It has taken two weeks to find a sense of equilibrium. Part of our hearts are still in Haiti, in the courtyard with the children, under the mosquito nets, in the weathered hands and faces of the clinic patients. What are the kids doing? Is the boy with impetigo better? Did the Advil help the back ache. Did our prayers express our love and respect for our Haitian neighbors?
The trip was everything I had imagined and more. It was harder at times than I expected but joyful and spirit filled and eye-opening. We served the children and the adults, providing knowledge and teaching and methods that are second nature to us in our daily work but revolutionary to students who are products of an education system that is 200 years behind the US. We all spent time preparing these presentations and materials to take with us and certainly we had success in each endeavor. Eight students developed a business plan. Thirty pastors heard some new views on dominion and a few even admitted recognizing a different biblical view in caring for their children and their wives. Over 150 patients were treated by the medical team and we pray found love and comfort in our hugs and prayers for healing. One sweet little girl, learned some new speech sounds and clearer words and two of her older "siblings" learned patience and teaching as they helped her practice. A teacher was given tremendous support and encouragement and useful teaching tools as she takes on the monumental task of changing the education system in Haiti, one teacher at a time. Great success stories!!
But perhaps the greatest thing we did was to fill up the love tanks of 43 children who have very little adult physical contact, stimulation or comfort. We held, sang, cuddled, rocked, played, danced, and skipped. As the days went by, they hugged harder, snuggled closer and learned our names. Relationships were formed. Each child picked their favorites and competition for laps was fierce. We wished for more knowledge of Creole songs, and games.
The rewards we found were in the connections we made with each other, with the Haitian adults who worked at the orphanage and served us with meals and laundry and the sweet children. We found pleasure in a simple routine with few distractions that kept us from communion with God, nature, each other. We found true worship, passionate connection with Christ and full reliance on faith for daily bread. We relinquished complete control of our schedules, meals, power, even clean clothes and showers. We gave up our self reliance and it was peaceful.
The reflections I have had since returning have primarily centered around the literature from such sources as When Helping Hurts (Corbett, Steve, Fikkert, Brian, Perkins, John and Platt, David (Jan 24, 2014) and Toxic Charity (Lupton, Robert D. (Oct 11, 2011). My corporate goal for FPC and Matthew 28 was the beginning of a long term relationship that will allow our church to be part of a change in the Bohoc area of Haiti that will use our resouces of time, talent and treasure to make a permanent change in the children and adults of these villages and surrounding area. The opportunity to respond to our faith with action in this area of the world is a powerful expression of the love of Christ. We need to feed and care for the children so they survive and we need to educate the children and adults so they can thrive. This means we are respectful and loving partners and not paternalistic problem solvers or glad handing gift givers. My greatest take away was the need to loving and serve our Haitian neighbors in a way that is empowering and but maintains their sense of self worth and identity.
Our next trip is planned for June 20 to 28 and we also have a trip planned for February 2015. Look for more information at our upcoming presentations and there will a meeting date announced for those interested in either trip in the next week.
Thank you to all who supported our trip with clothing, school supplies, medications and PRAYER. We took each and every bit of love and showered it on everyone we met. We made connections and we spread the love of FPC and Jesus Christ and THAT made a difference. Only God can imagine what more we can do.
