An Oasis

Our team set off early again today for another crazy, chaotic, and confusing ride through the city of Port au Prince on our way to the Village of Jesus in Leogane, Haiti, a home for over 30 abandoned women. And just as we were treated to spectacular views of the mountains yesterday as we left the city, today we were we humbled by views of the ocean in every array of blue on God’s magnificent pallet of colors.

It wasn’t until after Father Reiser’s death that we learned about the Village of Jesus and discovered that a great part of it was built by the beloved founder of our organization, Father Reiser. In as much as the ocean was an oasis of hues of blue, the Village of Jesus was an oasis of peace, love and tranquility to these women. It was located on a side road nearly hidden by greenery and was a complex of well-kept buildings and perfectly manicured grounds.


We were greeted by Sister Alta who runs the home, and within a short amount of time, the women who live there also welcomed us. We treated them to peanut butter sandwiches and cookies, lotion rubs, foot washings, and massages, and they treated us to their music, their smiles, and their love. It was rewarding to see a group of women who had been rescued from abandonment now living in a loving community and being given such great care. We were even served a delicious lunch by Sister Alta before we left, with one of the entrees being goat—which she raises on their small farm in Leogane!

While we were at Village of Jesus, I studied a collage of photos hanging on a wall that included pictures of Father Reiser and of the building process in Leogane. I wondered how he could possibly have envisioned the results of his efforts as he set forth to transform that downtrodden piece of land. Without doubt, it had to be his tremendous faith in God that gave him the strength and direction to move forward with the project.

And I also think he may have been inspired by the aqua colors of the ocean!

Blessings, Ann

Contradictions

It’s hard to imagine a larger contrast between what our Reiser Relief team experienced yesterday to what we saw today.  Yesterday was the most brutal side of Haiti—the deepest poverty, the most dismal living conditions, and the smell of hopelessness in the air.

Today we drove up the mountain to Reiser Heights, a school only 20 miles outside of Port au Prince, but, because of the lack of good roads, it was a two-hour drive in our tap-tap.  The view from our vehicle was probably as breathtaking as you could see anywhere in the world.  Lush greenery, fresh air, tiny hand-tilled plots of farmland, and homes nestled into the side of the mountains.  Throughout our drive, we went through small Haitian-style villages with dilapidated buildings, goats, pigs and cattle along the sides of the roads, and people selling their wares along the way.  But behind each of these villages, there was a most spectacular mountain backdrop.

Just beyond the last batch of cattle, we made our final steep ascent into Reiser Heights, one of the schools Reiser Relief supports.  Although school was not in session, we were met by the director of the school, his wife, and countless smiling children.  We handed out part of our 500 donated toys we’d brought with us, we delivered Feed My Starving Children food, and we presented local people with five live goats that had been purchased and donated by various team members.  It was such an uplifting visit.

Our long drive back down the mountain gave me plenty of time to ponder the contradictions between what we’d seen yesterday and what we saw today.   But as we neared “home,” I realized there was no point in me trying to understand or make sense of these contradictions.   They are all part of God’s glorious master plan.   Maybe I never will totally understand the reason for HIS plan, and why he gave me a role in it.  But I do know there is a reason I have been called to Haiti, and I will go forth continuing to my best to answer that call.

God bless Haiti.

Ann