Super Sabath

Well, here we are watching the Super Bowl. I don’t really watch sports much, but on a day where we had a real day of rest, it seems like a decent way to finish the day as a team. 

Church service was great this morning. We shared in communion with their church family and felt very welcomed during the service. A very nice day all around in +30 weather, sorry you’re all stuck in the opposite end of the spectrum. 

Where’s Daniel?

It’s kinda like where’s Waldo, but not. It is the always deflating; Where’s Daniel?  On the last trip the church family confused Dan and I, all the time. So I wasn’t the least bit surprised when I was called Daniel a few times when we first arrived. Now I couldn’t count the number of times I’ve been mistaken for Dan. I’ve joked around that I could start acting mean to everyone and just call myself Daniel, and when Dan and Byron show up on Wednesday I could change back into Mike. That way they wouldn’t all be asking for Daniel. I’m not alone in my pain however, all the kids are asking for Nick. So Kelly has been affectionately labeled Papa-Nick.  We are working hard on learning Creole, so hopefully, with some good community tomorrow the church family will be asking “Ki kote nan Kelly ak Mike?”

All identity confusion aside, the day went well for construction. We started rolling a little better and managed to get some more work done on the trusses. Most of the material is cut and set aside for the rest of the trusses already, so it will mostly be assembly and welding from here on out, good work Tim & Kelly. Morgan and I are tackling the welder. We had a local guy help yesterday, but found it easier to do ourselves. He already is a welder down here, but I’m starting to figure out that titles don’t necessary equal talent. Everyone seems to be in good health and good spirits (despite the fact, that everyone wants Dan & Nick), and looking forward to the four hour church service tomorrow. 

Galatians 2:19-21

“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

There’s another mistaking identity that all of us should strive for. Galatians 2:20 says that I no longer live, but Christ who lives within me. We are to be Christ here on earth. We should yearn to be like Christ, and the good that I do can point to Christ and He is the source of that good. Others should see Jesus in all of us believers.  

Sparks flying

Sparks were aflying. We managed to start cutting and welding today. Art had his plans finished for the trusses, so we started cutting and laid out the materials and started welding. Everything has a learning curve so far; angles, finding a welder, laying out the frame, welding on steel that seems remarkably melty (technical term). We didn’t get allot done but I think we got the jyst for the days ahead and will make good headway now. The work day finalized with an attempt to go to the hardware store again for supplies, not finding exactly what we needed, but we’ll make due. Traffic was awful all around. The area is swarming with people for carnival. Load music is still blaring and I don’t think it’s stopping any time soon. We’re still planning on working tomorrow, but I guess we’ll have to see if we can even make it there. We had to walk the last bit to the hotel tonight because of the crowds/traffic. 

Worlds problems solved in the back of a Tap-Tap

Err-rr-rrr-r-rrrrgh (insert barn yard noise here). Rise and shine in Haiti. Waking up to the sound of a rooster in the morning has an invigorating appeal to it. Now if he gets up at the wrong time and he’s waking you up with him @4am, it’s more aggravating than invigorating. However just in general, when you can wake up to the rooster crow at just the precise time you wanted to wake up, it seems like the perfect alarm clock (unless you’re Peter I suppose 😁). 

Everyone seemed to have a great sleep last night. We were all eager and ready for the day ahead. We met up with Durand headed to the church, got to see all the work their church family has put into their building since we left. Measured a few things, talked to a few people and made some plans. Art and I set off to buy supplies, we drove via a borrowed Tap-Tap to what I would assume is the West end of Carrefour and ordered supplies. Headed back to the church just in time for lunch and had a great meal from the church ladies. The materials had arrived while we were eating so we set to work on carrying them upstairs. We were experimenting with a few ways to get them up the stairwell, some wanted one way, others wanted another. I had already been scolded by lineman Tim on “Where’s the line?”  So when someone suggested shooting it out the window, I asked how close to the line will it be?  Someone didn’t understand which line I was talking about and said a long ways. Well Tim knew which line and had run outside and came back in shouting “don’t do that again”. Apparently I came within 2’ of the high voltage uninsulated power line. That’s too close, as Tim said. I filed a near miss with my Health & Safety Suppervisor and we all determined not to do that again. To be honest I probably don’t realize how fortunate I am. This blog could have possibly been allot shorter, if I had been any closer. But please, no one tell my wife, I wouldn’t want her to worry. 

After the materials were all tucked away, it was decided Art, myself and Morgan would run to Port-Au-Price for a metal chop saw. I pondered on what the others would be doing while this expedition went forth. There was no plan in place.  So I offered to graciously lead them back to the hotel to suffer by the pool, instead of the trek ahead. Well the plan worked and they even gave us a ride to the hotel, to help ease our suffering. Morgan and Art found the saw and discs we needed and returned at the end of our pool time. Sorry Morgan, I really just didn’t want to deprive you of the experience of the ride across town in the Tap-Tap. 

So what is a Tap-Tap you may ask; It is a privately owned communal transportation device. It could be a bus, van (door usually optional) but most commonly it is a small pick-up truck with a metal canopy over the box with benches down the sides. Usually they are very colourful, sometimes with loud music but always crowded. It seems that is our mode of transportation to and from the hotel. It’s very funny when locals hop on, look at us wide eyed, talk to one of our escort and quickly jump off. We have our very own personal Tap-Tap. After picking up the first set of supplies I was sitting in the back of the Tap-Tap waiting, when Durand sat down to chat. We talked about family, about the church, about church family (so many topics wrapped up in two words), politics and society. Durand does love his country, but he knows it’s broken. He also knows the answer isn’t simple. “No one pays taxes”. “They would pay taxes if the government does something for them first”. He says the government officials get into power just so they can coast. Live the life of leasure and spend the public dollars. Now we do have a Prime Minister that used public funds for a private holiday, but at least he said sorry. What then, are all politics corrupt and we should give up on governmental establishments?  No, I’m not becoming anti-establishment. There is only one leader who won’t let us down. Only one who is worthy to be called King. He will reign over all, and all who believe in Him will live forever in his Kingdom. King Jesus. “Merci Jesus” (That’s the phrase on many Tap-Taps, it means thank you Jesus). 

