Rebekah:
My trip:
Haiti. The Jewel of the
Caribbean (at least that’s what it used to be called).
The landscape is breathtaking with the sprawling mountains and palm trees
to the beautiful “sea” with a “Caribbean blue” color.
The food was unbelievable considering most of the country goes
hungry. The accommodations were
similar to a lower class “States” hotel.
We had purified, safe water whenever we wanted and were catered to as if
we were special guests. With all
of that said, the take away for me was the spirit of the people.
In Jacmel there are roughly 6,000 people with roughly a 90% unemployment
rate. The area is devastated by
poverty unlike anything I have ever seen.
Children and adults move about without shoes, fitted clothing, proper
shelter, and without adequate nourishment. One highlight was the relationship I
built with a group of ladies that I worked with in the feeding program. I learned each of their names and their
children’s names over the course of the week. We share so many things:
Being a woman; Loving our families; Wanting what’s best for our children;
Working hard; Loving God; and Loving the beauty of human relationships. Language was a minimal barrier as our
nonverbal cues demonstrated a mutual admiration and respect.
The second highlight was the opportunity to share with teachers,
caregivers, and parents how to assist children who have been traumatized. What an incredible time of
training. The natives were so
invested in this learning demonstrated by their attentiveness, attendance, and
questions. To see the application
of things we had discussed the next day showed that this is a community ready
for change. This has truly been an
experience that has shaped me in big ways! Thank you Lord for your provision!
Janelle:
Ayiti (Haiti in Creole) is a land of incredible beauty, from the
sprawling mountains, to the palm trees waving in the Caribbean breeze, to the
bounty of fresh fruit awaiting us each morning for breakfast. But the beauty
that won’t leave my thoughts is the spirit of the Haitians themselves. I came on
this trip expecting to give and love and serve for a week. Instead, I was given
love in the form of sweaty hugs and sloppy kisses on the cheek. I was served a
bowl of black bean soup that had been lovingly prepared by the special,
wonderful women who feed hundreds of kids each and every day. I received smile
after beaming smile from the kids who were grateful for a single chicken leg to
call their own.
The
main takeaway for me from this week is the beauty of giving. Sure, I give my 10%
tithe at church. I try to do my best to be a thoughtful giver for birthdays and
Christmas (even with the mad rush of last-minute shopping!). I even sponsor a
little girl in Guatemala! But God has been laying it on my heart to do more,
specifically in the life of a little girl I met our second night in Haiti. She
stuck to me like glue that evening as we played outside, and then remembered me
the next night and fell asleep in my lap for an hour during church service. God impressed upon my heart the need to
lift her up in prayer while she slept soundly against my chest. I will never
forget that moment, feeling incredible love for a child I scarcely knew. I
struggled the rest of the week to reconcile the extreme poverty we saw with the
wealth we have in the United States. I thought, I don’t have that much; I still
live with my parents for Pete’s sake! And how could I afford to sponsor another
child in a poor country??? But as my Dad said one night, to whom much is given,
much is required. Without even thinking, I asked if the little girl was
sponsored, and the answer surprised me- not yet, but she’ll be up for
sponsorship soon. That’s no coincidence- it’s a God-thing! Somehow, someway, I
plan to find a way to sponsor that little sweetheart. And in giving to her, I
pray that she will see the beauty that comes from giving our best to
God!
KATE
My trip can be summed up in a very large coconut
shell, you can get 2 for $1.00US!!! Wow, what a deal. Anyways, I can honestly
say that I am very grateful to have been able to go on this trip, the moment I
walked down the stairs of the plane on to the Haitian land and scuttled right
into a Customs bus, I knew that this was going to be an adventure.
