My Haitian Family

There's a verse in the bible that says, "God sets the lonely in families." I prayed this verse before I left the States because I hated the idea of leaving my family behind. And God has been faithful. Several Haitians in my life are treating me like family.

The Uncles
- The night watchman -- Each night he greets me and asks how I am. Then if I'm walking from one house on the compound to another, he will get his big spotlight and shine it on my path until I'm in my door. He's kind of like a protective uncle.

- The two sailors -- They have very different personalities. The one is small and chatty. He keeps some of his boat stuff at my house so he comes often to pick up stuff as he needs it. And each time he talks to me in Creole, and laughs and laughs as I try to understand. He kind of picks on me a bit and really gets a kick out of it when I have a language epiphany and say, "Oh, mwen konpran."
The other sailor is a strong silent type. The kind who holds the door for you and grabs your hand to help you get safely onto the boat. But he too picks on me. The other day he tried to tell me something. I didn't understand, so he laughed and laughed and lightly grabbed my wrist. (this would be something like a mix between an American knee slap and cheek pinch)

The Moms
- A cook and a nurse -- My friend's mom was cooking at my house the other day with one of the nurses. As they cooked they of course asked me if I was married. When I said no, I explained that I will not marry just any man. They both understood and said, "We will pray for you to find a husband." There was definitey a lot of motherly tenderness behind those words.

Some Dads and a brother
- The other missionaries -- They have pretty much fathered me. Before heading to the States Pastor Dan was pretty protective of me, giving me advice he'd give to his daughters. And Butch will walk me to my house at night if he thinks a stranger is on the compound.
He and Zach (a father/brother team) have also had to rescue me twice this week. Once when I locked myself out of my house and the other time when I locked myself in my bathroom. (the bathroom is a good story for another time.)

Sisters
- The women in my English club -- These women really treat me like sisters. They tell me they worried about me when the other missionaries went to PAP and left me here. And they wondered if I was ok in the thunderstorm. They also make sure to give me advice about who I should and should not talk to, and they help me with a lot of the stuff you talk to sisters about. :)

My Extended Family
- There's also some extended family around here, you know the third cousins and such. They're the ones I see once in a while but really enjoy. Like the laundry lady who shows up behind my house and yells for me through the windows. She's small , round, and spunky. She's friendly ike a great-aunt, but a fierce worker who would do anything for her now grown kids.

I could go on, but you get the picture. "He sets the lonely in families," and makes them lonely no more. :)