15 Minutes of Peace

Chris: Today I was reading through several disheartening emails from other Americans that work on or for the betterment of Lagonav. They were also predicting a severe food shortage in just a couple weeks. The little green Skype button for Benaja was illuminated. He was on his computer. I called him and found a group of the MCLC staff sitting in a circle in the MCLC yard meeting (Abner, Benaja, Feronel, Robert, Roseline, Tiga, Maga). They were planning who would go cross the channel to go to St Marc to try and find food for sale. They were still smiling while explaining how so many people, family and family friends were coming to Lagonav in droves for refuge. They were explaining how the small Wesleyan Hospital’s yard in the port town of Ansagale is filled with the sick and injured. The stories that I had just been reading were no longer making me anxious while I was meeting with my Haitian colleagues over Skype. They were smiling and discussing with me what they felt they could do. During this discussion, for 15 minutes I felt at peace, back at home, in the schoolyard, working out problems together, enjoying each other’s company, even sharing a chuckle or two. They did not appear panicked at all. They were helping me in their calm gracious way. There is something to be said for a people who live day to day. They continue to laugh and sing in the face of misery. They take the time to be present for it is relationships that are most important in their lives. They recognize the need and strength of a life of interdependence.