Haiti Immersion... Day 7 - Drive from Jacmel to Port-au-Prince

We are travelling from the Southern coast back to the capitol. The van is racing through the mountains. Windows have to be open because the vehicle can't drive up the mountain and have the air conditioning on at the same time.

We passed a man with a gardening hoe slung over his shoulder. He was walking ahead of a sleek black cow being led with a thick rope around it's neck.

On the side of the road women packed large woven baskets with plantains. They overflowed with leaves poking through the gaps.

Men were hovering around a fire and anvil. One pounded out steel while the other turned a mechanism to stoke the fire.

Motorcycles are zooming past us with a quick beep of their horn. Some drivers are even wearing helmets.

Colorful tap taps pass us filled to the brim. People hang from the sides and are even piled on top.
As we drive through the little towns vendors sell fried meat and plantains. Little markets dot the sides of the road. Mangos, bananas and oranges sit piled neatly in baskets ready for customers.

Sugar cane sticks are bundled together for people to sell.

School kids walk in groups talking and laughing. There uniforms are so tidy and the girl's hair is impeccable. You can tell which children go to school together because each school has a unique style of uniform.

Women and children carry large yellow water jugs down the road to the well. Multiple faucets emerge from the concrete block. It is often painted blue with the logo of the sponsoring organization.
Bright advertisements cover walls of most buildings. All are meticulously painted by hand. There are many talented artists here in Haiti.

So many little houses are scattered across the hills some have wooden sides, others are clad in corrugated metal. Either metal or thatched roofs sit on top of the small structures. Most are brightly painted. Blues, reds, pinks and yellows.

As privileged Americans, we may look upon these everyday pieces of Haitian life with pity. Small houses, walking everywhere, simple existence and lack of security. While on some level there is merit to those thoughts... in all actuality the people of Haiti have much to teach us. They have their own brand of creativity, ingenuity, perseverance, dedication and happiness.

The kingdom of God is here.

For more info about Haitian Timoun Foundation... www.htflive.org