Haiti G.O. Team June 2017 Day 3

The word of the day is “Routine.” Not as in “Average” but as in “Consistent.”  It’s the stage of a trip when a new normal takes hold and you slide into a rhythm.  Schedules are set and expectations of those schedules are met.  Everyone’s up at the same time (really early, by the way).  Everyone’s done with breakfast at the same time (except for “one guy” still nursing his cup of coffee with sleep in his eyes).  The walk to the job site is familiar.  Each man slips easily into his work role and the work is completed.  The same rhythm happens at the end of the day, but in reverse.  Work, walk, clean up, eat, rest.

I’ll be honest, routine is not normally my favorite.  I seek out change.  I’m the guy that doesn’t make his bed or fold his clothes (every team has one).  And I’m the guy that excitedly strains to look out the window when a gun battle erupts just outside the walls.  I want to discover all the stories.  But I have such an appreciation for the routine that these men settle into.  Their work is consistent.  Their attitude is consistent.  Their servant’s heart is consistent. That means that you can count on it.  They don’t quit for the day until the job is done and they patiently welcome in a guy that spends most of the day hovering over their shoulder with a camera in his hand or who disappears for hours on end with that same camera.  They slowly explain the task at hand, allowing plenty of time for the concept to sink in.

Usually it goes like this:
“Have you used one of these before?” holding up some gadget (or “tool” they call them) that I’ve never seen before.
“No,” is the short, expected, reply.
“It works like this,” they begin, probably not realizing that they’d be having to explain things as if to a child.    But the explanation happens and the routine continues.  The task is complete and with each completed task the building is one step closer to being used by students, trained as the next generation of Haiti’s church leaders.

I like excitement and adventure, but every day with the men here I’m appreciating “Routine” a little more.

--Jamie for the team