Conversations with the Haitians.

Ours days here in Haiti became more difficult for me recently, probably out of my silly impatience. Historically, I have powered through situations, or at least that was my perception. Our adventure began obviously busy and didn’t allow for much evaluation or contemplation. It was just a transitional time to get semi-settled. That was followed by my just being happy to be here. You know - the honeymoon period. I smiled to be on an adventure. I smiled just to follow Jesus – He brought us here. The last week, however, has been, well, a time when I was missing my world of familiar faces and circumstances. I wanted to go home.

Creole is cumbersome. My body is weary from everyday tasks being at bit more involved and difficult than with the many creature comfort afforded in suburban America. Boo hoo for me, huh? I have yet to have a burning pillar of fire to follow God’s direction. I guess that is what is most troublesome for me. I have been praying for clarity of God’s call on my life. I just want to be obedient to what He has for me, but I want it to be obvious and well…now. So, I fret. I whine. I question. Is this where I should be Lord? Why hasn’t this happened? Or that happened? Silly boy, am I.

Natalie and I have been praying specifically for the opportunity to have conversations with some local leaders and farmers. And the other day Austin Truelove, George and Carol Ann’s son back on winter break from College of The Ozarks (Cool School!), came up to me while I was digging the footings for the shade houses with Jeznet and Jean Claude. He said that a couple mayors and the local pastor wanted to “interview” me. HA!

I, being a tad cynical at times, immediately questioned their motives. Why would they want to talk to me? Is this an interview or and interrogation? But, I very eagerly went to speak with them via Austin the translator.

It was an answer to prayer. It was a conversation with the Haitians. They asked how long we would be here. Where have I traveled in the Northwest Region? From my three visits to Haiti, what has been most impressionable about Haiti? What do I see as possible solutions to the lack of water? The Haitians bent towards “raping” the land? The style of agriculture I prefer? If God calls me back to Haiti, will I come? I love that one! Which area would I prefer to live? …

I shared that I was thankful that they came to speak with me, that they were a very real answer to prayer. I shared about my first experience in the Northwest territory, the love for Haiti and compassion for Haitians God has put in my heart. I shared that before being able answer questions about water or preferred farming styles that I still had a lot of learning to do about the Haitian ways. I shared that the question of obedience is the ultimate question for us all – will we follow Jesus where He leads? I shared that I believe Haiti needs foundational restoration of its families. Fathers need to come home. Restaveks (castaway children) need to come home. Growing food can allow a family to feed itself and become free from hunger, and malnutrition. They can also gain economic and political freedom if they become independent from other’s charity and hand-outs. If they live by God’s ways, He can help them. The hand-to-mouth situation in Haiti can be stopped. Haitians are incredibly proud and capable of solving their own problems. I shared that I believe my role, or any other foreigner’s for that matter, can be encouraging not enabling. To encourage a people beat down by difficult living.

It was a great conversation for me. It allowed me the opportunity to get a glimpse into their perceptions of their country, their life, Americans, etc. I pray that it was a great conversation for them as well. I pray that God would grow the words I spoke that were from Him, and that they would forget the words I spoke that were not for Him. May He continue to bless us and our efforts towards growing His kingdom on this earth before His return. I pray for an open dialogue.

What is it that Josh does?

This is not the first season of my life that people have had this question. While the rest of us have shared about their experience here in Haiti, I have not, sooo...

The first few weeks here it was difficult for me to do anything except that which was right in front of me to do. I have settled into a sort of routine, but this is only a three month stay. Any long term, permanent, or complicated projects just don’t make sense to put energy into right now.

With that said, I have not found myself with idle hands. Foremost, I have been occupied with making sure that my family if aptly supplied for the everyday life with produce and staples from the local market and merchants. About twice a week I walk the 3 mile round trip to Mare Rouge with a backpack or two strapped and loaded.

