Will Today Be Normal or Not?

     When we were deciding to be missionaries in Haiti, we understood that life would be more difficult. We wouldn't have the luxuries, conveniences and comforts of our life in the United States. However, our family has always been adaptable and we knew that we could adjust to the everyday inconveniences of Haiti. 
         Most of these "inconveniences" are still luxuries in Haiti. To have a house with electricity and running water alone is to have privilege and our family is adjusting to these things just fine. However, what is difficult is when everything just stops. There has been very little to no fuel coming into Haiti for about 5 weeks now which puts a hold on practically everything: businesses, hospitals, schools and roads. We did not have school for three weeks and I hardly left our house. I began to wonder what I was doing in Haiti if I couldn't go to school, but how can I understand this culture if I don't truly live it? I could adapt to a life with less, but what about feeling the frustration, impatience and anger with a broken system that affects everybody? How can I truly understand unless I worry each day whether we can have school, or if we will have fuel to drive a car, or if the road is blocked, how will we get food?  Every day is a question of "will today be normal or not?"

            After not being at school for three weeks, we were able to attend on Monday. It was a joy seeing the students again and they were eager to learn and see their friends and teachers again. During Bible, the students each had an opportunity to say a prayer and they prayed with such honesty, depth and love. One student, Ted, prayed for his family and friends and his teachers and school and ended with an enthusiastic "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!" It was the highlight of my week!

    This was the last date we had school!




    Sweet kiddos! I promise the boys smiled as soon as the picture was over!


    These girls have the biggest personalities!

         Today is Friday and we do not have school due to word of violent protests. We are safe and it is quiet where we live. Many of the missions organizations around us are expecting to run out of fuel this week which means no electricity. For us, that means no school. Please pray that fuel is delivered to Haiti so businesses can continue running normally and people can get on with life. Moreover, pray for Haiti. The only thing that can bring peace to the country is God.

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