No two ways the same, except 1

Well, we are here. Safe and sound, I guess. Montreal was as suspected this morning. 06:30 shuttle to the airport arrived on time and to the airport with lots of time to go through security and catch a breakfast. Flight took off a little late but arrived roughly when they said it would.....and then we touched down. I think Haiti is the only place I’ve ever been where they always chear when the wheels hit the ground. To be honest, I’m not exactly sure as to their reasons why; 

Whether they are thankful to be home. 

Whether they’re thankful to arrive safe back on the ground. 

Or whether they’re glad that they can shake off the restraints of domesticated society. 

I know I sound cynical here, but well, I am. My interactions with this culture have left me all out frustrated at times, so I figure cynical is a step back from there at least.  Lineups don’t really mean -line-up-, it really means try to get to the front however you can. A baggage carrasel is best used when everyone is crowded up against it with their wheely cart beside them. Traffic works wonderfully when you disregard lanes and regulations, and just drive however you feel best serves you. For those of you who know me, probably know I would love to drive however I want, push to the front of the line and not have anyone in my way when I’m trying to pick up my luggage. But I know that I can’t. Because if everyone were to do such, it would lead to...Haiti. 

Okay, well I should real this back in for a moment. As we exit the airport of mayhem, I spotted Durand in the crowd and we met up around the barricade. I don’t hug much, but really, there was no better way to greet this man. Durand has been our contact to this church family here for three years now. Dan and I receive text messages all the time from him; pictures, cheesy memes, Happy Christmas and Merry New Year messages, prayers, sympathies and encouragement. Durand has taken time off work yet again to look after us. He will have us in his home yet again and feed us our lunches every work day. He bends over backwards to show us hospitality and works hard to keep us safe. Durand has shown us true Christian fellowship. I respect that. I appreciate what he does to make our stay here smooth and I marvel at what he is & wants to do for his community. I would consider Durand a friend and would not want him to feel I don’t like his country or his people, I’m just struggling once again to adapt to the culture I’m facing. 

Haiti has a resiliency to it. There is a statute that we drove by today, called “The Standing Man”. It symbolizes back to when Haiti gained it’s freedom. Many in Haitian culture say it shows their ability; to overcome, to persevere, to adapt. I mean where else could we use a Rav 4 to fit 6 grown men and 5 sets of lunguge to the hotel from the airport (no there was no roof rack). I’ve sat in the middle of many of trucks, but I’ve never sat on the middle console hovering over the shift lever before. Haitians are very proud of their country, their people and even their culture. And maybe a simple redneck hick from Alberta shouldn’t be evaluated them on what he thinks he knows. But maybe we should all learn something here. All of us are fallen. All have come short. God does not look at any of us and say: Wow, they got things together.  Maybe as believers we should symbolize a different statue, the kneeling man. Our submission to God needs to be at the forefront of our lives, not how a line should properly flow. Christ Jesus redeemed us so that we could live different, to live set apart, Holy.  That means we don’t live lives wrapped up in ourselves, our projects, our ambitions, these things are of the world.  A good example of this is what Haitians are celebrating this week.  Once again we have come here during Carnaval, and I joked with Durand that we were just coming for the party. And just as seriously as he did last time, he scolded me that this was not “Our” party.  God has transformed us to a new creation, for the Party yet to come. So let’s consider how we can get ready for the party, how then should we live?

 Traffic from the airport was bad today, which made that consol feel great after it took roughly 90 minutes to travel 16 km.  I thought I was getting good at knowing some level of direction here, however Durand weaved and bobbed his way all over the place. I don’t know if I’ve traveled the same route to and from the airport. It always seems to be different. And just like the roads, their way of life here always seems different. But they are aloud to be different as we all are different and broken. Thankfully there is a right way to live, and it’s not “my” way or “your”way, the “Canadian” or “Haitian” way, it’s God’s way. And it is found in relationship with God, through His Son Jesus Christ, that is the only way to understand true culture and join the party. 

Time to take off, eh!

Well we’re on the plane about to take off for Montreal. We met up with Art and Kelly. No real hiccups so far, I was bored waiting for Tim at the check in so we ditched him. But Kelly met up with him so it all worked out. Now on to our first leg. 

Getting Ready

Today was send off Sunday. Our church family surrounded us this morning, figuratively and literally to pray over us for our trip. Yet again a mix of emotions surround the trip; It’s supposed to get cold this week so right away excitement to go somewhere warm. Hesitation on the traveling ahead: layovers, turbulence, security lineups, hot bumpy rides on the Haitian roads, smells/sites of Haiti and just the regular uncertainty of travel at times. Anticipation to see the church family down there and there’s a mix of anticipation/uncertainty to the work ahead. 

We were talking this morning about the job ahead and the preparation we need to do before we leave, mentally and physically. So far we have some tools prepped and some we’ll round up before we ship off. There’s allot up in the air yet, materials, consumables and large tools are all an unknown at this point. I trust Art has a plan for all this as he’s done several of these trips/buildings. Haiti has this interesting dynamic to it though. Everything seems to have to have a large amount of improvisation to it. So I think it will be a few days of juggling before we actually get down to work. As far as our mental preparedness, we have set our hearts to serve God wherever He takes us during this trip. Please pray for us; Mike, Tim, Morgan, Dan, Byron, Kelly & Art.