Beyond that weekly chore, I have had an ample list of to-do’s at the Faith Medical Clinic, the Truelove’s home, and beyond. Tasks have included:

 grass mowing
 rock clearing
 brush mulching
 trash burning
 tree trimming
 fence raising and tying
 trenching for and burying electrical line and conduit from the generator to the clinic
 outhouse repairing
 clothes line constructing
 goat butchering
 bi-weekly email and blog communicating
 roof repairing and patching
 furniture (a buffet) sanding, sealing, finishing and installing
 smell finding (twice!)
 ambulance driving for the clinic
 rock busting for the shade houses
 foundation digging for the shade houses
 manure collecting
 depot organizing
 tool box building, painting and installing into Gabriel the 2 ½ ton ex-military truck with George
 radiator removing, and installing with Chuck
 bench seat cutting, sanding, painting, and installing into Gabriel’s bed
 custom painting Gabriel (again the truck. Not my son.)
 learning welding
 language studying
 Bible reading
 home schooling as per course instructor
 board game playing
 joke cracking
 blah, blah, blah

Anyway…It’s frustrating to not be able to communicate clearly and freely with the people around us. It makes me feel isolated at times and exhausted other times because of the amount of energy it takes to think of and look up words to complete sentences and expand my vocabulary. Lord, help me. I look forward to the day that I can smart off with the local teenagers. But for now, I can be cordial, negotiate at the market (while dicey at times), and when an interested and kind soul gives me the time even manage a few complete thoughts.

Hopefully, I will able to have a few rounds of “20 questions” with some of the local farmers and community leaders before we return to Missouri, because I believe the most important part of this stage in the game is for me to get as intimate as I can with the Haitian dilemma. What is it that they think they need? What do they see as possible solutions to their problems? Where, if even, does God have for me to fit into this puzzle?

Merry Christmas...continued.

“Not exactly a white Christmas!”
















“Are you hanging your laundry outside today?”
















“Fresh picked flowers in December!”





















“Emma is helping neighbors make “akason” - a hot hominy drink.”





















“Neighbors”
















“Thanks Debbie”
















“Nat can almost carry charcoal like this!”

Merry Christmas...

Enjoy this video of Nativity through the eyes of a three-year-old. Notice the manners we are oh so proud of...Love The Ungers.

Compassion, anyone?

Ever have one of those days when YOU don’t even want to be with yourself? I didn’t have enough going wrong today, and even had to make stuff up to cry about. At one point Joshua called the kids in from their raucous playing outside to tell them, “Sit down and be quiet, your Mom is hormonal!” If that doesn’t make you stop and laugh…well after you stop crying again for being so out of it that people make it like an illness! I gained perspective this afternoon and feel shamed for my drama, when I remembered to pray for someone’s surgery. Some have just received new hope by medical interventions, and some may not receive that same answer of healing. We are praying for those of you who have shared your needs. God cares about all of our hurts, big and small. Psalm 23:3 “He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”



Yesterday the baby threw up on me with projectile vomit twice and Gabe had an accident in his pants. You might be thinking, gross, why is she sharing this? Well, those of you moms were just thinking…been there, done that! As I’m cleaning dirty clothes in a small bucket of cold rain water, I’m not exactly praising the Lord. I wish I could say that I was mature enough to sing hymns while cleaning diarrhea, but I’m not. I gave Gabe a cold shower while he screamed, and I told him I wouldn’t have to do that if he didn’t poop his pants.
Well, how’s that for compassion.


Later that evening, I invited two neighbor children over to watch a movie on the projector since we finally caught up on battery juice. Well those two turned into twelve, but that is expected in a place like this. I was moved during the movie when I thought about how many of these children don’t have a father, or even any parents. How my heart cries for those who don’t get what each child needs, love and affection. And they will know we are Christians by our love…Do I live this out? That is a great question to examine myself. I know that I do show that love when things are going easy, but that kind of love isn’t about my circumstances.

The kids are learning Matthew 5:16 this week in school.

