Cody said the clinic was closed today for some kind of holiday. Curious, I researched what holiday Haiti observed today and it's Fat Tuesday, the beginning of Mardi Gras! This holiday is called Carnival in Haiti. According to Wikipedia, this is "a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, masque and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life."
So because of the holiday, Cody started the day unsure of what he would be doing. He said surgeries would still be going on so he would likely have patients to transfer.
12:22 pm: Cody texts his feet are killing him and he's exhausted. He grabbed a bite to eat of American food he brought with him in his suitcase because he gave his lunch away to someone who needed it more.
1:33 pm: I texted Cody an hour later and told him I'm sorry his feet hurt. I'm praying they won't anymore. It's just one of those things when you're not used to being on your feet 24 hours a day. I was talking to Linda, Cody's mom, about his feet hurting today. She and I can relate. Our feet hurt all the way up our legs for several weeks after summer break when we're back in the classroom teaching. There's not much you can do, but wait til your feet stop hurting. By that time, Cody will be home. ;)
Then the rest of my text was a laundry list of questions: "So is lunch provided for you?" (since he gave his away and ate from his suitcase stash) "Did you find out what holiday it is? What are you doing today? Have you told anyone Jesus loves them in French?"
"Jesus aime vous" which is French for Jesus loves you. According to my 'bilingual' sister-in-law, Missy, it is pronounced "Hey soos aim vu". Missy texted this to Cody earlier today. Now he can share Jesus in French!
2:21 pm: Still no response. So more questions. "Have you made contact with Francis for your sister? Hello? What was the holiday? What are you up to? I found out it's Fat Tuesday and Haiti observes it. Je t'amie. That's French for I love you."
5:00 pm: An email from Cody's momma about Cody's Aunt Angi, who works for CNN, wanting to let Cody know about contacts in Haiti if Cody needed anything.
As a matter of fact, yes! I'd been waiting to hear from him, too. While I was at the gym, Cody and I spent an hour texting back and forth. (Yes, the gym. What else do I have to do? My best friend is gone!)
Cody told me he's "whooped". The team has been moving and organizing supplies all day with a few transfers (moving patients) mixed in. It sounded like maybe it would be an easy day where he could rest his feet, but I don't think 'rest' is a very common activity in Haiti right now. The back of Cody's neck is burned. He put sunscreen on his arms and face, but forgot the back of his neck. Ouch. He said it just feels hot, "no biggie". He also had a headache today. A pretty good one. He took some aspirin. I asked him if he's been drinking enough water. He said yes, a lot, but probably not enough.
I asked him, "How did you see Jesus today?" He replied, "I saw Him in an 18 year old girl. We may put her through college. She's awesome. She speaks English. Both her parents were murdered. Awful." Her parents were murdered because they owned their own business and made money. The people similar to a mob didn't approve. I asked her name and if she wants to be here in America. Her name is Nicole. She only wants to come to America for school then move back to Haiti. She wants to be a doctor. She's super bright, Cody says. He plans to hang out with her at the church service this evening. I said, "We do have a spare room, but she has to be a Sooner."
Cody then went on to tell me about the two other medical teams serving with his team, one from Austin, Texas and the other from Canada. He said he's had a blast with the team from Austin. They are Longhorns. Boo. Cody said they have had a good time teasing each other. He's traveled all the way to Haiti and still talks about OU Football! That's my man! Sooner born, Sooner bred! He said the women nurses love him and want to put him in their suitcases when they go back home. Of course, Cody is adored internationally! Such a handsome servant-hearted husband I have! ;)
Cody told me, I assume this happened on one of his transports, he drove right by the mass burial site for earthquake victims. There are over 170,000 people buried there. He said it's like a large hole at least 3 football fields big. Bodies are just dumped and covered up. Even though this is graphic and the site and thought of it is tragic, can you really blame them? Did they have any other choice? Complete families were wiped out. With no one left alive to claim the bodies and with so many bodies, how could there not be a mass burial site? Wow. Unimaginable.
Cody said the holiday wasn't celebrated. Landon, the film guy, and Damien, the church liaison, traveled into town to check things out and found nothing going on. Cody said he has yet to really travel into town. Mission of Hope is its own little community. I asked it there was a school. He said yes, but classes have been canceled until April 1st. Right now it holds patients. He transfers them from the clinic to the school. There are patients in the classrooms. (Pictured to the left.)7:15 pm: Cody just left another church service. He hung with some kids. The church service is all in French. Other than that, he says it's a pretty normal service. It's similar to an African-American congregation back here in America. Very charismatic. He said it's about 80 degrees there. Last night was too hot. (Cody has to have the temperature COLD to be comfortable. I'm sure he woke up sweaty.) He hopes it cools off tonight. He said he misses air conditioning.
The rest of the evening was spent playing a card game called 99 with his team. He is having fun just hanging out and talking with them. He really likes all of them. (Intrigued, I googled 99. It sounds confusing, but Cody says it really simple. I'm a visually learner, so go figure. Check it out if you've never played: http://familyfun.go.com/playtime/ninety-nine-card-game-707672/)
As an aside, thank you, everyone, who has texted, called, emailed or Facebooked to check on Noah and me. We are doing fine. Tonight we took a bath in the big tub with the jets. We had fun splashing! By the end, we had made a huge puddle of water on the bathroom floor. We shared some ice cream and then I taught Noah how to do a somersault. He can't flip over by himself yet, but spent the rest of the evening trying to somersault himself off the couch! We are blessed to have so many friends who care about us and family reaching out. You are helping me more than you know through prayer and carrying this burden of loneliness, though short term, with me. So, thanks. ;)
It is only Day Four of this mission. Can I tell you on my end the Holy Spirit is amazing? Just Cody going has opened up so many conversations I might not otherwise had. Like with Cody's distant relatives on Facebook or talking with my students about Haiti and my husband serving there. After I made an announcement about Hats for Haiti where our kids can pay a buck to wear a hat to school and all the proceeds go to a school in Haiti at the end of the month, one of my students said with a nasty tone, "Why would your husband go there?" I said, "Because it's the right thing to do." The student looked at me funny and then a whole conversation started about how we, those who are infinitely blessed, should help those who are not. And then today, one of my students was asking advice about how to handle a situation at home and I quoted her Galatians 5:22-23 - the Fruits of the Spirit. I'm getting to share Jesus at school. I'm drawing closer to Him each day. I wake up choosing to follow and I go to bed with His Kingdom as my last thought. So not only has this experience been fulfilling for Cody, it has been the same for me.
Ma prière (My prayer)
Dieu est avec vous, Cody. Il vous gardera forts. Vous êtes las et porté, mais Dieu vous portera. Dieu est le Consolateur, le Guérisseur et le Seigneur d'entre tous. Vous utilisez vos cadeaux du Royaume. Dieu sourit quand Il vous regarde. Peut l'Esprit continuer à enseigner nous tous par votre expérience. Et peut ce poulet croasser avant le matin...Amen.
God is with you, Cody. He will keep you strong. You are weary and worn, but God will carry you. God is the Comforter, the Healer and the Lord of all. You are using your gifts for the Kingdom. God smiles when He looks at you. May the Spirit continue to teach all of us through your experience. And may that chicken croak before morning...Amen.