I was definitely not ready to witness the extreme poverty that engulfs
Port-Au-Prince, and within all the trash, and rustic shacks that are called
home, there is this beauty about it, the great green sprawling mountains, the
swaying palm trees, was just breath taking. When we got to our hotel, an
estimated three-hour tour, we were warmly welcomed by the hotel staff and Pastor
Lafleur, given room assignments; and then ventured on!! We were provided with
great hospitality each and every day, and it’s amazing how they are so humble
for the circumstances they are given. It’s amazing how emotionally draining a
trip like this can be, I was so surprised at how much the people impacted
my life, and how loving they were to me. It was eye opening for me when I
realized that they just might be impacting my life just as much as I am
impacting theirs. The highlight of
my trip was meeting two people, who have really impacted my life. Let’s start
with Colson…he is an eleven year old boy who lives directly next door to the
church and is the most adorable little boy ever. He was very shy around me for
about four hours, and then all of a sudden, I had a shadow, for the entire
trip!! Whenever I arrived back to the Restoration House or to church or to the
clinic, there he was…We visited his school one day, and without a doubt, out
pops Colson, it was great-we both quickly became quite fond of each other, and
being with him for a week certainly made leaving rather difficult.
My second boy in my life came in a different form, he was twenty-turning
twenty one in August and was our translator for the clinic. Reggie was such a
delight, he was very helpful when someone walked in and couldn’t understand my
half French-Creole, half Spanish-English language!! We quickly bonded, over
spirituality, life, music, and books, but most of all, he understood
the process I am going through right now with God. He understood my “Baby
Christian” concept and he was quite helpful with the questions I had and we
shared some of our favorite verses/chapters in the Bible, cause guess why, God
doesn’t have language barriers, his book and my book might have been in
different languages but in reality, they mean the same thing!! Personally, I am
puzzled why God has put him into my life, after a very painful, tearful
Good-Bye on Friday, I was wondering what God has up his sleeve for Reggie &
I…it was just very nice to have bonded with someone my own age, and on a very
important topic in my life right now, God!! And I guess I hold him very close
to my heart because in the United States I have been having a hard time bonding
with people of my own age who really enjoy Jesus Christ, and who believe. In
due time God will be giving me my grand plan in life, but right now my Heart is
in Haiti, and I cannot wait to get back…
xoxo.
Sarah:
Before going to Haiti, I didn’t really have any expectations for
the trip. Of course I wanted to bond with children and hopefully become closer
to God, but there was nothing that I was looking for specifically. Now that
we’re on the flight back home, though, I now realize that what I was actually
expecting in my subconscious mind was completely different from my experiences.
What I learned in Haiti is not something that can be taught in any school,
whether in a cramped Haitian cement grade school or at Akron High where there
are halls and bathrooms. I learned that love is something that can only come
from God, and then is projected through individuals towards others. I saw the
most prominent and extraordinary examples of this love in so many people of
Haiti. I found it woven into all of the hugs and kisses that some of us
received from the ladies working the kitchen for the feeding program. These
affectionate acts were given to us every day, but it was the final day when
their love was so evident, and so soothing, when I was truly overtaken by God.
A couple woman of the kitchen were crying when saying goodbye. How does that
happen? You spend a few hours for four days with some women and suddenly there
are tears flowing at the time of riddance? This is a sign that only God can be
working through these women. Their lives have included suffering and heartache
beyond our wildest dreams, and yet they still have the faith to stand up in
God’s name and love every person welcomed into their town. Another sure sign of
the love of God working through the community of Jacmel is in the children.
They are the sweetest babies on the planet, and each one of them is so special
and unique. While some children are living life carefree in “Haitian time”,
there are others that go day after day struggling to survive. Well, at least
that’s how we see it. But to them, this is everyday life. They know no
different; even walking five miles across a river and through a jungle just to
get a small bite to eat is considered normal to them. So how do these children
stay so happy and joyful when they have next to nothing? Only through the love
of God. Hearing the words “I love you Sarah” and “God bless you” from children
was the most amazing feeling ever. I love every single one of the kids, and I
cannot wait to see them all again. Finally, I owe so much of my experience to
the gracious and giving Pastor LaFleur. His organization, leadership, and grace
upon the people of his town is astounding, and he is probably one of the most
inspirational men I’ve ever met. He is all that God has created him to be, and
more, and I know that God has even more planned for his life. But what God has
planned for me? I’m not totally sure, but I know that it will include the
people of Jacmel, Haiti in one way or another. Their love has grasped me beyond
return, and I can only hope that they felt as much love from me as well. Thanks
to everyone that made this trip possible. Calling it a blessing is a sure
understatement.
