Thursday in Haiti: Bonswa, Gran-Bois!

Our ServeHAITI group

Tonight at reflection time, Brian shared a saying by a young man who had worked in Haiti.  This insightful young man stated, “I have seen what I cannot unsee.”  When we think of all we have seen this past week in Haiti, those images are now a part of who we are and we cannot “unsee” them.  Some people ask, “Why Haiti?”  They say there are poor in our country, so why travel all the way to Haiti?   Scott talked about the fact that Haiti it is a different kind of poor where clean water and sanitation are severe problems.  The most basic of human needs are not met and there is no safety net to provide what is needed.  That is what ServeHAITI is trying to assist with – encouraging Haitians to understand how they can meet their basic needs with assistance and how they can help to grow a safety net for their people.

Gary said the Haitians have a saying, “What the eye does not see, the heart cannot feel.”  Our eyes have seen much this week – people pushing forward every day to meet their need for water, hauling huge jugs on their heads, traveling miles to wells or rivers.  We have seen those living in homes made from sticks or tin with dirt floors and one bed for a family of seven.  We saw people willing to work making rosary beads for money to purchase food.  People loading sticks and fruit on burros and riding for miles to sit along a road to sell whatever anyone is willing to buy.  We visited the home of a young boy who proudly led us up a mountainside to say hello to his mother.  Children who gathered round to learn words of English.  Teachers willing to walk six hours for teacher training so they could improve their schools.  People willing to come forward to discuss finance plans with ideas of a chicken coop or a bakery or a small store.  All who understand the saying, “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to reach my destination.”

Tonight we are sleeping at Bob’s house in Port au Prince before flying home.  ServeHAITI met Bob when he offered to share his home during relief work after the earthquake five years ago.  We were all happy to be able to walk on clean floors, enjoy a warmer shower, and once again feel the comforts we have grown to know as our routine.  We all made connections via the internet and once again returned to the emails and deadlines in our life we faced before this Haitian visit.  It is surprising how quickly we have fallen back into our comfortable lives.

So we must remind ourselves that “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened.”  We must tell the story of Haiti, share the spirit of those we encountered, and help others realize we can make a difference for one another.  We came as strangers but leave as friends excited to share the story of those “not so forgotten” people of Haiti.

HAITI
by JAS

You do not cry for the strength of your people forbids it

Crying would show weakness and there is no time to be weak

There are roads to travel

Water to draw and sticks to gather

There is oil to heat and plantains to fry

There is no time for pity, only time to survive

But…

Sometimes on the mountaintop

with its fresh air and majestic view

A dream may appear like the slow clouds over the mountains

A dream of a life where the water is clean

And the family is full

You will leave that dream to your children

For there are roads to travel

Water to draw and sticks to gather

Dreams will have to wait but only for now.