Perspective is a fascinating thing. The very fact we know that it can change the way we operate within our systematic lives is proof that it's powerful, but it doesn't stop there. In fact, perspective is something I think we all crave deep down inside. So it's power can been seen through it's ability to change and our natural "want" for that change.
Three days removed from Haiti and things feel more blurry than ever before. I don't smell smoke in the morning from the burning trash. I haven't seen a soccer ball since I left. Animals such as pigs, goats, chickens, roosters, cows, horses, and donkey's are not walking around freely. While I can't say that I miss it, I can say that I can't stop thinking about it. Each time I walked away confused from Haiti it was directly linked with their lack of possessions. (ie. They have nothing but they're still happy.) I was basing the measuring stick of happiness off of possessions. What a capitalistic mindset. More than likely we all do it to some degree. The thought of living in a tent makes you cringe. I'm sure they're not happy about it but it's not the defining point in the determination of how they live their lives. We should pay attention.
So 72 hours removed from what seemed like another world, I am still feeling guilty about buying a coke for $2.25. As I lay my little girl down into her soft bed, I wonder what it's like for the friends I met who lay their children down on a dirty sheet on a rocky dirt floor. Every time I get something cold out of the refrigerator, I know that someone is drinking something warm or even hot. And when I take a shower (a warm one), I don't have to make sure the water doesn't get in my mouth. And this is how Haiti starts to change you...
These images are a painful reminder that all is not well in this world. It's not "ok" to be indifferent or to even ignore it. I honestly believe, for the people who went on this trip, that we're at a place where we won't forget how fortunate we are, because we can't. In many ways those images are haunting, but the smiles and laughter that make the people of Haiti strong and beautiful pull you in to the stronger realization that while we are more fortunate economically, they are more in tune with the things that matter. As one child looked at Charlie Bethel and said, "I will pray for you when you go home." A poor child who has very little to no family looks at a bright and successful father and husband and says, "I will pray for you." Do you see it now? If all you had was faith what kind of person would you be? God is speaking through these beautiful people.
There is no doubt that what we experienced changed us. And the funny thing is, I think we all wanted it to. Perspective has a way of doing that.
- Christian
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
Thursday - Friday PaP Update/Wrap Up
What a week it has been! We gave our time and effort, God added his glue and great things happened! Our group has endured sticky heat, cold showers and the lack of most every other convenience we 're used to. Not a whiner in the bunch. But don't be misled, we have eaten well and been treated with wonderful kindness. We wish the entire 20 member team could have been together, but their mission was there and our's was here, part of God's plan.
We almost completed our painting on Thursday, but time ran out as we finished up on the waiting area and we had a few hours left to do this morning. Except for the operating rooms and the odd broom closet, we put a coat of white paint on the entire inside of the hospital. As we were finishing today, a young man asked Gail about her "Show Love for the Children of Haiti" tee shirt. He said he had not heard of our group before. Gail and I explained that this was just a shirt made by our team and that FBC Dalton was where we were from. He complimented the job we had done and said he had heard good things about our work. After a long week, those words were music to our ears.
We spent our last time with the children and once again they sang for us and gave us a hand painted picture for us to bring home. It was very difficult to say goodbye, so maybe "au revoir", until we meet again.
Dr. Fromm and Sylvia were assisting in a very delicate operation on a 7 year old girl who was born with a horrible condition where her colon could not properly function. Along with a pediatric surgeon from Port-Au-Prince, the operation took most of the day and sadly, this won't be the last one for little Elanka. Please join us in remembering her in your prayers.
The rest of the team rode down to the port and we saw worse conditions than we had seen all week. It's hard to believe that worse conditions could exist, but they do. The earthquake damge was more fierce in that area and so were the expressions on the people we encountered. The area around the port contains a large market area and from all appearances was not in good condition prior to the earthquake. The sanitation in this area is about as bad as one can imagine. We then rode into the mountians over looking PaP and saw somewhat better conditions altough the problems faced by the people of Haiti seem universal. The landscape was incredible with the clouds dipping down into the lush valley below.
