Having Time to Reflect

Having time to reflect

November 26, 2018

Many of you already know about my bout with cancer this fall that prevented me from going to Haiti as planned in September. I am recovering from having the upper lobe of my right lung removed. I get tired faster than before and can get out of breath but for the most part am recovering very well. Each week I feel stronger.

Bob went to Haiti one month after my surgery; I was not strong enough to make the trip. I have not lived alone for three weeks maybe ever. It gave me a lot of time to think about things, clean things, visit friends and family. I realized how much time we spend away from home, not only the months in Haiti but packing and working on the shipping container, visiting family in Michigan, trips to Milwaukee for the Salvatorians, trips to Huntsville Alabama for Haiti, visiting local churches. All of these things take a lot of time and energy, so we miss having time to just visit a friend or one of our kids. There is a lot of the grandchildren’s activities, and birthdays that we miss.

Having to come to a stop and kind of watch things happen, rather than be hands on was a new experience for me. We had received word last September that the malnourished baby Woodterley that we took to the hospital was ready to return to his family. Normally we would have been in Haiti and would have gone and gotten him, but instead were able to arrange transportation through the parish priest for the grandmother to go and get him.

The area we work in Haiti was hit by an earthquake. It was hard to sit and communicate by messenger hearing about so many people I know losing their homes. Two whole days I spent messaging with our young friend Louie Nell explaining where in the depot we had blankets and tarps stored. He did find them and then asked “there are 35 blankets and everyone needs one, what should I do?” This is a example of life in Haiti so many people so little resources.

A week into Bob’s trip to Haiti, while sorting the supplies sent on the shipping container he collapsed, he has a appointment with a cardiologist this week. All I could think about is how we keep telling the Haitians we work with that we are getting older we won’t be able to do this for ever. I think the events this fall have made us all think about how true this is. There does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel. The leaders we have in place in Haiti were able to take up the jobs that needed to be done. LouieNell’s English is getting much better and so is our communication. Alex the Haitian agronomist wants to make the FR. Jim Bretl Center a vanilla showplace and is willing to do his part to make this happen.

Bob and I plan to return to Haiti after our 17th grandchild is born in January, Easter is later this year so we probably will stay until mid April. We will continue to help the people of our area strive toward independence. Slowly but surely I can see this becoming a realistic goal.