What I Learned from Haiti

I kind of fear writing a post so soon after returning from Haiti.  There are a lot of conversations, experiences, and interactions with people that I think will mean more after I’ve had time to think and reflect.  Nevertheless, I’ll do my best to try to convey all that happened.

I’ve been to quite a few third world countries, but nothing like this.  It’s one thing to have nothing, but to have nothing and then have an earthquake take away the rest is something that’s hard to fathom.  On our drive from Port au Prince to Leogane, we sat in silence and tried to comprehend all we were seeing.  It may have been six months ago, but it looked like it could have happened yesterday.

I think we were all overwhelmed the first day.  We were there to serve and help, but the task looked too big.  How can we, a group of twelve, impact what we had seen?  We knew only Christ was going to be able to change a situation like this.  He then began to show us all he was up to.

We had the chance to spend time with a church in Leogane for the week.  This was when we heard the stories of how Christ had been moving throughout their city.  Testimonies of death, destruction, and hopelessness…turning to life, redemption and hope.  When they said “Christ is all I have” they meant it.  What little they may have had before, what family or friends they held on to, in 35 seconds was taken away.

-Christ is all they have-

Because of this, all we saw in these people was joy, peace, and hope!  No situation, no emotion, no attitude, no earthquake was going to take away what Christ had given them.   A country once saturated with Vodoo is now beginning to turn toward truth…Christ.

But that is the Gospel…

Taking something that seems hopeless, worthless, too big, too far gone, dead, and seeming doomed…and turning it into true life.

I wish I could somehow give all of you the experience I had, but all I can share are words and images.  I pray when you look at these faces you see what we see.

Faces filled with the love of Christ
Faces filled with life
Faces loved by God
Faces we’ll all see again…

So what have I learned from Haiti?  That no situation is too big that Christ can’t overcome it.  I learned that though the country is in disarray, there is hope that all the social injustices that are going on there can be brought to light and changed.  Christ has called us to take care of the poor, widows, and orphans.  We have an opportunity to show a country what the Kingdom of God is like.  But we must act.

May Christ give all of us the same faith He has given them.  Keep praying for Haiti.