Connor:
Prior to my voyage to Haiti I had certain
expectations of what I would see in the cities and upon the countryside due to
my prior experience in Africa. But I was completely mistaken. Some expectations
were wrong in a good way and others in a bad way; meaning that certain things
were better than initially expected and others worse. As we got out of the 100
degree airport and got into the 110 degree 16 passenger van, the city of
Port-au-Prince was not at all what I expected. The city smelled horrible. As we
drove through the city on our way towards the mountains there was pile after
pile of garbage in the streets that no one cleaned up. There is no garbage
disposal industry in place to take care of these items so they go wherever they
can fit. And on a regular basis it was burned, multiplying the horrible stench.
As we got into the beautiful mountains that changed a lot, it was much cleaner
and the fresh air was amazing. The mountain people used a farming technique
called terrace farming in order to grow crops on the hills. Some hills at
angles of what had to be close to 70 degrees. The views were magnificent. When we
arrived in Jacmel we were still on paved roads until we turned onto a rough dirt
road where we found our hotel. We finally were there and we got to meet the kids
the next day. It was amazing all the boys and girls from one to twenty running
around and playing. But things were not all positive. Everyone was barefoot or
playing in what someone might call a pair of sandals, but they were hardly
that. I really connected with a few kids because of my ability to speak minimal
French. A little boy in particular named Colson that lived in the same building
as the church was quite a strong kid. He had some real family troubles that no
one should have to deal with. Another young man I connected with was Gabi. Gabi
helps with restore Haiti with travelling and translating and other purposes. He
is a kind of laid back but fun kind of guy. We joked around like we had known
each other our whole lives. Meeting him has definitely changed my life for the
better. He has really helped me to understand what standing up for what you
believe in is. He loves Christ and he wants to better his country, but
sometimes he gets ridiculed for not being like others in Haiti. It was
difficult saying goodbye to all the amazing people I met. Hopefully one day I
can get a fantastic opportunity to return and do more good for the small
community that has made such a great impact on
me.
Betsy:
I have always wanted to go on a mission trip into another country
to help those in desperate need.
Approximately 10 years ago I thought I was supposed to go that mission
trip to Russia. That
mission trip to Russia never happen and all the hard word, hopes, and dreams
left me devastated. Looking back,
the answers finally came to me.
God had a bigger and better plan for my life.
This past week in Haiti has left a mark on my heart that will affect me
for the rest of my life. This was
THE most challenging as well as the most amazing place I have experienced in my
life. The physical, emotional,
mental poverty of SO many people seen in Haiti has brought me back to many parts
in my life and has helped me to remember where I was and where God has brought
me to today. I could never express
in words how SAD I am for the people of Haiti as well as how HAPPY I am to see
the difference that God is making in the people of Haiti form what it once was
to where it is now. I to once
again give thanks to all the sponsors and the people who made this trip possible
for us all to go over to help with the Restore Haiti project.
God Bless
Chad:
All the group meetings in the world could not have prepared me
for this past week. Yes, I
understood the general idea of what a missions trip was, but this was so much
more than missions, this was about LOVE.
From the moment we got off the plane, we saw
Haitians from most aspects of life, but two things prevailed…Haitians are
happy/content people, Haitians are beyond impoverished.
For as long as I can remember, I have seen missions teams return to
churches after going abroad show pictures of those in poverty, naked children,
and deplorable conditions. Haiti
tops them all, by far. Port Au
Prince is filled with garbage, sewage, and things Americans would never tolerate
as “normal”. From the piles and
piles of garbage, to the constant running roadside stream filled with urine and
feces, the sights on our trip from the airport to Jacmel were overwhelming. The smell of burning garbage, sewage,
and body odor assaulted my senses in a way never experienced before.
