MY HAITI EXPERIENCE :: A VOLUNTEER'S PERSPECTIVE

Alison Last's Memoir of Haiti Experience

August 5, 2010
We flew out of O'Hare airport this morning headed for Haiti. I feel like a kid on the first day at a new school… a bit afraid and yet anticipating making new friends. The flight from Ft Lauderdale to Port Au Prince was amazing! For whatever reason we flew very low and I was lucky enough to have a window seat. I marveled at the many colors of the ocean and the overwhelming beauty of God's creation and how cool it was to see it from a plane! I felt oh so very small and insignificant in comparison to what I was seeing. I was sitting next to Haitian women on the plane and they gave me my first taste of the sweet, trusting nature these people have. I went to lend one of them my pen to fill out their paper work for customs and immigration, and instead they smiled and handed me their forms, passports and Haitian residency card, which as you can guess, were not in English! My challenge was to try to properly fill these forms out for them in a VERY foreign language. I must have done okay, because the lady on the plane that was helping people checked them for me and only had to add a couple things I had missed. Both women were very grateful and grabbed my hands in gratitude. The warmth of this culture had touched me while we were in the air.

My first glimpse of Haiti was from the air and as the plane descended you could already glimpse the blue tarps dotting the landscape of the country. The devastation from the earthquake strikes you before the wheels of the plane hit the ground. Once at the airport, you quickly are out in the HEAT! The sweat began immediately, which wasn't a surprise. Nor was the crowded chaos at the airport. I was very grateful to be traveling with people that knew the ropes so that I could just observe and follow their lead. This language is so utterly strange to my ears, along with the smells! There is much to absorb!

We had an exciting ride to the house since the evidence of traffic regulations are non-existent here… it could be three lanes, maybe 2, stop signs are unheard of along with lights and there are NO passing rules! It reminded me a bit of Costa Rica, only more chaotic! I was glad we had an experience driver! The first thing the struck me was the "tap taps" as the taxis are called here. They consist mostly of small sized pickup trucks that have the caps on top raised up and are decorated in bright colors, designs and phrases! "Jesus is with me" was one of the first things I saw on a tap tap and after seeing the traffic there, you have to be grateful that He is! I was definitely doing a ton of praying to my Jesus on that ride!

Upon arriving at the guest house, we were greeted by the people that live there like long lost friends with hugs and kisses! There is a certain carnival atmosphere in the house which I think is due in large part to Mike's arrival! We have been assigned our beds and after a few hours of beading with the girls here at the house, I am ready for mine. My prayer tonight is that God will use me here and also do work in me.

August 6, 2010
Today we spent five to six hours at the Maranatha Orphanage. We were greeted by the children all singing and clapping for us. I could immediately pick out a handful of the little ones that I wanted to scoop up and bring home with me. They are all so beautiful! The purpose today was for some of us just to spend time with the kids and to get photos taken of them to put on the sponsorship web site. That was quite a challenging job, and while Dr. Chris and Bernie were doing that, the rest of us danced, played and took tons of pictures! All the kids want their picture taken and they all want to see it. They were quite excited when they could see themselves on my movie camera too! I played BINGO with them for awhile, but that was pretty crazy! At one point I appealed to Gene to get out a painting project to draw some of them away from the BINGO game. Vera had the girls making bracelets, Ed was bouncing children on his knees and Bob was surrounded by a group of little girls. There was a lot of mutual adoration going on in that corner!

I can't deny that the day was rough in some aspects. Words cannot describe the bathroom stench that these kids use every day, and the "playground" consisted of a few broken swings and a tetanus tempting seesaw. The places that the children sleep are crowded and hot, and the roof that was destroyed in the earthquake is still missing off the school. Yet you could not dwell on any off that and be sad because your heart just has to respond to the happiness and joy that spills out of these children! They are so unaware of what they lack and so happy for the new things you are teaching and doing with them. I was a child magnet, and other than one point that I slipped off to use the bathroom and eat, I don't think there was a moment that a child wasn't touching me! The girls were petting my hair and the boys would hug me around the waist. I truly laughed a lot today, but on the inside I just feel torn up!

