Epilogue

Weeks before our departure, I was having coffee with a friend who has had extensive mission experience. She knew this was my first time and had graciously offered to meet with me. Hour after hour, she listened to the litany of questions and concerns that poured from my Type A mindset. At one point in my self purging, I expressed marvel over why we should spend the funds to transport volunteers to Haiti, when, "We could just write a check instead." I will never forget her response. "Adam, it is because of what it does for those who go."

I now know how wise her words were. It is true that my perspective has been changed and my values have been reformatted. But it goes deeper still. The shell that had protected the constructed self of my ego is gone and my exposed heart beats with a new, strong, sensitivity.

Thank you Haiti. I have received so very much more than I gave.....

Dignity & Gratitude

Dignity is still alive in Haiti. Even before our week here was over, it became evident that there is an admiral spirit within the Haitian people. A determination to lift themselves above their circumstances, no matter how dire the surroundings. My thoughts return to a gentleman who was having his shoes shined amidst the chaos of a local street market. He could not have walked more than ten feet without stepping in the surrounding muck! Wrapped around that determination is a gratitude of thanks that can not be contained. Whether it be scrawled on walls, illustrated on the side of public buses, or communicated with broad smiles.......these people continue to be thankful.

Back in the USA

At 7:10 PM, our fancy jet landed at the ultra-modern Miami airport.  By 8:10 we had all cleared immigration, received luggage, and cleared customs. We dined together at a food court in the airport, and then split up for three different hotels. Our final conversation revolved on the spectacular blessing that we received to be able to have this experience in Haiti.  Already, it seems like the things we saw were impossible, as if we have returned from a distant planet.  The gaudy displays of wealth and consumption in the airport seemed preposterous.  Yet we know that this American society is just as real as the other that we saw in Haiti. Now that we have seen and experienced the stark, stunning differences between these two worlds, we cannot forget or cease to care for our brothers and sisters in Haiti.  The Haitians that we met were gracious, grateful, sincere, humble, and friendly. To be that way while surrounded by and living in such immense poverty is a testimony to their beautiful spirits and sincere hope for a better future. Haiti is no longer a mysterious, scary place for us.  We know it as the home for millions of wonderful people who struggle every day against disease, hunger, and hopelessness. 

It was only a one-week mission trip.  But we were changed forever.  May God bless and protect the people of Haiti, and keep them forever in our thoughts so that we never forget how much they need and deserve our help.  We can make a difference, each and every one of us.  With God at our side, how can we fail?

Parting Thoughts

Today is our final morning in Haiti. We have seen amazing things (albiet disturbing) and met amazing people and must now think about re-entry into our 'normal lives." How do you describe an experience like this? Well, we will have a long flight back home to process. Regards to all who have been following this mission and thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
Judy

Some photos from Christina

Tent Camp Photos

A visit to a tent camp.

A rainy day most of the time, but not ferocious rain.  No wind at all.  If this is a hurricane, I’m not impressed.  However, the day itself was extremely impressionable. We started after breakfast by helping to sort and inventory the many tools and medical supplies left by dozens of previous teams to Haiti.  They had no idea of how much of what they had stuffed in boxes and abandoned suitcases.  We haven’t yet finished with that, because we got to do something great.

Another team invited us to join them in bringing food to a tent community.  We first drove with them to the Christian Light orphanage, stopping to pick up Kez Furth along the way.  Kez is an American nurse, 26 years old, working in Haiti for the past 3 years.  She is one of those amazing people who make you feel as if you have wasted your life.  She was here during the earthquake and is credited with saving many lives.  Apparently she has been interviewed on CNN about that.  Kez got us organized at the orphanage, filling 106 bags with rice and a smaller bag in each one full of beans.  A man here from Mississippi had brought the large plastic bags with him to Haiti.  He didn’t know why, he just felt moved to bring them.  We had the smaller bags with us, and nobody knows why we had them.  But, the bags were all present, and we filled them with food for the tent community.  Then we drove there while some of us walked.  At the tents, each tent received one bag of rice and beans.  Each also received a tiny bottle of water purification tablets.  Four little kids from the orphanage explained to each tent how to use them.  It was sort of organized chaos.  Lots of crowding, lots of kids, lots of babies, lots of adults.  Tents were very crowded together.  People enjoyed having their pictures taken.  Several moms or dads asked me to take photos of their children.  Many kids had the orange hair of malnutrition.  One had a very bad cleft palate.  A proud mom displayed her two chubby twin babies (just a few weeks old).  This went on for about an hour, and then there was a more or less sudden order to get back to the truck.  Evidently things were getting a bit rowdy, and Kez was worried about our safety.  So, now we have a much better idea of what a tent camp looks like.  But, to actually live there for months and months and months is unimaginable.  The vast chasm between the comfort of our lives and the poverty of theirs is nearly beyond belief.  We need to fix this.  We need to do more.