Cheryl Michel

The Water Truck

Kijan ou rele?  (What is your name?) Today we worked with Healing Haiti as they brough clean water to 3 areas of the slum, Cite Soleil.  This is a shanty town of 300,000 people living in an area the size of a golf course.  They have corrugated tin for the walls of their homes and are clustered together often with one piece of tin dividing one home to the next.  The Tap-Tap (the bus we ride around in) honks its horn as we arrive and the kids come running and shouting, "Hey You!"  We can barely get out of the bus as little children crowd the back of the vehicle with their arms out for us to pick them up and hold them.  Some seemed to spy which adult they want while we were on the bus and then go for them when they get off.  They love to be held!  Some are light as a feather and others are a chunk!  My arms were so tired by the end of the day!  It was a very good tired!

We helped the children carry buckets of water to their homes, however, we are never allowed to go anywhere that we can't see the water truck.  There are so many narrow alleyways we could easily get lost.  The children don't seem to get lost.  I noticed some of the little ones we held had their mothers standing back by the buildings.  The moms seem to like having their babies held by us.  Some children didn't have any parents around, but I noticed when it was time to go and we had to put the children down immediately, a sibling had been watching them and came for them. 

Healing Haiti fills up the water truck 3 times in a day (they purchase the water which helps the economy) and give it out for free to 3 of the 36 different districts in Cite Soleil each day.  When all the water is gone, we go back to the well area to refill the truck with water.  Then we made a 2nd water run to another district and later a 3rd water run.  Apparently, the city had brought water in the day before which hasn't really happened before so the needs weren't as dire and the children were being given and taking baths right in the street.  Our leaders said it was the first time they had seen this and it allowed the children to be very playful with the water which was a joy to see.  One girl got a little exuberant and doused me with a small bucket of water from the back (later I saw her get some others, too).  By that time I was pretty sweaty from the heat, carrying the children and the buckets, that the shock wore off and it felt really good!

It was also such a joy to see Heidi and Kalie constantly surrounded by children.  Kalie looked like the Pied Piper as she walked through the district singing.  The children were clustered around her wanting to hold on to her in some way.  They just couldn't get enough of her and the other younger women! 

We were led through the districts we were in and could see the small areas for living.  So sad to see it and know many have lived there for years.  It was a joy to know we could help in some small way to bring clean water and Tender Loving Care to the youngest of the children.  Some of the children were dressed fairly nicely while others had torn, oversized clothing and some had no clothing at all.  They didn't seem to notice the difference and after a while, neither did we!

After dinner we will talk about our experiences and process it as a group.  I realized how blessed I am as a mom to have had a great place to raise my children, more than adequate supplies for our needs, and an opportunity to give my children an education and future hope.  I grieve for these children and their future as there is no education hope for them, but at least today they received clean water and loving arms to hold them. 

Tomorrow we go to the home for sick and dying children to hold, feed and do our best to give care.  No matter where we go, our greatest goal is to love them with Jesus' love.  We want to bring glory to Him in the way we love and care for others.

Blessings,
Cheryl