Being next to a hospital, it is not uncommon for there to be death close by. At least every couple weeks the mourning cries reach us over on our side of the wall, and we know that someone else has passed. In Haiti death is not a quiet thing - there are mourners; people wailing and screaming and crying for hours. This alone has been a bit difficult to get used to; at home death is very quiet. Funerals are characterized by small sniffles, silent tears, and gentle comforting voices. Not here. Funerals here are loud processionals, and the more significant the deceased, the more people mourn. It's painful to hear the cries of those who are experiencing the loss of a loved one - and to hear it so often.
The past few days have struck a new chord in this area. One of our cooks, a wonderful, beautiful lady, had a miscarriage at eight months along. She said things were fine on Monday; but Tuesday morning the baby wasn't moving. She is such a wonderful, faithful woman, and is putting her full trust in God. Please pray for her and for her family. She will be unable to work for the next month or so, which may put a serious financial burden on her and her family. Please pray that God will continue to provide for them.
Another note in the chord involves a little six year old boy that arrived at the hospital on Tuesday night. He was brought in after being sick for several days, he was suffering from malnutrition, dehydration, and what was thought to be an obstruction in his abdomen. He didn't make it. Six years old.
While going over to the hospital yesterday to visit our cook, the chord was made complete as I saw a truck drive by with a body lying on a make-shift stretcher on the bed of the truck. The face was covered by a cloth, and the body was surrounded by people sitting on the sides of the truck. Not long after, I heard the funeral wails coming from the graveyard adjacent to the compound.
I know that death is everywhere - but it hits you so hard in the face because most of the things people die from here could be easily prevented. It's stupid.
