Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Force
Played Jedi's with two kids yesterday. We had lightsabers. We also used the force with our hands. I totally let them kill me at the end. My midichlorian count was insane, and they truly were no match between you and me. But even in the force, sometimes you have to let kids win. Even if it means the loss of all of your limbs, and the slicing of your torso in half.
Friday, October 01, 2010
Haiti: The last full day
It's really hard to process what we saw today. The pictures of the ravine area will allow you to see, hopefully soon. They get water in this area. It's lined with trash. Most do not drink this water, but some do. We went to a tent city near the ravine and there was a designated area that was secluded for us to hand out our water purification systems. Our translator, Ruth, was great. Keziah is a nurse who has worked with us to find the people who received the water systems. She also has a youth group of which Ruth is a part of. All of our translators were a part of Keziah's youth group. Keziah is doing an incredible work in Haiti. She's given of her life, as many Christians have all throughout. They've just left everything behind. I guess God sustains them, because this place can be draining. However, it also has a third world charm that makes you fall in love with it. I want to go home, but I don't want to leave. I want to see my wife, but I also want to come back soon.
The water situation is overwhelming. I don't know what we can do more than what we're doing. Maybe more of what we're doing. It seems you have to select the people who will really take care of things to give them a purification system. I wonder if they can make some money selling a cup of clean water, or maybe charge to use the purification device per bucket. Like a quarter, or something. The fliters are expensive, and if we continue to use this as our model with us saying we'll replace the $28 filters, it could be too much. We're going to try and connect with the people that we've already given the devices to in a later trip, we'll then give them a new filter. June is what we're set for. If you have an idea that you think could work then please feel free to pass it on. I think we'll just need to communicate with the people who are working in Haiti. Perhaps someone has an amazing solution that just needs funding. I can't currently think of something better than the purification systems. I am not sure who came up with it, I'm thinking it was Pam. I suppose I could just go ask her. Also a tad perplexed as to why I've not asked her yet.
This is our last night here, and I'm out on the balcony, looking at the sky. I suppose it's not so different from an Illinois sky. I see a star. There's more noise here. Dogs and roosters, loud music, etc. Our law enforcement is a lot more strict, as you might guess. Everyone on our trip is feeling fatter than before. We just ate a huge meal, and we've been eating like kings and queens for breakfast and dinner. For lunch, it's usually less. We've been drinking so many calories, though, even with all the walking and other activities, I'd guess we put on some weight. Luckily, P90X awaits me when I get home.
Another observation: I typically want to classify a group of people, like "such and such country has a lot of generous people," etc. However, I have to admit, I've met some amazing kids and some little stinkers. I had this kid begin to give me what appeared to be a made up handshake that would make us tight. So we slapped hands, then met with our backhands... and he's doing this slow like he's teaching me what our little shake is gonna be... then the kid flips me off. Hard core flipped me off. I pointed behind me and yelled "MAL!" Bad. Basically telling him to get away. No kite for you, kid. Another kid was throwing rocks at us. But most of the kids we encountered were great. Of course we were at orphanages and schools. So... maybe it's about finding some of them in the right environment. Kids will be kids in many cases.
Anyways, when I get back to Illinois I want to do some things.
1. Hug my wife
2. Get a kite. What a fun toy
3. Watch more movies I loved as a kid, like "The Lion King"
4. Play less video games
5. Eat even better than I try to
6. P90X
7. Take a hot shower or bath
8. Live life a little slower. Like the Haitians.
