We made some great friends in Port de Paix. There was a school right across from where we used to live, and there we more than a dozen Americans living there teaching. We got to know them over the last year, and God very much provided community for us with them. They were so open and inviting to us the day we moved in, and we loved getting to know them over the last year or so. The fun part is, they all had this past week off school, for Carnival, or Mardi Gras. Side note: Carnival is a crazy time in Haiti. It’s basically a lot of parties, drinking, dressing up in masks and strange things, and parading around in the streets. The guys in masks are called chaloskas. They are imitating, in a negative way, military officers from the 1900s who were oppressive and cruel towards Haitians. It has been going on every Sunday for the last two months, with the final parties being this last Monday and Tuesday. It’s roots go back to voodoo, although I can’t say for sure if everyone celebrating are indeed satan worshipers. Although, most Haitians who call themselves Christians do not participate in it.  However, it’s generally a good time to not be out on the road, or in downtown. We just made sure we didn’t go out at night, which we normally don’t anyway. A few drunkin  parades made their way past us Monday and Tuesday, but didn’t stop for long. I think it’s totally creepy regardless of if they are doing anything voodoo, cause they dress up in nasty masks, attach fake bushes to themselves, and taunt and torment anyone they encounter along the way! I did want to take some pictures for you all, but didn’t want to give in the hype, hysteria and attention either. Nor did I want them to see me cause who knows what kind of bad attention I would have got!! So, you’ll just have to use your imagination on this one!

Anyway, a few of those friends from Sonlight came up to Cap Haitian to vacation! They stayed at a beautiful beach about an hour from us, so we met them there for the day. They are such sweet people, and it was so fun to see them! We hung out at the beach, had some great food, and enjoyed visiting with them. We feel spoiled since we got to see them after having just left.. it’s going to be so hard not to see all those delightful friends we have made!!

We traded an ocean view -from our roof- for a gorgeous mountain view. I love both really, so I am just enjoying the change in scenery. The green mountains are everywhere around us, it’s lovely really. And the minute you leave our front gate, when you look up to the mountains, you can actually see the citadel! It’s considered the 8th wonder of the world… and let me tell you, it’s something to behold! We actually visited it when we came to Cap Haitian way back in September-when Brandon’s parents came to Labedee via cruise ship. We walked the entire thing-which was about 7 miles round trip-and 3.5 straight up! It was such an intense work out! But absolutely breathtaking! Anyway, we can see it from our house, and it’s so cool!  We try and get out for a walk most afternoons, and it’s wonderful. We have walked for hours in the fields, tons of one-four acre patches of land-with cows, goats, plantains, and sugar cane. The funny part is, as we walk, little heads peak up from their work. These guys work the fields, and are always so friendly, and are pretty shocked when we pull out some Creole. They can’t figure out why we are walking through fields, which of course just makes me laugh. All the guys working in the fields are using basic hoe and shovels to farm their land-so much work! Yesterday we saw a baby cow and Brandon and I pet it! Oh man, I would LOVE to have my own cow!!

I have come to realize, in the last year of living here, why Haitians looks so great and no one ‘works out’. Their whole life is ‘working out’! Every task they do involves using muscle-from the simplest things to more complex. And, since I now live here too, I am being to understand this first hand.I don’t have to walk to the river to wash all my clothes by hand, and either them dry there or walk back with heavy wet clothes. Now do I have to walk miles to get food, water, or sell things-like some do-and carry on my head all the way back to my house.

But there are a few things that I do, that put a little muscle on my bones, and I like it. I do usually find it humorous though, since I feel like some maiden from the 1800s. A glimpse into what I rambling about: the other day I decided to laundry. Now, I am so lucky to have a washing machine, my work is just a fraction of what Haitians have to do to wash their clothes. Anyway, the washing machine takes a l.o.n.g time to fill up, and since we are sometimes using a generator to power the washer (when we don’t have city power) I don’t wanna waste fuel. So, I take a bucket around the back of the house and fill it with water. I carry it back to the washer and fill it up. It takes about 5 trips to fill. Then, when it’s done, I take all the clothes outside to line dry. I love the dryer, using fabric softener sheets, and how nice they smell, and I don’t have to iron, but I have come to love line drying too. I love going outside in the sunshine, I love smelling the wet clean clothes, and love that its good for earth to use the sun for drying! As I was hanging things up, chickens were running around my feet. A cat sauntered up to me and rubbed itself on my leg. I heard baby goats crying a short ways off. I couldn’t help but laugh. I thought to myself, “Where am I?” Am I living in the 19th century, or perhaps just the countryside, or just in another country?… either way, I simply love it. I found myself humming along as I did chores I would normally grumble over. Like laundry. I think part of it has to do with being back in nature-I feel much closer to the Lord when I am surrounded by His creation. I find myself wandering outside to hit on grass (whoa, this is amazing!!) and sit under a beautiful tree, and just spend time with God. His Word says He can be found everywhere, that the rocks, mountains, sky and world speaks of His glory, and I do love to bask in it! And something I have learned from Haitians that I love -most of the time-is that they have no time schedule. I have come to notice, when I am not in a hurry, I tend to enjoy the task I am doing much more.