Our first full day in Haiti was spent at the compound. This is abnormal seeing as how we usually are painting or doing heavy construction work. For the entire day Katy and I worked with some members on a team from New Jersey. They brought down almost 100 laptops and were installing software on each of them so that they have basic programs, tutorials on how to use them, and Rosetta Stone. The school lunchroom is where we set up shop and downloaded away! From about 10 to 1 chitter chatter filled the room. Kids were so curious about the computers, any chance they got they would sneak back and take a peep before they were scolded by their teacher. The day looked very different than most days in Haiti but it was neat to see a different side of making an impact. Education and especially English are very valuable in Haiti. We were giving them in a very small way hope and a future. This is what I live to be a part of, something greater than myself!
After dinner that night I walked down stairs to spend time with the Pierre's, a sweet family that lives below us at the compound. There are 2 girls about my age that I love spending time with, Yslande and Jean Darling. During clean up I took dishes downstairs and I know that the girls wash them. My desire is to live life with the Haitian people just as I would with my friends and those I care about at home. So off to washing Yslande and I went. Washing dishes in Haiti as you can imagine is VERY different but I loved it! While washing them I learned 4 Creole words (yes 4 was my max!) and she taught me a worship song! Such a moment of great joy because this was a small piece of what heaven will look like. all the saints praising God together no matter where they are from or what color their skin. Oh how I long for heaven!
Today we joined the team at construction sites. Roofing was the main objective; however, since we had extra hands the girls got to love on the children. Today I held a 1 month old that has increased tone throughout her entire body, a 6 month old that I will tell you more about in a moment, and 2 sweet little girls. One girl about 3 years old fell asleep in my arms. Precious. And I danced with quite a few more children. I spun them around in circles and told the, they are princesses because I wanted them to know that they are princesses of the Most High King!
Now back to the 6 month old. This was a little boy with just a dress on. Yep a boy in a dress. Itsall they had. While holding him I did learn a Haitian wives tale. If a little boy urinates on you it's good luck and if a little girl urinates on you it's bad luck. Well thankfully no one urinated on me and so apparently I have no luck and I'm quite okay with that:) Now for the reason I have a heavy heart. This sweet little boy's mom through translator asked if she could sell him to me. WHAT? I mean you hear of things like this happening but still I didn't believe this actually happens. The mom went on to explain that the child's father was no where to be found, her mother died in the earthquake, she doesn't have a job, she isn't educated, she's hungry and so is her child. Like I said earlier I've heard stories such as these but experience this in real life will permanently change me. The translator said that she is one of many in Haiti like this. And yes my heart is for Haiti, but I'd be crazy to think that it was just here, y'all its all over the world. People in such need and poverty that they can only feed their infants once a day simply because they aren't nourished enough to produce more breastmilk. Of course I told this mom I wouldn't buy her baby and that she should never sell him, but that I would pray and as God to provide for her and her son. I reminded her of the truth from God's word that says "ask and you shall receive whatever you need." I fully believe in this truth. Please join me in this prayer. For this particular mom and all the others in the world in her same position.
I'll leave you with this thought which I also gathered from the New Jersey team's devotion our first night.
How are you using your position of privilege to help others?
My first thought was the privilege of all the stuff we have. Then of course there is the privilege of simply being born in America. BUT our true privilges as believers is the salvation, and through that, the grace of God in our lives. So what about you? How are you using your privilges to help others? If you can't answer that question I challenge you to make a resolution as to how to answer it and see the impact it will make in your life!
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