning to a country in freeze frame.

The main modes of public transportation here are colorful taxi-esque vehicles called “Tap Taps” (because you have to “tap tap” on the roof of the truck bed to let them know when to stop). They’re basically your average F-150 trucks, only with dugout benches bolted in the back of the truck bed, and a high metal roof overhead. Sometimes, if the driver/owner is a Christian, you’ll find verses painted on the front and sides.

Because of the elections today, the Tap-Taps were completely shut down.

Actually, the entire road system was shut down.

That tossed a little bit of a wrench into today’s plans.

But if you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.

And thankfully we’re pretty good at dodging wrenches at this point in the trip.

We walked down to the church this morning to find that most of the leadership had walked there, since the roads were closed. Many of their people were missing because of a lack of transportation, and also because of the polls.

Even though their service was thinner in number, it was thick in heart. Our team was blown away by the power in that room. Never have I heard such beauty, or felt such “rawness” in a worship service. I didn’t know most of what they said, but that didn’t matter. I felt as if I did. We all did.

It was heartening to realize that our friends back home and our friends here in Haiti were worshiping the same God. With some of the same songs, even. Reading some of the same Bible verses. All while lifting hands of all colors and sizes.

It nearly knocked us flat in humility and gratitude.

After dozens of hugs, and broken-Creole goodbyes (we’re catching on to some of these words), we hurried over to Madam Cheap Cheap’s souvenir store. If you’re thinking she has the best name ever for a shop, you’re correct. We met Madam Cheap Cheap, who drives a harder bargain than her name implies.

Most of us got our hair braided. I wasn’t planning on it, but 12-year-old Jessica promised me that she’d make me look like Justin Bieber if I’d pay her a few bucks to give me some cornrows. Well, how could I resist looking like the Biebs for such a small price?

I asked the other sellers (who were also relatives to Madam Cheap Cheap) what their names were, and I was introduced to all the Cheap Cheap family. There was Monsieur Cheap Cheap, Madam Short Cheap, Madam Funny Cheap, Little Cheap Cheap, etc.

As “Jessica Cheap Cheap” (who was the granddaughter of Madam Cheap Cheap) was making me look like Justin Bieber, I asked her why they picked those names. And she said “Because Madam Cheap Cheap is a part of all of us. She stays here in Haiti, but she is also all over the world. Because when you meet her, she becomes a part of you.” Pretty deep for a 12 year old.

I asked her if I could become a Cheap Cheap too, and she told me, “Of course, Michael! You can be called Big Bootie Cheap Cheap!” Nice.

We bartered some more, and then headed back to the camp to discover that our afternoon village trip had been canceled due to the closed roads. We made the best of it by meeting some of the orphanage kids and playing some games before evening stole the sun.

If you’re praying for our trip, pray that Mission of Hope will find ways to get us back into the villages on Monday and Tuesday. The team is doing well, but we’re all a little antsy at the thought of being landlocked. If we can’t leave the MOH campus, then we’ll find service projects to complete here on campus. But it sure would be nice to be able to get back out.

As usual, thank you so much for your support, your prayers and your shout-outs. They keep us going! And will someone PLEASE give a shout out to Patty? She’s feeling very, very left out.

Blessings!

-Big Bootie Cheap Cheap