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

God moved my heart the other night to do something for the neighbors for Christmas. There is a group of buildings behind the medical clinic next door, called The Nutrition Center. People who come for medical care and have malnourished children are allowed to stay there to receive longer care and access to food/medicine. These women have usually had children back-to-back-to-back. It is not usually the baby who suffers but the one who had to stop nursing so mom could care for the newest baby. Carol Ann has tried to convince the women to keep nursing during pregnancy, but it is hard sometimes to get Haitians to see their responsibility of their children’s malnutrition and make changes. Right now there is a mom with a tiny preemie baby staying at the center. The baby weighs about 3 lbs. Carol Ann usually keeps these babies until they are strong enough to go home. She already is caring for 5 month-old Francelynn and going to Port-Au-Prince this week to deliver a baby for a missionary. Sunday night we were walking past the nutrition center, and I asked if I could take pictures of the women and their children. I think they wanted the camera and I did my best to explain that I’ll print them on paper and they’ll receive a picture later. Then they started posing for pictures! The next day when the women saw me again, they asked me lots of questions as they lined the fence. I told them I have three children and they wanted to know about the Haitian baby I was holding. I told them she lived with Miss Carol Ann, and then they started asking me if I wanted their babies (At least I think they did). I laughed and said no thanks, and they laughed and went back to their day. I heard later that these women don’t know my Jesus, and I have been thinking of them ever since. So, the Lord laid it on my heart to clean up the yard for those families and bring them cookies. This is a witnessing opportunity for all of us and it is my prayer that their hearts are being prepared as I type. I can think of no better way to honor Christ at the time we celebrate his birth, than to share the love we’ve been given to the lost and sick. Pray for our family Saturday as we work together in the name of the Lord.


This morning, Emma praised God for new mercies after we sang, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” We were all homesick yesterday, and we talked this morning about how some days it is easier to choose to follow Jesus than others. Thank you for your prayers.

more photos...

Photos...

Daily Life.

I was asked to give more details about our daily activities. If it were like taking a snapshot – they are just like at home. If you zoom in closer, there are lots of differences in how we do things even though we do the same things.

We all get up by 6 am and eat breakfast. After mom washes dishes and we all clean up, we start school. Lots of distractions and interruptions and we finish school by lunch usually. After lunch, Gabe naps and we do quiet activities. The kids play outside until dinner and afterwards we read and talk. Sometimes we listen to music or work on the computer writing responses to people’s emails. We go to bed by 8 pm usually. Joshua is doing lots of maintenance work here on the property and preparing the land for the shade houses. We read our bibles and pray every day and go to church on Sunday mornings. We usually take a family walk on Saturdays and buy a coke at the store if it is open.

The differences are cold showers, laundry by hand and hung on a line, propane-fueled small stove, no refrigerator, and no indoor toilet (unless you count the 5-gallon bucket used during the night!) The store is at least a mile-and-a-half walk away, and he isn’t always open. The market sells produce and items we might need on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am-2pm but there is no guarantee what will be available. We don’t have our own vehicle, and we don’t speak the language. If we were to run out of money, there is no bank in this area. It is possible to exchange money in a few places, but you have to have the money to exchange. We can buy cell phone minutes, but it is terribly expensive to talk to anyone we know, as they live in another country! We have solar-powered batteries giving electricity for computers, projectors and lights. We have a digital camera, laptop computer and lots of toys, school supplies and books.

When the laundress comes to our door, I gave her the bars of lye soap, a plastic cup full of “Fab” and a cup with Chlorox, and she takes the two great big metal bowls called kivettes to wash in the space behind the house. She sits in a very small rattan chair which looks like it is for a toddler. The clothes are rubbed with lye soap and then rinsed. After that they are rinsed with the fab soap which is a powder soap that supposedly smells better than the lye soap. I don’t know what it is, both of them stink to me! Joshua and I talked and would rather use Tide (or some other American soap) for all things in the first place. I don’t know if it would clean like lye soap, but I would be willing to try. Nothing smells like lye soap mixed with sweat! This is how laundry is done here, even if a hand-held mixing machine or tables were available for people to use. This is what they know, and they don’t want to change.

We still eat American, with some locally grown produce.

Breakfast is oatmeal, cream of wheat, eggs, pancakes, banana bread or cinnamon rolls that Natalie made. Josh broke down and bought four boxes of cereal for the kids when we arrived. That is gone as of this week. Only Gabriel will eat it with powdered milk. I think the powdered milk would be fine, but we don’t have a refrigerator here at the guest house, so it is just as cold as the water I mix it with. Sometimes we have bananas or grapefruit.

Lunch is peanut butter and jelly, or sometimes leftovers. Sometimes there is avocado, and carrots. We usually eat the Haitian sour oranges, which we have come to enjoy. Sometimes they are too sour, but if they ripen enough there fine.

