To start off, Haiti was FULL of crazy wild adventures that I will never ever forget. The first day we arrived in Haiti, we had to ride in this big white van for 5 hours, while it was pouring down rain and there were huge potholes everywhere. One of the biggest adventures that sticks out to me about that day was that we all decided to stop in this town called Hinch (I think that's what it's called) because Allison had to go to the bathroom extremely bad...she had been holding it for 4 hours! So four girls and two boys plus our driver person decided we needed to go, so we start following this one guy. He leads us through a scary alley way (remember this is when it's pitch black outside...at night...in Haiti) and shined his flashlight on this one door. So we're thinking oh we go to the bathroom here?? Right? No...wrong. We all squat down and pee just right there....this is Allison's first experience peeing on the ground outside. It was hilarious. Also note that before we went to the bathroom, we walked past random coffins. Can you say creepy?? Lol. Also on the ride up, Kristin had thrown up three times in her mouth. We both were not feeling very well at ALL! So yes, that was our first day in Haiti...sliding on mud roads, almost dying, and almost getting sick....all in one little 5 hour drive up in the mountains.
Another memory that sticks out to me was at a 4:30 a.m. service. At first I was not very happy that I had to wake up at 4 in the morning because...well it's 4 in the morning and I'm not a morning person at all. So we got there and first, the leader person gets up and tells us how thankful he is for the cement floor that we had poured for him the previous day. He was SO extremely gracious for it and it really opened up my eyes to how much little things mean to the Haitians. He had spent his whole life sleeping on dirt floors and by using just a couple hours of our time, we were able to change his whole living experience. That cement floor was huge to him and his family and while we were doing it, I never thought about it as being that big of a deal. It was one cement floor...we have tons of those in America, but he was SO thankful for it. That was so neat to hear. Also Adam and I got the opportunity to share our testimonies in front of the other Haitians and our team. That was a very humbling experience for me. I've shared my testimony before, but sharing it with them was amazing. Both of our testimonies were translated because they only speak Creole, so the fact that they were crying along with me and praying for me meant so much to me. Even though we live in completely different countries and speak completely different languages, that did not matter that day. I had gone through tough times in my life and so have they, but God helped ALL of us get through those hard times in our lives. The same exact God. I was so nervous to share my testimony, but am thankful that I did, because God gave me the strength to keep speaking even when it got to the really hard parts. I think they really connected with me and that was one of the neatest experiences I've had. Plus I got to see the sunrise, which I have not seen in years...literally ;)
God's beauty was around us everywhere in Haiti. Now, I've always loved nature and everyone who knows me, knows that I'm a nature freak. I love trees, clouds, leaves...everything. We were surrounded by mountains the entire time we were there. It was so gorgeous. Also the moon shone so brightly there every night. I remember one night we all looked up and saw the craziest clouds ever. The moon was there and there was a wall of clouds around it...the clouds were not moving whatsoever. Completely still. It was so awesome looking! Also, every time it rained, I absolutely loved it. It didn't just rain, though, it poured hard-core. I loved it and looked forward to it. Also the last night we were there, most of my team and I decided to stargaze out on the basketball court. The stars were so bright and were beautiful. That was definitely the best night there. We had so much fun together that night and took a lot of crazy pictures...Here's one of them below...
The kids there had a huge impact on me. On this trip, I realized that people are more important than projects, which is our motto for all other mission trips at Central. I decided to put aside the fact that we spoke a different language and just play with the kids! They didn't care whether or not you could actually converse with them...all they wanted was to hold your hand or play a hand-clapping game with you. They just wanted you to be there...beside them. Kids down there are so different from kids in America. In America, you have to try your hardest just to entertain them by buying them materialistic things, but in Haiti, the kids are amazed by one single balloon or one little bracelet. A soccer ball or frisbee there would be like a PS3 here. All you had to do was hold the little kid and they would be completely content. They were so precious. I got to hold a little girl at the second bible school we had and I wanted to take her home. She was an orphan because her parents had died in the earthquake...she was in the house along with them, but had survived. Here's a picture of her...
We just had a lot of awesome experiences in Haiti and I'm writing a blog for this because, for me, it's difficult to put everything into words. It's easier just to write them out for me. We did so many crazy things...we got stuck in a huge mud hole on a bus like this picture...
....which had a sign in the bus like this...
We got to ride on this with goats...yes, goats...
...to give away to families who needed them...
We got to hike up a Haitian mountain through grass that was as tall as your head...
...which led to a bat cave...
...and on the way down the 3 mile hike...6 miles total, we had to go through a mini river with friends that we'd made from the Orange City team...
...and were very tired at the end of our trek, but still had some strength left for a picture...
...we got to do a few clothing drives for the people of Haiti...
...and God even gave us the opportunity to give beans, rice, and oil to families in need...in which we carried on our heads =)...
...we got to ride on the back of pick-up trucks...
...and see tarantulas...
...God gave us the joy of playing games with children at VBS...
...and have lots and lots of dance parties...
These are a few highlights of my trip and what God gave us the opportunities to do. God IS working in Haiti...there is no doubt about that. When we first think of Haiti, we think of pain, poverty, and destruction. What we should be thinking is joy, love, and the fact that God's working there. We heard testimonies from previous witch doctors who had practiced Voodoo who had given their lives to the Lord. That, right there, shows how powerful God's grace is. Haiti has taught me how blessed we are here in America, and also what we can definitely improve here. It has been quite the struggle coming back to the states for me. It is culture shock. In Haiti, I never had to worry about my stresses here in America. I never thought about them at all, but once I came back, all of them came rushing back to me. I am no longer surrounded by people who love everyone and are kind to everyone and accept everyone. Instead, I'm surrounded by gossip, judgment, and cruelty. Why is it that we feel the need to put others down just to bring ourselves up? My eyes have been opened up so much by going to Haiti that it just is sickening to me how mean we are to other people...not only to their faces, but behind their backs. Friendship means loyalty, honesty, acceptance, and forgiveness...not gossiping, self-centeredness, jealousy, and hurt. When I look at some of my friendships here, that's what I see and it makes me want to cry. I almost cried the other night from realizing that that's what most of my friendships consist of.
Also, now, I'm surrounded by everyone wanting everything. This includes materialistic things and relationships and everything. We're always wanting, wanting, wanting...we don't need these things! They don't make us happy! I spent two weeks in Haiti and left almost everything there and I was filled with happiness! Materialistic things mean nothing compared to the glory of God. None of these things will matter once we're in Heaven and meet Jesus face to face. I feel so selfish wanting more and more, but it's very hard to get away from that mind-set.
Overall, this trip has taught me so much and has made me a better person because of it. I've had a lot of time just to think about everything I've learned and it's been really difficult, but good. I'm still in the processing mode, and it will be hard for days/weeks, but I think this is necessary for me to grow in my faith. I wish everyone could experience what I've experienced. I just hope I am able to bring back what I've learned into my friendships or relationships in general.
I wanna say thank you to all of you who have supported me in this trip both financially and spiritually. It means so much and I cannot express how thankful I really am. It means the world to me...it really does. Well, enough of me writing a book....orevwa! (I think that means good-bye in Creole haha).
