Saturday, April 27, 2013

[non-exhaustive] list of favorites from Haiti



This might be one of my most and least favorite take-away's from the week long trip.  The trip was a huge blessing, and yet I find myself stuttering to say now what is my responsibility after all I've seen and heard.

Abby asked me last night, "How has the trip changed you?" to which I responded, "ask me the same thing in a month."

I can tell you some of my favorites from the trip:

-Getting to know the translators. They were all so smart, funny, handsome, and they love Jesus.

-A moment I will never forget was the last day at Yaveh Shamma, the orphanage run by Pastor Gaetan. Our team was without translators for a little while, so we got by on my broken french to communicate with the kids.  The girls began braiding my hair, and Dale busted out his guitar.  We all began singing worship songs in both English and Kreol.   The kingdom of God became a little clearer to me in that moment.     (Thanks to Jay Allred for shooting this video!)

-All the kids were so loving and kind. At the same time, they were not needy or desperate.  These kids are well loved at Yaveh Shamma. There was such kindness in the face of Pastor Gaetan, the man who calls himself the Shepherd charged with a precious flock.

-The leaders we met there- Pastor Jean Alix Paul (dreams big), Pastor Gaetan Alcegaire (biggest smile in Haiti), and Pastor Jean St. Cyr  (man of God who tricked me into coming up on stage during church).

-Prestige Lager. yes.

-Hearing the stories of Haiti's history.

Here's a link to the HelpOneNow site where you can sponsor a vulnerable child living in Drouin, Haiti, a small rice farming community 45 miles east of Port-au-Prince.  The local economy was devastated due to shipments of rice from USAID after the earthquake.

More stories to come....


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7 comments:

  1. AnonymousApril 29, 2013 at 12:33 PM

    Love this!! Thanks for sharing:) and miss you lots too!!

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  2. Rundelane BlogMay 1, 2013 at 5:14 PM

    Ah, Prestige! I remember taking a while to process my trip to Haiti, too. It's been seven months, and I don't know if I'll ever have it fully figured out. But Lamar Stockton said something on our last day there that encouraged me — because I didn't want to come away and paint a picture of neediness when Haiti is so much more than that. Lamar said not to be ashamed of where we live and what we have, because God knew we'd live there and God knew we'd have what we have. (Lamar didn't say it quite like that.) What I took from that is that we DO have the power and the resources to make a difference. In Haiti. In our own backyards. Around our very own kitchen tables. Grace to you as you unwind and breathe...

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    Replies
    1. BrookeMay 3, 2013 at 7:07 AM

      He said something like that on the last night of our trip too. I had a sober moment while there, thinking, "if only I could move here, I would find some purpose..." but I don't think that's right. I think that if I don't have clear purpose here, at home, it wouldn't be much different in Haiti.

      And that's the hardest thing for me to believe...right now and for the past few years, that I am where I am for a reason.

      Thanks for the comment, Deidra!

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  3. gisthMay 1, 2013 at 6:36 PM

    Deidra, your words are lovely, especially the part about what Lamar shared with you. I struggle so much with guilt for what we have, but your words (Lamar's) are life. Just share. Share it everywhere. Thank you.

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  4. Serving EverydayMay 1, 2013 at 7:43 PM

    Love the singing! Want to hear more, all about this trip.

    Frustrated to hear of the effects of importing too much rice. Frustrated when "aid" doesn't help, but makes things worse.

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