Packing has begun and we have talked about the memorable moments we have experienced this week. The lives we have touched and more so the lives that have touched us. Thank you all for your prayers while we have been away. They mean more than you know. Thanks to our families for allowing us to answer God's call, for by doing so you too have answered His call. We head to the airport at about 9am tomorrow and we will touch down in Atlanta about 9pm. We hope you have enjoyed the blog and we look forward to seeing you Sunday. Pray for Haiti, God is good!
Lamar McClure
We almost completed our painting on Thursday, but time ran out as we finished up on the waiting area and we had a few hours left to do this morning. Except for the operating rooms and the odd broom closet, we put a coat of white paint on the entire inside of the hospital. As we were finishing today, a young man asked Gail about her "Show Love for the Children of Haiti" tee shirt. He said he had not heard of our group before. Gail and I explained that this was just a shirt made by our team and that FBC Dalton was where we were from. He complimented the job we had done and said he had heard good things about our work. After a long week, those words were music to our ears.
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| Kelida saying goodbye to Gail |
We spent our last time with the children and once again they sang for us and gave us a hand painted picture for us to bring home. It was very difficult to say goodbye, so maybe "au revoir", until we meet again.
Dr. Fromm and Sylvia were assisting in a very delicate operation on a 7 year old girl who was born with a horrible condition where her colon could not properly function. Along with a pediatric surgeon from Port-Au-Prince, the operation took most of the day and sadly, this won't be the last one for little Elanka. Please join us in remembering her in your prayers.
 |
| Market near Port |
 |
| Mountains near Port Au Prince |
Packing has begun and we have talked about the memorable moments we have experienced this week. The lives we have touched and more so the lives that have touched us. Thank you all for your prayers while we have been away. They mean more than you know. Thanks to our families for allowing us to answer God's call, for by doing so you too have answered His call. We head to the airport at about 9am tomorrow and we will touch down in Atlanta about 9pm. We hope you have enjoyed the blog and we look forward to seeing you Sunday. Pray for Haiti, God is good!
Lamar McClure
Closing Time (Jacmel Team)
Well, here we are. Our final day was dedicated to travel courtesy of our wonderful hosts. We went to the market and spent time in a variety of shops unique to Haitian culture. At one point I looked up and saw one of the most beautiful ocean views I've ever seen. Unfortunately that beach was littered with trash which is a common scene in Haiti. Several miles up ahead a river comes down off the mountains and it is polluted with trash, etc. This runs into the ocean and is washed up on it's beaches. You have to travel down the coastline for 5-10 miles before you're free of it. There are no garbage trucks or public trash cans here. People literally throw things down, but in this case, it simply washed ashore.
After our trip to the market we came back to the church for a pumpkin soup that was fantastic. I was cautious but soon fell in love with stew. Our eating area was decorated with flowers and it was another reminder that our Haitian friends gave their absolute best to us. It was truly humbling.
Following lunch our team ventured down the coastline for an hour long drive. As we left Jacmel we noticed several fishing communities that were much more free of litter. They were beautiful and I took pictures of several breathtaking views. While I'm ready to come home and kiss my wife and little girl and see my church, a part of me will miss this place. Even at it's worst, its beautiful. These people are beautiful.
After an hour of driving we stopped on the side of the road and walked down an alley ( I was very skeptical at this point.) After walking about 50 yards we came to the side a very large foothill and there it was. People were coming in rows walking down in the earth into a natural cave system. The drop off was steep and wet but they people maneuvered incredibly well considering they were carrying things. Ellen decided to stay behind and Austin couldn't have said "I'm with you" any quicker. Randy was the first to start walking down and the rest of the team followed. What we found at the bottom was clean, clear, natural water system. The people continued to file down collect the water and take it back for cooking, cleaning, drinking, etc. Beau and I decided that we would take a picture by the natural spring. As Beth focused in several bats flew by which yielded a response from Beau and I similar to an entire but of middle school girls being dropped off at a Justin Bieber concert. Run. Climb. Slip. Scream. Get up. Run. Climb. Scream. Run.