Dinner is noodles, or rice/and or beans. I make a tomato sauce or white sauce for the particular meal. We have can tuna, chicken and sometimes goat. We only had fresh chicken once. It is more expensive, and we were able to get a case of canned chicken. Joshua would like to get the fresh fish from the lady who comes by on occasion, but we haven’t caught up with her yet. We eat homemade rolls and salad as much as possible. Cabbage salad with lettuce or spinach if it is available. Joshua makes a vinaigrette dressing, but has to use vegetable oil instead of olive oil. We have carrots, and sometimes tomatoes. Twice we ate homemade pizza from Carol Ann. That was soooo good!

We’ve had brownies, cookies, pie, and once – homemade donuts since we arrived as well as some pate (like a turnover) and cinnamon bread.

So to answer someone’s question, are you guys losing weight? No, in fact it is still as much of a struggle to keep from gaining weight with the white bread and pastas and refined sugars. We eat healthier at home, but more options are available to us there. Even the same foods we eat at home are made with healthier ingredients. I eat less sugar and sodas here, but the others didn’t get to sneak those as often as I did at work! We ate organic, and natural at home with more vegetables and whole wheat. We did bring coconut oil with us to use as a substitute for Crisco, and we will probably run out and have to use the vegetable shortening. We have been using vegetable oil, and most everything has the evil high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated oils in the ingredients, as well as msg Joshua informs me.

We have experienced the difference since Joshua began to grow food for our family. We eat so many more vegetables and it is becoming more of what we are used to. Some vegetables are available here, but it is one person doing a good job and many people reselling their produce. So what we have found is that it is just as expensive or more to eat like Americans here in Haiti, unless you farm or choose to lose nutritional intake. I look forward to practicing what we have learned here. We stretch things further and have to be creative sometimes without refrigerators or microwaves.

The Haitians eat usually bread, or some kind of porridge in the morning with their coffee or hot chocolate, and a big meal around 1 or 2pm. That meal is usually soup, rice and beans, or some kind of pasta dish. This is the meal they include meat if they can. Kids eat oranges, grapefruits, and sugar cane as snacks sometimes, but they usually don’t snack. There are also these shortbread-like packaged cookies and different packaged hard peppermint candies. There is another short meal in the evening, maybe rice or more bread. Today, Dadu came over with a big hunk of bread and a slice of avocado after school. She sometimes has a bowl of rice for dinner.

I think it is the lack of nutritional value from a varied diet that people are missing. People who aren’t starving, still aren’t very healthy if they don’t vary their diet. People can’t do that when the food is expensive and their salaries are so small. People do walk everywhere though, and that is part of why they are thinner, plus they eat less altogether.

So that is what it is like for us right now. Sometimes the same activities – it just takes more work to get it done. We really haven’t given up too many comforts, and when I’m not being a drama queen (I can almost hear all of you gasp “not you” in my defense) I can see just how good we’ve got it here. When I walk a few yards and see what others have (or don’t have) I remember it is all going to burn anyway, to quote a friend. What we need most of all, our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, is more than enough!

Ou Met Ale.

My heart is moved for a woman named, Ilyama, who lives on a pile of rocks next to the generator shed outside our fence. She wears torn clothing that don’t completely cover her, and has many teeth missing. She doesn’t bathe and talks and laughs to herself. People here describe her as someone who is “not right in the head”. I asked more questions, and forgive me if I get some details wrong, but her story is not unusual. She got a very severe case of post partum depression (sp?) after delivering her third baby. That developed into major paranoia and she began to live her life this way. She has family and neighbors who have taken her in and offered her another life. She goes back to the same pile and keeps herself the same way as soon as she can. She brings a pot of food to our door frequently and says things that don’t make sense. Someone is obviously feeding her, but I don’t know who. Some children go by and throw rocks at her and taunt her. She usually yells back and throws rocks in defense. Working for Community Opportunities these past few years has given me a perspective about what is possible. Without medications, some people cannot choose to be well themselves. But I’ve seen people live longer with a quality of life that isn’t available here. So I pray for Ilyama’s deliverance from the mental illness, and that she would accept the outstretched hands offering the love of Christ. And I offer her what I can…a smile and a kind voice while I say, “Ou met ale” (you may go). Everything inside me fights those words, because I don’t usually tell people to go, but keep inviting them in. This isn’t about what I want though, but what is best. So, I reluctantly follow suit of those who’ve been here longer and just keep walking by. Not my will, but Your will be done…

White Kids Can't Dance!

