kculver. journeywithjesus

im sitting here on my porch right now, as thunder roars and shakes the sky. lightning brightly flashes every couple of minutes. it’s 7:30.. i got back from anse-a-pitre about an hour ago.. decided to get a motoconcho ride back, because it was raining so hard and i had a little friend with me that i didnt want to have to make walk back the 20 minute journey in the downpour. the little friend that was accompanying me, aristide/ duvalier/ wilmar (those are the various nicknames he goes by), is a 12 year old little haitian boy. i met him when i first arrived and have tried to be intentional about hanging out with him and loving on him since. there a group of about 20 or so street kids who live in the park and are for the most part completely neglected. they survive on handouts and pesos earned from shinning shoes to buy a slice bread eat for the day. a few weeks back i started buy duvalier food whenever i would see him or share whatever i had with me with him. last friday i was walking home from work and saw him and extended him the invitation to come eat at my house whenever he was hungry.. little did i know at the time.. that has led to him spending everyday with me since. he has been here with me eating meals and hanging out. to show his gratitude, he has gone out and plucked bags-full of guinepa for me. it has been fun having him around. my roommates and i took him to the beach.. and he seemed to be having the time of his life.. i have never seen someone so happy.. the car ride there, he was giggling and bouncy up and down in his seat.. once we arrived he rolled around in the sand laughing for about an hour straight. the next day we took him to the river and again.. the same joy radiated from him.

he (little most of the boys in his condition) has outfit. his is ripped up from fighting and whatnot. i have stitched up his shirt (along with some other boys’ pants), but i think i want to buy him at least one more outfit. he has two extra pairs of shoes that he is keeping safe at my place. unforantely, they are waaaaaay too big for him. so shoes might be on the list too.

from here, there’s several things on my heart to do for him. given that he is a haitian, orphaned and here illegally.. i want to try to get him documented and get him papers.. also, i realized he can’t read or write.. so that is something we have started to work on (as he would like to learn). he speaks creole and informal spanish.. i would love to teach him french and help him clean up his spanish as well.

also, he has been wanting to sleep here at my place. i have no problem with it, but i haven’t allowed him just yet. i have roommates living here for another two weeks and i want to respect their space. furthermore, he currently sleeps in the park or at the police station. i went to check out the conditions at the police station, and all seems to be good there.. the police i met were friendly and it was obvious they cared for my little friend. the thing that troubles me though is that duvalier came over early saturday morning upset, saying that there was a police who was visiting from a neighboring town who was talking about killing some little haitian boy. i was a bit hesitant to believe that it was actually going to take place, but knew it was a possibility.. given the reputation of the police here and the deaths that take place. i wanted to go talk to someone, but duvalier wouldnt give me any more info and begged me not to go as that might make them shift their anger onto him. according to duvalier, they did kill a kid that night. i didnt hear of a report about it.. i know it very well could of happened as there was a report that a young “moreno” (black man) was killed today. 

so as of right now.. for his protection and well being.. i am looking into places for him to stay— there is a boys orphanage in anse-a-pitre that i brought him to today to place with the boys there. i know he doesnt want to be there (as it is in haiti— much poorer and whatnot), but it is a good good place. i am praying about letting him come in here once my roommates move out. i am concerned about what will happen if he grows accustom to living with me and then i leave in six months…

so lots of prayer, research, processing and whatnot is needed.

anyway. theres a little update on the current happenings here.. ill try to post more later.