Food for Thought

Living in Haiti is challenging on a daily bases; though not for the reasons you might expect. Sure, it can often take over an hour to drive five kilometres, feel like you go to bed ever night in a sauna, or only understand two words of a conversation, but those are things to be expected. What is really challenging is the people I meet, both Haitian and foreigners.

Last week seemed to be full of people living in Haiti and selflessly serving others. I met a Dutch girl who came to Haiti to teach school up in the mountains. She told me about the tarantulas in her bed, living months without cell or internet service, eating rice and beans for days, and fighting for the lives of two little babies who were rejected by their mother. She was a normal person willing to deny herself for others. 

Another friend I have down here is a young man who spends his days at the Port-au-Prince hospital. He is not trained in the medical field but rather volunteers feeding and caring for the patients. I don't know why he decided to live away from home caring for people he doesn't know, but he does, and it is something worth thinking about.

Another is a young American desperately trying to adopt a six year old Haitian girl who is handicapped. The way she cared for this girl and loved her so dearly displayed clearly God's great love for me. Finding value in someone not because of what they can do or offer to society but solely because they are human is not in our Western worldview. A powerful reminder that people are intrinsically valuable. 

These are just two stories that have got me thinking, forcing me to reconsider how I will live my life. It also got me thinking of all the people back in Canada who have been serving me so selflessly through prayer, encouragement, and finances. I have been overwhelmed with the support I have received on this trip. Thank you to everyone involved. I am beyond words in expressing my gratitude.