Haiti in Review: Day 1

It's been a week since returning from Haiti so I'm long over due for a post describing and processing through my first international ministry opportunity.

My adventure started crazy early with a wake up call of 3 am. Somehow I managed to get up, finish the last minute packing, and clean the entire kitchen within an hour. Soon my friends and fellow team mates arrived and we were off to the airport to meet the rest of the team.

Somehow I ended up in first class which I wasn't going to turn down nor argue with, but I felt a little awkward as I waved the rest of the team to the back of the plane. I had never been in first class before so I had no clue what to expect...especially the amazing breakfast served on real china. I had to look like an idiot with a goofy smile on my face as I enjoyed my first post 7 meal! I was amazed at the textures and tastes I was experiencing for the first time in a really long time.

Soon enough we were in Miami where I rejoined my team mates as they enjoyed their breakfast during our two hour lay over (or what we thought was going to be a two hour layover). Unfortunately once we boarded our last flight, we were soon (rather...eventually) taken off that plane to await a working aircraft. Five hours later we were onboard a functioning plane and on our way to Haiti.

We were thankful to arrive in Haiti just before sunset since I had anticipated the airport being stressful and chaotic. While it's nothing like the airports I'm used to, it wasn't nearly as stressful as I was prepared for. This would end up being a theme for me during my week in Haiti. Soon we were connected with Pastor and in the van to the guest house; which is where the stress and chaotic-ness really began!

As far as we could tell, there are no 'rules of the road' in Port-au-Prince, except for an elaborate horn language for passing, merging, turning, etc. Since it was getting dark we really couldn't see  much of the city... which was possibly a good thing on our first arrival.

About 20 death defying minutes later we arrived at our guesthouse where we enjoyed our first meal and got settled in. Our guest house was absolutely wonderful! I had expected and prepared our team for the worse, but we had electricity all the time, running water, beds, fans, delicious meals, and amazing houseguest managers to talk with. It felt more like staying at a friends house than at a hotel...which was just what we wanted and needed.

The next morning we woke up to the smell of a wonderful breakfast being prepared for us as we got ready for our first church service with the Baptist Church of Christ's Compassion.

Haiti Mission Team #3: Tyler, James, Tim, Jim, Travis, Mick, Katie, Grace

After a quick team photo (this was as good as we were going to look the entire time), we were off. Because it had rained that night, we had to park outside the tent city and walk in. We would learn later in the week that this was our preferred means of transportation in the tent city. As we walked through open sewers, over make shift bridges, and through people's tents, we drew some attention to ourselves. I asked one of our team members "ever get the feeling people are talking about you?!" As we got closer we could hear loud singing from huge speakers in the circus team strategically placed on top of a hill in the center of the tent city. We walked in as honored guest as Pastor took the stage.

 Sadly we were seated right up front and behind a speaker so we couldn't see much of what was going on which didn't matter too much since we couldn't understand much of what was going on either. Pastor did his best to translate what he could for us. And, we were blessed to have a guest speaker from the states giving the message which meant we could understand the entire sermon.

These services are an experience everyone should have at least once. While you aren't able to understand the words, you do understand the worship. There is a mystery of our faith that bonds us through the blood of Christ that is tangible and real in these moments. We can travel to a land where we've never been, where we look much different, and speak a different language yet still find brothers and sisters. Each service our team members would experience this tangible bond.

After service nearly each person came up to us and shook our hand or gave us a hug. There were one of two reactions from the Haitians. Either they held their heads high and looked each of us in the eyes or they never looked up and gave you a very limp/weak hand shake. It was so strange and I kept wanting to catch someone's eye to somehow give them confidence to hold their head high.

Soon pastor shuffled us off and we walked to the job site to take a look at the progress and where we would be spending the majority of our time the next 4 days. Every Sunday a handful of congregants make their way to the job site to sing and pray over the building. It was such a special moment to get to watch as these people dedicated and prayed for protection of their new church.

That afternoon I had arranged and was really hopeful that we would get to go to Kenscoff to visit the Help One Now crew that was working there. I really love this organization and am hopeful we'll be able to expand our ministry in Hait with them, but wanted to see for myself what they were doing. I was so thankful that Pastor agreed to take us up there!

Kenscoff is about an hours drive up the mountain from Port-au-Prince... an hours drive going about 90 miles per hour in a huge van on small streets. To say we were nervous was an understatement. However, to say we were soaking in every moment of the beauty that this area of Haiti has is also an understatement. We sat in awe and wonder at God's creation. We had just come from the city where there is so much poverty and devastation so our eyes were open and looking for beauty. We found it abundantly! 

Once the road ended, we had to walk about a mile or so down to the neighborhood the school and church were located. They had sent two guys up to escort us down and as we walked people would start talking and looking at us. This attention never became comfortable for me as I wanted to blend in and be as Haitian as possible. Apparently that's not possible being an extremely white woman from the states. Some children would join us or beg for us to simply smile and wave at them. 

We arrived at the school/church/boys home and met our contacts there. They showed us around and talked to us a little about what they do, why they do it, and who they do it with. We also got to watch as two well respected pastors in Haiti met for the first time after hearing so much about one another and their individual ministries. As we walked around and talked with people involved here I soon realized this was probably going to be the highlight of my time in Haiti. And, even on the afternoon of our first full day in Haiti, this experience would end up being a highlight to so many on our team.