Today is a Beautiful Day

Today, today is a beautiful day. Today is a day where life sprouts out of the cracks in the fallen buildings around me, children run down the street chasing birds they cannot catch, and adults sing songs to God with a passion, love, and a faith which stretches into the unknown.

On Tuesday one of the Haitian workers at Child Hope named Paul came to me asking if I could help his sick wife since he did not have enough money to visit a doctor, which is only about $10! He said she could not stand without fainting and that she had really bad stomach issues. After talking it over with Ashley (Child Hope’s nurse), we decided to go visit Paul’s residence to check on her. Paul lives in a large tent city which is overflowing with people. As you walk down the dirt roads kids come up asking for whatever you have, most often times saying that they are hungry. Their pleas will always haunt me; yet continue to instill a drive in me to help. When we arrived at Paul’s tent we took off our sandals and entered the small living quarters. On the ground wrapped in a blanket was Paul’s frail wife. She was in obvious pain and was unable to sit up. She described to us that she had been having a high fever, chills, and severe stomach issues. Every time she talked seemed like a struggle and just trying to raise her head was a problem. Ashley gave the women medication for both malaria and the stomach problems and we gave Paul money for extra food. Yet before we left, we got everyone together and said a prayer. In that instant something beautiful happened. In that hot, humid, dark tent, when all hope seemed so far away and dignity was none existent, grace and peace descended as if a hand was gently resting upon everyone’s head. Looking around I caught a glimpse of something beautiful. All of the sudden during the prayer the women’s face burst into a beautiful smile for the first time. Seeing this sent such a surge of joy to every part of my body, it felt as if I could not contain it and joy was shooting out of my fingertips and into the hands joining mine. After we finished Ashley and I told the women we would be back tomorrow. When we returned we found the women standing in the doorway of her tent looking as if she had never been sick. We have an awesome God who cares, feels, and loves us infinitely. Thank you God for showing up.

The Veil of Society

So I sit on the roof of our house, looking over the Haitian horizon with so much on my mind, but somehow it all seems to evaporate into the swirling sunset clouds above me. I feel as if God has been painting this scene all day, for it is beautiful beyond words.

Everyday I spend here I feel like my view of reality is being blow apart. For example, on Sunday we went to church and it was beautiful as both Haitians and foreigners joined hands and worshiped Jesus. After the service our group traveled to a local fast food restaurant. I had been talking to my Haitian friends in the group and when we entered the food area, we stopped near the door to continue our conversation. After the political debate we were having ended, I asked if they wanted to go sit with everyone in our group (who were, by the way, entirely white). My Haitian friends said they did not want to since they were not invited. I told them they did not need an invitation and they were welcome to join them, yet they still refused. Thus, I extended an invitation for them to sit at the table, but again they denied my invitation, explaining that it would be too awkward. The real reason that they did not eat with the group is that there exists in Haiti a class structure which all Haitians understand. Darker skin is often undesirable among the population and whiter skin is often a sign of wealth. I still go to bed sometimes in disbelief that such blatant racism exists; yet I have vowed to try and break down the system with my friends, even if I cannot change the country. Therefore, I replied that I’d rather stay with them. We then went to the upper part of the restaurant and had a great time, laughing until my muscles hurt when I smiled.

Another story I must tell is one of generosity, kindness, and love. A tinny boy named Davidson, who is only 10 years old and has the sweetest voice (it sounds like he has to fight for every breath), is getting 1000 goud for doing chores around the house. He explained that he was going to give 100 of it to his sister and 900 to his parents so they can care for his other siblings. He told me that he felt so terrible about spending the last 100 goud all on himself that he wanted to help others out so they could partake in his joy. I hope to have as good as heart as his one day, pure and selfless.

There are many things I wish I could portray this past week. I have seen both good and evil, and at times a beauty that no words of mine could ever do justice. What I can say is that these people shine with a warmth which penetrates to the bone. I pray that Haitians let their beauty shine throughout the world.

Bonjou Ayaiti

So I’m back in Haiti, feeling the warmth of the hot Haitian sun with open arms and a smile. It seems like so little has changed in this country since the first time I came. People here are still the friendly, charming people I first met just two years ago. Their ease to laughter and smiles, which literally stretch from ear to ear, fill me with such a joy its hard not to smile while I write this. The mountains beautifully nestle the city and the spectacular sunsets seem to make up for all the terrible tragedies these people have to endure.

But blocking much of the beauty of Haiti is the darkness which aims to destroy any light that these beautiful people try to emanate. With my return I am faced with starving children running the streets looking for food, restavecs enslaved just a few houses away and abused children left to suffer at the hands of their parents. Many of the kids at the orphanage have been subject to these conditions before entering. One of the boys in the orphanage first entered at a mere 18 pounds at 3 years old.

A particular boy’s story I would like to tell is one I still have trouble fully comprehending. His mother had two children with two separate fathers. His sister lives in America and is now in the US army while he lives in Haiti. She does not contact him and has never come to visit him. He explained that his mother and sister moved to the US with his sister’s wealthy father while he and his poor father continued to live in Haiti. To make matters worse his father beat him, told him he was not his child and that he did not care about him. He was beaten so badly one night that he ran away and found a woman who took care of him before taking him to the orphanage. While telling me this he said he became a believer in Christ through the experience and gives thanks to him everyday that he protected and continues to protect him. He now wants to earn enough money to support a family and be able to help other people in some way. His perseverance and love for others gives me hope for a better Haiti and a better world.

The first couple of days here have been hard work trying to get projects done at the transition house, teaching the kids how to do fractions and use a tape measure. Yet just being able to laugh and see the kids light up when they do something right brings me so much joy it is hard to explain. I pray that God blesses the Haitian people and that love shines through to the darkest corners of this island.