Do you remember the Sesame Street song, Which one of these things is not like the other? Which one of these things just doesn't belong? Well....can you pick out the three things that don't belong in this video. Hint - look for the ones without rhythm. Enjoy. Love, the Ungers

more thoughts...

It is hard to believe we have been here for a month already. We are trying our best to learn the language. It is hard to put all the words together, and know what you need when you are in the middle of a conversation. We all laughed when our littlest friend, 3-year-old Dadu, walked in while we were eating dinner and started a dissertation in Creole. We looked at each other and back at her just laughing out loud. We explained to her that we don’t know Creole, and understand only a little bit – she just hung her head and walked away dejected. I am just in love with that sweet thing, she just has the biggest grin and chatters away just like her counterpart Gabriel. And she isn’t so naïve, but knows my soft side and suckers me out of candy or “chicklets” every chance she gets. It’s called the Wear Down Theory and just like my kids she is a professional. We had a chance to explain to the kids that we laughed at Dadu for the same reasons people laugh at us. We have no idea what she was saying or coming over for. Other people laugh because we do things differently and say things they cannot understand. I think they understood a little better. As a mommy, it sure warms my heart to see our kids surrounded by other kids and playing happily. The “machines” or cars are a big hit, as well as the unifix cubes which all the kids use for a multitude of activities not just math. I am learning useful language for playing, and that is what the kids need right now. We sure miss our church. It is fine to go to a Baptist service here, and similar in many of the traditional service we know…but to sit through a long sermon without having any idea what someone is saying can be difficult enough without three bored little “angels.” If I can know what passage the sermon is from, I can read my bible and pray…but the little ones just act like they are in prison! I won’t let them take anything but their bible now as to not disturb others. Joshua and I laughed at lunch after church when we thanked God for the six new words we did understand in the sermon! The pastors are very passionate and I can tell that the message is powerful. The Hatians can hit an octave so high, I didn’t know it existed. Joshua has been practicing saying wi (yes) with that high pitch, it is funny. This last week we took the Lord’s Supper. It was beautiful to know that even though there are language barriers, the Word still reads the same, and the sacrament is still the same. A woman was standing and swaying to the music while we all received our bread and wine. I was moved by the way she unabashedly responded to the Lord by giving him all her praise and worship. I felt so renewed this week from the Sabbath, and know that you are praying for me. Joshua noticed how much I smiled, and we danced in the kitchen one night. Thanks, Sarah for that encouragement! It might have been that I relaxed because I was drugged with Benadryl taken to offset the allergic reaction from the bug bites – but I would much rather believe that I am filled with the Holy Spirit, and joy from serving the King of Kings.

Unger Top Ten List from Haiti:

10. We live in the clouds on a tropical island.
9. Joshua dumps the bucket in the morning now!
8. The “sweet” smell of lye soap and sweaty clothes worn by Joshua for days.
7. Confused roosters crow all night long.
6. Dog fights outside the bedroom window wake us in a panic in the still of night.
5. The goat lady delivers like Dominos (well... not exactly like Dominos).
4. Animals sound like a broken See-And-Say.
3. Cold showers on a cold mountain morning (30 demos, 30 demos, 30 demos…)
2. The aroma of burning trash mixed with charcoal kitchens and the outhouse.
1. We finally found the source of that smell…AGAIN!

If you have never been to Haiti, maybe this makes you more certain you aren’t going! If you have been to Haiti, you are probably misty eyed at the memories. And if you never sold books door-to-door as a college student, you won’t get the demos reference! We love all of you reading this blog and thank you for the encouragement you send us each week. Emails and comments help us feel connected during this transition. God Bless.

According to Jonah...

