Haiti Day 5: by Emily Estes

10/20/2012

Saturday, the clinic traveled back to Tetkole to provide a clinic to the people from Pazapa. We served another 56 individuals; many more got just some sunglasses. Ju Berto helped with translating again and did a great job! He remembered the words from yesterday very well and it was fun to see him interact with the patients coming through. He has quickly developed his own rhythm in how he retrieves the diagnostic information and shares it with our team.

Today was challenging as many of the people of the surrounding community came wanting to be seen. Since this clinic was specifically meant for those coming from Pazapa we were limited in who we could see. The message that we were reminded of was, 'let the people come.' We did our best to meet the needs of all who showed up with the limited amount of time we had.

The clinic group then got to take a 'hike' over to Trinity House and school. Currently, 10 boys are living at Trinity House. Many more kiddos come for school each day (I believe it's the only free school offered for children in Jacmel). They were able to reopen the bakery at Trinity House which was the first thing we saw (well, smelled) when walking in. It smelled amazing in there and the bread was pretty good (a great snack for the middle of our seemingly long journey after a busy morning)! The area where the boys sleep is composed of very simple bunk beds with a variety of mattresses for each bed. They have a fairly big, but very basic, kitchen where the boys do all the cooking. It consisted of a lot of counter space, a big table in the middle to work on, sink, and stove/oven. The school room is located on the second level. They have chalk boards and then seats that are like school desks built for 2 people. The third level was the balcony - Trinity House is located very close to the beach so the view was absolutely amazing from the top. A new addition was a gazebo used as their chapel area. Imagine a gazebo overlooking the ocean, with a view of mountains surrounding... I hope that that view gives the students at Trinity and the boys who live there a sense of peace and hope.

Mackendy, the art teacher at Trinity and a good friend of HTF, and Ralph, a young man who lives at Trinity, showed us down to the beach. It's not the beaches you would normally think of. There is a great amount of trash wherever you go and the beach is no exception. I've found that you have to look beyond the big picture here - only then can you see the little things God is doing among the people... and there IS much that He is up to here! :)

Mackendy then took us on an excursion through Jacmel to his home. I truly mean an excursion - it is difficult to maneuver your way up and down the hills as they are very rocky, muddy, and filled with trash. We were able to see a new perspective of Jacmel and into the home of Mackendy. His home was about a 6x6 room which contained his bed, clothes, a little stand, and his beautiful, beautiful art. Not much, but a reminder that we truly live in excess. This trip has made me think about all what I think I would absolutely need to live. The more I see here the shorter the list gets.

Gerard is a man who was across the street from the hotel selling his artwork along with a young man making jewelry. It's easy to come here and observe the big picture; it's the journey into the hearts and minds of the people though that will open your eyes in a new way. A way that allows you to see just what God is doing here! Gerard survived the earthquake in 2010 and shared his experience during it. He was a part of saving a family and helping others get to safety just before their homes collapsed. He spoke of all this, his experience being homeless (in a place where you could be shot for sleeping where you're not allowed... everyone! has to pay rent of some kind... there's no People City Mission, park benches, or street corners to stay on) and how he earns his keep around here. Do you know what he said time and time again though? 'Praise God!' He knows he's only alive because someone much greater than himself has saved him. We talked more about what his purpose is here. Because of his relationship with God he knows, amid the hardship, he has great purpose. Mike and I said we'd be praying for him - his response... I will be on my knees, praising God, and praying for you too every night. I felt so much hope through that conversation; knowing that God is the foundation of the relationship we share with Gerard has opened my heart in a new way.

I feel limited in what I can put into words to share with you all back home. As Jim shared this morning at worship, 'we need Haiti more than Haiti needs us.' I pray that all of our hearts and minds may be opened to the love of God that surrounds us; that we may find beauty in despair; more than anything though, at this moment, I pray that it is our own personal relationship with Christ that is restored in the light of love and hope.

Look for God today and everyday hereafter. Look in the seemingly small and insignificant... I am confident you will see Him if you have an open heart.

In Peace,
Emily