Blessed Are the Poor

Tragic. Sorrowful. Painful. Joyful. Funny. Vibrant. Haiti is an assault on the senses and the heart. The first thing that hit me is the garbage everywhere. Then it's the shabby state of everyone's clothing. The children with no shoes. The babies with no clothes at all. But when we hiked up the side of the hill through the Bel Aire neighborhood, I was struck by the life everywhere. Kids are playing with toy cars they made themselves. Others are laughing hysterically at us, shouting "blan, blan!" Which in Creole for whitey. They call Ernest that too, even though his skin is browner than mine. Moms are making supper and washing clothes. Dads are talking and playing checkers. The Haitian people are no different than the rest of us. Moms will be moms, kids will be kids. God is present bringing life and grace in the midst of soul-crushing poverty.