A Journey of the Heart - A Servant's Heart

Although it's been 4 months since I returned from my missions trip to Haiti, I continue to reflect on so many of my experiences.

We had served in so many areas of Haiti - touching families and children in various villages, schools, homes and a tent city.  I was overwhelmed with the joy that our simply being there brought to so many people.  The families continued to thank us for spending time with them and especially for praying with them.  The children were overjoyed with "the foreigners" visiting and organizing games, singing songs, teaching bible lessons, and so much more.  They each welcomed us with their songs and sent us away running alongside the Tap Tap, cheering and waving good-bye.

The Haiti Mountains, although spectacular to view, were so underdeveloped, especially for the large number of people living in these areas.  We had learned that it took days for the people to travel from their homes to go to Market, and how difficult it was for families to travel for any medical care; it amazed me how in 2011 so many still lived in such an uncivilized way.

Each time we visited a village, we traveled by Tap Tap as far as was possible.  Sometimes we were able to do our ministering where we stopped, other times we had to hike on dirt paths, constantly climbing up and down, high into the mountains, as we visited homes to offer medical care, prayers, and encouragement.  Even the most physically fit on our Team sometimes found these hikes a challenge, yet we pushed on to serve the people of Haiti.

We were scheduled to visit the village that was once home to Polynice as a young boy growing up in Haiti.  Grenier was so high into the mountains that once the Tap Tap went as far as possible, we were told there would be very difficult hiking, straight up the mountainside, for at least an hour each way.  There was no roadway, dirt path, or anything of the sort, from the lower areas of Haiti up to this village.  Foot paths had developed in some spots, and an old dried out river served as a rocky path up the mountain to the village.

When Polynice was a young boy, he would leave his village each morning and travel up and down these mountains for approximately 3 hours each way, to go to school.  Determined to get an education, he did this knowing this was his chance to break the cycle of poverty in his family.

We were planning our day in Grenier, which would include visiting a school filled with children - singing vacation bible school songs, a bible lesson, and then making home visits - praying with the families in Grenier.  Supplies would need to be carried up the mountain, in the extreme heat.  Serious discussion over the intense hiking this particular trip would include made each think seriously whether they would be physically able to handle it.

I myself have various respiratory restrictions, and although I had already been pushing myself quite a bit during all of our other activities, I was concerned about not being able to pace myself and becoming more of a hindrance than help if I went along.  Two other ladies on our Team also felt the same about themselves, therefore we decided to stay behind.  It was a difficult decision, since so far, in spite of many struggles I had experienced, I was able to accomplish all that was needed along with my Team up to this point.  Jeanette said she would stay behind and we made plans to do some major work back at the house; clean out closets, go through medical supplies, toss out expired medications while organizing supplies to be kept or given to local hospitals and other medical facilities.  We may have been staying behind, but we wanted to still have a productive day serving.

We all rose early that morning, had breakfast together and then the few that were staying behind said goodbye to the Team as they left in the Tap Tap.

We got to work immediately, and as the day continued, Jeanette continued to thank us for all that was getting organized and said this ended up a blessing for her.  The amount of items that needed cleaning, sorting through, and organizing took a good part of the day.  The joy we each felt in serving was a blessing to us.

Afterwards we had a small snack and decided to go on a leisurely hike.  It was funny, even a small leisurely hike in Haiti, always includes rough pathways, steep climbs, and a bit of panting!

When our Team returned, they shared about their day; the children rejoicing when they would guide them in song, the people in Grenier so blessed by their visit, the home visits that were filled with prayer and gratitude.  And yes, the intense hike they experienced heading up to Grenier.  

Many shared that while climbing the mountainside, they couldn't believe people lived in such a secluded area.  They struggled; carrying large bundles of supplies, dealing with the extreme heat, and for the first time - taking many breaks along the way to literally catch their breath.  Some admitted that this may be too much and wondered why they had gone along.  But once they met the people of Grenier, they were so blessed themselves and they knew that if needed, they would definitely serve in this village again.

Our entire Team served that day - and we were able to due to our prayers and faith that the Lord had called us to do so - letting us know he was with us every minute, showing us the way.

For those hiking up the steep difficult mountain, and those that remained behind sorting the immense amount of supplies to be used in the future, we all served with our hearts, resulting in touching lives - once again.