This 16-minute film, Tarps, Tents, Houses, Homes was produced by MCC Haiti earlier this year (2014), in partnership with the Haiti Housing Collective. The film explores the recent state of tent camps in Port-au-Prince, nearly five years after the earthquake. It also highlights some failed and successful housing programs for victims, and sketches a narrative that explains causes for the earthquake's devastation.

Hear strictly Haitian voices explore and explain some of the current nuances of Haiti's housing crisis, nearly 5 years after the earthquake:

Christmas prayer

We have enjoyed following the Advent calendar this season, with the aid of readings and meditations from a guide given by a friend. Taking us through the troughs and peaks represented in the cycle of this holy season, this time has reminded of the darkness, yet the joy and anticipation inherent in the daily living of the Christian faith.

It starts with a recognition of the brokenness of this world, and the brokenness sometimes hidden in our lives. We realize that we need a Savior. We are then filled with joy in thinking of a future where every pain and heartache is extinguished, and a deep gladness and wonder as we think on God's promises embodied among us. Emmanuel. The baby Christ came to us in an utter miracle, born to humble hands to serve us all. The pages of Scripture are thick with this testimony.

In the backdrop of this particular Advent season, we have known of the protests playing out across the U.S. The streets of Port-au-Prince have also been protest-ridden. People are angry, crying out for something better than the current political gridlock and historic antipathy from those in power. 

Will you join us in prayer this Christmas? Let us pray, in this season of Light and Hope, for God's peace to be evident, binding up the brokenhearted, turning hearts towards Him, and creating a way forward where there seems to be no way, a way that bears witness to His Kingdom and Truth. Amen.

I'm including here a picture of a Christmas tree we saw in Port-au-Prince this month; a symbol of the season.

And here is a picture I took yesterday of the beach. Something about the beauty, constancy, and rhythm of the waves makes me think of the cycle of longing, anticipation, and joy we experience this season.

Some daily 'habits'

A friend asked for some insights into 'daily living' here; habits or activities that may be unusual for us. After living here for 5 months now and 'going through some of the motions' for several weeks now, I admit I had to think on it for a second! (Or rather, a few weeks :) Some small things:

Veggie soak. Bleaching or soaking our veggies in vinegar water before eating them raw or cooking them. This isn't that bad, but just a regular precaution. It has taken some getting used to. And I admit I'm still not sure about what does and doesn't 'need' to be soaked.

On October 10, we actually had a dear friend come and visit us for one week. Ama grew up in West Africa, and she is accustomed to many of these food preparation practices. Her visit 1) got me digging into our Mennonite cookbooks more intentionally, to make sure we were providing some well-rounded meals while she was here! and 2) helped me gain confidence cooking with a lot of produce and also experimenting with new recipes, given the 'raw materials' on hand.

I would say that, overall, our seeming limitations when it comes to cooking (i.e. also not having different strengths on our oven burners - high heat, or, high heat!) have actually helped me to experiment and make some healthier, yummier meals overall (can't rely on those delicious premade sauces and other wonders at Trader Joe's or Aldi! )

Our friend Ama. I really like this picture, but you can actually see her face below.

Goats. What do you do when the weeds are taking over your yard? Why, borrow your boss's goats to eat the weeds, of course! But when one is pregnant and whiny the whole time, they don't focus as much on eating, and the progress may not be as impressive as you would have thought. It was worth a shot, though! And not uncommon practice in Haiti apparently. I like the idea -- a goat-borrowing system for all your pressing yard-care needs.

Yard burning. I am not accustomed to setting a fire in our yard multiple times per week, but it's what you gotta do here! Burning yard waste and kitchen waste is a regular necessity, because it's too much trouble to try fitting it all into our little trash bin I guess. The smell of smoke from neighbors' fires wafts into our room some nights. It's not too bad -- except when there's more than leaves and paper products being burned... yuck!