Haiti Trip 2012

As I attempt to assimilate back into the American culture, many thoughts and feelings creep into my mind, now that I have spent a week in Haiti. 

I honestly didn't know what to expect; I have learned not to try and guess what God might like to show me, and I just try to go along for the ride.  Previous to this trip I was most definitely aware of the suffering that goes on in the world; aware that we represent the top 20% of the world’s population that makes over $10 a day; and I was also aware of the blindness to it all.  I live in a world where needs are confused with wants--I saw this, and even realized it's truth within myself.  So I was incredibly curious as to how I would return.

The first few days were slow and somewhat easy as we adjusted to our surroundings at the compound (hospital and sleeping/eating quarters left), played with the kids from the orphanage and helped with the first dental clinic on site at Mission Haiti Medical (lower right).  The kids seemed pretty normal for kids, very interested in touching and playing with the blancs and for a little while, I felt like they were just the same as any other kids.  We played games and communicated the best we could using very broken English and even more broken Creole (I don't think I got too far past 'merci' the entire week).  I found it hard to believe their parents were either dead or unable to care for them.  They were raised by each other and the 74 year old missionary (the incredible Ms. Phillis pictured right) who runs the orphanage.  The kids at the orphanage realize they have it better than many other Haitian kids, since they are fed daily, get to go to school and have a bed to sleep on at night.  They cleaned the kitchen in the evenings, helped us with our projects around the compound and had time for their devotions each night.  They sat in a large circle and sang songs like Amazing Grace and Jesus Loves The Little Children.  The singing was alternated with prayer and mini sermons from the older kids, and sometimes a solo.  And then, I realized these are not normal kids.  Check out Jesus Loves The Little Children here: http://youtu.be/MFJ8K4BHyh0

A few times throughout the trip I was tempted to lust after the pleasures of the world.  In the airport I took to staring at a couple who seemed well traveled, foot loose and fancy free.  I thought for a moment how fun that looked, to have no obligations, no children, no ties. Our third day in Haiti was a day of R & R at the beach.  Walking into the Haitian resort was a step back into the world I was familiar with.  I was there to relax and others were there to serve me.  There was loud music, bikinis, people eating and drinking the same as any American vacation spot.  The world of stick and palm tree houses with tarp or tin roofs and half naked children suddenly seemed so distant.  The day was purely enjoyable; we snorkeled with slightly questionable snorkel gear (may have been the source of my stomach problems) as a single Haitian man rowed a boat full of American's out to sea.  We bought jewelry at the beach and for 1 day I was again exposed to the type of treasures I’m accustomed to.

Kids standing out side the girls' quarters

Some of the boys hanging out

Observing the orphan kids during the day and then listening to their evening devotions that night stood in sharp contrast to my day at the beach.  I knew they had never been to such a place and probably never would.  Yet their joy and enthusiasm for life seemed not to be lacking.  This group of thirty-something kids were happy.  I mean truly happy.  For the most part, they got along.  Their ages ranged from 13 months to 18, the older looked out for the younger and all 30+ kids sat still with one another, singing and praying without much of a complaint. There was no parent whispering for them to sit still or close their eyes.  In fact, I watched one little 18 month old peak during the prayer.  The girl next to him smacked his hands back over his eyes, and he didn't peak again.  I began to think about the riches God offers us, versus the one’s we’d choose for ourselves.  Previous to this, I always would have thought that being somewhere like the beach would be the most relaxing or maybe even rewarding thing I could do.  It paled in comparison to witnessing the joy these kids had.  They had much to teach me about life and parenting.  

Evening devotions

I sat with them in their circle, imagined them running off to their beds each night, to a room full of concrete walls and bunks with no parents to tuck them in and kiss them good night.  I wondered what their lives had been like prior to the orphanage, how their parents died, or what kind of living conditions they had been exposed to.  I wondered at their happiness and contentedness with life though they literally had nothing.  I wondered these things as I sat in their circle, listening to them sing Amazing Grace, and let the tears that filled my eyes stream down my cheeks. 

This theme--finding life and beauty among abject poverty--was one that ran throughout the week for me.  Many times I stood in awe of the Haitian people, and other times my stomach felt sick and my heart ached for the difficult life they must endure.  I was continually surprised to see the joy that poured forth from their lives and their ability to work so hard.  On Saturday we walked through the village on the other side of our concrete wall.  Homes were made of mud, sticks or leaves; children ran around dust covered and naked at times.  One lady walked up to Dr. Mark seeming to show off her baby, but she was actually trying to give the baby away, knowing that she couldn't care for its most basic needs.

 Sunday was church, and I was shocked to see how many of the people at church were dressed based on the type of homes they came from.  They looked better than nice.  Their whites were beautifully white and pressed.  They wore hats and high heeled shoes, but they live in squalor.  They sang and prayed and sang and prayed for at least 3 hours, with a few sermons sandwiched in between.  The children all sat in their chairs and behaved for the most part (though they were thrilled to stare at us and make funny faces).   The church was more than grateful to have our group of 25 blancs visit their church, and at the end many of the parents and children came over to say hello.

