My Toilet Paper is a Blanket

After dismounting the plane from Port-au-Prince, Haiti to Newark, New Jersey:

I’m standing in line to go to the immigration desk I see a lady directing people to their corresponding line.  My first thought: “She looks like a clown”, with her heavy eye makeup and 5-tones-too-dark lipstick. As I looked at her I saw that she had both fake eyelashes and fake hair. This is America? No. America can’t be summed up in one artificial woman.

Fast forward a few more hours. I’m sitting at the toilet. My arm reaches for the toilet paper; I grab a hold of it, “Gosh! I’m about to wipe with a blanket!” The toilet paper was so thick, full and plush I didn’t know what to do. I rerolled it and ripped off two dainty squares, one. by. one.  

Looks like I’ve come to a land where we have more than enough…and maybe, sometimes, too much; too much makeup, too much synthetic stuff and even too much toilet paper. 

Responding To Rhetorical Questions

You know when the preacher is speaking and he asks a question, within his message, that's intended to remain unanswered by the crowd? 


Well, today I sat in service with Gladimy (5) sitting at my left and Leonard (4) on my lap. The sanctuary was packed with quake survivors all fanning themselves with their eyes fixed on the pastor. We listened as the pastor talked about the earthquake two years ago. He shared the stories of those who lost their lives and those who were spared with injuries. He went on to preach about the favor and grace that God had on those in the room, having protected them. The message continued and he started to talk about eternity: 

Le nou mouri kote nou prale? (When you die where are you going?) 

Within the same moment Gladimy peeps up and says, 

"Nan syel la!" (To heaven!)

"Um oops!",I thought, as heads turned to look at the little boy in the back who actually answered the question that was clearly rhetorical! 


It was both humorous and nifty at the same time. I hugged Gladimy - who didn't realize, until after he blurted out, that he wasn't supposed to answer the question. Gladimy knows where he's going when he dies. Do you?