It was three months yesterday that I touched down in Haiti. I
still remember the confusion of staring at a sea of people outside the airport,
wondering which person was there to pick me up. I’ll never forget the confusion
and fear I felt wondering why God had brought me to this country by myself when
I knew no one. What could God possibly want with little ole me? I now long to
be back in this beautiful, broken country. To walk alongside the friends that I’ve
made. To love on the children. To pray with Lukeney, Watson and the other boys
as they crawl in their bunk beds and go to sleep. To talk with NeNe about life.
To wake up by the ocean and watch the sun rise and praise God for the work He
is doing in Haiti.
Sometimes I'm not sure where to begin when someone asks me
about my trip. Do I tell them about the amazing people I met, how beautiful the
country is, or the crippling poverty that forces many parents to give their
children over to orphanages? I made some of the most amazing memories while there. I rode my first moto (motorcycle), drank glo (water), had Creole lessons by the boys at the orphanage, drank coconut water straight from the coconut while in the ocean, and worshiped alongside Haitians. I met some of the most amazing godly Haitians who are
working hard to serve God and help the people of Haiti,as well as some amazing
Americans working in Haiti. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to
work with Touch of Hope while in Haiti and stay at their orphanage, Tytoo. I
love the people there and the organization and the work they are doing in Haiti
to provide the people of Simonette with a hand up, not a hand out. In addition
to the orphanage they have a clinic, school, and several, outreach programs;
the Denim Project and Starfish Program. The Denim Project employs several women
to sew items such as headbands, aprons, place-mats, coasters, etc. The work
they do is beautiful and provides an income for them to help support their
family. The products are sold at local stores in Haiti as well as taken back to
the U.S. to be sold. The starfish program meets every other Tuesday and teaches
women skills and provides support and encouragement to the women as they each
strive to be self-sufficient. The goal of the starfish program is to prevent
admissions to the orphanage. I had the opportunity to sit in on a starfish
meeting and while I couldn't understand what was being said I could see the
love and camaraderie these women have for one another and watched as they
eagerly learned how to knit. The social
worker in me loved seeing these community outreach programs and the lives that
have been transformed through these programs.
Break my heart Lord, for the things that break your heart,
was the prayer I continually prayed while down in Haiti, and continue to pray.
I lost my phone while I was in Haiti, leaving me with little contact with the
world outside Simonette. Yet God used that experience to draw me closer to Him.
Sitting on the porch swing overlooking the ocean in the early morning or late
at night while reading God’s word (instead of surfing facebook) were sweet
times with the Savior who ordained this trip to Haiti, even while I had my
doubts about my being there. Post Haiti has been an adjustment. Life doesn't seem
to slow down to give you time to recoup and reflect. Sometimes I can go a whole
day without thinking of Haiti, other times out of the seemingly blue a memory
of my time in Haiti will pop into my mind. I was in Old Navy the other week
shopping with a friend and was struck by how fortunate I am to have money to
buy clothes. One of the most poignant moments during my trip was the times I
got to spend with one of staff. I asked him about his dreams. He wanted to be
able to feed his family three meals a day. Because he is the only family member
employed he is also supporting extended family on both his and his wife’s side
in addition to supporting his wife and kids. He knows he is blessed to have a
job and goes to work every day with a smile on his face and an attitude ready
to face whatever tasks may come his way. His other dream; to have a small emergency fund
to be able to pay for any unexpected expenses, such as medical emergencies
or truck repairs. It brought tears to my eyes to hear of these simple requests.
The problems in Haiti seem overwhelming at times and it is
hard to know how to help, especially from an ocean away. I am hosting a jewelry
fundraiser to raise money for The Starfish program and the Gambrill family
(missionaries to Haiti). Please see my facebook page for more info on this if
you are interested in buying jewelry to support a good cause. I don’t know what
the future holds for me, but I trust in the God who holds my future. I would LOVE to return to Haiti, God willing.
If anyone is interested in joining me on a life changing mission’s trip please
send me a message. I would like to return next year, hopefully in the spring/summer.
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