A day of reconnection

I have a relationship with Haiti. That’s why it was so important for me to come. I needed to do some maintenance on my relationship with Haiti and the people I love here. I haven’t seen them in two years. Our relationship was suffering. I needed to be here. To rediscover her and be with those that are so dear to me.

Friday night we threw a Birthday party for Leonard. He is family to us. He has driven faithfully for us for over 10 years. The party was fantastic (and Leonard’s first)! We had pizza, rice and beans, fried plantains and beer. And we laughed so hard we cried watching Leonard break open his first pinata. Leonard’s oldest daughter, Nadine and I have been close friends since we met in 1999. We have emailed and called and visited one another both in Haiti and in the States. We have graduated High School together, gotten married, and had children over the years. She is like a sister to me.

Tonight I got to see Nadine. Immediately we sit and start talking. We get through the surface things and dig deep. Where is your heart? How is your relationship with your husband? What do you struggle with as a mother? What are your dreams for your future and family? What are you scared of now living in Haiti? How we can support each other so far away from one another?

Conversations with Nadine are real. They are honest. They are the big and little things in life. It warmed my heart and brought me peace to be with my friend tonight. It also showed me my desire for Haiti. To know her and love her on a very real level. To truly start to understand the depth of the people and their culture. To know them. Talk to them and hear their stories. I got to immerse myself a bit today in Haiti. Walking the streets and shopping with my friend. Eating out and talking about Haiti now and her future. What can our role be? What do they need? We clearly did not solve anything, but to sit in Haiti, talk about it and pray over it felt real.