Saturday night was my first night in Haiti. I’ll admit my first impression wasn’t quite what I expected. It’s now Wednesday night, and I’ve completely fallen in love with this beautiful country and it’s kind, passionate people. Vacation Bible School has been an amazing experience filled with incredible joy. The children are so ready to accept the love we offer and to learn more about their Father in heaven. As a complete stranger in this land, I have been continuously astounded by all of the welcoming smiles, hands to hold, and hugs to give wherever I am. Today we took a bumpy ride to La Hatte… a very bumpy ride. We walked through the community in order to find enough children to have the Bible School session. The day was exhausting yet so rewarding. After the last session, a young girl grabbed my hand and we walked over to the water station. While waiting in line, I ended up asking her whether she knew of Jesus or not. (Yes, I have picked up a few Creole phrases… thank goodness.) And when she nodded yes, I bent down to eye level with her and told her that Jesus loves her and that I love her. She fell into my arms with a huge smile, and I praise God for my experience with this one little girl from the small community of La Hatte. This is a wonderfully simple example of how God shows us that even when there is such great need, loving just one person is enough.
-- Lauren
Today we travelled to La Hatte. The children in La Hatte are unlike any of the children we have had the opportunity to spread God’s love to. Many of these children were extremely malnourished and unwilling to participate because of it. This made everything more difficult and frustrating, which caused me to forget that I am not here for me and my wants and needs, but I am here for them. Today I was a leader at the station where we act out stories of the Bible with the kids. It was the last group to go through the station and we had gotten done with all of our skits early, so me and a 12-year-old girl were playing a hand shake game that they taught me. Unlike the other kids she was extremely willing to listen to everything I had to say and participate. After the station was over our group went back into the meeting area and on the way back we were holding hands and laughing and she said something to me, (but I couldn’t understand because it was in Creole) so I had a translator help me understand what she said. She said that she wants to be just like me, and this is not what I was expecting. I was shocked actually, I asked why and she said because she wants to have the opportunity to share God’s love with people everywhere just like I am. That conversation made me realize just how important what we are doing here in Haiti is. We are impacting and changing the lives of so many people around us. Her saying that made everything worth it, and made me understand just how happy and blessed I am to be here sharing God’s love within the Haitian communities.
-- Eve
Eve and her new friend!
Swim party with some Haitian young adults!
Lauren and her little sister in Christ!
