The only word to come to mind is humbling. Before I left the states multiple friends and family members all called with concerns, worries and lots of questions.
Honestly, I was scared. Feeling the days approaching upon me and knowing soon my feet would be touching a new ground, a life turning moment for me. It wasn’t long after getting off the plane and seeing this country so filled with love and faithfulness to our God; there was no reason to have a scared bone in my body.
There were a couple of times during our mission trip that I knew God was reaching out his hands and letting our bodies just feel the love he had on his people in Haiti. I was in Mountain of Bayonnais visiting the orphanage, when the sounds of a small baby in the other room cried of loneliness. A young girl no older than 8, came into the room carrying Cynthia in her arms, the little baby still crying. . Cynthia reached out her hands and looked me right in the eye, as to say hold me.
I spent the next few hours holding and loving on her. She would be the first to feel the love I had for Haiti. As I walked around the school, church and orphanage I found myself wanting to touch all of them, to share with them how special they were. How much Jesus loved them and I was here to share the love of Jesus with them. I knew within the first 24 hours Haiti was becoming my second home.
I could feel God pulling and showing me everything I could do. I came to love just walking around looking at and wanting to know everything. I couldn’t get enough. One of the hardest parts of the trip was seeing children walking the roads, I kept thinking of my own children.
It amazed me how many young children were on the streets carrying gallons of water on their small heads. God is watching and protecting them. Having a vision still in my head of two small children holding hands walking on the side of the road, not a side walk, but the side of the rode where cars drive 60-80 miles an hour past you. They don’t look behind to see the cars coming right for them not even the 3 year old blinks. Watching women bath their children on the side of the road, looking up at you naked. Our car could very easily go to the right and everyone would be hit, but they just sit there. They can’t feel the fear, or is it they shut the fear out.
It was becoming a little over whelming for me, the yellow eyes looking at you, the sounds of the night and mostly the children who were so hungry wanting just a small piece of bread. I had just bought a necklace and bracelet for my daughter and was wearing it, when I was feeling sadness and not knowing what my purpose was in Haiti. Asking God for direction, understanding, why am I here? I have nothing to offer! As those thoughts ran in my mind, I passed a small house with 7-9 kids playing outside, yelling, “bye-bye, bye-bye”, It was the only English they knew. It was almost like a scene out of a movie, I was talking to them telling them how beautiful they were, using my favorite word in Haiti, “BELL”, (beautiful) next thing I knew they all ran up to me touching my hands, arms, hair and my daughters necklace. A little girl gave me a smile from God himself. I took the red necklace off and put it over her neck. The kindness from your eyes will last me a lifetime. Her sister came over next playing with my hair and asking for my bracelet. I walked away with my hands empty and a lesson from God. I was only a few feet away when I realized I had about a dozen children walking beside me wanting to hold my hand. I didn’t want to leave; I wanted to share with them the love I had to give. I think we use the word, “LOVE,” without the understanding of what it means. When your heart breaks for someone else and you just want to take the pain away from them, give them a little happiness, share your heart with them. That’s LOVE.
Sunday was our last day in Haiti; it was a day God made sure to last. Having the honor of listening to two of my friends preach the gospel words from their hearts. Speaking about Jesus and the love he has for even the people who don’t know him. Tod Mowery and Djumy September have a gift to share the love with the Haitian people.
There were a couple of times during our mission trip that I knew God was reaching out his hands and letting our bodies just feel the love he had on his people in Haiti. I was in Mountain of Bayonnais visiting the orphanage, when the sounds of a small baby in the other room cried of loneliness. A young girl no older than 8, came into the room carrying Cynthia in her arms, the little baby still crying. . Cynthia reached out her hands and looked me right in the eye, as to say hold me.
I spent the next few hours holding and loving on her. She would be the first to feel the love I had for Haiti. As I walked around the school, church and orphanage I found myself wanting to touch all of them, to share with them how special they were. How much Jesus loved them and I was here to share the love of Jesus with them. I knew within the first 24 hours Haiti was becoming my second home.
I could feel God pulling and showing me everything I could do. I came to love just walking around looking at and wanting to know everything. I couldn’t get enough. One of the hardest parts of the trip was seeing children walking the roads, I kept thinking of my own children.
It amazed me how many young children were on the streets carrying gallons of water on their small heads. God is watching and protecting them. Having a vision still in my head of two small children holding hands walking on the side of the road, not a side walk, but the side of the rode where cars drive 60-80 miles an hour past you. They don’t look behind to see the cars coming right for them not even the 3 year old blinks. Watching women bath their children on the side of the road, looking up at you naked. Our car could very easily go to the right and everyone would be hit, but they just sit there. They can’t feel the fear, or is it they shut the fear out.
