Haiti
Honestly, When I woke up the first morning in Haiti, I had no idea what was going to happen to me that week. What was God going to show me? Who would I gain relationships with? Would I ever come back?
A couple of my friends and I were talking at breakfast and we felt kind of trapped. It wasn't like going to visit the grandparents in KY and then getting to go home whenever. But, we were overseas, in a different country, the language barrier was significant (even with the little bit of Creole we had learned), and we were overwhelmed.
We had to push through though and see what was in store for us that week. That was the beginning.
When we would hang out around the compound, with the compound/village kids, I would kind of do it half-heartedly. So many of the youth on our trip had quickly found kids that they just absolutely fell in love with. I hadn't yet, but really wanted to.
The first time I got the chance was at the orphanage we went and visited. Previously to going on the trip we each were given a kid to pray for and create a gift basket for. My little girl's name was Micka (Mee-kah) It was cool because My bro's name is Micah (like the prophet). She was adorable too. We got there and I gave her her gift. The first thing that happened was that another little girl came over and took her sunglasses. I was like Wait. Woah. But I figured out that they all took and gave to each other. I gave her 3 packs of gum and they were eaten within 15 minutes. But, there was no connection there. However, I came upon this one boy, Ismael. He can throw a ball like no body's business. And we gained that connection even though we could only spend two days with them. He was so sweet.
BUT, this is the part that makes me really excited and almost to tears. Monday night, back at the compound, before dinner, We were all hanging out around the well outside and I went and sat down next to this little boy who was just hanging out and watching everything. I tried to make conversation with him and found out his name was Wilma and he was 12. He had the biggest smile I'd ever seen. But it was time to go inside, so I said I'd see him tomorrow. We went inside to eat and afterwards I went and sat out on the back poarch with some of the Haitian boys that were back there.
Zack, an intern that was with us, came out too, so nothing bad would happen (you never know). There were about 7 boys back there ranging from 8-14 yrs. One of the little boys back there was Iglesias. He was so cute. He was 10. He still had that little baby face and another beautiful smile. I stayed out there for like an hour But then officially had to go inside. This is when I knew something good would start to happen and I was looking forward to the next day.
Basically, as the days went by, I really got to know Wilma and Iglesias throughout the next few days. One day, we had groups and were walking around the village of Guitton handing out rice, hats, toilettries, etc. Wilma and Iglesias stayed with me the whole time. Arms around me and mine around them. Sometimes Wilma would be a little poop (and he knew it) and say " Patouche", which meant "don't touch me" and then walk away. miling the whole way. We got to meet Wilma and Iglesias' families and see where they lived. They have big families for such small living spaces. But I loved it. These were the two boys that I had a connection with and got to know throughout the week.
One day I was playing soccer with Iglesias and it had rained the night before(the rain there is the coolest thing ever! The lightning is better than fireworks). Anyway, he slipped in the mud and communicates that he is going to take a shower he said "uhh, shower." So, I was just hangin out and Wilma comes up and we begin to play soccer and his adidas slide (shoes) rips and breaks. So, he says he's going to fix it. They both come back after a while. Iglesias all clean, and Wilma sewed his own shoe. Incredible.
I gave them jolley ranchers one day and told them "petey" which means secret. And they were so excited. And said "okay!" :)
The last day and night was the hardest. I had finally come to the point where I wanted to just stay.
The last day, I was sitting on the well and had my arm around Shadonalo (red headed Haitian), I was holding a 2 year old (precious little boy), and began to cry knowing it was my last day. Wilma saw me and came over. He wanted to comfort me. So, he sat on my left side, put his arm on my shoulder, covered his face, and held my hand. I asked my friend, Audrey, if he was crying and she said yes. Which made me even sadder! Gosh! haha. Shadonalo teared up a bit and then a bunch of little Haitian kids surrounded me and some were crying and some were trying to figure out what was going on. Those faces.... and Iglesias would come by and he would just give the biggest smiles, but I could see in his eyes that he was sad too.
The last night we were all sitting on the steps of the church (which was like 10 yards away from our compound door) and our compound people (SMI team) (besides our group and our body guards) were gone doing something. So, we got to stay out later than we had on previous nights. I was sitting there. Wilma under my right arm, Shadonalo in front of me, and Iglesias under my left arm.
