So When Are We Doing It Again

.... I was on the bus, on the DR side of the Haiti boarder crossing, and a boy caught my attention. Not sure why this boy did, as the entire bus was surrounded by kids and adults begging while we waited for permission to cross into Haiti. But he did; maybe his eyes.

Eventually I remembered I had a boxed lunch at my feet that I never intended to eat (it was given out on the bus; just some cold rice, beans, and mystery meat that I had turned my nose up at). I decided that I was going to try to get this box of lunch to this boy. Not easy, as the windows on the bus didn't open. And opening the front door would not have been a good idea; can you say mob rush?? Anyway, the bus driver's window did open, so I managed to indicate to the boy to follow me around to that window, and out goes the box to the boy.

What happens?? This boy opened this box of "reject" food, and you'd have thought I had given him gold. His eyes light up. He sticks both thumbs straight up in the air. God had just made his day. He uses part of the box as a fork, and begins his passionate journey through rice, beans, mystery meat, and raw cabbage. And as the journey ends, not one speck of food remained in the box. And after he was finished, again, the thumbs shoot straight in the air, and a smile from ear to ear you rarely see on any child's face, even at Disneyland. The bus starts moving, and he waves goodbye (or at least I thought it was goodbye). And we cross the boarder, and wait for Haitian customs to clear the bus, and who appears again, same smile, same thumbs in the air? This little boy. We pull away again, and he's given his best and quite amazing version of "thank you". Did I cry? You betcha. I always do.

This country Haiti remains the saddest thing I've ever seen. And it's sad at so many levels, not the least of which is that 8 years later, and I have less answers than I did when I started. But, I do know that it was priceless to be in that moment with that boy. But, that moment would never had occured if someone else had not inspired me to come to Haiti, or come back to Haiti. The blessing was really mine. So, I'm now in the role of trying to encourage others to receive the same blessing. To come to these places and do things bigger than themselves, and maybe get a glimpse of who God is from another corner of the world. A bigger God, I believe. Do things that don't make sense in any business model. And look for success in far more obscure places. And work for things beyond themselves. And cry.

Gayle, when I think of that time you and I were completely nuts in the back of that little church in Haiti, and just remember how blessed I was to be with someone who makes me laugh, even in the most saddest of places. Well, I just hope God surrounds you with folks like that, for your journey. I wish I had more Gayles in my life. I need them more than ever. I loved everyone on that trip; special folks. But, I laughed and just allowed myself to enjoy that trip (surrounded by hopelessness) with one person in particular, you. So when are we doing it again?

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