SMALL BLESSINGS

While we're in Haiti, I have trouble keeping this blog up to date - lack of energy, lack of time, lack of internet.  There are so many experiences from the past year and so many day to day realities that I have never addressed here, I figured over the summer I might try to post on some of those - along with updates of life "on the road" this summer.

Here's one of those day to day realities we've gotten used to: 

Where we used to live in Indiana, we were literally a block behind a Target store.  There was a grocery within walking distance too. So convenient. 

When it comes to getting food you want/need, it's funny living in northern Haiti sometimes. There are plenty of fresh fruits and veggies around: the Haitian pineapple is incredible, mangoes are often plentiful and so are avocados (in the right season).  But no broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms, cauliflower, or peas. Worst of all: no cilantro! As far as pre-packaged foods go, there's pasta, tomato paste, generic cornflakes, cookies and a type of cheese puff that is 95% air and 3% styrofoam. 

Some familiar items are available out in the street market stalls - Pringles, sometimes Oreos, Mac and Cheese, ketchup and mustard. And we've been blessed beyond reason by quite a few generous friends who send care packages overflowing with junk food! 

In between those boxes, sometimes it's possible to find some more unusual fare in the couple of grocery stores a few miles from our house - but these places are the size of what would be called "convenience stores" back in the States. Unfortunately, the things that catch my attention usually have a pretty steep price tag (a small jar of Nutella that would last me two or three days asking $10) or a bit past their prime (Halloween candy in April).  Sometimes you justify the expense because "it's been sooooo long since we had this" - last November we found a 12 pack of Root Beer for $10, bought it and wrapped it up for the kids as a Christmas present.

Made them happy.

And then, every once in a great while, you can walk through the market in Cap Haitien and find PURE GOLD.  I'm not sure exactly how it happens, but there must be an entire crate of some particular product and all of a sudden the market is glutted with something that many of the locals probably don't even recognize or necessarily want.  Demand is low and supply is high and that means the price is right. 

Keurig Coffee singles. 
Pop Tarts. 
Combos.  

But, in my opinion, the best find of all was the 2-pack of Nyquil ("super-strengthed" at that) which Melissa got for 75 gourdes one weekend.  That's less than a dollar a bottle!  And with the non-stop sinus infections I've fought since moving to Haiti, that Nyquil was a true God-send.  

By the way - we'll be at our home church, giving an update at both services - tomorrow morning.  Looking forward to seeing everyone at Community Church of Columbus!