5 February Confession and Reflection

I need the folks to come so that I can blog the interesting parts of their visit. The last couple of days consisted of the kids and I doing school and Cory correcting the health book and working on office paperwork...not real exciting.

So...O.K. I have a confession to make.

Last year during my first trip to help out in Port-au-Prince, because I packed rapidly and most of the stuff in the bags consisted of medical supplies, I benefited from the teams leaving Haiti in the manner of clothes, shoes, hair brush, food and the like. Thank you for sharing!

For a short time I enjoyed a really cool water bottle until I left it out on a table following translating for a young girl who a pot of boiling beans exploded on burning her neck and chest.

But the one item that touched my life in an unexpected way, filled a tiny place [dare I say need] in my life that previously I did not realize existed. I became the owner of a soft, maroon blankie.

Yes a blanket. Not too heavy, in the manner of a big sleeping bag it sports a zipper up one side, a draw string on the head end and a couple straps on the bottom. I do not posses any memories of a special blanket as a child..I guess I'm a late bloomer in this area.

Now those first days in Ti Guave I slept on the blanket and to my great joy, aparently the fire ants that rambled though the stuff under my bed, in the floorless army tent did not dare to explore my blanket's fuzzy surface.

After 2 weeks away from my family in the earthquake zone the blanket warmed me on the MAF flight home [not that it was very cool but I tend to get cold easier when I am tired] and pillowed my head on the bumpy truck ride.

I ponder what it is about my blanket that makes it so important to me. Important enough to overwhelm the guilt of not leaving it for someone who lost all in the earthquake.

I really need no physical reminder of the quake and my experiences there. I guess it is because what it represents:

• Friends-the new friend who gave it to me, the friends I knew were praying, those who came to help, those who graciously helped us when we showed up unexpectedly at their door needing food, shelter and care.
• Protection- a barrier between me and fire ants, cold, hard bumps in life.
• A bit of comfort in a harsh world full of pain, suffering, unanswered questions.
• The reminder that my Lord and Saviour is watching out for me and cares. Cares enough to send me a soft maroon blankie that I did not even know I needed. Thank you Lord.
• A reminder to share comfort with those around me. Yes occasionally I share the blanket with my family and Kodiak.

What about you. Look around your life. Are there little things whispering to you that God loves you. He cares for you. You are not forgotten but remain in the palm of His loving hand.