"Before we came to Haiti, I thought our trip would be different. I thought we wouldn’t have the things I wanted, like my toys. When I got here I found out it wasn’t different because it was really fun actually. I didn’t think I would have friends, but I found some. I climb trees with new friends Herold, Jean-Luc, Vlad, and RoJeano. We build with blocks and Legos. I also get to go to the bathroom in the bushes all the time, and I never get to do that at home. It is fun to take walks because I get to look at the pretty rocks and take them home. I collect coconut shells, hermit crabs and snail shells. When we went to the ocean, I collected pink, white, and other shells. There are a lot of people in Haiti, and I don’t know what they say. I get embarrassed sometimes when they stare at me, or laugh at me.
I liked to ride in the big army truck, it goes really fast. I was surprised by the cold shower because it felt like there was snow on me. Now Mommy heats up water in the teapot and puts it in the bucket. She dumps it on my head, and I like it better. I like the cabbage salad a lot. It tastes like broccoli and cauliflower, and I like those vegetables. Haiti doesn’t have as many vegetables as our garden back home. I have to eat a lot of goat meat and I don’t like it because it is so chewy. I have sit at the table a long time those nights. Back home I had to share a room with Gabriel, and now I share it with him AND Emma. I wish I had my own bedroom. Here, I get to work with Daddy and pick up rocks and trash. He pays me and I get to buy my own Coca Cola when we walk to the store. I helped Daddy buy food at the market. I want to come back to Haiti."

As you are going....

I am unsure of being called/designated a “missionary”. I have seen foreign missionaries seemingly lifted onto a platform before local congregations. In a sense, I am reluctant to accept a title which easily could puff one’s pride as being distinguished for having attained a “higher level” of righteousness than others.

My being in Haiti, is simply my responding to God’s call on my life and attempting to be obedient to my Lord. Biblically, we ALL, as followers of Christ have that same exact calling on our lives.

Jesus came and told His disciples, “I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, ….”
Mathew 28:18-19, NLT

I read recently that the “go” has been mistranslated into English. “Go” is not a directive. Rather, the original text should be translated, “As you are going”. I like that.

“…Therefore, as you are going, make disciples of all the nations, …”

It implies no special action, no special place, and no special skills. EVERY follower of Jesus is to make disciples. They are to share their knowledge in the Lord with those they come in contact with everyday. What a subtle lie from hell to believe that the sharing and teaching of our faith is quarantined to only a specific, elite few and then only when they are on a “mission” or in the “ministry”. Even the greenest Christian knows more of salvation than most who are without a relationship with Jesus.

It’s funny. The moment I committed to follow Christ wherever He sent me was the moment I settled with never leaving where I was. I realized that His calling is the same wherever “here” or “there” is. Frankly, we faced real opposition to heading our family in this direction. Some of it was overt and in-our-face. Some of it was subtle and discreet, flimsily dressed as support. Still more of it was unseen by our eyes and unheard with our ears. All of it, however, was futile. We are “here”. “Here” is wherever we are. Jesus is our Lord. We take the kingdom of God with us because the kingdom of God is wherever Jesus is Lord. That is where we are, in the kingdom of God.

Again, “…as you are going, make disciples of all the nations, …”

May we live our lives OUT LOUD. Every moment of every day.

Lord, you have my life. It is yours to use. I pray that I will have the grace to receive your will. Amen.

Joshua

Crazy Tasty!

A note to loved ones: we are very safe and happy. I won’t say comfortable always, but taken care of for sure. God provides for all of our needs! We have solar battery powered electricity, running indoor water from a clean well that we drink from, and even access to the internet. We can walk and buy a coke, and we get fresh food every day. The Truelove’s have a projector that views DVD’s and sometimes we even have movie night. The projector pulls a lot of energy from the batteries so it has to be fully charged, or we just would have to go without lights! It feels funny to be watching movies here though!

Carol Ann told me that the rainy season comes a few times a year here. George said the longest straight days of rain here on record with him is 28 days. I sure hope next month we don’t see that repeated! Sheesh that would be pretty frustrating for all of us, but maybe needed for the growing season? Usually it rains for little bursts, but mostly the sun is shining. It is cold in the evening and morning, typical mountain climate – and if the sun keeps up during the day it feels like a warm fall day back home.

