Leaves

LEAVES ... we don't think of them much, except to watch them bud out in the spring, listen to them rustle in the wind, admire their color in fall, and rake them when they come down before winter.
But here in Haiti, leaves have so many uses! That is what struck me last week in the mountains and today at the Center.
Large leaves make perfect "blankets" to sit on when nursing your baby and waiting for your name to be called to be seen by the foreign doctor.
Long, thin leaves can be rolled together to form a doughnut-like ring to better balance on your head the sack of flower and bottle of oil you have just been given to supplement the food for your family.
And after working on the recalcitrant engine of one of the HHF vehicles, leaves are the perfect "towel" to wipe your hands.
Next time you look at "leaves", remember this story and say a prayer for the people of Haiti.
Mary Ann
PS. I need to make a correction to my last post. The food distributed was through an internation program called CROSS and it centers on needy children. This program has been in place since last year but the amount of food sent was increased to help those families already in the program who had taken in additional children after the earthquake.