Wednesday May 4, 2016

We woke up this morning to no electricity and no water. The power was off and on all day but the water in the whole city was out due to the rainy weather. The water in the homes (not the drinking water) is supplied from the river and it was too muddy because all of the rain. A neighbor with a well filled our cistern with a hose and when the power came back and the pump from the cistern was working, we thankfully had some water for showers and flushing toilets again!

Another morning at Palo Blanco. The construction on the new classrooms continued, the rest of the flats of lettuce seedlings were planted, the youngest children received their health assessments, and a hallway was painted.

(Nedelina and Fan Fan with Chris W - eating their peanut butter and vitamins because they are malnourished.)

(Rose and Lynnette harvesting lettuce for lunch.)

 

                                                   (Not sure what Chris is doing but it was too funny to not share!)

 

                                                                   (Duane and Isaely)

Steve, accompanied by Rose, Verray, Rachel, and Chris R, got to visit the home of his sponsored child, Rosanna. The home was located down a muddy road and nestled in a little pod of houses owned by her aunts and uncles. Her mother was not home so we only got to see the outside. The house was brightly painted with solid concrete walls. While very small, the house appeared to be secure and in good condition. Rosanna’s aunt was home next door and invited us to sit down outside with her. This home was wooden slats with large gaps between the boards. There was a pot with charcoal smoldering on an outdoor cook stove and the smell of smoke wafted through the air. The cooking area was concrete block covered in hardened clay on a wooden pedestal. Rosanna’s young cousin – approximately 4 years old – was running around playing with the orange tabby cat, chasing the roosters, and riding around on a homemade scooter. While we were sitting the aunt came out of the house and presented us with small cups of Coke and club crackers. We asked Katie, the missionary who escorted us on the visit, how the aunt kept the Coke cold. She said that as soon as we came to the home the aunt sent someone to the colmado (small store) to buy the refreshments for us.

(Roberto - Rosanna's cousin on his scooter.)

(The "kitchen" at Rosanna's aunt's home.)

 

(Steve and Rosanna)

                                              

                                                       (Rosanna's home)

Rosanna’s uncle arrived home shortly after we got there. The uncle was using crutches to walk around and we learned that he had been in a motorcycle accident a year prior and he said his leg was “dead”, useless. The uncle wanted to share some teyota (a starchy vegetable) with us from his crop so, he hobbled out to the field on his crutches to pick a bag of them for us to take.  Before we left, we learned that Rosanna’s father had left her and her mother several years prior to illegally immigrate to the U.S.

Rosanna loved opening her backpack full of gifts from the Adkin’s family. She thought the battery operated light that you push to turn on was great and spent time learning the names and ages of each of the children in the family photo.  The second time that Steve was pointing to each family member in the photo Rosanna, exclaimed “Jackson!” when Steve pointed to his son without any prompting to remember his name. She was clearly thrilled to connect to her sponsors in this small way.  When her aunt suggested she leave the backpack at home when it was time to return to school she hugged it proudly to her chest and insisted on keeping it with her.

 

    

(Rosanna opening her backpack of gifts and reading the letters the Adkin's children sent to her.)

The afternoon was spent at ANIJA passing out gifts that were sent by sponsors. They put together a small program for us that included praise and worship, testimonies from some ANIJA graduates, and refreshments. Hearing the stories of how ANIJA impacted 15 year old Yolanda who felt happy to be treated well in a school who didn’t discriminate against her Haitian ethnicity and 16 year old Jennifer who proclaims her love for Jesus boldly and gives credit to the ANIJA program for introducing her to Him, helped to drive home the importance of sponsorship and the opportunities it provides for these precious children. Another young man, 23 years old, shared his story of growing up at ANIJA, and how it felt like more of a family then a school. He has now successfully graduated from the university and is a civil engineer. He pleaded over and over to us to not give up on the young kids at ANIJA so that they can have the same opportunities he had. He also stressed that the relationship he has with Jesus is the most important thing he received from his time at ANIJA and proudly stated “I love Him!”

 

                                              (Estefania, Crisbel, and Angelica receiving gifts at ANIJA.)

We all had a fun evening. We decided to split up and have a guys and girls night. The men went with some of the missionary guys to Santiago to eat dinner and watch the new Captain America movie. Derrick warned the group that sometimes the power goes out during the middle of the movie and you don’t get to see the end. As I’m writing this, they aren’t back at the team house yet so we don’t know if that had that experience. The women enjoyed going to dinner in town with seven of the missionary ladies and then out for ice cream. We are currently all taking turns getting quick showers before the boys come home and use all the hot water and water pressure!

I challenge all of you to listen to the young man who shared at ANIJA and not give up on these children. Do not underestimate the power of your sponsorship and relationships with these children. This is important work!