DAN AND JILL WERE HERE - Part 2

Yet another sinus infection has been dragging me down (for three weeks now!) and Hannah has been diagnosed with pneumonia (she's on the upswing) but if I keep waiting until we're all feeling top-notch to write more about our week with Dan and Jill, I fear it may never get done.

And there's so much more to tell.  I'll tackle the easy part now and leave some deeper stuff for another day.

The picture of Jill below encapsulates what made their visit so incredibly fun and MEANINGFUL for us.  She is holding a water bottle, a giant leaf, some previously unknown fruit which is called Abrika (which had a peel like an orange, a vaguely apricotty flavor, and a pit like a peach) and a package of cookies given to her by Johnny. 




Maybe it's just because we've recently discussed symbolism in English class at Cowman, but it seems to me that those four items represent four aspects of what was so wonderful about having Dan and Jill visit us.

THE WATER BOTTLE stands for all those daily realities of life in Haiti - which are sometimes irritating and sometimes refreshing. It's great to share these things with friends. 

Like eating our home-packed lunches outside every day at the school picnic tables. 



The glory of a cold glass of citwon juice on a hot day.



The "opportunity" to ride (and get sun-baked) in the back of a pickup.



And even haggling in the market over the price of a souvenir with an artist desperate to sell a bowl or a painting.



The GIANT LEAF represents all the beauty of Haiti that we grow accustomed to over time and too often take for granted.  Having visitors gives you fresh eyes to rediscover the wonder of God's creation in this corner of the world.

For instance, the way you might just meet a friendly and curious cow on the side of a street.



Or the way a beach here can take your breath away and make you want to snap a hundred photographs.



And then ditch the camera and jump right in with abandon!







And, most importantly, Jill exposed my students to the beauty of writing and reading poetry ...





And in so doing, reminded me how very beautiful my students are! (More about that in another post.)




The UNKNOWN FRUIT represents the new things we got to experience right alongside of them. 

Some were here all along but we just hadn't gotten to them yet.  Like chewing on sugarcane.



But many others Dan and Jill brought with them.  Like the simple Frisbee golf course Dan mapped out at Cowman. 



Or the volleyball matches that gave the students some athletic options beyond soccer (and more soccer).



Or paddle ball - one of Dan and Jill's favorite pastimes for their own family gatherings.  They brought a set to leave with us.



And they shared the secret to creating "drippy sand" castles.



And, especially, how to play "Zip Bang".  How did I spend 15 years in youth ministry and not know this game?  In Zip Bang, the object is to say either "zip" or "bang" to the person next to you without revealing any teeth.  That person also needs to stifle any smiles and pass another "zip" or "bang" to the next person in the circle.  Laugh or smile and you are eliminated from that round.

Dan is an expert.  But Hannah gave him a run for his money.



Caleb, on the other hand, will NEVER win at "Zip Bang"!

 

And finally, the COOKIES given to Jill by Johnny represent the absolute joy of having friends from the States meet our friends here and LOVE them instantly as much as we do.   (And to BE LOVED by them as well.)

 

Of course, that included my Cowman students...  Here, one of my 7th graders is giving Jill a coconut nativity scene as a going away present.

 

 

And even my adult English students...

 

Dan and Jill also had a chance to visit The Potter's House to deliver some early Easter eggs to the orphans.

 

 

 

 

We spent a Saturday morning in Daniel's neighborhood as he worked to feed dozens of his neighbors' children.

 

 

 

 

At one point, overwhelmed by the needs around her, Jill came across a little girl whose shoe had just broken.  Beyond repair.  Jill wanted to buy her a new pair of shoes; a short walk down the street brought us to a woman who had a tub full of shoes for sale.  Jill triumphantly strapped a new pair of shoes on the little girl's feet.

 

 

 

Instantly, there were tugs at her skirt and she looked down to see five more pairs of bare and muddied little feet and she bought five more pairs of shoes. 

 

Now kids started kicking off their shoes and running over to push close to Jill and we decided maybe it was time to move on! 

 

Jill was fighting back tears the whole time.  

 

Later that day, we walked up to where Johnny and Ruysdael and Mikenn live on the hillside. 

 

 

My Haitian sons had already formed a bond with Dan and Jill earlier in the week, so they were excited to show them around their neighborhood. 

 

 

 

 

And "baby" Sammy (and Bud and Jane) came to dinner one evening.  Through Caleb, Jill had been following Sammy's story since the beginning when he was found as an infant, nearly starved to death and abandoned in a suitcase, and then placed in Bud and Jane's care to be nursed back to health.  What joy she found in watching Sammy play and talk and eat so energetically!

 

 

And, of course, the love and attention Dan and Jill lavished on our own kids did our parent hearts a whole world of good. They loved on our kids in unexpected ways throughout our short time together and our kids quickly grew to love them in return.  We all did! 

 

 

 

And then, just like that, our week was over.




Melissa and I have had to keep reminding the kids (and ourselves) of the upside of Dan and Jill's departure after our week together - that they will be there in Indiana when we get back in just a couple of months for our summer visit.

All of this has been a long way of saying that God's fingerprints were ALL OVER our time together with Dan and Jill.  And we are so thankful for the incredible people He has brought into our lives.

Looking forward to seeing them again ... soon!