Community. LOVE. Joy

On the last night of my trip to Haiti, Sarah ( a nurse who has been in Passe Catabois since April) gave the team some very good advice. She said this, "When you get home I encourage you to think about what you are going to tell people because you will only have one chance." And that really stuck with.me. So for the past few days I have been trying to figure out what to tell people.

Many people have asked me If I had fun, or if my trip was good. And it is hard for me to say yes to these people. Even though I had one of the most life changing experiences in Haiti, my trip was not fun, and it was not good. For me I cannot put the words fun and good in the same sentence as poverty. It just doesn't work that way.

There is a lot of hurt in Haiti. There are a lot of reasons for the people there to be bitter and angry, but what shocked me the most is that they are so joyful. More joyful than I am on most mornings for sure, and if I had to take a guess most of them went to bed hungry the night before. It was mind boggling for me. That as Americans when one thing doesn't go our way we get upset and our whole day is ruined.

Also they have community and love. It is truly inspiring. To feel so loved by these children that do not even know me. To watch a 6 year old little boy take care of his little sister just because he loves her. The bond between those two children is absolutely incredible. When I went to Haiti, I had the intentions of teaching these people, and it ended up they taught me more than I could ever expect. And now it is my job to share with others, and to show others the love i have witnessed.

Kuku, the child I have been praying for all summer, became alive. Not just a picture on a page; I got to hug him, play with him, and just love on him.

I left my heart in Haiti in the hands of these wonderful people, and I cannot wait to go back.

-Love until it hurts, then love some more-