When I chose Fort Jacques for the CCM home I wanted to be able to raise the kids in a quieter more tight-knit community. A place that was far away from the pressure, peering eyes, and intense atmosphere of Port Au Prince. I wanted a community that we could feel safe in, that my kids could walk down the road in, and that they’d be able to make friends and build long lasting relationships in. Haiti is built on community, a sort of web of families looking out for each other.
I wanted a community that we could feel safe in, that my kids could walk down the road in, and that they’d be able to make friends and build long lasting relationships in.
Since my kids had been living behind walls in their previous lives I knew I needed to get them grounded in a community and building those relationships as soon as possible. Today just shy of 2 years on our street we feel as though we are right where we belong. We live in an agricultural community made of rolling hills and small fields that are hand tilled and pieced together like a blockwork quilt. We know most of our neighbors by name and have been accepted by the majority of them as part of the community just as we are. The older boys often rush through their homework after school so they can head out for a game of pick up soccer in whatever field is laying shallow at the time. Farmers will plant four crops and then let the ground rest during the fifth season before they plant again. Thankfully, they don’t mind the community kids using the space for sports until it’s time to plant again. Neighbors, like our good friend Antilise, will come and check on us almost every day, and bring us any word of mouth news floating about that he thinks we should know. Almost everyone knows that they can come knock on our gate in an emergency, especially in regard to immediate medical attention. Since the hospital is a few miles away and no public cars runs at night I am the fastest option to drive them to get care.
We are also the house to come borrow a tool from or sell fresh veggies too. One of my boys’ favorite things to do is have their neighbor friends over for a walk-in-movie. We pop 10 lbs of popcorn, then they pick a movie and hang the white sheet, aka screen, up on the wall and we project what is usually a slapstick comedy that brings a lot of laughter to the crowd. We are so thankful to be a part of our Fort Jacques community!
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25
