Green Tea and Teriyaki

Sky scrapers flash by at an almost dizzying speed as the bullet train races down the tracks.

We’re traveling from Hong Kong to Guangzhou and after an hour and 20 minutes we’re quickly approaching our destination. With Shelley to talk to, this final leg of our journey has flown by.

Now we’re almost there! Guangzhou,China, it sounds so foreign and exotic!

Ten minutes later the train comes to a halt and we disembark and proceed to customs. So far Chinese customs has been a breeze and this time around is no exception to what is quickly becoming the rule. With the correct visa and paperwork, gaining entry is not difficult.

Once Shelley and I have both cleared customs we head to the information desk to contact our translator. At the desk we make a quick phone call and are then directed downstairs where Helen and her boyfriend, Mark, are waiting.

Helen, we quickly learn, is a 24 year old Chinese college student who has studied English in school. Not only does she translate for us, she swiftly becomes an invaluable source of information; she knows everything about which bus to take, how to get subway tickets, what the costs are for taxis and how to find and check into the hotel she reserved for us.

An hour later, after depositing our suitcases in our hotel room we walk through the streets of Guangzhou.

The scent of green tea and teriyaki swirls through the air as buses and taxis zip through traffic. Exhaust fumes, although not overwhelming, add a familiar tinge to the city’s air.

At a hole-in-the-wall restaurant we stop for some traditional Chinese food, and I impress myself with my ability to eat with chop sticks.

A duck missing only its feathers and feet hangs from a thread over the kitchen area where the food is being prepared. Drying beside it looks like what might be an armadillo. I check the brown pieces of meat on my plate to make sure it really is chicken before I resume eating.

When all four of us have finished lunch we make our way back out onto the busy street and head down to the metro station. At the station we place the correct coins into a machine which then spits out tokens that allows us to access the metro via a bar code reader. A few minutes later we’re boarded and on our way. Easy. Quick. China is the epitome of efficiency.

At the fair, it takes no time at all for professional looking buyer badges displaying our full names, photos and a scan-able barcode to be printed. Coming from Haiti this is just unreal.

Walking through the entrance way I can’t help but marvel. China’s Import and Export Fair is indescribably huge.

Beautifully displayed vendors fill exhibition buildings, each easily the size of Canada place. Walking through them, it doesn’t take me long to realize that EVERYTHING is ‘Made in China.’ It really is incredible to see.

At a loss of where to start to looking we approach a trade matcher info desk which includes a computer and type ‘beads’ into the search engine. Within seconds a list with company names and area location numbers appears. We jot them down and then locate them on our vendor map.

We spend the next two hours literally walking our legs off as we head from one booth to the next!

From China

By 5:30 we’re all exhausted so we head up to the McDonald's inside one of the exhibition buildings for a quick dinner.

Dog-tired we drag our bodies back to the metro station and then walk the final ten minutes to our hotel.

Hardly functioning anymore with the few hours of sleep I’ve had over the last few days, I force myself to shower.

Before I fall asleep I silently thank God for his Fatherly care and protection over Shelley and I and pray that Jason and Jayden, on the other side of the world, may experience a special measure of His presence and love.

Touchdown

After stops in Georgia, Atlanta, and Tokyo, Japan, we’re only 1 hour away from our final stop Hong Kong, China.

On the previous flight to Tokyo we’d experienced a fair amount of turbulence and even a lightning strike as we flew through a rain storm, but this final flight has been relatively smooth so far.

The cabin is dark and I’ve lost all track of time. Since this flight was very empty, Shelley and I found separate spots with empty seats around us so we could stretch out a little. Now shifting to get more comfortable, I take a peek at the Japanese man sitting at the end of my row. He’s older, maybe in his fifties or sixties and smiles and makes a small bow when I make eye contact. So far everyone has been very polite and friendly.

All the meals that we’ve received have been very Asian too; fried rice, beef teriyaki, shrimp, green tea.

“I’m really going to enjoy experiencing the Asian culture,” I think to myself as the plane wheels touchdown.

We’re here! China!