When we arrived in Jacmel, the conditions were much better, the smiles
and hugs of the young children were so warm it made me forget about the visual
assault I had just been through.
Though a good portion of my mornings days were
spent in the community center’s computer room, the afternoons at the feeding
program and “hang time” with kids afterwards were the times I spent with the
children and young men of the small community we visited.
All you would need to do is stand still for two minutes and you would be
surrounded by children looking to just be loved.
They had no guards or walls up of any kind.
They warmly accepted all of us.
One of my favorite memories of the trip was when I went out to watch the
50 or so children gathered in a large circle doing jump rope.
As soon as I showed up, they stopped and asked me to get in the middle to
jump rope. Of course, I obliged
them. As they began to swing the
30 foot rope, I playfully began to go with the rope until the rhythm matched,
then jumped in. I made 3 or 4
swings of the rope before realizing they were all laughing at my “style”. I stopped jumping and held up my hands
as if to say “What?”. They laughed
and laughed, and I laughed too.
Too see the funny “white guy” doing jump rope probably made most of their
days, but I was glad to do it and would do it again in a
heartbeat.
The children of the small community stole my heart.
Though I did not connect with a specific individual more than others, I
was glad to teach many of them some new “high 5’s”, rhythm claps, fist bumps,
etc. I held children, laughed with
them, met them eye to eye, and shared moments of sheer joy with them. I will never forget their smiles,
laughter, and playfulness. They
are truly wonderful children who are happy, even though they have nothing. But do they really?
I would argue they have so much more than most have here in the United
States. They have true love,
compassion, and contentment. That
is my biggest take away from my trip to Haiti. Being happy and content with what I
have…compassionate beyond measure, and to love others with no limit.
My life will never be the same. To God be the glory, great things he hs done. God help me to understand how I can turn this
experience into an attitude of selflessness here at home.
My trip:
Haiti. The Jewel of the
Caribbean (at least that’s what it used to be called).
The landscape is breathtaking with the sprawling mountains and palm trees
to the beautiful “sea” with a “Caribbean blue” color.
The food was unbelievable considering most of the country goes
hungry. The accommodations were
similar to a lower class “States” hotel.
We had purified, safe water whenever we wanted and were catered to as if
we were special guests. With all
of that said, the take away for me was the spirit of the people.
In Jacmel there are roughly 6,000 people with roughly a 90% unemployment
rate. The area is devastated by
poverty unlike anything I have ever seen.
Children and adults move about without shoes, fitted clothing, proper
shelter, and without adequate nourishment. One highlight was the relationship I
built with a group of ladies that I worked with in the feeding program. I learned each of their names and their
children’s names over the course of the week. We share so many things:
Being a woman; Loving our families; Wanting what’s best for our children;
Working hard; Loving God; and Loving the beauty of human relationships. Language was a minimal barrier as our
nonverbal cues demonstrated a mutual admiration and respect.
The second highlight was the opportunity to share with teachers,
caregivers, and parents how to assist children who have been traumatized. What an incredible time of
training. The natives were so
invested in this learning demonstrated by their attentiveness, attendance, and
questions. To see the application
of things we had discussed the next day showed that this is a community ready
for change. This has truly been an
experience that has shaped me in big ways! Thank you Lord for your provision!
Janelle:
Ayiti (Haiti in Creole) is a land of incredible beauty, from the
sprawling mountains, to the palm trees waving in the Caribbean breeze, to the
bounty of fresh fruit awaiting us each morning for breakfast. But the beauty
that won’t leave my thoughts is the spirit of the Haitians themselves. I came on
this trip expecting to give and love and serve for a week. Instead, I was given
love in the form of sweaty hugs and sloppy kisses on the cheek. I was served a
bowl of black bean soup that had been lovingly prepared by the special,
wonderful women who feed hundreds of kids each and every day. I received smile
after beaming smile from the kids who were grateful for a single chicken leg to
call their own.
