SIMPLENESS

(This is another guest blog of Beth Johnson who just returned with her husband Brett from a HopeForce International Mission Project in Sous Savanne Haiti.)

 

The drive to the village of Sous Savanne. The long winding road up in the hills, the road with streams running through it and rough terrain. The scenery is very beautiful. Everywhere you look you see cows, goats, chickens, pigs (all the pigs of course I named Bacon) fruit trees like bananas, mango, lemons, plantains, etc....hills and mountains everywhere you look. Women washing clothes in big wash tubs or the streams, people of all ages fetching water at the wells, dominos is the big game in Haiti. Everyday we passed a group playing. kids everywhere. As we walked thru the village it gave a better picture of their day to day living. There were really only 2 roads within the village. Everything else was footpaths. When we would venture to job sites we would walk with all our supplies. Ladders, Paint, Brushes, rollers, and water jug.

 

As you passed by peoples homes they were always so polite. Bonjou (Good morning) or Bonswa (Good Afternoon)

 

We got very good at those words! If we finished one house we would pack up all the supplies and walk to the next one. Always children everywhere. They would see you coming and would be right by your side. Holding your hand! There is nothing like walking thru a village, hauling supplies, with children following, singing “Yes, Jesus Loves Me”

 

Simpleness, although they are in need of so much, they live so simply because they have to. Fully relying on God, their Hope.

 

I then think of our society and all we have at our fingertips and how busy our lives become because of it. Rushing here, have to do this, no time to do that, doesn’t fit into my schedule today……

 

So as I reflect back on my time in Haiti, I want to reorganize my life and unload all of that craziness I create for myself. I am reminded to keep it simple, put God first, be thankful always and He will take care of the rest.