This is the part that I can still remember, feel, and love the most. I had my arm around Wilma and he had his chin resting on it. All the sudden I felt a silent tear roll down my arm. I was already emotional enough. So, I asked Audrey again, Cause she was standing there, if he was crying (cre'e) and she said "oui." I just let my face rest on his head. Trying to comfort him best I could. And Iglesias was smiling, trying to fight the tears, and Shadonalo was just hangin out. Not to mention the 15 other on the steps ( a mix between us and them).
That night, Iglesias "told" me he was going to be there in the morning when we left. and what time would we leave" I told him around 5:30.
After our emotional group session that night and packing and sleeping, we got up the next morning and got ready to go. we were cleaning up and there was a plastic cup sitting on the well so I was getting ready to go get it when one of our body guards, Mackenzie, came in and asked me if I knew Iglesias. I said yeah, and he told me that he was out there. I went out there and sure enough, there he was, walking towards me. But then he stopped, and so did I. Wondering what was going on, he turned and called "WIlma!" And Wilma came around the corner of the church. I stopped dead in my tracks. Were they both really there to say goodbye to me before we left??????" Made My life! As our bus pulled out, they were stading in the soccer goal. Wilma wouldn't look up, he was so distraught. But Iglesias was trying to wave and smile goodbye. Finally Wilma looked up. And I yelled out "Mwe Amo Ou Wilma and Iglesias." I love you" Is what I said. We all said that to each other as we hugged and hung out throughout the week. It was so precious.
They taught us so much throughout the week. In fact, the last two days, I was outside as much as I could be. I sweated like crazy. I created great friendships, insiders, new sayings in Creole, etc. My mom also went on the trip and Wilma called me his Se (sis) and my mom, well, Mom.We gave him a picture of our family the day before we left. so, he'd remember us. He put on his nicest shirt, which was a white polo (not brand) and tennishoes. We knew he wanted to come with us.
I cannot wait to go back and see them again. Hopefully, they won't forget me. I have a countdown of months, days, left till we see each other again. There is so much more to that trip that I remember and would love to tell, but it'd be 10xs longer than this already is. So, I hope you take the time to read this!
Thanks.
A couple of my friends and I were talking at breakfast and we felt kind of trapped. It wasn't like going to visit the grandparents in KY and then getting to go home whenever. But, we were overseas, in a different country, the language barrier was significant (even with the little bit of Creole we had learned), and we were overwhelmed.
We had to push through though and see what was in store for us that week. That was the beginning.
When we would hang out around the compound, with the compound/village kids, I would kind of do it half-heartedly. So many of the youth on our trip had quickly found kids that they just absolutely fell in love with. I hadn't yet, but really wanted to.
The first time I got the chance was at the orphanage we went and visited. Previously to going on the trip we each were given a kid to pray for and create a gift basket for. My little girl's name was Micka (Mee-kah) It was cool because My bro's name is Micah (like the prophet). She was adorable too. We got there and I gave her her gift. The first thing that happened was that another little girl came over and took her sunglasses. I was like Wait. Woah. But I figured out that they all took and gave to each other. I gave her 3 packs of gum and they were eaten within 15 minutes. But, there was no connection there. However, I came upon this one boy, Ismael. He can throw a ball like no body's business. And we gained that connection even though we could only spend two days with them. He was so sweet.
BUT, this is the part that makes me really excited and almost to tears. Monday night, back at the compound, before dinner, We were all hanging out around the well outside and I went and sat down next to this little boy who was just hanging out and watching everything. I tried to make conversation with him and found out his name was Wilma and he was 12. He had the biggest smile I'd ever seen. But it was time to go inside, so I said I'd see him tomorrow. We went inside to eat and afterwards I went and sat out on the back poarch with some of the Haitian boys that were back there.
Zack, an intern that was with us, came out too, so nothing bad would happen (you never know). There were about 7 boys back there ranging from 8-14 yrs. One of the little boys back there was Iglesias. He was so cute. He was 10. He still had that little baby face and another beautiful smile. I stayed out there for like an hour But then officially had to go inside. This is when I knew something good would start to happen and I was looking forward to the next day.