Crossing Cultures

Port au Prince, Haiti

I reach up and steady myself by gripping a handle conveniently located above me, as Jason maneuvers the Prado over the rutted dirt streets. It’s early and the morning sun bathes the dirty city with her still gentle rays. The familiar sounds of roosters crowing and goats bleating reach my ears as the smell of charcoal cooking fires filter through the vehicle. Vendors selling colourful products sit on the sidewalks hawking their wares as brightly coloured tap taps flit in and out of traffic.

Haiti, my home.

At the Port au Prince International departures I kiss my man goodbye and then it’s time to go. The journey awaits. What will it bring?

Florida, United States of America

I peer intently through the airplane window and marvel again at the differences; multi-lane highways, sky scrapers, overpasses, bridges, sidewalks, parks. The contrasts between my Caribbean country of residency and the United States of America are sharp. As our aircraft lands on the beautifully paved runway I consciously attempt to put on my “North American” thinking cap. Culture hopping can strain the brain. Although the flight between the two countries is only a little over an hour, I might as well be flying to the other side of the world.

This becomes more evident as an hour later I find myself walking around in a daze through a massive Target Store.

“Get a grip Will,” I tell myself again as I clutch my list. There’s only 5 items on it, but it’s hard to concentrate when my brain is experiencing severe stimulus overload.

“CAUTION, SYSTEM OVERLOAD. CAUTION, SYSTEM OVERLOAD.” The warning flashes through brain cell connectors as thousands of products vie for my attention. Reverse culture shock, it happens when you’ve been away too long.

“You can do this, Will.” I tell myself, still clutching my list. “You knew this was going to happen. That’s why you made the list remember?”

Blocking out all outside stimuli I carefully read the first item on my list.

Travel size conditioner

I look up and like a woman on a mission begin my search for the hair care aisle. When I finally find it I’m overwhelmed as I’m bombarded by a 100 different bottles of every brand, colour, size and shape.

“How do you pick one quickly?” I wonder. There are so many things to consider; brand, price, size, hair type. At a loss I walk slowly down the aisle until I finally spot a small, familiar bottle of conditioner. Perfect. I sigh in relief. One down, four items to go.

I check my list and read the next item.

Travel outlet adapter

Looking around I absently pull on my pony tail as I try to figure out where to begin looking for one. An older man stops and stares at me for a moment and I wonder what he sees. Do I look as lost as I feel? I flash him a grin and then focus on the task at hand.

Travel adapter.

“Hmm, they’re probably in the electronics department.” I muse. I make my way over there and ask a sales associate for help.

“You can find those in the luggage department,” he informs me, pointing in the opposite direction. “Thanks.” I reply.

I wander through aisles of toys, books, lawn furniture, clothing, baby items, arts and crafts, snack foods, and bathroom scales until I finally spot some kids backpacks. Turning a corner I walk right into rows and rows of suitcases! Jackpot!

I find the adapters nestled between the travel pillows and then spend the next half an hour finding the correct one. Phew, that was tough!

Now there’s only three items left on the list.

Decisions, decision and more decisions. By the time I’ve found all five items my head is spinning. It’s not over yet though.

After meeting up with Shelley and Janell, a new friend who lives in Florida, we decide to get something to drink at the in-store Starbucks.

Once again I’m faced with a long list of options. What to get? I don’t recognize anything on the menu so when Jinelle thoughtfully suggests a Passion Ice Tea, I gratefully take her advice. The delicious, fruity tasting tea is just the sugar kick my weary brain needs.

More relaxed now that the shopping is over, I sip my drink as we tour the produce section.

“Look at all this fake looking fruit!” Shelley marvels.”Fruit in real life is just not that perfect!” Laughing, I let myself unwind and just enjoy the feel of a massive department store. A store with perfect fruit, a 100 brands of shampoo, and an aisle full of bathroom scales. A store where for a few hours I can blend in.

Countries, cultures, people groups.

It won’t be long, God willing, before we enter yet another.

What will China be like? I wonder.

China

I want to take a moment to share the exciting news that, God willing, I hope to travel with Shelley to China this Friday!

