First there's the interactions with the children we see... They might be at the job site, or on the side of the road as we walk by them each morning, lunch and end of the day. They were at the clinic being treated. They were at the Damian tent city and at the Canaan building site that we may be building at in the future... What we say to them and how we act toward them, look at them, is so important. I tried to play soccer for instance when we were at Canaan to show that we were the same in some respects; liked to play sports, and that we were or could be friends. It's awkward walking into these situations and you don't want to be perceived as staring or judging and you don't want them to feel uncomfortable because you're from a better situation in life; coming from America, etc. so you try to minimize that by joining in with them through soccer, or doing a fist bump as you walk by or holding their hands for a while as you walk through their tent city... I hope that they all knew that we cared about them and that we loved them and were trying to help as best we could.
Then there were the interactions with the adults we met... They were workers from the clinic, workers at the job site where we worked each day and others we met like in the barber shop or on the sides of the roads we traveled. The same goals were there I think. We wanted to fit in and also make them comfortable with us being in their country and show them that we cared for them and were there to help. Sometimes they were more difficult to get to trust you and accept you but like any other relationship, you just have to put yourself out there first and trust that they want the same basic things you want- Love, respect, relationship... and they usually respond right back with smiles and conversations... People seem to be the same wherever you go.
Finally, there's the interactions between those of us in our group including not only those of us from OSLC but also Jack from PID, Paul from Gordon College and Lizzy and MacKenzie who worked at the clinic. We all seemed to be united and became close friends by way of the shared experiences of this trip. There was a lot of effort at the job site along with a fair share of light-hearted conversation and joking around that I think you need in order to cope with the level of work you're doing each day and also to lighten up from the reality of the poverty that you see each day.
Those interactions, where each of us met with each other and with the children and adults we met, are what keep popping into my head today when I think back on the week in Haiti. One thing is for sure. I think we all shared the same hope that we would be able to spread God's love and help to his people most in need... I hope that we helped and were a blessing to everyone we met and that our efforts and interactions with the people of Haiti were pleasing to God and ultimately glorified Him.
Good trip. Thanks for all your support and prayers,
- Mike N.
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