I started this blog the day after I returned from Haiti. I took a couple of days off from writing to wrap my mind around what I experienced, only to start up again several days later and realize there was NO way I can write even a fraction of what I experienced in one blog. So I am separating my experience into several blogs entries. This initial blog begins with the background of why I went on this trip, my preparations for the trip and finally a general definition of the type of trip I went on. Follow-up blog entries will go into detail about what we did on the trip. That is, where we went and what we saw. My intent with the final entries is to share with you the people I met and what I learned. There were fifteen other people that also went on this trip. By no means what I write about is what they thought, felt and perceived.
Many of you know that ‘my’ church has hosted a group of dancers from the Resurrection Dance Theatre of Haiti the past two years. These are young men that have been raised in one of several ‘homes’ apart of the St. Joseph’s family. These homes are just that, homes for orphaned children. My family had the privilege of hosting some of the ‘guys’ in our house for two nights the first year they came to Suwanee, GA. This was in March of 2010, just two months after the earthquake happened in Haiti. Then my hubby went to Haiti in April (a month after the Resurrection Dance theatre was here) to help break apart, literally by sledge hammer, the remains of one of the St. Joseph’s homes. The following year (2011) the Resurrection Dance Theatre of Haiti made its way back to Georgia and we were able to see the ‘guys’ again. Several of them asked me when I was going to come to Haiti. I promised them the next time there is a trip, I will come. My hubby and I even discussed with the founder/director about coming on our own and not with a group when he was here in April, but alas, that never came to fruition. In September of 2011, in our church newsletter was an announcement that there was going to be the first adult immersion trip to Haiti since the January 2010 earthquake. Immediately, I let my hubby know he would have to stay in town and work and if that would not be possible, I would make arrangements for the kids. I knew I was going. I did not care or need to know who else was going on the trip. It did not matter to me. I just knew I was going. Side note: To all those that went on this past trip, I couldn’t have experienced this with better people. God works that way. He put us together J
Initially when I told people I was going to Haiti their first question to me was, “Aren’t you scared?” In all honestly, I never had any feelings of apprehension or being fearful. I just knew I was supposed to go and everything would be as it was to be. As the trip came closer, I began to pray that I would go with an open heart and mind. That everything good and bad I had heard about Haiti would NOT influence me in the least bit and I prayed that I see, hear, smell and experience only what God wanted me to see, hear, smell and feel. I did not want anyone else’s experiences or thoughts to ‘color’ what God wanted me to experience. I must stop here and give a shout out to my Padre and yours-God. Thanks for hearing my prayers. You knew what was and is best for me and for that I am thankful and praise you. A side note, those of you reading this and cannot believe I just called God padre, get over it. HE has a sense of humor and actually enjoys when we are happy and laughing. HE sees what is on our hearts (our intent). And besides, haven’t you all seen the picture of the laughing Jesus?
Before I go any further, I need to define the difference between an Immersion trip and a Mission trip. An Immersion trip is a completely different concept than a Mission Trip. Mission Trip: the organized work of a religious missionary. An activity directed toward making or doing. This usually includes some sort of ‘spreading the word,’ telling of the gospel and even engaging in activities that would have the people you are helping baptized. Immersion Trip: the act of immersing or state of being immersed. Immersed: involve oneself deeply into a particular state. I went on an immersion trip, not a mission trip. Before I left on this trip, I had many people ask what we were going to build and gave me encouragement to ‘spread the word.’ I did neither. I received the word by those I spent time with by their actions AND because of what I experienced I was and continue to the one being ‘built.’
I went with a group of people from the Haitian Timoun Foundation (HTF). Timoun in Haitian Creole means children. This foundation has been in existence for 15 years. They support various grass root Haitian run entities or small organizations. HTF works directly with their partners and ask them what they need, not what the foundation thinks or believes they need. All of HTF’s partners have the goal of working to build-up Haiti through the education and development of its children.
I apologize for the lack of pictures. The follow-up entries will have some pictures or a link to pictures and details what I experienced ..."If hell had a smell, this it what it would smell like."
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