Our night concluded with another wonderful meal at Pastor Duplessey's house. Our team then gathered together for a closing time in which we discussed God's presence on the trip. I love these people. They would make you proud. Many of them have before. Know that they represented you in a way that brought me to tears, laughter, and confirmed everything I believed about FBC Dalton. We are doing Kingdom work.
- Christian
After our trip to the market we came back to the church for a pumpkin soup that was fantastic. I was cautious but soon fell in love with stew. Our eating area was decorated with flowers and it was another reminder that our Haitian friends gave their absolute best to us. It was truly humbling.
Following lunch our team ventured down the coastline for an hour long drive. As we left Jacmel we noticed several fishing communities that were much more free of litter. They were beautiful and I took pictures of several breathtaking views. While I'm ready to come home and kiss my wife and little girl and see my church, a part of me will miss this place. Even at it's worst, its beautiful. These people are beautiful.
After an hour of driving we stopped on the side of the road and walked down an alley ( I was very skeptical at this point.) After walking about 50 yards we came to the side a very large foothill and there it was. People were coming in rows walking down in the earth into a natural cave system. The drop off was steep and wet but they people maneuvered incredibly well considering they were carrying things. Ellen decided to stay behind and Austin couldn't have said "I'm with you" any quicker. Randy was the first to start walking down and the rest of the team followed. What we found at the bottom was clean, clear, natural water system. The people continued to file down collect the water and take it back for cooking, cleaning, drinking, etc. Beau and I decided that we would take a picture by the natural spring. As Beth focused in several bats flew by which yielded a response from Beau and I similar to an entire but of middle school girls being dropped off at a Justin Bieber concert. Run. Climb. Slip. Scream. Get up. Run. Climb. Scream. Run.
Our night concluded with another wonderful meal at Pastor Duplessey's house. Our team then gathered together for a closing time in which we discussed God's presence on the trip. I love these people. They would make you proud. Many of them have before. Know that they represented you in a way that brought me to tears, laughter, and confirmed everything I believed about FBC Dalton. We are doing Kingdom work.
- Christian
Thursday Update (Jacmel) "Finishing Up"
We finished the roof on the back of the church which will be used as a cover for the rest rooms. The Pastor was VERY excited. After taking pictures of the church and making several notes, Dalton's textile industries could transform this church and I hope this is a possibility in the future. It is one of the few buildings it's size that was not destroyed by the earthquake. The give complete and total praise to God due to it still standing.
We handed out punch balloons today and literally every child in the area ran up to get one. Two kids helped pass them out and even gave their own punch balloons. It was another sign of selflessness within these beautiful people. We ended up having enough punch balloons for every single child. No one went home empty handed and we had none left to spare.
As we were walking back to our living area, several children approached Beau and I. They issued a simple challenge, "Play ball." Oh, the beauty of a simple challenge. Little did Beau and I know, we weren't winning this one. Two twelve year old's stood across from two adults. There was a 5 foot imaginary net which consisted of two cinder blocks. The ball was kicked...game on. The first goal was quick, Beau made an excellent pass to me coming around the corner and I hit the back left portion of the goal and it went in. 1-0 adults. This goal was quickly answered by a similar pass to Denny (12 year old Haitian) and he promptly exploded pass me (the goalie) coming up to clear the area. Goal. 1-1. The final score was something I'd never seen before. An 11 year old was playing (on rocks...) barefooted. He but squeezed the ball together with his ankles and look at me as sweat was dripping down both of our faces. This was it. He popped up behind him with both feet over his back shoulder and, believe it or not, over mind. I stood there spinning in circles. He raced behind me and caught the ball on his knee before it hit the ground, dropped it to the ground and smoked it past Beau. Game. Set. Match. As Beau and I walked back in our own self defeat we laughed. We've never enjoyed losing so much in all of our lives.
- Christian
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