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Haitian Experience

January 22, 2010 at 7:14 pm by Jeff Bustraan

Stephanie Schultz, one of my closest friends, took a volunteer trip to Haiti at the end of July. The news of the earthquake hit close to home for her, because the area with the most destruction was where she had been. She said the region was extremely impoverished and the people had barely anything before, how will they will be able to recover from this?

This is what she said about her trip:

When I went on the mission trip to Haiti with twelve other members of Immanuel Lutheran Church (in Danbury), I did so with certain ideas about our purpose and what we would accomplish. For the most part, I was focused on sharing from our abundance and making a difference in the lives of some very poor, misfortunate children. I was not prepared for the tremendous spiritual ministering and life lessons that I received in return.

The Haitians are indeed very poor when compared with the blessings we enjoy. The moment you leave the airport you begin to realize how many things we take for granted in this country. Haitian roads are terrible, the streets are over-crowded and many Haitians live in shacks that barely protect from outside elements. As an American with so much, it’s easy to pity these people for the materialistic things they lack.

Downtown Haiti in July, prior to the earthquake.

On the other hand, as we met the children from the orphanage, I learned how true the phrase “it’s all relative” really is. One of the primary observations that I made about Haitian children in the pension (they call orphanages pensions because an orphanage can have negative connotations) is that they don’t complain. They race barefoot around the hundred-plus degree cement of their courtyard with no signs of discomfort.

In fact, they seem to be more at peace with God because they don’t fight with Him about fairness. Their faith is not diminished by feelings of misfortune or poverty. The lack of material excess leaves them with nothing to distract them from their faith. They rely only on the comfort that God provides and the kindnesses that God directs their way. And they are very free about directing kindness back towards others.

It’s interesting to note that the Haitians in this Christ-centered orphanage are completely aware of our culture and yet they do not appear to be envious. For instance, I found that all the children at the pension are able to recite all of the words from Disney’s High School Musical movies. Clearly they know some of what they could have and what so many of us take for granted. Somehow though, this knowledge doesn’t seem to translate into what they don’t have in Haiti.

Haitian playground

To be sure, the medical supplies and food we brought would help these people greatly. And our mission was important to give some of the people of Haiti real hope for a healthier future. But as much as we gave, much more was returned by the loving people we encountered. They taught me a healthy perspective on what matters and that making connections with others through the love of Christ really does surpass all material blessings.