Now that we are back home, I have begun to process our time
spent in Haiti last week. Serving in
Haiti with Reiser Relief was a truly amazing experience. Our leaders had been to Haiti many times but
the rest of us were first timers, not exactly sure what to expect. We were in it together and ready to help out
in whatever way we could! As we left the
airport we realized (as was said in previous blogs) “This #%*@$ Just Got Real.”
Haiti touches all of your senses.
Sight: There is still
clear evidence of the devastating earthquake in 2010 yet there has also been
much rebuilding that has occurred. There
are many areas where garbage has gathered uncollected for long periods of time,
rivers and ditches filled with waste, goats, pigs and chickens wandering the
streets. This stands in contrast with the beauty found in the countryside and mountains.
Sound: The noisiness
that comes with a large city. Honking
horns is a common way of communicating to other drivers! Music from the clubs
in the evening, dogs barking and the sounds of everyday life. The sound of the wind as it blew through the
tree branches in the mountains.
Smell: A busy city
complete with the smell of diesel exhaust and rotting refuse. The fresh air found in the mountain allowing one
to smell the mint and herbs growing around us.
Sensation: The sun
shining down heating us all up, using our hands to provide healing touch,
holding babies to provide comfort.
Taste: Eating Haitian
style food prepared by the staff at the guesthouse, fresh fruit, spicy peanut
butter, hot sauce.
Haiti also touches your heart.
Throughout our week in Haiti we served at facilities run by
missionaries from foreign countries to provide care for “the least of these my
brothers”, providing humble service to the poor and neglected. They were truly examples of love in action-
selfless people making a difference to those that have literally been
discarded. We also served in facilities run by Haitian nuns working to provide
care for the elderly who had no resources to sustain themselves and no one else
to care for them. We met Haitian educators that run schools and community
centers in the most impoverished neighborhoods to help provide better opportunities
for the younger generations by providing education and safe places for children
to be in the midst of a danger zone. We
experienced how the ill are cared for in a hospital. We were also traveled outside of Port Au
Prince to an ecological preserve in the mountains. Here they are working on ways to build
structures using recycled materials such as Styrofoam food pods transformed
into building blocks and insulation.
They are also providing education to the younger generation in order to
show them that there are other ways to do things.
Our team was a diverse group of people brought together in
the spirit of volunteerism. Each of us
had our own fears and hopes for our time in Haiti. However, all of us were focused on helping
out in whatever way we are able. We
learned at Kkottongnae that serving
in this way takes courage. Whether
or not is was courage, blind enthusiasm, God working in us or a little bit of
all 3, our team jumped in without hesitation to feed a child, wash feet,
provide massage and range of motion, hold and comfort crying babies and young
children, provide “spa” treatments, dance with the ladies, play with the
children or prepare and serve a meal. No
task was too small. It was an amazing experience to be with this group as each
of us stepped outside of our comfort zones for the purpose of serving others.
It seems that the things we were able to offer were small,
yet, being present with each person we touched provided a positive moment in the
space we shared with them. The team felt
these moments as we were rewarded with smiles, laughs, giggles, hugs, dancing
and so forth. Being present in the
moment was important and impactful.
Through these experiences we were able to see the nature of the Haitian
people. Friendliness and curiosity
abounded. Happiness and joy were ever
present. Hope shined through those even in
the most extreme situations. The human
spirit is remarkable. Gods grace was
present with us. It was an honor to be with these people and provide what we
could.
We had special moments within our team as well. We
celebrated Ellen’s birthday. We also
celebrated Gail’s baptism. It was a
moving experience to be with our Haitian hosts and our Reiser Relief team
sharing a moment of rebirth in Christ in such a peaceful place.
Throughout this trip, I needed to be intentional in setting
aside my US lenses and to have an open heart to be able to see Haiti without
judgment, as it is, impoverished but rich with people proud of their history,
devastated by natural disasters countered with the spirit for persevering and
rebuilding, lacking in resources but abundant with people working creatively
with what is available, a place where many are cast aside yet filled with
people working to provide education to the younger generations to be different
than the past, people experiencing true suffering touched by the selflessness of
those working to alleviate the suffering.
I learned about the strength of faith and small deeds and how those can
lift the human spirit. Haiti has taught
me that being present with someone in humble actions can be impactful. I learned that there is happiness despite
struggle and above all, there is hope even in the most desperate of
circumstances.
Yes, Haiti truly touches your heart.
Rachel Dvorak
Sandra probably always assumed she would be ready for death
when her day finally arrived. The people of Cite Soleil may likely believe the
same thing. This awareness can serve as a daily reminder for all of us to be
prepared mentally, emotionally, and spirituality because we never know the day
or hour in which we will be called from this life.