The
main takeaway for me from this week is the beauty of giving. Sure, I give my 10%
tithe at church. I try to do my best to be a thoughtful giver for birthdays and
Christmas (even with the mad rush of last-minute shopping!). I even sponsor a
little girl in Guatemala! But God has been laying it on my heart to do more,
specifically in the life of a little girl I met our second night in Haiti. She
stuck to me like glue that evening as we played outside, and then remembered me
the next night and fell asleep in my lap for an hour during church service. God impressed upon my heart the need to
lift her up in prayer while she slept soundly against my chest. I will never
forget that moment, feeling incredible love for a child I scarcely knew. I
struggled the rest of the week to reconcile the extreme poverty we saw with the
wealth we have in the United States. I thought, I don’t have that much; I still
live with my parents for Pete’s sake! And how could I afford to sponsor another
child in a poor country??? But as my Dad said one night, to whom much is given,
much is required. Without even thinking, I asked if the little girl was
sponsored, and the answer surprised me- not yet, but she’ll be up for
sponsorship soon. That’s no coincidence- it’s a God-thing! Somehow, someway, I
plan to find a way to sponsor that little sweetheart. And in giving to her, I
pray that she will see the beauty that comes from giving our best to
God!
KATE
My trip can be summed up in a very large coconut
shell, you can get 2 for $1.00US!!! Wow, what a deal. Anyways, I can honestly
say that I am very grateful to have been able to go on this trip, the moment I
walked down the stairs of the plane on to the Haitian land and scuttled right
into a Customs bus, I knew that this was going to be an adventure.
I was definitely not ready to witness the extreme poverty that engulfs
Port-Au-Prince, and within all the trash, and rustic shacks that are called
home, there is this beauty about it, the great green sprawling mountains, the
swaying palm trees, was just breath taking. When we got to our hotel, an
estimated three-hour tour, we were warmly welcomed by the hotel staff and Pastor
Lafleur, given room assignments; and then ventured on!! We were provided with
great hospitality each and every day, and it’s amazing how they are so humble
for the circumstances they are given. It’s amazing how emotionally draining a
trip like this can be, I was so surprised at how much the people impacted
my life, and how loving they were to me. It was eye opening for me when I
realized that they just might be impacting my life just as much as I am
impacting theirs. The highlight of
my trip was meeting two people, who have really impacted my life. Let’s start
with Colson…he is an eleven year old boy who lives directly next door to the
church and is the most adorable little boy ever. He was very shy around me for
about four hours, and then all of a sudden, I had a shadow, for the entire
trip!! Whenever I arrived back to the Restoration House or to church or to the
clinic, there he was…We visited his school one day, and without a doubt, out
pops Colson, it was great-we both quickly became quite fond of each other, and
being with him for a week certainly made leaving rather difficult.
My second boy in my life came in a different form, he was twenty-turning
twenty one in August and was our translator for the clinic. Reggie was such a
delight, he was very helpful when someone walked in and couldn’t understand my
half French-Creole, half Spanish-English language!! We quickly bonded, over
spirituality, life, music, and books, but most of all, he understood
the process I am going through right now with God. He understood my “Baby
Christian” concept and he was quite helpful with the questions I had and we
shared some of our favorite verses/chapters in the Bible, cause guess why, God
doesn’t have language barriers, his book and my book might have been in
different languages but in reality, they mean the same thing!! Personally, I am
puzzled why God has put him into my life, after a very painful, tearful
Good-Bye on Friday, I was wondering what God has up his sleeve for Reggie &
I…it was just very nice to have bonded with someone my own age, and on a very
important topic in my life right now, God!! And I guess I hold him very close
to my heart because in the United States I have been having a hard time bonding
with people of my own age who really enjoy Jesus Christ, and who believe. In
due time God will be giving me my grand plan in life, but right now my Heart is
in Haiti, and I cannot wait to get back…
xoxo.