OK, so picture this: We are sitting at the kitchen table having our usual school day and there comes a knock at the screen door. I hear a quiet “Madanm Natalie” People usually stand back at the door until asked in, so you have to know the voice or come to the door to see who is calling. I go to the door to see the neighbor who is pointing to the yard to a woman. I step out, confused as I don’t understand what the neighbor is telling me this woman is here for. I think she has said it is wash day. I don’t understand still because she is not my laundress and so I start to wonder, “Does she want to do my wash? Does she want me to do her wash? Does she want to talk about the overpriced lye soap?” Now, mind you this woman has a big silver bowl called a kivet on her head. It was full, with a green cloth over everything. I finally notice the obvious that she doesn’t want to debate the salary of the laundress in Haiti when I see the leg sticking out of the side of the bowl. She has a dead animal to sell me! Alrighty then….I said, “Um..Mesye Joshua, and point to the Truelove’s house across the road. He was over there doing some work. The woman looks frustrated as she was told to come here to me! Well we make our way over to their gate, and I tell her to wait. Joshua is confused – but Carol Ann knows just what she is doing. We all go outside and find that this woman has butchered her goat this morning and is on the way to market (Thursday open market in Mare Rouge) and is stopping to sell us meat as she was instructed on Tuesday when Joshua bought meat from her at the market. I don’t know that Joshua knew he told her this. Oh it is fun to learn a new language. Well, I explain that I know nothing and the lady laughs and agrees quickly. Joshua and Carol Ann haggle over prices and cuts of meat. The lady is kicking a dog out of the way while she takes this huge cleaver and begins to “whack, whack, whack” at the bones and meat. I’m seriously NEVER going to be a butcher. I’m barely allowed to use the steak knives and reluctantly use bigger ones with supervision usually!!!! Well Joshua said she did a very professional job cutting neck to tailbone without a bone splinter. All I know is this lady hands me a large leg of goat and a chunk of liver and I’m off back across the street to “sweat” the meat as Carol Ann instructed me. Do you think the people going to market, and the neighbors were laughing at a woman carrying meat? Or a woman carrying the cut of meat I had? Or perhaps the look of disgust and confusion on my face? Well, I tried not to take it personal that they laughed at me, and be happy and thankful for fresh meat. I did have Emma take a picture of me so you all could laugh at me also. I prepared liver for lunch, and we saved the other for subsequent meals. At lunch, Joshua saw me eating my liver very fast, and he asks me if I’m doing that so it will be gone fast. I just smiled and nodded, trying not to choke. He laughs and says, “You sure do love Jesus, don’t you!” Now, I have made banan pese which is fried plantains since we arrived and did pretty good. These have gotten ripe like bananas though, and they are not the same let me tell you. I gagged down every bite as quiet as I could. I had to set the example for the children that we don’t waste food we don’t like as there are people who are literally starving to death. Now, I realize that I could never be hungry or full enough myself to save even one person from starving to death – however I can have an attitude of appreciation for what I have been given. Oh, was the Lord going to test me that day on this. Man, if I had to eat one more thing I didn’t like. Oatmeal, liver, fish, and yucky sauce etc. It just wasn’t my day. Those of you with kids have probably read the book about Alexander and his terrible, no good, very bad day. Well, I was ready to move to Australia…but they probably serve goat liver, and yucky kangaroo stuff there as well. Anyway…have I given enough insight into my bad attitude yet?
Philippians 3:19 “…their god is their stomach, and their glory in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.” (I am properly rebuked here.)
Philippians 4:12, 13 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (This is what I am aspiring towards)
So this is a glimpse into the confessions of a humbled missionary who sees her sinful selfishness and knows that joy comes from a thankful heart. Let me take the time here to tell those of you reading this how truly thankful I am. Thank you for your support, and encouragement. Thank you for not judging me when I honestly and vulnerably share my experiences. Thank you for your prayers that I will grow more Christ-like through this experience. Thank you for the examples that you women set before me that obey his commands and joyfully serve your household and your Lord! Thank you for sending us so that God can direct us to work He has planned for our family.

Joshua is loving the land, and learning about the people. He has gone today for supplies to begin building shade houses here for the Trueloves. It is great to see someone doing what they are meant to be doing. Well, I guess that is my lesson. How do I shift my paradigm to remember it is an honor to keep a happy home, and that happiness will start from Mama and spread out? I guess I keep my eyes on the Lord, and a song on my lips and get to scrubbing pots with cold dishwater and cut up fresh meat. As I read in The Power Of A Praying Wife: Lord, give my husband a new wife and let her be me! May I be a witness to the transformation that Christ gives, and not just a whiny wife, and my husband says an AMEN to that














Grandma Lamb! Get crocheting because your chapos (hats) are all the rage!