Eleven Days in Haiti: Part 6 – “Please Sir, I Need Soap!”
This is part 6 of the “Eleven Days in Haiti” series that started here: https://fbcbridgeport.org/eleven-days-haiti-part-1-series-intro. Be sure to get caught up if you missed a prior post!
DAY 4- “PLEASE SIR, I NEED SOAP!”
Each day in Haiti is a little different that the last. This morning, we got one translator and one driver back even though many of the streets were blocked and there was some violence downtown. As we circled up to pray, Scott pointed to George, one of drivers and asked him to pray. George became uneasy and said “No English.” Scott said “It’s OK. Just pray.” Even though most of us knew no Creole, we were able to join in lifting praise and petitions to God the Father through George’s passion alone. What a beautiful blessing.
By evening, Scott had talked to Mike, my translator and assistant on Monday and Tuesday, who felt that things had calmed down and the streets were getting cleaned up. This was confirmed by a call to another staff member in another section of town. Word is that the airport will be open Saturday for our scheduled return flight to the US.
The clinic was busy today, mostly with kids and routine stuff, but we did see 162 of them. Sort of like yesterday, a teenage boy was so weak and sick that he had to be helped in. Our docs started IV’s, did a malaria test which was positive, gave the appropriate drugs and the young man walked out with his mom about 4 hours later.
Just as memorable was a boy about 14 years old who was standing with a line of kids that were constantly peering in watching us work through the open sides of the building. He was proud of the fact that he spoke English. His grandparents were sending him to an academy to learn the language. Some people understand that speaking English may very well provide a job and steady income. Most kids’ English vocabulary consists of “Hey you! Give me a dollar”, but not this boy. We talked of loving Jesus and about our churches, families and hometowns. And he literally begged me for soap. Not a dollar, not candy or water, but soap. And he said “please.”
“Please sir, I need soap.”