Sarah:
Before going to Haiti, I didn’t really have any expectations for
the trip. Of course I wanted to bond with children and hopefully become closer
to God, but there was nothing that I was looking for specifically. Now that
we’re on the flight back home, though, I now realize that what I was actually
expecting in my subconscious mind was completely different from my experiences.
What I learned in Haiti is not something that can be taught in any school,
whether in a cramped Haitian cement grade school or at Akron High where there
are halls and bathrooms. I learned that love is something that can only come
from God, and then is projected through individuals towards others. I saw the
most prominent and extraordinary examples of this love in so many people of
Haiti. I found it woven into all of the hugs and kisses that some of us
received from the ladies working the kitchen for the feeding program. These
affectionate acts were given to us every day, but it was the final day when
their love was so evident, and so soothing, when I was truly overtaken by God.
A couple woman of the kitchen were crying when saying goodbye. How does that
happen? You spend a few hours for four days with some women and suddenly there
are tears flowing at the time of riddance? This is a sign that only God can be
working through these women. Their lives have included suffering and heartache
beyond our wildest dreams, and yet they still have the faith to stand up in
God’s name and love every person welcomed into their town. Another sure sign of
the love of God working through the community of Jacmel is in the children.
They are the sweetest babies on the planet, and each one of them is so special
and unique. While some children are living life carefree in “Haitian time”,
there are others that go day after day struggling to survive. Well, at least
that’s how we see it. But to them, this is everyday life. They know no
different; even walking five miles across a river and through a jungle just to
get a small bite to eat is considered normal to them. So how do these children
stay so happy and joyful when they have next to nothing? Only through the love
of God. Hearing the words “I love you Sarah” and “God bless you” from children
was the most amazing feeling ever. I love every single one of the kids, and I
cannot wait to see them all again. Finally, I owe so much of my experience to
the gracious and giving Pastor LaFleur. His organization, leadership, and grace
upon the people of his town is astounding, and he is probably one of the most
inspirational men I’ve ever met. He is all that God has created him to be, and
more, and I know that God has even more planned for his life. But what God has
planned for me? I’m not totally sure, but I know that it will include the
people of Jacmel, Haiti in one way or another. Their love has grasped me beyond
return, and I can only hope that they felt as much love from me as well. Thanks
to everyone that made this trip possible. Calling it a blessing is a sure
understatement.
Connor:
Prior to my voyage to Haiti I had certain
expectations of what I would see in the cities and upon the countryside due to
my prior experience in Africa. But I was completely mistaken. Some expectations
were wrong in a good way and others in a bad way; meaning that certain things
were better than initially expected and others worse. As we got out of the 100
degree airport and got into the 110 degree 16 passenger van, the city of
Port-au-Prince was not at all what I expected. The city smelled horrible. As we
drove through the city on our way towards the mountains there was pile after
pile of garbage in the streets that no one cleaned up. There is no garbage
disposal industry in place to take care of these items so they go wherever they
can fit. And on a regular basis it was burned, multiplying the horrible stench.
As we got into the beautiful mountains that changed a lot, it was much cleaner
and the fresh air was amazing. The mountain people used a farming technique
called terrace farming in order to grow crops on the hills. Some hills at
angles of what had to be close to 70 degrees. The views were magnificent. When we
arrived in Jacmel we were still on paved roads until we turned onto a rough dirt
road where we found our hotel. We finally were there and we got to meet the kids
the next day. It was amazing all the boys and girls from one to twenty running
around and playing. But things were not all positive. Everyone was barefoot or
playing in what someone might call a pair of sandals, but they were hardly
that. I really connected with a few kids because of my ability to speak minimal
French. A little boy in particular named Colson that lived in the same building
as the church was quite a strong kid. He had some real family troubles that no
one should have to deal with. Another young man I connected with was Gabi. Gabi
helps with restore Haiti with travelling and translating and other purposes. He
is a kind of laid back but fun kind of guy. We joked around like we had known
each other our whole lives. Meeting him has definitely changed my life for the
better. He has really helped me to understand what standing up for what you
believe in is. He loves Christ and he wants to better his country, but
sometimes he gets ridiculed for not being like others in Haiti. It was
difficult saying goodbye to all the amazing people I met. Hopefully one day I
can get a fantastic opportunity to return and do more good for the small
community that has made such a great impact on
me.
