Peace Pals

Today proved to me that children around the world are the same everywhere.  Well, maybe they are a bit different here in Haiti.  I have not seen 200 children in America, immaculately dressed, packed inside a non air conditioned concrete building, in 90+ degree humid heat, sit quietly over four hours to watch adults talk about building and peace construction. Not only did these kids do so, dozens more stood in line frustrated they could not get inside. So they stood outside in the baking sun, craning to stick their heads inside the few open windows to catch some of the action.  Really.  Seriously.  It happened here in Mizak, Haiti.

Today we officially opened the Merlet Center, a 7000 square foot building that will house local artisans, internet café, staff offices, HAPI credi (micro-credit center)and classrooms that will provide extension education from a major United Methodist University.  This building was a gift from the people of The United Methodist Church. $295,000 used to hire local people to build a life-changing facility.

Can you think about the last time a building opened in your community that as so important to your life that the entire town shut down and showed up for an entire day to celebrate its opening.  This is a huge deal for Mizak.  This center means jobs, education, connection to the world and it will be run locally and self sufficient.  The local artisans will have lights and electricity to create the works that will bring income back to Haiti.

And a message to all my Michigan Peace Pals;  To the kids at University, Trinity, Millwood and Lincoln Road UMC in Riverdale. Your portraits and messages of peace were a total hit! The kids here loved them. You should see what they are sending back to you! Watching them sing and play and glue their portraits together reminded me exactly of all of you. Yup, kids here are exactly like you (except for that sitting quietly for hours in a hot church thingy).  They giggle and laugh and play, just like you.   The teens and tweens listen to music on their cel phones, braid hair and talk about each other, just like you.  While I photographed a road being built, the occasional donkey walking by, I heard the very music my own daughters listen to coming from their cel phones.  The girls were dancing to the music, raking the road, while others brought buckets of rocks balanced perfectly on their heads to build the road.  Last night we watched dozens of kids playing soccer, laughing and having a blast.  Could have been in East Lansing for all I knew.  Okay, the donkey sitting on the side of the field kept me in check. 


Today, we also played “Sears Portrait Studio.”  Here in Mizak, you can’t just zip over to your local photo studio to get your family portrait taken. So, we took the portraits of 115 families and children.  Later, we’ll get them printed and sent back to Mizak to hang in the Ti Kai “little house.”  When I post them, don’t be surprised that there are few smiles. Culturally, photography is a serious business. Especially, for the men. Many went from laughing to drawn faces when it came time to snap their photos.  Then when we were done, a huge smile would come back over their face and they would say “Merci!.” 

The simple things in life.  A family photo, an art project, a new building that means your family can have a meaningful job and food on the table.  That’s this place.  There is much Haiti can teach us about life and faith and gratitude for the life giving things God provides to you.  I’m starting to get it…and we’ve only been here 48 hours.

Wishing you a very HAPI International Day of Peace.  May God Bless you!