Surreal

I am feeling incredibly blessed tonight but also troubled by how much we have in the U.S. and how little we appreciate it.  Bill and I saw and experienced so much today with our Reiser Relief team in Haiti.

We started the day touring a school and distributing backpacks to the students.  Crowded and noisy conditions, but much learning going on.  These were the lucky kids.  We went on to distribute water around Cite Soleil and were absolutely bombarded with children looking for attention and love.  These kids were not able to attend school, and many were wearing no clothes or just a pair of underwear OR a shirt or dress.  So happy though.

We walked out to see the ocean at one point and we weren't on solid ground, but rather a compacted pile of garbage six or more feet deep.  This area was also being used as a community toilet and was surrounded by thousands of shacks constructed of rusty tin, random pieces of wood and whatever else could be found.  But the children sang a wonderful song for us right in the middle of this:  God is so Good!  The words were a mix of English and Haitian Creole, and it is STUCK in my heard!!

My arms are really tired tonight.  I don't know if it's from helping to carry water buckets or from holding little ones all day.  Tomorrow we head up into the mountains to visit a Baptist mission and Reiser Heights, another school sponsored  Reiser Relief.  Dramamine will be helpful, from what I've been told.  Count your blessings.

Patty Munson