Gratitude!

Today was a good day. I went with Rebecca again. It was very good. We went different places today. We went to a downtown area where there were A LOT of people. We had to go down a road that to be honest scared me a little bit. I was on edge just a little. Rebecca said don't worry its ok. So, I relaxed a little. We ended up going to a medical clinic. It is a clinic ran by nuns here. So, the road was so crazy we just had to get out and walk to the gate. So, I walked hand in hand with one of the Haitian boys. They are so sweet and just protected me. As I walked into the clinic I walked into the wound center. Rebecca said the first thing I want you to do is go comfort that man. Just hold his hand and tell him to be still and its going to be ok.  There were 2 American woman working on him. So, I went and held his hand. He was screaming and was in so much pain he had some sort of infection and they were draining it. So, I was holding his hand and telling him it was ok. Then I realized I wasnt feeling so well. I think I was so overwhelmed with his pain that I must have locked my knees or I forgot to breathe or something because I started getting very light headed. I was like Ill be fine Ill be fine. But then I started getting blurred vision. I started feeling sick to my stomach. So, I told Rebecca I'm sorry but I need to sit down. So, I sat down and my light headedness went away and I drank some water and started to feel bettter. After that I went into a room where there was a lot of medications and some nuns. I was told to just stand by the table and they would tell me what they needed. So, basically it was a line of parents and children coming in. The nuns would talk with them and find out what was the matter and then would give them medications. I would count them out and hand them to them. I don't cry to much but today really hit me. As I sat and watched all these mothers, fathers, and children come in. I could see they weren't well. I could see the hard life they have lived. It didn't seem like reality. I don't understand how this could be the condition of so many. I couldn't cry because I had to stay strong but my eyes definitley welled up. I thought about how blessed we are to have health care and to have such easy access to it. not only do they not have access to healthcare but they are so much more prone to diseases. So many of the children were malnourished. It just made me sad. It was an englightening experience and these are the moments that I can see are really changing my perspective. I was overwhelmed but grateful I could be there and be some help. When we left I decided to ride in the back of the truck. It was great, it felt so good. We drove back to Rebeccas and had some lunch. At the clinic we met a lady who works here but is from North Dakota. She came with us. There was also 3 other American woman who were from Minnesota that were helping. They didn't eat lunch with us however. So, it was interesting because we got to talk and discuss Haiti. I sorta live in a bubble. Thats why I love these past two Saturdays and really being apart of it. I drive down some of the same roads that I did today. However, It was like I was seeing things differently today. As I looked from the back of the pick up truck its like I had new eyes and I was seeing things for what they really were. As we talked and discussed the culture and the Haitian life I don't completley understand it all, I don't think I ever will. I can tell you though as I looked around and as I see the Haitian people I know it's a hard life and I know I'm extremley blessed. Its really hard to process it all. I can't figure out how life could get this way. I hope that Haiti can figure a way to help themselves. It's also crazy how expensive everything is here. So, you would think third world country everything must be so cheap. Well the American lady, Mary, who came with us was talking about her search for a place to live. Well, she was getting quotes for $2000 for an apartment and above. She currently lives in a Hotel/apartment and its $1800 a month for nothing really. Its not even an adequate apartment. No wonder 80% of the people are malnourished and starving. Most Haitians live on less than $100 a month. But if rent is that expensive you do the math. Food is no better. On the street a bushel of bananas and some oranges will cost about $25. Its absolutley crazy. It makes no sense. Anyway after we dropped Mary off we went over to another place it was a nutrition center. So, basically mothers bring in their babies to be fed and taken care of because they can't. Most of these babies are very malnourished and very tiny. For example one baby Rebecca was holding. She asked me how old I thought he was. I said 6 or 7 months. He was 2 years old. Its very very sad. So, we held them and fed them. I couldn't help but think how sad. Here are these precious little babies and children of God and they can do nothing for themselves. They are living in this sad sad situation. Thankfully there are these good people who are trying to help. We saw another one on the way out it must of only weighed like 2-5 lbs. It was just sad. They are so frail but at the same time they are kids. They are just normal kids. They want to play and be loved. I don't know this whole day I've just been really trying to process it all. It's like I've seen Haiti and I've known its not a totally easy place to be, but today like I said I saw it differently and it affected me more than I can really put into words. The things I saw today I think will be etched into my brain forever. How lucky we are to have been born in the United States, to be educated, to have medical care, to have families who love us and support us, and to have a roof over our heads. I just feel so blessed and so lucky. I know God watches over all his children and I just hope that one day these precious little children will be blessed on high. Keep them in your prayers and please always be grateful for all the many many things we are all blessed with. I just read Pres. Monsons talk from conference The Divine Gift of Gratitude. You should read it. You can find it here THE DIVINE GIFT OF GRATITUDE However, if you don't have time to read that. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from it.A greek Philosopher Epictetus said, "He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." Pres monson says: "Do material possession make us happy and grateful? Perhaps momentarily. However, these things which provide deep and lasting happiness and gratitude are the things which money cannot buy: our families, the gospel, good friends, our health, our abilities, the love we recieve from those around us. Unfortunatley, these are some of the things we allow ourselves to take for gratned. The English author Aldous Huxley wrote. 'Most human beings have an infinite capactiy for taking things for granted.'" So, I feel. I feel I have taken so much for granted and shame on me. I may not drive the nicest car or have the fancy clothes or house. But, I have a wonderful life full of happiness, good friends, love, and family. I am blessed, as we all are. As I came home today from these various places and sat down to a nice big meal and a nice hot shower I realized just how lucky I really am. I hope we can all think a lot more about how blessed we are instead of what we may be lacking because remember there are people in the world who lack much much more than you or I will ever imagine lacking.  Anyway, I've rambled long enough. I guess the whole point is I'm Grateful and I want you all to Know that WE are ALL very BLESSED!!