In the front courtyard of the Hopital St. Croix in Leogane, Haiti, there is a small patch of grass with three coconut palms towering over it. On the grass sits a chair.

On first arriving in Haiti, I glanced at this chair in disgust. It is a tall and ugly chair, crudely constructed of what appears to be scrap wood and painted in the unflattering turquoise of the main hospital building. In general, this chair appears to be completely unsafe and is unpleasant to look at.

Knowing that David and Jeanne Paige were familiar with the compound from their previous visits to Leogane, I mentioned this chair to them. They told me that this throne had formerly been located across the street and had been moved into the courtyard when its proprietor had landed a security position within the hospital clinic.

On my next visit to the courtyard, I found this chair occupied by a very tall and very thin man who introduced himself as Woody. With a sweeping gesture over the grass under the coconut palms, he welcomed me to his “plage” or beach. I chuckled in my head at this idea, Woody in his lifeguard chair keeping watch over his plage in the middle of what amounts to the hospital parking lot.

Over the rest of my time in Leogane I formed an unlikely friendship with Woody on his beach. Through a combination of bits of Creole, French and English, translator apps and photos on my smartphone I got to know a little about Woody’s life; and he got to know a little about mine. We talked about our families, and we chased stray chickens. The other team members would await updates on Woody, and I would find myself checking out the window to see if he was out sitting in his chair. 

Preparing to depart for the airport, we gathered in the courtyard in front of the plage. There sat the empty chair. I took one last long look at it and smiled. It is a beautiful chair, carefully constructed by hand and fully functional. It is an interesting chair with an interesting story and an even more interesting occupant. Woody and his chair remain one of my fondest recollections of my time in Leogane.

Several months ago I made, for me, the easy decision to travel to Haiti with David Paige and all those who would attend on this trip. At this point, the preparation began.

First we met as a group of ten. At this meeting David and the outreach committee provided an outline of everything you would need on the trip:  the costs and monetary investments, vaccinations, passport, proper clothing and the correct amount of clothes, insect repellent, water bottles, hats and more. There was timetable provided. All of this was very helpful.

Dutifully, I went about getting everything. I got my shots for typhoid, hepatitis and tetanus, got my malaria medication, secured my passport (whole different story here), bought clothes, toiletries and needed accessories.

We met again. Created a list of last minute items still needed. Allotted computers to the team to carry with us to Haiti as gifts from the people of St. Anthony. We were getting ready and the time was coming soon.

I then packed. Clothes – check. Medications – check. Water bottle – check. Hammer, screw drivers, pliers, wrench – check, check, check and check. Computer (personal and donated) – check, check. Multiple shoes – check. Hat and do-rag (I rock the do-rag by the way) – check & check. Passport – Check. Tickets and boarding pass – check and final check.

Ok, let’s go…I’m ready!!!!!

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As I sit here at my desk finishing up last minute business before I begin my packing adventure for my first international mission trip, first international trip as well, I can't help but feel a myriad of emotions.

If I am to be honest I'll admit that most of the emotions I'm having are that of fear, anxiety, worry, etc. I tend to worry, in fact as a child my mom would call me a worry wart. I'm always thinking what if? What if I forget something? What if I can't communicate with the Haitians? What if I didn't pre treat my clothes good enough to fight off the mosquitos? What if I only do the work and don't embrace the culture? What if my dollar bills aren't crisp enough?

As I think of all the what ifs I have, I'm reminded of people throughout scripture who also asked the what ifs... Abraham and Sarah, what if we don't have a child? What if we are to old? Moses, what if Pharaoh catches up to us? Noah, what if it doesn't rain? Mary, the mother of Jesus, what if people gossip? What if I'm not prepared? Peter, what if I can't be the rock of the church like Jesus said?

Scripture is full of people like me asking the what ifs.

But there is hope from the scriptures that I am reminded of when these feelings of fear, anxiety, and worry creep up. Over and over scripture tells us, "Do not be afraid," "Do not worry," and my favorite, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7.

The realities of my what ifs are, yes, I will forget something. Yes, communication will be hard. Yes, my clothes could've used an extra dose of repellant but, I serve a God who cares for me and wants me to leave my anxiety, fear, and worry at the foot of the cross and share the love of Jesus everywhere I go.

Lespwa fe viv. (Hope gives life.)
Piti piti zwazo fe nich li. (Little by little the bird makes its nest.)

It’s good to be back in Leogane. Each time I’m here, I receive invaluable life lessons from those who have endured so much since the devastating January 12, 2010 earthquake that rocked Leogane City Center. Leoagane was but twelve miles west of the quake’s epicenter. The capital, Port-au-Prince, was twelve miles to the east. Ten percent of Leogane’s population – 20,000 – perished that day. Eighty percent of the buildings here were destroyed.

Four and a half years later, there have been many improvements. In 2011, Rue Pere Thevenot and Rue La Croix – which intersect at the NW corner of Hopital Sainte Croix (“HSC”) – were dirt roads that carried foot deep floodwaters during the rainy season. (We are staying at the HSC Guesthouse.) Now, all streets in the Leogane City Center are paved with concrete bricks, with stormwater drains. The hospital no longer is inundated on occasion by muddy waters.

The ten members of the St Anthony Haiti Group, and all of the supporters back home, want to be a part of continuing to assist our friends in Leogane. Next week, we’ll replace and resurface more than seventy desk tops and benches at Sainte Croix Episcopal School. We’ll enclose an open-air classroom, to convert it to a secure admin office for teachers and staff. We are bringing eight lap top computers and some printers to replace equipment that has not been operable since the quake.

One member of our group has led an effort through her employer to provide new backpacks and shoes to the 130 students at the school who live at a Leogane orphanage.

I arrived in Port-au-Prince this past Saturday. It was good to see familiar faces at the airport – Ronald and Zo, and Ben the HSC driver who drove me back to Leogane. Driving the twenty-five miles through the capital and then west down National Highway No. 2 , the street beats and sightings reminded me once again that this is a special place. It will pull on your heart.

I came to Leogane a few days ahead of the group to do some advance work at the Guesthouse. On Wednesday, I’ll be joined by another group member to make detailed measurements for our work projects and to purchase materials and equipment in Port-au-Prince. I’m really looking forward to seeing the rest of the group this Saturday.

We’ll all excited about attending services this coming Sunday at Sainte Croix Episcopal Church next door. After the service, St Anthony is hosting a meal at the church for 250 parishioners.