“Music is the universal language each and everyone understands. It heals broken hearts and sets the spirit free.”
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| Upper-left: "Tent" church Lower-left: Heather and Bill dancing after dinner Right: Kaylee and her friend at Sacred Heart home for abandoned women |
This theme weaved throughout Friday
from beginning to end. Many of us began the day not-bright-yet and early at
5:30 am so we could head to a 6:00 church service in a huge pole barn.
From the moment we stepped inside
the big white warehouse-looking building, I could hear slow guitar and piano
notes and a slight drumbeat under a man’s Creole spoken words. We found our
seats, and I started to feel my emotions swell with the chord progressions. Because
the entire service was in Creole, I had the chance to reflect on my volunteer
experience so far, my remarkable teammates, the Haitians in the room with me,
and the ones who weren’t.
I kept my eyes, ears and mind
open as I allowed everything to flow in—and out. Tears welled in my eyes, and
although I initially tried fighting it to keep from drawing attention to
myself, I let my tears fall by midservice. Happy tears, sad tears, grateful
tears, hopeful tears. This is very unlike me, and it was truly the music that
set my feelings loose.
I watched local church-goers pace
up and down the aisles with their hands in the air saying their own prayers
with such conviction that I know the music was moving them, too. I was clappin’
and groovin’ during a joyous song right before we left, and I saw a happy fellow stop
his dancing journey to translate one line of a song as he passed our group. He
wanted to make sure we didn’t miss the lyrics so we could fully take in the
song. My smile grew as I sang and clapped harder before we headed out to serve
the citizens of Haiti.
Music kept flowing throughout the
day. While at a home for sick and dying adults, some gals and I serenaded the ladies
while lotioning their dry skin and painting their nails. Our renditions of Backstreet
Boys, The Little Mermaid, and Spice Girls jams were a big hit and brought many
smiles to the women in their hospital beds. I hope our soothing touch and
entertainment lifted their spirits and made them feel loved for even a short
time.
At Sacred Heart home, another for
abandoned women, we sang songs and made jewelry for the ladies. Kaylee made the
cutest connection with a blind woman in a wheelchair who taught her a
children’s song. When they were apart for a bit, one of them would start
singing “do do ti ti cama calla lou” and they were brought back together and
holding hands in no time. The joy this quick friendship brought to the room was
beautiful. Before we left, Sister Aleda belted out a rockin’ song that got
everyone clapping and dancing.
We went to an authentic Haitian
restaurant for dinner and were greeted with live music. I met eyes with the
musician as I sang along to “Redemption Song,” and we shared a smile across the
room. Our group chatted and laughed throughout the meal while various musicians
provided a warm ambiance. A handful of our team members danced cheek to cheek
under the stars while a Wyclef Jean sound-alike created the perfect close to
our meal. We sang a few songs in the tap tap on the way home to round out the
evening.
Music continues to bring our team
members closer together, and with each stop on our trip we share the universal
language. Whether singing in English or Creole, songs and smiles go hand in
hand. You never know how your spirit will be set free.
Love from Haiti,
Amanda Bartschenfeld
Roseville, Minnesota
Read more about my experience at
www.akbinhaiti.wordpress.com
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