……such a sad day for me as always. We arrived early to the airport, so there were no problems getting through and onto our flight. I always enjoy meeting others in the airport in Port-au-prince hearing and learning about what they did while in Haiti. I met one gentleman, who volunteers with Florida Baptist Men, he had come for two weeks to oversee the construction projects that they sponsor. They have employed Haitian workers to construct new homes for families whose home was destroyed by the earthquake. It was not long before our group was called to board, and in about one hour and 45 minutes we were in Miami. It always amazes me stepping back into the busy airport, in the air conditioning. Often sad to me seeing how different people are living only a few hours apart.
Getting through the airport ended up being quite comical with my team….still very weak I rode with Mrs. Doris on the driven handicap cart to customs. As we rode my boarding pass flew out of my passport and under the back motor of the cart. We stopped and looked under the motor and all around but could not find it. We would later find out, through a translator, that the Haitian couple sitting on the back of the cart saw my boarding pass fly out as soon as we had gotten back in the cart and began riding again. Oh well, our driver promised I could get another one printed. We got to an area where all of the handicapped people sat in wheelchairs all waiting on an airport staff to wheel them through customs according to their flight time. We were matched with a young man, volunteer that would push Mrs. Doris and guide us to get our luggage. It was great to get to talk with this young man as we had a long walk through the airport. He was born in Haiti, and now studies at the University of Florida, a second year student studying Biology, with plans to go to medical school. I shared with him I had graduated with the same major and am in Physician Assistant School now.
As we were talking one of the ladies in our groups thought she had lost her car keys, so in the middle of the floor we helped her go through her entire luggage. After several minutes of searching, I thought to ask her to check her fanny pack, and behold there where the keys!! She was so happy, and I was glad to help, we packed up the suitcase and began heading towards customs when I realized I did not have my passport! Oh my….I searched all through my bag, and went back to retrace my steps. The ladies had made it up to customs already… I thankfully caught back up with them and figured that my passport must have gotten in Mrs. Joy’s suitcase when I was searching for her keys. We had to pull out of the long line, and as I opened her suitcase I found my passport in the pocket book in her luggage! I felt so bad….I think we were all losing it haha, but I just had to laugh. It made me feel better that our airport volunteer, well call him “C” (Chatom) said he had had worse things happen to teams before. “C” was great to get me a new boarding pass, and guide us quickly through the handicap line to drop off our luggage and go through customs.
When we finally arrived to our terminal, thankfully we had a six and a half hour layover, so there was no running involved. Then the neatest thing happened, right as we were giving our new friend “C” tips, I am not sure what exactly happened but the Lord took over. I am not sure what one of the ladies said to him, “God bless or will be praying for you”, or what, but he began to ask questions to the ladies. Apparently he had become a Christian when he was younger and had gone to church, yet now being in school he had stopped going to church. Learning about science in school was making him question the validity of the bible, and question God’s existence. It was in the midst of the busy airport we stood in a circle, and it seemed as if the world paused for us to share with “C”. Mrs. Clara had her bible with her and as he shot out question after question, the ladies knew where to find the answers. They read him scriptures, and talked with him for several minutes about his deep questions. I stood by his side, and shared with him… being a science major I know what he is learning, what he is going through. He said he had many doubts and had been praying but did not feel like God was answering his questions or revealing Himself. I told “C” though that God did answer his prayer today, he did not realize but out of the thousands of people here in this airport today God sent us to help answer his questions. I told him, this was an answer to your prayers, God is listening, and continue to seek him having faith he will answer. I was amazed at how God matched us up that day, using Doris’s handicap to need this gentleman, (getting volunteer hours for school) to be able to bring the answers he needed to hear from God. I gave the young man my email address, and told him I would mail him a book I had. For some reason I remembered getting a book when I was in school by a Christian speaker who had written about how God and the bible are true, and proving it analytically, through science. I am praying when I get back to school to find the book, and plan on mailing that and a bible to him. I was so thankful that day that God continued to use us even in the airport of Miami. Our long layover had been exactly what God had planned.
