Recently I undertook a trip with Foursquare Missions to Haiti. Many many moons ago I had felt a tug to work with the less privileged in the world. In fact, growing up, Mother Theresa was my idol. She still is.I ignored that call for many years. My trip to Haiti was recognizing God's voice in my life, and following the plan I believe he has set for me.
To set the context, I've been pretty busy and self involved lately. Well, pre-Haiti at least. It's so easy to get swamped down with the details. It was beginning to feel as if I was just moving from one action to the next. And I was feeling burnt out, like I was in a rut. I was starting to ask myself why I did all these things: school, work, tutoring... I had lost my perspective for the reason for my existence. I felt as if I were spiraling down further.
And then I went to Haiti.
To say that it is a life altering event is an understatement. I too, watched the footage 2 years ago when the earthquake hit the small island nation. I saw the destruction, the desolation, the hopelessness of it all. And I got inspired by the outreaching of celebrities to pour money in to a fund for the reconstruction of Haiti. I gave my donation, did my due diligence, and promptly went back to my life.
I watched as those images appeared of the collapsed houses, the dead bodies, the newly parent-less children. And I thought 'wow, that's really truly sad'. But since I had no connection, had never been in a country so devastated and poor, I couldn't relate.
And then I went to Haiti.
From the minute I landed in Haiti, my entire world perspective shifted. I was in shock. Driving through Port au Prince on our way to Jacmel, I could only gape at the sights: huge tent cities, trash everywhere, styrafoam plates and cups laying en masse in a drainage ditch, the tossed aside remnants of a recent festival, the still crumbled buildings.
But I saw other things. I saw a culture still thriving. I saw men and women walking down the street with confidence. I saw groups of children playing together in such a way that reminded me of my carefree youth when the neighborhood kids would all gather for a nice game of kickball or hide and go seek. I saw art, music, and culture. And I was hooked.
There is an inherent beauty found in all the chaos in Haiti. It's in the green of the mountains, the blue of the ocean, the glimmering gold of the sands, and the brightness shining forth from so many faces. And it is in the love that pours forth from the hearts of the children.
And that's when my perspective on life began to change.
To be continued....
