bitter-sweet

Sara working in the clinic

Today started out on a sad note-- I have loved having my friend Sara here for a week and today she left for home.  I loved getting to show her off to all my friends and for her to experience my life here.  I feel beyond blessed to have had two friends chose to leave home, family, work, and just life in general to come and visit me here in Haiti.  Sara had perfect timing for when I was in need of "home" and just time with my friend.

Eliana, me, Natacha, and Aubree all getting ready to cook!

Rainy season has jumped into full force this past week and because of this our clinic was slower than normal.  We all enjoyed a nap and then decided it would be fun to make some Haitian food!  I love Haitian food and really love learning to make it.  I've been learning to make Haitian sauce for rice and beans so I was super excited to add more food to the list of things I can make!  Natacha and the girls who work in the kitchen taught Aubree, Katie, and I how to make fried plantains and pikliz (like cole slaw only at least a thousand times better!).  We had a great afternoon simply being together in the kitchen.  We all laughed a lot and of course eating the delicious food was the perfect ending to our cooking adventure!

Fried plantains and Pikliz...SO good!

After cooking Aubree and I decided to make a quick trip to Chambrun.  We were greeted by all our little friends who were beyond excited to have us stop in when they weren't expecting a visit.  My little friend Landia found me immediately and pulled me down to her level so she could whisper in my ear "Brooke, I saw E'tienne today and I asked her where you were."  My heart literally broke and as I scooped her up I asked her if she knew just how much I loved her. 

Kris and Landia

 On the walk back to campus I thanked God for this very bitter-sweet day.  I am blessed to have a friend that would travel lots of miles and leave her own family to spend time with me.  It hurt watching her leave but it also felt right knowing that God is using her at home too.  God in complete faithfulness provided for me and gave me a great afternoon of fellowship in the kitchen and a very sweet ending to the day with the most sincere words that melted my heart and truly reminded me of why God has called me here.

dinner with friends

Haitian Proverb:

"Moun ki pa manje pou ko l' pa janm grangou- those who don't eat alone are never hungry."

Those who share will receive

Most days I spend my afternoons in the village playing, bathing babies, and just having fun being with my friends. Each and every day I'm humbled by how gracious my friends are to me and by their limitless love and generosity. Today, I was once again reminded just how blessed I am to be living in Haiti and in this community. E'tienne and I were asked to stay and join our friends for supper. On many different levels a meal here is a big deal. First, there is no electricity or running water, so imagine how easy it is to just "whip" up a meal that will take hours of preparation and time.

Natacha preparing supper.

Not only that, but most of our friends have barely enough food to meet the needs of their own family let alone guests. And let's be honest, we are guests that have food...plenty of food. It always makes my heart cringe to eat food that I know other people need more than me and yet, there is nothing more that Natacha wants in that moment than to serve us. So tonight we ate supper in Natacha's home. We were served our food on the two best dishes she has and we were prepared a feast of food that included chicken, vegetables, and sauce.

We drew quite the crowd as we sat at Natacha's table and ate the meal prepared for us...I suppose it isn't everyday that our little friends have two white girls in their home eating Haitian food=) Today, I was given not only the best food my friend had to offer but love and service to me. As I walked home I felt that God was reminding me that this is the pattern He has for me. I am to offer my best and am called to serve the people He has brought into my life.

I promise I didn't lick my bowl=)