Learning to Cook

The pastor that works for our mission has been in Port Au Prince taking care of his sick son for the last month. I've really been struggling in his absence. He is such a valuable asset to our mission and the children. I feel like I've been neglecting them since he's been gone. We always worked as a team when he was here. He would round all the kids up while I prepared the food. Then he would teach a Bible lesson and I would serve the kids after they were finished. It worked pretty well. He is also the one who figured out what child was in the most need and then we would work together deciding how to provide for them. Now that he's gone I'm a little lost. Thankfully he's planning on returning for a short time next week.
Since I haven't been on the land as much as usual I had to figure out other ways to stay busy. I came up with the bright idea of learning to cook. I have no idea why I thought that would work out considering I can't even cook American food! Kenzy's mom has been here for two days in a row trying to teach me how to cook rice and beans. Sounds simple, right? Wrong! Peanut butter sounds simple too until you come to Haiti...lol

All the ingredients are straight from the garden. First we smash up a few wild onions and a garlic clove. We don't have a blender so we hand smash them. It takes forever! Then we heat up a little oil and mix it together. Then we shred a coconut. We squeeze all the milk out of it and thats what we boil the beans in. That mixed with the oil. Then you add your hot peppers and slices of green peppers and some kind of tomato sauce and these little cubes of spices. After it boils for a while you add the rice. I guess it doesn't sound that hard now that I'm writing it all down but remember this is coming from a girl who once caught her mother's kitchen on fire trying to boil water!!!! Haha. God help my future husband :)

The finished product.....

Its a traditional Haitian meal. Rice, beans and fried plantains. I actually don't complain about the food as much as I did in the beginning. I guess I'm used to it now. I've taught myself how to "eat to live" not "live to eat". Plus I feel a lot better when I'm here. I'm not weighed down with all the greasy American food. I wonder if this means I'm becoming Haitian. Its amazing what people can adapt to when it's necessary......
I've been thinking that once the mission has a car I can start cooking meals like this for the elderly. It could be like a "meals on wheels" type of thing. I could deliver that food to the prison, as well.

There is always new ideas and new opportunities to help others. I just have to keep my eyes and heart open to them.

Our Choice

Every time I have a lot on my mind I seem to shy away from my blog. Its like it takes a while to put all my thoughts into words.
One month ago my Haitian Pastor's son was diagnosed with cancer. He had a large tumor growing around his knee that was eating away at the bone. Last week they amputated his leg. They tell us now that with chemo therapy he will still only have a 60% chance of survival. Without chemo his chances are only 10%. It will be a miracle in itself if we're able to get him the treatment.
Last week while my Pastor was in Port Au Prince trying to take care of his son I was at home taking care of my Haitian son. He was running a fever of 105 and had a horrible migraine. He's only 6 years old. When we took him to the doctor they diagnosed him with Typhoid fever. An illness that I received a vaccine for in America before I came to Haiti. He obviously never got his vaccine.
I deal with illnesses everyday in Haiti. I watch helplessly as viruses run through my village affecting everyone of my children. And I am left asking why......

I pray for healing but often I am left with the realization that sometimes God doesn't heal these babies. Sometimes children die here that wouldn't have died had they been in America. Sometimes people suffer and we scream out to God asking where he is in all of this?

The truth is when I first came to Haiti I was told these people were the most God fearing, spiritual people in the world. I was told, "They maybe poor but they still worship Jesus!" This never sit well with me. When I was told this I quickly began to question God. Why in the world would a country be suffering so much if it is filled with Christians, praising Jesus all the time?? The truth is it's not....
This country was founded on the religious principals of Voodoo. A religion that idolizes revenge and thrives off fear. There are many wonderful Christian people in Haiti but there is also a very real spiritual battle happening here. Haiti has one of the most corrupted governments in the world. Its politicians constantly steal aid money and make it almost impossible for people to earn a living off their produce or livestock. Hospitals are few and far between because there is no public education here; meaning must people don't have the opportunity to grow up and become doctors.

My point is people suffer because other people are sinning. Following Jesus is not just a personal decision. Your affecting countless lives around you when you decide to follow or not follow Christ.

Yes, God could heal all the sick children in Haiti. He could answer every prayer given to him by suffering people, but if he did that then he would be taking away all consequences of sin. He won't do that. He loves us to much to do that.

God shows us everyday when you lie, steal, and murder people will suffer. When you show love, compassion and forgiveness people prosper. It's as simple as that.  Its our choice, but every choice we make will have a consequence.