Though I would remain in some pain, and have nausea that entire day throughout the flight God answered my prayers and gave me just the strength I needed to get through the flights and airports that day. After boarding our plane for Charlotte around 10pm we waited on another team coming from Port-au-prince. We soon learned that shortly after we had left Port-au-prince the airport system shut down, and they were not able to print boarding passes. This delayed the passengers for over two and a half hours. Wow, just to think if we had been stuck in Port-au-prince we would not have had the chance to talk to “C”. God is good and he did get that team to make it on our last flight to Charlotte. I did not go to bed that night till a little after 3 am, but was thankful we made it home safe. I learned later the other three lady’s flight had been delayed, and they did not get home till 4am! I am so thankful for God’s protection on them.
I was able to sleep a few hours and my body’s clock woke me up early. I was able to get ready for church, and was so blessed to have the energy just enough to go to worship. My pastor asked me if I would share a brief word to the congregation before the sermon. I had not prepared anything but was so thankful for the opportunity that I briefly shared my thanks and gratitude for their support and prayers for the people of Haiti. How we saw over a 1000 patients that week, and had 4 salvations. How I was able to see the impacts of the medications, clothes, toothpaste and glasses on the people’s lives in Haiti. I also was able to visit with the Runk Family, a couple and their two young children who are working with Global outreach and staying in Haiti for two months. They have to raise their own support, and are learning about all of the operations that Global outreach conducts in Haiti (with their school, orphan ministry, running a burn clinic, and more.) I was able to hear their testimony of their children being able to give out Samaritan’s Christmas shoe boxes to the children at the school, and how excited they were for toothpaste, and the small items hidden inside. This is what Christmas is truly about….in Haiti there are no lights, no Christmas trees, no presents, no Santa. But there is love for the Lord, thankfulness for this Son sent to earth as a baby, who would grow and later die for our sins so that we may have eternal life in Christ Jesus.
I really had wanted to stay in Haiti another week, but our coordinators and all the workers were on Christmas break for two weeks. It was exciting the last night helping Mrs. Wanda make packages of needed items for each of our worker’s families. They would receive this gift the next day at the Christmas party; Wanda had been cooking and preparing to have for them. This is the true meaning of Christmas… and as I think about the Runk family spending this Christmas in Haiti, I think what an honor is would be to serve their during this special time of year.
As I have been home these last few days, I have been tired which is expected, but I have also been sad. It’s sad to leave a people so in need, leave a place where you feel called to be…. to serve each day. It’s hard to come back knowing how much suffering is going on in Haiti. Yes in many ways life is easier here, there is air conditioning and heat when it is cold, there is electricity, and a bed, yet I can only think about the children and people I have left. When I got back Sterling sent me an email saying, “I would like to tell you how special you are, I always wanted to compare you with Jesus, who left his throne to come to this cursed earth to support, save and help people. I congratulate you for your courage. You left your beautiful country, and house to come in a dusty, and dirty country like Haiti where the heat is really exaggerated. It’s really nice of you! That’s also gorgeous! With all my heart I love you, and may God bless you!” I told Sterling, “It is nothing to leave my country, I love Haiti, and the beautiful people God has called me to serve there. I cannot wait to return, I miss the heat, for it is too cold here for me lol. The material things in this world are nothing, I despise how many are so greedy and about things, but things never satisfy, and they never bring joy. I put my faith and hope in the One who will never leave us or forsake us. I would absolutely leave my home and things here to serve, hoping to serve God more long term, and cannot wait to return to Haiti in at the end of July. “
I continue to keep the Haitian workers in my prayers for the struggles they are facing and the encouragement they need in their lives. For "Ste" and her children, for Dr. F now living away from her sister, for Dr. M and Dr. V now living their new life together as husband and wife, for "Mic" and his fiancé, for "Sta" and his family with the recent death of his grandmother, for "Mik" and his application for a college scholarship, for "To" and "Tha" in school and their mother, for "Ma", for "Wil", his schooling and his family, for "Ju" and family, for "Inn", his new baby and wife, for "Pi" and family, for "Fr" and his school and car wash, for "Rom" for work and his fiancé, for "Rol" and her family, for "Jor", for "Sop", and my little Venia, her family, and baby Rachel and her mother, and others. I pray that the Lord bless them and keep them safe, and give them strength, and purpose in each day. I thank you for each of them, their hearts of service to you Lord, and their gifts, and thank you for allowing me to be a part of their lives!