I don't envy Mike in having to decide on spending money on fixing up the facilities, or buying them food! What good does it do to buy a mattress for a child that is starving? These children need sponsors to help pay for their care and education so that Mike can focus on making their home a safer more comfortable place. The people in our country have so much! I have so much comparatively speaking! My hope is that when I get home, I can somehow convey to people the desperateness of the situation here in Haiti; so that those that are unable to come here will have their heart touched by my words and photos and will want to help! God, I pray that while I am here, you will imprint on my heart the message you want me take home!

As we returned to the guest house I was in the back of the taptap overlooking the countryside as we rode past piles of rubble, garbage, tent villages and building remains. I looked at the people walking on the side of the road with children, or buckets of water they carried on their heads. The song "Your Grace is Enough" flashed in my brain and I stopped and asked my Heavenly Father, "Is it? Is Your grace enough for this country? Can't we do more Lord? Can't we feed them and dig wells for water?"

I know that the fact that God's grace is enough for some of these people here, and for that reason alone they worship Him with joy, is proper. Yet I feel so very weak in my faith in the face of that. I wonder if I could respond the same way if I was in their situation. I pray that I could, but if I am honest, I have never been that tried! I have never had to say "God's grace is enough" while living under a tarp with nothing but the clothes on my back and no idea where the next meal or drink of water would come from for my children. Once again I feel oh so very insignificant compared to what I am seeing!

August 7, 2010
I feel bad that there is so much that I can't record here due to lack of time and ink! I hope that the small portion I can record will help me remember the rest! Today we once again head to the orphanage. After spending a short time there, Mike asked if any of us would like to go with him to a tent village to do food distribution. Dr Chris and Vera were doing a free clinic at the orphanage, so I opted to join Mike, Gene, Ed and Bob on the food distribution, since 'medical' stuff is so not my thing! We went to the market and bought food and then headed into a village that Mike has visited often. I won't say much about this experience, because I don't have to write it down to remember. The emotion of actually being there, rather than viewing it as you wiz by in a truck is very different. There are scenes from that camp that are printed in my memory forever, whether I want them or not. And to be honest, I am not sure that I do! God, my heart was shattered! Yet once again, you have to respond to the joy and the warmth of these people! They are so excited to see you, and so eager to show you their "homes". I can't deal with this emotion now. I know it will hit when I get home, for now I have to continue to smile and love back.

We brought Ed and Bob back to the house and then Mike, Gene and I went to visit the goat farm. This is one of the ways Mike is trying to help make money to support the orphanage, and I think help some of the people there be employed. We walked the property, visited another orphanage and were once again followed by a group of kids that love the camera. I was grabbed by a grandmother that wanted to show me her injured leg and she pointed to her crutches. While I could not understand a word she was saying to me, I could read the anguish in her face. I did the only thing I could do and motioned that I would like to pray for her. She eagerly nodded yes and grabbed my hands. As I bowed my head we were instantly surrounded by others that wanted to pray with us. I know that none of them could understand a word I said, but I know You could Lord! I also believe that those praying with me could understand my heart.

We left the goat farm and the next place Mike took us to was a factory where they make the bagged water you see people selling and drinking here on the street. I am not going to lie…walking into that air conditioned building was a piece of heave here on earth! I don't think the sweat has stopped rolling off me since I got off the plane and fighting dehydration is constant! That sweet relief for an instant was nice! Gene and I also agreed that it was good to see a place where there was employment and hope!

We went from there to visit another man that Mike knew. Saw a woman and boy making peanut butter. Then we went with this man to see his church. It had no roof, and yet people still gathered there to worship! I did some praying there myself since we had to walk back to the truck along the busy road where people drive crazy and it was almost dark! But I am safe in my bed now and just trying to write highlights since I am just too tired to write it all! God help me sleep!

