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Community Corner

A Lesson From Haiti

A trip to Haiti or any other third-world country will obviously remind you to be thankful for all you have here in the states. On this trip, one incident especially gripped my heart.

Yesterday I got home from a weeklong trip to Haiti. I traveled with a team of about 20 others from Calvary Murrieta. We went to encourage a group of 250 Haitian women in the city of Henche.

We partnered with a ministry organization called Haiti Endowment Fund (HEF) that has been ministering in Haiti for many, many years. Our main purpose was to host a women’s conference and be God’s hands and feet, practically showing them how much He loves them. We did this in various ways, such as teaching them from God’s Word, doing fun crafts, painting their nails to make them feel pampered, dancing and singing together, and finally, joining them in communion.

What an amazing, incredible, precious, time we had! I will never forget the experience. I wish I could invite you all over to my house and show you all my pictures of their smiling faces! A trip to Haiti or any other third world country will obviously remind you to be thankful for all you have here in the states. That goes without saying.

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On this trip, one incident especially gripped my heart. We got a glimpse of the different mindset that comes with being so poor. We had brought long, plain, white pillowcases for each woman to decorate with fabric markers, thinking they could use them for other practical things as well. The ladies seemed to be hesitant to make any marks on them. At the coaxing of our translator, they finally began to decorate them. Some did their best to be creative, but others would simply write a word or phrase down in the corner.  

Toward the end of the craft session, they invited the young Haitian ladies who were cooking for the conference to come and decorate their pillowcases as well. They wanted the case, but refused to decorate them. Finally, our translator explained why most of the women didn’t want to mark on them.

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You see, when you have to go to the hospital in Henche, you are required to bring your own bedding, as well as your food. And the bedding had to be plain white. No stripes or designs. Just plain white. If it wasn’t, you couldn’t stay there and get treatment. These women wanted their pillowcases to stay white because a trip to the hospital is simply a way of life for them. It’s something they have to think about a lot. They were too poor to buy sheets, so this gift was very practical and valuable. I can’t tell you how sad we were that we had forced them to mark them. 

What struck me was the way their lives and circumstances forced them to think. I don’t have to think about things like that. If I go to the hospital, I have a bed, food, and a toilet. I don’t live with the thought of having to go to the hospital every day. I don’t worry about whether or not the water will make me sick or if the next storm will blow my house over. I don’t worry about where my next meal is coming from or if my kids can get an education. I typically take all these things, as well as all the “comforts” of the west, for granted.

The stark reality of their situation was like a slap in the face. I came home humbled and sad, but extremely grateful for the things I have been blessed with; even the small things like toilet paper and hot water.

It was a privilege and an honor to serve the Haitian women for a week, and it changed me in ways I can’t even express. I hope I never forget all that the Lord has taught me. But I especially pray that I will always and forever be grateful for all that God has blessed me with.  I am “determined” to stay grateful! I pray that you take some time today and give Him thanks for all He’s done in your life as well. May you also “determine” to remember to be grateful!

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