April 3rd - Happy Today I Met You...

Hello everybody, this is Mistee Brown. I don't even know where to start. alright well, i'm actually typing this from An Ipad with one of those keypad attachments that is plugged into an outlit. that's right. an outlit. because God is so good and our living arrangements are absolutely prime.bed, bathrooms, kitchen, coffee, electricity. awesome. Today, we woke up at 5:55, breakfast of bagels and quiche and on the bus to the orphanage at 7. The sunrise happens around 6:30 and it is so so so beautiful, all oranges and pinks and purple. the pictures i take of this place do not do it justice.

The roads are nuts. Haitians use the horn for EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING. motorcycles and trucks and 'tap-taps' (small trucks that have a covered bed where up to ten people sit; welcome to public transportantion) and semi's zoom around, no speedlimit, driving on both sides, passing on both side. We are extrememly luck y to have a Haitian driver, Dudu, who knows the roads and rules.

At the orphange, today and yesterday, we did landscaping and painting. Shoveling topsoil (Dad would be so darn proud of me) and picking and burning trash and like i said, painting the guard tower and office. It is so hot and so humid. I've never sweat so much before in my life. ever. It's insane. But the is a breeze every so oftan that is wonderful. We are working together as a team very well, and i pray we continue to do so. Its not all hard wokr though, we talk to the Haitians guarding the compound and some pop their heads over theconcrete wall between us and the city. It is surprising how many can understand and speak english, at least a little bit.

One boy I met today, God forgive me I can't remember his name, spoke Creole (their native tongue), french, English, AND spanish. when I asked him if he went to school, he looked sadden and said that he Needed school but didn't go; his parents taught him what he knew. He asked if I was working, and when i said I was, and asked to speak to my boss, because he wanted a job. Doesn't that break your heart? I clarified; we are al volenteering without pay. I asked him if he was happy though, with his life. and he nodded his head up and down grinning, "I am very happy today, I am very happy today I met you." oh im tearing up.

I hope to just give these people a glispe of the Lord and change maybe some of their stereotypes about white people. already I have witnessed their joy that does not come from materials, a content heart, and patience for the world to notice them, but they do not pity themselves! even the poorest. They accpet the food we give them, but invite us into their dirt floored homes with pride. pride of their emaculately clean clothes and perfectly made bed and just pride in themselves. it is rreally verybeautiful. I love you mom and James ( and Dad if your reading this) derek im sorry i missed your birthday. I have to go i love you bye.