Last week Monday when I was helping out at the Apparent Project, Shelley mentioned that she still didn’t have someone to go with her to organize the shipping of supplementary beads and fabrics from China for the artisans and seamstresses. When Jason really encouraged me to take this opportunity and promised that between himself and Denise, Jayden would be in good hands, I offered to go with. Shelley thought this was great, so in a very short time period we booked the tickets and received our visas!

Now I would just like to ask you to pray for us as we go to yet another completely different part of the world. Also pray for Jason and Jayden as they will be on their own for 11 days.

PS: Don’t forget to check the blog! Jason is giving me his netbook and I hope to post pictures and stories while I travel.

Will

Dedication Service

Smoke from a nearby charcoal fire breezes past as I shift in my seat and focus on the pastor.

Today we’re at Anoud and Denise’s church to witness, as godmother and godfather, the dedication of their three children.

The church service started at 6:00 a.m. and now it’s almost noon. Jayden wiggles tiredly in my lap and then rests his head against my shoulder. I pull him closer and give him a quick hug, thankful that he’s stayed sitting for so long.

The pastor closes the church service with singing and prayer and then it’s time to stand up front for the personal dedication service of Nicholas, Sabboule, and Jocemine.

Early this morning, Anoud, Denise and the three kids had gotten all dressed up; Anoud, in Jason’s tux, Denise in my grad dress, Nicholas and Sabboule in special clothing donated by a friend, and Jocemine in a new white dress.

Now we stand, altogether in a half circle in the front of the church.

The pastor begins the dedication service by praying for Anoud, Denise and their family and then together we sing in Creole ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus.’ He then picks up Jocemine and holds her up as he begins to pray. Jocemine cries loudly, very upset about the fact that someone she doesn’t know is holding her. When Jayden sees we aren’t going to intervene on her behalf, he finally decides to take matters into his own hands and walks up to the pastor and slaps his leg.

“Pa fe sa!” (Don’t do that!) he says.

Embarrassed, I pull him back, but thankfully the pastor takes no notice and continues to pray. When he is is finished he hands Jocemine to me and she instantly stops crying. I hug her tightly as her body continue to heave for the next five minutes.

Sabboule is next and he cries too as the pastor holds him up and prays over him.

Nicholas, the oldest at the age of five, bravely does not cry when it's finally his turn.

Once the pastor is finished, we sing again and then Anoud gives the pastor the birth certificates of the children. It is now the pastor’s job to sign them to make them legal.

Walking up the steps out of the church, I thank God silently that we were able to witness and be part of this special dedication service.

God is All-Powerful

I push open the wrought iron gate and it shrieks shrilly in protest. Out of nowhere a rain drop lands on my face and splatters. I look up, but the sky is dark, revealing nothing.

With Jason and Jayden following close behind, I step out on the rocky street. We've just finished our bi-weekly MAF staff meeting and are now ready to walk back home.

"It's raining Mom!" Jayden complains as more drops begin to fall.

"That's okay, Jay, rain is fun!"

He looks up at me skeptically and then importantly clicks on his flashlight. These last days city power has been scarce, and tonight, like many other nights, no street lights illuminate our path.

"Would you like a ride home?" a MAF volunteer and his wife ask, as we walk past their running vehicle.

"Yes," Jayden says. "Good idea!"

"We'll walk," Jason and I say unanimously and then laugh. "I've been stuck inside too long today and there's nothing more refreshing then a walk in the rain!" I add, thanking them for their offer.

"But I want to go in the car Mom!" Jayden complains.

"Come on Jay, have some fun!" I laugh as we walk on.

"You know he's probably right!" Jason points out. "We've lived in the Caribbean long enough to know that a few rain drops one minute could mean a full blown tropical rain storm the next!" I nod in agreement as right on cue the rain's intensity increases.

As I dance to avoid the puddles that are beginning to form, Jason scoops Jayden up and lifts him onto his shoulders. I can feel the water droplets begin to trickle down my face and back. "Kiss the rain," I sing and Jayden starts to giggle.

