Yes, They are People!

A couple of weeks ago we had the honor & privelege of escorting Mr. Toutoute to America. He is a pastor and a teacher in Sherrie's school. He had never been on an airplane or even been out of Haiti. We were to see that he made it safely thru the Miami airport & on to Jax where he would be met by our friend Kathy who was his host for his 2 week US stay. He was so excited. He told me he wanted to go to a zoo & see all the animals, maybe even pet an alligator. He'd read about such things in books. It was fun at 1st, showing him what everything was & how to work everything, but when we arrived in the US (miami) it stopped being so much fun, because it made us sad to see it through his eyes. It started OK, he thought the escalator was an elevator (he had seen one on TV and knew it was supposed to have a button to push!) and he enjoyed the ice cream from Edy's. Then our flight was delayed and he started to be concerned. We were not going to get off the ground til after dark. In Haiti you don't travel at night. Period. It's just too dangerous. He really wanted to get to Jax and he thought e were now stuck in Miami til morning. We assured him that our flight would take off after dark and we would be on it and everything would be OK. But he was not convinced. After all, what about the blackout? You see in Haiti, electricity is unpredictable at best (and non-existant out in the village where we are). He knew the power would go off at any time and the airport would have to shut down. So we tried to explain that there are NO blackouts in the US, everybody has power all the time. He was confused. Then I went and got a drink from the water fountain! He was alarmed. "Is that water safe to drink? Which water can you drink in the US?" IN Haiti, there is no indoor plumbing or water coming from a faucet or fountain that you can drink. Most people go to a stream or canal and draw their water in buckets. The same water they bathe in, wash their clothes in, and the same water the animals walk through- cows, goats,pigs & donkeys. I assured him that all the water was safe to drink in the US- it was the law. It has to be tested all the time to be sure. You can drink water anywhere and nobody gets typhoid. "The gov't makes them provide clean water?" Now confusion had turned to sadness. For all of us.
Mr. Toutoute returned to Haiti today. Our friend Kathy wrote a letter describing his trip. He got his trip to the zoo! He saw the alligators, and lions & other animals! He even got to ride on the zoo train! He was having a grand time. Until they got to the zoo's veterinary hospital. Kathy was horrified & embarrassed. Mr. Toutoute couldn't believe we really have a hospital at the zoo. A very nice hospital. For ANIMALS! Then he asked the unthinkable....." Are Haitians people?"
We LOVE the PEOPLE of Haiti. They are wonderful, loving, tough, resourceful people. I don't know how they do as much as they do with so little. I don't understand why we are so blessed here and life is so hard in Haiti. I know all people are precious to God and that He loves and wants the best for the people of Haiti. He wants them to hear about Him, give their hearts to Him, and follow & serve Him all the days of their lives. Just like He wants for us. I have hope for Haiti... not because I have any answers or think I can change anything. I can't. But my hope lies in the One who can. The One who can change anything... anyone, but Who never changes. The One who brings calm in the midst of worry, light in the darkness, sanity when there's confusion, and hope when none can be found. This is my prayer tonight for my friend, Mr. Toutoute.