August 8, 2010
Bernie, Dr. Chris, and Bob are flying home today. Mike and Gene went with to the airport to see if they could get Ed on a flight home. He got sick yesterday and Mike convinced him it would be good to go home. Vera and I are here at the house and I can't lie, a part of me wanted to leave with them. I am so tired from lack of sleep due to the heat. I feel dirty and gross. I know I am borderline dehydrated and I am nauseous today. I don't know if I will go to church. I am just so tired!

Later: I dozed a bit and felt better, so I braved church with Vera and a couple of the kids from the house. It was an experience! I could not understand a word they but is was still and experience. Vera and I were trying to gather what was going on and it appeared they had a "sleep patrol". There were 2 young men in uniforms that walked up and down the aisle and if it looked like you were dozing they would give you a poke! I wonder if we could get that to take off in our churches?

I haven't felt really great all day, but I let the girls braid my hair. They have been dying to get their hands on it. They were just finishing up when Mike, Gene and Simone came back from the church service they had gone to. Mike had met a woman there that is going to pray for his healing all day tomorrow. Mike came on the trip despite not feeling real great, and they really don't know what is wrong with him. He asked if we wanted to go do another food distribution with him and I said yes, since despite the fact I don't feel great, I am getting stir crazy here at the house. We ended up just going with him and me and Simon's brother. I got to meet the woman that is going to pray for him and once again, while we could not speak to each other, you could sense the Spirit of the Lord in her.

We came home in a storm and I got very benought in the truck, so Mike dropped me off while he brought some other people we had given a ride to home. I know today is short… but I am hitting and emotional and physical wall. I am just tired!

August 9, 2010
Well today is the last full day we are spending here. None of us really slept because of the heat. Vera and I are wiped out… but adrenaline is going to have to keep me going because I don't want to miss a moment of my time here. Mike is going to a prayer meeting and has entrusted Gene with some things to accomplish, so we are off to the city!

Later: What a day! Getting internet to the house was a task, buying stamps was a task…the language barrier was once again frustrating, but I think we got it done! We also saw a ton today. I know these entries are getting shorter, but I am getting tired and I also know there is just so much that I have not written down! There is so much emotion and so much that we have done! The girls in the house are all so warm and eager to please, and I just can't write down everything I am thinking and doing or else I will miss the 'doing' and having relationships!

Some highlights from today were playing basketball with 3 of the boys against Gene and I. We won, which says something since I stink! But we had fun. Tony (my 22 year old son) will laugh when I tell him I was giving shooting pointers! Gene and I then took the boys and bought them a soda. What a treat for them and me, I must admit! There may be no running water and only occasional electricity, but I can get my diet Coke!

We also got a taste of how they spend some evenings here. Simone and his friend started playing the drums and some of the girls started dancing. Pretty soon Gene gave it a shot and I have some mean footage of him trying to keep up with Martin, one of the girls at the house! We laughed so hard! I also got out my bag of thread and tried to teach the girls how to make bracelets like Justine made me. (My niece). I don't know if I was doing it right, but they all had a blast and wanted to do it! I am packed up as much as I can be now and we are leaving tomorrow morning. I am eager to get home, see my family, shower and sleep…but I am also sad to leave these people. It is amazing how deeply they are rooted in my heart in such a short time! I am still not sure exactly why God brought me here, but I know that I am richer in having obeyed and come. I feel like I have been tested and failed because I whined in my head, knowing full well that the things I found difficult are everyday life for these amazing people. I can only pray Lord, that somehow my visit will help their lives in some way since I know that they have given me so much!

August 10, 2010
Made it home safe but it was a long day of travel. The moment I got off the plane in Chicago I knew I ran out of gas. I am so glad that I took this trip! I am not exactly clear what the next step will be, but I know that like the people of Costa Rica, the people of Haiti have been planted in my heart and I cannot forget them. God has me on this journey and I pray that my eyes are open to what he wants me to see and do with all that He has shown me. Mike, Gene and Vera are all amazing people and what they are doing for this country is truly a witness of Christ in their hearts. I know that I want to participate in helping this broken country full of warm children of God. I am looking forward to see what happens next!