I witnessed their gratitude many times during our clinics.  Five of the days we drove or hiked to a village and set up a medical clinic in the villages' local Christian church.  Some villages hadn't had a medical clinic there for 3 years, and for one small village it had been 10 years.  People lined up at the door, and we were able to give 400 to 500 people medical and dental care and send them home with basic medicines and vitamins.  Some people passed out in their dental chairs after being anesthetized, most likely because they hadn't eaten that day.  One girl literally left skipping after getting a badly needed tooth pulled.  Some brought in sick and malnourished babies and were able to leave with much needed vitamins and medicine.  Though our incredible doctor's helped many, some were beyond our care: a paralyzed 17 year old boy who fell out of a tree and broke his back; a 5 year old boy with cerebral palsy; a 70+ woman with extreme osteoporosis (pictured right).  But no matter what their cases were, the people were loved and treated like image bearer's of God by our doctor's and dentist's.  Though they had next to nothing, the entire village always pitched in and cooked a feast after each clinic to show their thanks.  Usually something like beans and rice, fried plantains, and chicken (or goat?).  It was incredible to see such gratitude, from people who have next to nothing.

Ladies' cook outside over an open fire
while we finish up the clinic

 





One village required a 3 1/2 hour hike to the top of a mountain.  The trail was a switchback washout trail, rocky and steep.  Our group had to stop multiple times for drink and snack breaks--it was truly exhausting and I was glad to have the hike over early in the week.  The Haitians we passed wore something similar to crocs or flip flops, carried no water, and sometimes had things on their head.  They are incredible people.  Dr. Mark mentioned that some of the kids in the village get to go to school, which means they must make that hike daily.  He also mentioned that Mission Haiti used to be able to feed the kids at school once a day.  In some cases that may have been the only meal the kids had.  It was very difficult to imagine a child making that 3 1/2 hour hike (5 1/2 round trip) everyday to school without the guarantee of a meal.


The Haitian people care about their appearance, school uniforms are shirts with sleeves and skirts that reach beyond the knee.  Tattoos are not well received.  For the most part, a T-shirt is just a T-shirt, and as long as it fits, they wear it.  Most of the T-shirts people wore had English writing on them, and I soon realized that they had no idea what their shirts said or where they came from.  Sometimes this was funny, like the old guy who lived in a small remote village who wore a shirt that said, "I'm with fartface" (wish I had a picture).  I laughed so hard I cried about this one.  Who donates shirts like that to Haiti anyway?!?!

One evening, back at the compound, I noticed one of the orphan boy's in a yellow Dora shirt.  The next day a little four year old girl was wearing the same Dora shirt.  I began to be curious about what their rooms looked like at the orphanage, and how they knew whose clothes belonged to whom.  The next day we walked over to visit the orphanage and see where these kids spent most of their lives.  As I walked into the girl’s rooms, I tried to imagine the kids I had begun to take quite a liking to, sleeping and living here.  I tried not to act surprised, this was their home and for Haiti it was nice.  The walls were concrete, as well as the floor, but everything had a covering of dirt on it.  Some of the mattresses were bare, the beds had nothing on them for decoration or comfort.  There was a solitary shelf with a few pairs of old shoes on them.  That was it.  I tried to imagine my own children sleeping there.  Never.  Not even for a night.  Yet the kids I had fallen in love with, who had sat on my lap and sang to me, who had played and braided my hair each night, slept here.  Quite appropriately Dr. Mark happened to mention, “They really need some new mattresses.  If one of them pee their bed at night, there isn’t much they can do about it.”  My heart sank and I shuffled out of the room and scooped up three year old Matino, threw him on my hip and kissed his chocolate colored cheek.  I exhaled loudly, feeling slightly overwhelmed.  I observed the other kids playing basketball, playing on the play ground equipment or just tagging along with us.  I was bewildered once again at their happiness, and concluded that evidently material wealth does not bring the greatest joys in life.  I returned to the states with the realization that beauty does occur among tragedy--in fact the world's most intense beauty just might exist in the places you'd least expect it.

Mission Haiti Medical is an outstanding organization led by Dr. Mark Fulton.  He is an incredible man of God that loves the Haitian people very much.  The picture is of Dr. Mark giving one of his good friends, Wisnel, a checkup.

Dr. Mark is packing a semi in 2 weeks to send to Haiti (and he only ships a semi twice a year).  Please check the website for a list of items they are currently collecting.  http://www.missionhaitimedical.org/getinvolved.html  I will personally pick up any items you may have!  Baby formula would be fantastic!  Also if anyone has a way to purchase twin mattresses at a discount, we could load up to 70 on the semi.  I think it would be awesome to get the kids at the orphanage new (or gently used) mattresses.  Please e-mail me (emmagracejohnson02@gmail.com) if you have anything you'd like to donate.  You can also donate funds online on the website.