It's just travel. Hatian style. | 
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....a bit of lag-time in communication down here. This is from Sunday afternoon...
White folks all dressed up bouncing through the streets of Haiti in the back of a pick-up truck. Yep. We (this is Teren) can now add that to the list of our new experiences. Oh, and did I mention that part of the trip was along the edge of a cliff...driving very fast...in reverse? But, we were late. Our set-up for the banquet took a lot longer than expected. Late arrival of the tables and chairs and the breeze we'd been praying for that arrived in gales didn't help make the plastic tablecloths and paper plates the vision of loveliness that we'd envisioned. I was tense and frustrated.
Pierre had asked us be dressed by 3 PM so the people didn't see us in our work clothes. We wanted the couples to recieve a beautiful welcome complete with a special hors d'oeuvres. Instead the couples started showing up at 2 PM to a truly American team frazzled because things weren't going our way.
At 3 we jumped in that truck and raced in reverse across the cliff to try to freshen up. Sean, our missionary rescuer, asked a Hatian pastor to lead singing and 10 minutes later Pierre was back to translate for Jerry and kick off the marriage conference.
Jerry finished teaching and the rest of us breathed a sigh of grateful relief when Pierre suggested that they take questions. The food had still not arrived. But the people were engaged in the discussion, the food did arrive. And then we witnessed one of the best parts of Hatian culture. They are not in a hurry. They were not upset that the buffet tables weren't loaded or the silverware unwarped. They enjoyed the breeze, the gorgeous view and the time for conversation with their friends. Only us Americans were stressed out.
White folks all dressed up bouncing through the streets of Haiti in the back of a pick-up truck. Yep. We (this is Teren) can now add that to the list of our new experiences. Oh, and did I mention that part of the trip was along the edge of a cliff...driving very fast...in reverse? But, we were late. Our set-up for the banquet took a lot longer than expected. Late arrival of the tables and chairs and the breeze we'd been praying for that arrived in gales didn't help make the plastic tablecloths and paper plates the vision of loveliness that we'd envisioned. I was tense and frustrated.
Pierre had asked us be dressed by 3 PM so the people didn't see us in our work clothes. We wanted the couples to recieve a beautiful welcome complete with a special hors d'oeuvres. Instead the couples started showing up at 2 PM to a truly American team frazzled because things weren't going our way.
At 3 we jumped in that truck and raced in reverse across the cliff to try to freshen up. Sean, our missionary rescuer, asked a Hatian pastor to lead singing and 10 minutes later Pierre was back to translate for Jerry and kick off the marriage conference.
Jerry finished teaching and the rest of us breathed a sigh of grateful relief when Pierre suggested that they take questions. The food had still not arrived. But the people were engaged in the discussion, the food did arrive. And then we witnessed one of the best parts of Hatian culture. They are not in a hurry. They were not upset that the buffet tables weren't loaded or the silverware unwarped. They enjoyed the breeze, the gorgeous view and the time for conversation with their friends. Only us Americans were stressed out.
As the food was served the Hatians were delighted. Chuck's dream of being a french waiter was fulfilled as a table kept calling on "guy" to assist them. Its a nickname that's stuck.
As people started to leave Pierre sat down for a bite to eat. Someone asked him a question about Monday and he laughted and said, "I'm so tired I can't even eat -- let alone think about tomorrow." Just minutes later he learned that he was expected to preach in a local church in just a few minutes. As he climbed into the truck the drived announced he had a flat-tire. Someone nearby had a motorcycle and offered him a ride. Half-way to church a motorcycle tire popped. Pierre hailed a taxi and then borrowed money from a stranger when he arrived at the church to pay the driver. In the middle of the message the power went out. This is Haiti. Piere continued preaching and the rest of us, unaware of all the transportation problems or the power outage, but knowing how tired we were and how he must be even worse -- we just prayed that God's strength would be strong in Pierre's weakness. And He was.
Our understanding of our need to live lives of repentance and to cling to the grace offered through the Gospel has been renewed. Its the story that we've come to tell. And we have been equal recipients of its message.
As people started to leave Pierre sat down for a bite to eat. Someone asked him a question about Monday and he laughted and said, "I'm so tired I can't even eat -- let alone think about tomorrow." Just minutes later he learned that he was expected to preach in a local church in just a few minutes. As he climbed into the truck the drived announced he had a flat-tire. Someone nearby had a motorcycle and offered him a ride. Half-way to church a motorcycle tire popped. Pierre hailed a taxi and then borrowed money from a stranger when he arrived at the church to pay the driver. In the middle of the message the power went out. This is Haiti. Piere continued preaching and the rest of us, unaware of all the transportation problems or the power outage, but knowing how tired we were and how he must be even worse -- we just prayed that God's strength would be strong in Pierre's weakness. And He was.
Our understanding of our need to live lives of repentance and to cling to the grace offered through the Gospel has been renewed. Its the story that we've come to tell. And we have been equal recipients of its message.
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