the steep and rocky terrain reminded me how out of shape i've gotten here, and increased my eagerness to get back into a healthy workout routine once i land on US soil (and have air-conditioned gyms). as we crested the mountain to the old spanish fort, we watched as the sunset behind the clouds on the caribbean to the west, and as the storm clouds rolled in with lightning en tote over the mountains to the east. being smack-dab between two ironically different forms of beauty was breath-taking. being there with some of the greatest people i've ever met just completed the moment.
i love this country and the friends that i've had the pleasure to get to know here.
sunday morning, anne-ruth, amalia, dave, stacia, anne, jenna, jesse, and i all hopped in the teecan, this time headed south to the beach in montrouis, following ben and joshua as they hit the open highway on the motorbikes. there's a place in the road where the gravel turns to asphalt, the scenery from dry and rough mountainous terrain, to lush and green banana tree valleys-- all right around one bend. it was at this point i realized just how very very much i love where i am at and how much i am going to miss it. the beauty, the country, the people, the adventure, the air-conditioning in the teecan (so amalia and i always call shotty!). everything about that moment was picture-perfect and right. except for the fact i forgot to put the card back in my camera. whoops.
there is something so special to me when we pull off national one to the side roads of montrouis. maybe it is because the foliage turns to coconut palms and banana trees. maybe its the luxorious homes that remind me of 50s florida architecture. maybe it was the rose-colored glasses i was wearing and the people i'm always with. regardless, its magnificent in all of its beauty.
the panoramic of the beach at the life connection mission can be summed up in one word:
heavenly. rock jetties jaunt out into the ocean to your right and left. the seawall is palm lined, and a giant mango tree provides shade and is surrounded by a round, concrete counter space for entertaining. if you go out into the ocean (and beware of sea urchins!), the mountainous horizon to the south emerges from behind the tree-line. the grass is green and lush (like, yet so unlike, our poo-field here), and the aquamarine clarity of the caribbean is more than inviting; perhaps seductive even. jack johnson playing over the speaker.
shortly after spending some time playing cards, laying out, and ya know, just hanging out in the caribbean, mike brought a group up from port-au-prince to spend the day with us! glorious! mike, amy, ethan, kyle, and amanda have all done their time in st. marc (the latter only for a night), before heading down to PaP to work with Mission Adventures, a short-term leg of missions working with YWAM. its so unique getting to see people that have come, gone, and come back again during my time here. i sat on the shore, letting the waves softly crash at my feet as i used the rocky sand to exfoliate. listening to jake ousley now, i softly sang the words to myself: "it's times like these that make you slow to a creep, that make you wanna dig in deep, real deep. it's times like these that make you wanna believe that they'll be more times like these." amen, and amen, brother.
for lunch, a group of us headed up to the market in montrouis to purchase food and drinks from some of the vendors and peddlers there. i spent 15 gourdes on 2 perfectly ripened avocados, 10 gourdes on two fried plantains, and another 10 gourdes on two paté chaud, fried dough with an onion-and-picklies mix in the center (although many of them are also cooked with salami, chopped up hot dogs, or even fish in the middle. nevermind the time i pulled out a piece of chewy something that share an eerie resemblance to a dogs ear.). we bought some drinks and fresh-baked bread and headed back for our beachfront picnic under another stone cabana area. i even ate one of my avocados right there using someone's pocket knife as a fork. yum!
the beach was a blessing to my soul. even for a weekend when plans didn't work out quite right, they worked out best, and all in His timing.
***
after church, a large group of us decided to go to deli mart, at random. it was fantastic let me tell you! i spent most of my time talking with some of the newer, shorter-term volunteers and YWAMer's and the Haitian DTS students. i have loved getting to know these young men; just seeing their joy and excitement for life, even in the midst of long days of work-duty on base, has really inspired me and given me hope for this nation. i've been so eager to get to know them since i got here, anxiously practicing my heinous french on them at any opportunity (because i feel far less judged by people younger than me for some reason!). sitting with them at deli mart, we talked about me leaving soon and owen, always so melodramatic!, says he's going to cry when i leave. i didn't say it, but i know i will too.
to think, 4 months ago, haiti was a bleak spot on my radar. but this time here has been such a blessing to my soul. even for a season when plans didnt work out quite right, they worked out best. and all in His timing.
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