It was becoming a little over whelming for me, the yellow eyes looking at you, the sounds of the night and mostly the children who were so hungry wanting just a small piece of bread. I had just bought a necklace and bracelet for my daughter and was wearing it, when I was feeling sadness and not knowing what my purpose was in Haiti. Asking God for direction, understanding, why am I here? I have nothing to offer! As those thoughts ran in my mind, I passed a small house with 7-9 kids playing outside, yelling, “bye-bye, bye-bye”, It was the only English they knew. It was almost like a scene out of a movie, I was talking to them telling them how beautiful they were, using my favorite word in Haiti, “BELL”, (beautiful) next thing I knew they all ran up to me touching my hands, arms, hair and my daughters necklace. A little girl gave me a smile from God himself. I took the red necklace off and put it over her neck. The kindness from your eyes will last me a lifetime. Her sister came over next playing with my hair and asking for my bracelet. I walked away with my hands empty and a lesson from God. I was only a few feet away when I realized I had about a dozen children walking beside me wanting to hold my hand. I didn’t want to leave; I wanted to share with them the love I had to give. I think we use the word, “LOVE,” without the understanding of what it means. When your heart breaks for someone else and you just want to take the pain away from them, give them a little happiness, share your heart with them. That’s LOVE.
Sunday was our last day in Haiti; it was a day God made sure to last. Having the honor of listening to two of my friends preach the gospel words from their hearts. Speaking about Jesus and the love he has for even the people who don’t know him. Tod Mowery and Djumy September have a gift to share the love with the Haitian people.
Two different men come together as ONE, to spread the word. Tod sharing in English as Djumy translated in Creole, they read each other minds and held everyone listening, on the edge of their sits, wanting to hear what they both had to say next. Hearing their voices echo in the village, people stood outside to hear how special they are to God. It was a privilege to listen as the word of God was shared with so many who suffer, who believe in something we all want, faith, love and hope. After worship we walked to the river to watch as two men gave their life to our Lord. How remarkable to watch someone publicly hand there life over to Jesus.
To see how they endure from being hungry having nothing but maybe the clothes on their backs, to still believe God hasn’t left them, but he sent his one and only son to them. To watch them give their life over to Jesus, to share their faith in one and only one, Our Savior Jesus Christ. I was Baptist a few years ago, but for the wrong reason, not because I wanted my life to be like Jesus, but to act like my life was.
To see how they endure from being hungry having nothing but maybe the clothes on their backs, to still believe God hasn’t left them, but he sent his one and only son to them. To watch them give their life over to Jesus, to share their faith in one and only one, Our Savior Jesus Christ. I was Baptist a few years ago, but for the wrong reason, not because I wanted my life to be like Jesus, but to act like my life was.
So it was an honor when Travis Walker held my hand and publicity Baptist me in the river of Haiti, to show not only the love and faith I have for my Savior, but for the new love I had for Haiti.
We had the privilege after the service to go back to the village and work on the church, building new stairs, delivering a stove to the preacher’s house and watching how the day moves in the village of the Haitian people.
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We had the privilege after the service to go back to the village and work on the church, building new stairs, delivering a stove to the preacher’s house and watching how the day moves in the village of the Haitian people.
Sitting on the cold concrete, preparing dinner with a dozen women, holding and talking with the children as I just watched how extraordinary this was God country, I felt like a story out of the Bible. So plain, simple, faith driven, devotion, loyalty and complete dedication surround me as I listened to the sounds of children play, men working, women doing their daily chores and the animals sharing in the chatter.
One little boy was on the pouch playing with his flip flops, making the sounds of a car, zooming past him. It’s amazing their imagination, how something so simple for us, is gold to them. To end our last night in Haiti, we brought a projector with us to show a movie. It was the perfect ending to a perfect week. Watching a movie on the church floor surrounded by the love of many children, I felt the angels present; I honestly didn’t want the night to end. Hearing the laughter and watching the smiles of some many with so little.
Haiti was a place of peace for me. Knowing in the world today we have people who believe in the word of God and live only by the faith of the bible, this is how they get out of bed each day and survive the long hard life they have. I believe one person can make a difference, a person with a vision and a person who has the belief that God can do anything. Haiti culture doesn’t need to change; they just need a person strong enough to believe life can be better. Build a village strong enough to withstand earthquakes, a church, school and medical clinic. Build the walls around them to start a new life, teach them how they can work together as a community, with the love of God on their side. One person, with a dream, a vision and a little faith, I can look in the mirror and know God put me on that plane for a reason, even after saying, “NO”, someone believed in me, and now it’s time for me to believe.
Haiti was a place of peace for me. Knowing in the world today we have people who believe in the word of God and live only by the faith of the bible, this is how they get out of bed each day and survive the long hard life they have. I believe one person can make a difference, a person with a vision and a person who has the belief that God can do anything. Haiti culture doesn’t need to change; they just need a person strong enough to believe life can be better. Build a village strong enough to withstand earthquakes, a church, school and medical clinic. Build the walls around them to start a new life, teach them how they can work together as a community, with the love of God on their side. One person, with a dream, a vision and a little faith, I can look in the mirror and know God put me on that plane for a reason, even after saying, “NO”, someone believed in me, and now it’s time for me to believe.
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