What we did get done today was create some tension with our neighbours on both sides of the church. Tim and the contractor were supposed to go into the neighbours yard on the south side of the building, in order to put up a ladder and help put up one of the forms. Tim said they went through the "front yard" (which is more like a small courtyard beside their house) then the contractor went to proceed up and over, or through a makeshift metal fence. Well the neighbours did not like this much. So Tim said they had to go around the house and through a back gate into the area they needed to be. It took awhile and the South neighbour seemed quite upset. Earlier on, Dan and I were filling forms on the North side of the church, it was hot and our concrete was drying fast. We were waiting on a new batch to be mixed to finish out that lentil. In order to prevent the concrete that had already been poured in the form, I was sprinkling the concrete with water. Well of course I decide I should sprinkle Dan as well, because he was drying out. Some of the church folks were there at the time and they thought this was so funny. Well now I have an audience. So what am I to do now, I must please the audience more. As I looked over at them I did an over the shoulder throw with the rest of my container of water. Well I missed Dan for the most part, but I hit the form and splashed watery concrete down into the neighbours yard on the North. Who just happened to have done laundry, their whites in fact. So they were not very happy with us. Actually I should just say Dan got the brunt of the frustration. After it happened he was the first one that looked over the wall. We apologized up and down (literally and figuratively, from upstairs and we went downstairs to apologize) eventually they took our apology, especially when Dan offered to wash the laundry again. So our neighbours around the construction site haven't had the greatest friendship with us. At the hotel however Dan and I have got to meet our neighbour and have good conversations. She is a older lady who is from Quebec originally, she has lived in Haiti for 35 years, and at some point in her life she lost both of her legs in a motorcycle accident in Canada. She is a very interesting lady, who has been trying to teach us Creole, and has told us about a friend from the community that needs help. We prayed with this lady and for her friend, and got the contact information for the local church to connect with this person. Hopefully we can create positive relationships with all of our neighbours at some point.
One of the things that Durand said to me one day, is standing out for me now. He said "You all have such big yards there. You don't know your neighbours. That's why at church on Sunday you stand far apart shake hands at a distance and never get to know each other". Here there is no personal bubble space that I like so much, and I'd like to say I'm getting used to it. Even their yards have no bubble space, the church building would be the lot border on one side and there may be 4' on the other side. Durand feels they have better relationships with others because of this closeness. In fact four families share the house that Durand lives in, and it seems like a very close community.
Many of us in Canada do have good relationships with our neighbours, but we should remember how Jesus answered when he was asked "Who is my neighbour". Luke 10:29 Jesus went on to tell the parable of the "good Samaritan" as an answer to this question. God wants us to serve all people without prejudice or resentment, even to those who don't like us. I pray that all of us can let the Lord change us, so that we may love our neighbour.
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