Basically, as the days went by, I really got to know Wilma and Iglesias throughout the next few days. One day, we had groups and were walking around the village of Guitton handing out rice, hats, toilettries, etc. Wilma and Iglesias stayed with me the whole time. Arms around me and mine around them. Sometimes Wilma would be a little poop (and he knew it) and say " Patouche", which meant "don't touch me" and then walk away. miling the whole way. We got to meet Wilma and Iglesias' families and see where they lived. They have big families for such small living spaces. But I loved it. These were the two boys that I had a connection with and got to know throughout the week.
One day I was playing soccer with Iglesias and it had rained the night before(the rain there is the coolest thing ever! The lightning is better than fireworks). Anyway, he slipped in the mud and communicates that he is going to take a shower he said "uhh, shower." So, I was just hangin out and Wilma comes up and we begin to play soccer and his adidas slide (shoes) rips and breaks. So, he says he's going to fix it. They both come back after a while. Iglesias all clean, and Wilma sewed his own shoe. Incredible.
I gave them jolley ranchers one day and told them "petey" which means secret. And they were so excited. And said "okay!" :)
The last day and night was the hardest. I had finally come to the point where I wanted to just stay.
The last day, I was sitting on the well and had my arm around Shadonalo (red headed Haitian), I was holding a 2 year old (precious little boy), and began to cry knowing it was my last day. Wilma saw me and came over. He wanted to comfort me. So, he sat on my left side, put his arm on my shoulder, covered his face, and held my hand. I asked my friend, Audrey, if he was crying and she said yes. Which made me even sadder! Gosh! haha. Shadonalo teared up a bit and then a bunch of little Haitian kids surrounded me and some were crying and some were trying to figure out what was going on. Those faces.... and Iglesias would come by and he would just give the biggest smiles, but I could see in his eyes that he was sad too.
The last night we were all sitting on the steps of the church (which was like 10 yards away from our compound door) and our compound people (SMI team) (besides our group and our body guards) were gone doing something. So, we got to stay out later than we had on previous nights. I was sitting there. Wilma under my right arm, Shadonalo in front of me, and Iglesias under my left arm.
This is the part that I can still remember, feel, and love the most. I had my arm around Wilma and he had his chin resting on it. All the sudden I felt a silent tear roll down my arm. I was already emotional enough. So, I asked Audrey again, Cause she was standing there, if he was crying (cre'e) and she said "oui." I just let my face rest on his head. Trying to comfort him best I could. And Iglesias was smiling, trying to fight the tears, and Shadonalo was just hangin out. Not to mention the 15 other on the steps ( a mix between us and them).
That night, Iglesias "told" me he was going to be there in the morning when we left. and what time would we leave" I told him around 5:30.
After our emotional group session that night and packing and sleeping, we got up the next morning and got ready to go. we were cleaning up and there was a plastic cup sitting on the well so I was getting ready to go get it when one of our body guards, Mackenzie, came in and asked me if I knew Iglesias. I said yeah, and he told me that he was out there. I went out there and sure enough, there he was, walking towards me. But then he stopped, and so did I. Wondering what was going on, he turned and called "WIlma!" And Wilma came around the corner of the church. I stopped dead in my tracks. Were they both really there to say goodbye to me before we left??????" Made My life! As our bus pulled out, they were stading in the soccer goal. Wilma wouldn't look up, he was so distraught. But Iglesias was trying to wave and smile goodbye. Finally Wilma looked up. And I yelled out "Mwe Amo Ou Wilma and Iglesias." I love you" Is what I said. We all said that to each other as we hugged and hung out throughout the week. It was so precious.
They taught us so much throughout the week. In fact, the last two days, I was outside as much as I could be. I sweated like crazy. I created great friendships, insiders, new sayings in Creole, etc. My mom also went on the trip and Wilma called me his Se (sis) and my mom, well, Mom.We gave him a picture of our family the day before we left. so, he'd remember us. He put on his nicest shirt, which was a white polo (not brand) and tennishoes. We knew he wanted to come with us.
I cannot wait to go back and see them again. Hopefully, they won't forget me. I have a countdown of months, days, left till we see each other again. There is so much more to that trip that I remember and would love to tell, but it'd be 10xs longer than this already is. So, I hope you take the time to read this!
Thanks.
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