Haiti.
A place that has been labeled and known as one of the poorest countries in the world.
Endless amounts of trash covering the streets, stagnant water, and fish from the street market consume your senses without warning. Your eyes squint and your breathing slows down, hoping to shield the dust and dark clouds of car pollution from entering into your lungs. You cover your ears and walk with extra caution as the traffic excessively honks its horns, sirens blare, and breaks screech to the chaotic drivers weaving in and out of lanes.
Your immediate reaction to your surroundings, to this way of life, to the filth and overwhelming chaos is confusion, a bit of fear and heartache. And I don’t think those feelings ever really disappear. You sit with the Lord and ask why things aren’t getting better over the years. How do they live like this? Can’t we do more to help?
In the midst of my frustration and lack of understanding He says, “Let me show you Haiti through my eyes.” And in that moment a shift occurs and everything becomes a bit more beautiful.
Darkness turns to light.
Heartache turns to hope.
Fear turns into peace, love and understanding.
The trash doesn’t disappear and the layers of dirt covering you and your belongings is just as thick as before. Yet Jesus reminds you that he doesn’t look at your filth when he see’s you. Though it’s there in plain sight and he often has to fight through it to get to the core, His focus is on your heart and your soul.
The heart and soul of Haiti is beautiful. A pure and simplistic lifestyle leaves a space for God to move, an openness actually quite foreign to the American way of life focused heavily on work, money, and material pleasures.
Where others see poverty, desperation and filth, God sees a beautiful culture living to love, to serve one another and to know Him more. Haitians are gentle, patient, kind, hopeful and so appreciative of anything you may add to their lives – time, wisdom, prayer, love, or support.
Our host, Pastor Jean Claude, said something I will never forget. He said, “Here in Haiti, we aren’t living, we are surviving.” When we asked Pastor how they meet the need for food, for school fees for the kids and other basic living requirements, he confidently responded, “We trust the Lord, and he provides.”
He provides more than their financial needs. He gives hope. He brings light.
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
??John? ?8:12? ?
This month, I have discovered the need for space, simplicity and hope. I have gained a new understanding of trust and reliance on the Father to lead, to love and provide. This month I did life with a Haitian family that trusts in the Lord regardless of whether they have food for the day. A way of life centered around love, gentleness, joy and appreciation like I’ve never seen before. They may not have it all, but what they do have is enough. They praise the Lord in all things and for all things and somehow the rest falls into place.
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Keep an eye out for Haiti Part II, coming soon!
