Now that I am a "missionary" I figured it was time I started acting like one. So I've decided that I am going to start playing the guitar again. No really.
I used to play back in middle school/high school-- Indigo girls, Edie Brickell... you know the type. As girlyman would call it "angst driven gender pop." But I decided to go the path of least resistance today and not really unpack. Just bring all our bags over to the new house and pretend they don't exist. (Well, and take out a few days worth of clothes and toiletries for everyone-- cause that will help the situation.) I just don't have it in me to figure it all out today. Especially in a house with no furniture.
So the way I do the math, I still have at least 2 hours before Nick and Danny return with the kids. That will give me time to slap a fresh set of guitar strings on the old Yamaha and play for maybe 5 minutes before the tips of my fingers start to sting too badly to continue. And then, of course, take a nap. Cause what would be a dad's day out with the kids if mom didn't take a nap?
Things are going well. I am very proud of the kids and am not trying to push them too hard. I think they are doing great so far. We're trying to be intentional about giving each of them one-on-one time and letting them talk about how they are feeling. Nia today said she was mostly happy but a little sad. I get that. Nico said he was "a Haiti." Josiah just whined and tried to steal a toy out of Riann's hand. So-- pretty much business as usual.
Let me just say this-- I cannot imagine doing this move without the Pye family here to help us. They have already saved the day for us over and over and are just making this transition SO smooth. I think the coolest thing is that they are just trying to let us dive in and do life here-- but really helping us to figure it all out. I know we've been here less than 24 hours, so that might seem like I am just trying to flatter them, but I am totally serious. This whole process (starting over a year ago) has been SO easy with their help. We feel that they are "for us" and know that we only feel so at home here because of all the ways they've paved the way. (And with the way roads are in Haiti-- a smooth road is EXTRA great!)
Just a few informative notes about things:
- It's NOTICEABLY hotter here than when I was here just two weeks ago. And it's still April. I am imagining August and praying for God to help me visualize being cool. That and ask people to bring me more Goldbond powder. Cause that's like rubbing a peppermint patty all over you after a shower. (Sans the chocolate of course.)
- One cultural adjustment I am going to have to get used to is locking up EVERYTHING. It would not be an exaggeration to say there are at least 25 keys on the key chain for my new house. (Which does NOT include our apartment in Port.) Now, some are duplicates. But off hand I can think of at least 15 locks in my new house. And nothing is labeled. So each one takes about 2 minutes to open. (I will be breaking out the nailpolish soon I think.)
- I love our new truck. It's like driving on a dream come true.
- I am thinking the pack n play might not be long for our family. Not only does Josiah climb right out of it, but it also seems to trap in mosquitos. He already looks like he has chicken pox all over his arms, legs and face-- which he does not-- it's just bites. Poor little guy. If there is one mosquito in a house, it will TEAR up that little man...
- Okay, so one more funny thing Nico is doing is pretending he speaks Creole and just babbling away. It's really cute.
- Sorry I haven't posted any pics yet. Yesterday I saw the funniest t-shirt and I tried to get a picture of it, but I couldn't do it without being "that American." It was a shirt that said, "Kiss THIS Nick!" And then there was a picture of someone bending over with their ehm... "posterior" prominently displayed. I thought about trying to buy it from him for the next time Nick and I have an argument, but my Creole is basically non-existent at this point and I wasn't sure what kind of shenanigans I'd get myself into. And besides, that wouldn't really make me a very good example, now would it? (And yes, now that I am a "missionary" I will have to have the camera ready more often, because that is (like an acoustic guitar) one of the tools of the trade. :)
Later taters.