Betsy:
I have always wanted to go on a mission trip into another country
to help those in desperate need.
Approximately 10 years ago I thought I was supposed to go that mission
trip to Russia. That
mission trip to Russia never happen and all the hard word, hopes, and dreams
left me devastated. Looking back,
the answers finally came to me.
God had a bigger and better plan for my life.
This past week in Haiti has left a mark on my heart that will affect me
for the rest of my life. This was
THE most challenging as well as the most amazing place I have experienced in my
life. The physical, emotional,
mental poverty of SO many people seen in Haiti has brought me back to many parts
in my life and has helped me to remember where I was and where God has brought
me to today. I could never express
in words how SAD I am for the people of Haiti as well as how HAPPY I am to see
the difference that God is making in the people of Haiti form what it once was
to where it is now. I to once
again give thanks to all the sponsors and the people who made this trip possible
for us all to go over to help with the Restore Haiti project.
God Bless
Chad:
All the group meetings in the world could not have prepared me
for this past week. Yes, I
understood the general idea of what a missions trip was, but this was so much
more than missions, this was about LOVE.
From the moment we got off the plane, we saw
Haitians from most aspects of life, but two things prevailed…Haitians are
happy/content people, Haitians are beyond impoverished.
For as long as I can remember, I have seen missions teams return to
churches after going abroad show pictures of those in poverty, naked children,
and deplorable conditions. Haiti
tops them all, by far. Port Au
Prince is filled with garbage, sewage, and things Americans would never tolerate
as “normal”. From the piles and
piles of garbage, to the constant running roadside stream filled with urine and
feces, the sights on our trip from the airport to Jacmel were overwhelming. The smell of burning garbage, sewage,
and body odor assaulted my senses in a way never experienced before.
When we arrived in Jacmel, the conditions were much better, the smiles
and hugs of the young children were so warm it made me forget about the visual
assault I had just been through.
Though a good portion of my mornings days were
spent in the community center’s computer room, the afternoons at the feeding
program and “hang time” with kids afterwards were the times I spent with the
children and young men of the small community we visited.
All you would need to do is stand still for two minutes and you would be
surrounded by children looking to just be loved.
They had no guards or walls up of any kind.
They warmly accepted all of us.
One of my favorite memories of the trip was when I went out to watch the
50 or so children gathered in a large circle doing jump rope.
As soon as I showed up, they stopped and asked me to get in the middle to
jump rope. Of course, I obliged
them. As they began to swing the
30 foot rope, I playfully began to go with the rope until the rhythm matched,
then jumped in. I made 3 or 4
swings of the rope before realizing they were all laughing at my “style”. I stopped jumping and held up my hands
as if to say “What?”. They laughed
and laughed, and I laughed too.
Too see the funny “white guy” doing jump rope probably made most of their
days, but I was glad to do it and would do it again in a
heartbeat.
The children of the small community stole my heart.
Though I did not connect with a specific individual more than others, I
was glad to teach many of them some new “high 5’s”, rhythm claps, fist bumps,
etc. I held children, laughed with
them, met them eye to eye, and shared moments of sheer joy with them. I will never forget their smiles,
laughter, and playfulness. They
are truly wonderful children who are happy, even though they have nothing. But do they really?
I would argue they have so much more than most have here in the United
States. They have true love,
compassion, and contentment. That
is my biggest take away from my trip to Haiti. Being happy and content with what I
have…compassionate beyond measure, and to love others with no limit.
My life will never be the same. To God be the glory, great things he hs done. God help me to understand how I can turn this
experience into an attitude of selflessness here at home.
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