By this time, we're so wet there's no need to rush anymore and we leisurely stroll through the warm tropical downpour. As we pass by a large white gate, it slides open and a dark figure of a man appears. Shielded by an umbrella, he walks several steps towards us. I can make out the shape of a large black garbage bag in his left hand.

"Here," he says in Creole, "Take this!"

"No mesi" we reply thoroughly enjoying ourselves as the warm rain pours down our faces. He looks at us as if we're crazy and continues to hold the garbage bag out to us.

No Haitians walk in the rain if they can help it, and if they do, they use umbrellas, rain ponchos or garbage bags to cover themselves up. Many will even wear shower caps, to keep their hair from getting wet!

We thank him again and continue on in the dark. By now the puddles are impossible to avoid so we merrily slosh through them, still singing. The air smells so fresh, something sadly lacking most days, that I can't help but take deep breaths between the lines.

Lifting my face up I feel more alive then I've felt in a longtime. There's something energizing about feeling the power of God's elements.

God is all-powerful.

The Wait Is Over

I move the curtain aside and look out at the ever changing sky. One moment it's bright, the next somber clouds darken the sun. I let the curtain fall and then go back to restlessly pacing the house.

Finally, what feels like for the hundredth time, I log onto my computer. Within seconds I've signed on to twitter and type 'haiti elections' in the search bar. The screen quickly fills with one sentence updates. Most say that Michelle Martelly is the winner of the presidential elections, but a few report that Madam Manigat won by 50.48%. No one knows for sure.

I scan the lines and notice a few, "This is Haiti, you don't know till it happens." I also read that the streets have turned from celebrating Martelly's victory to a tense quiet. Waiting, waiting. I sigh, It's not something I'm particularly good at it.

I log off the computer and stretch.

"You want to read a book Jayden?" I ask, looking for a distraction. He looks up from his Thomas track set on the floor and grins. Quick as a flash he's monkeyed his way up two shelves and stretches to reach his Thomas books.

"Careful Jay."

He looks at me, clambers down and then dives head first onto the couch. I pull him close and open the book. "Click, Clack! Click Clack!" "Thomas puffs down the track." Jayden interrupts. I turn the page and let him say the words. He has the book memorized and it's fun to listen to him recite the whole story by heart.

We're barely half way through the book when I hear a familiar honk.

"Daddy's home! Daddy's home!" Jayden jumps off the couch and makes a beeline for the door.

Jason walks in a minute later, smiling.

"I just had the UN pull their guns on me!" he says.

"WHAT?"

"Yes. They had our street blocked off, so I had to kind of go around the roadblock. No one was in sight. When I started to honk for Anoud to open the gate they jumped out of their armored vehicle guns drawn!"

"Weren't you scared?"

"Nah. Once they saw it was me they sheepishly grinned and waved. I knew they wouldn't shoot me."

"You don't know that!" I reply. "They've been rotating different soldiers through, so there's a possibility they may not have recognized you!"

Jason shrugs as I shake my head.

An hour and a half later we're eating dinner as the news quietly plays in the background. We don't normally listen, but they are finally announcing the results and we don't want to miss it. At first we were planning to wait with eating dinner, but after listening to an hour of senators names and percentages we decided to just go ahead. The announcer's voice drones on and on and I do my best to listen. Finally he pauses and Jason and I look at each other. Is this it? With my chicken burger half way to my mouth I strain to listen.

"Michelle Martelly 68%, Mirlande Manigat 32%." Cheers break out in the background. I drop my half eaten chicken burger and head outside. Cheering, fireworks, gun shots, yelling, singing, laughing. All happy noises.

Jason goes outside to tell Anoud and Denise and they shout for joy too. He was the people's choice and with him voted in, there won't be rioting on the streets. Instead we hear chanting, music, honking, gunshots, and fireworks. For a moment in time, it sounds like the whole country rejoices.

The pall this country has been under since this whole nightmare began last November lifts. The people rejoice. Silently thanking God that all this is over, I pray that God will work in the heart of this man. He has a big weight on his shoulders now and the people have great expectations, but only with God's help will he truly be able to make a difference here.

President Michelle Martely, center.