When I think back on the Haiti trip 12 of us took a few
weeks ago, two changes jump into my mind.
The first was our relationship with the Haitians that live in the
village of Garat. Everyday when we
arrived we knew them a little better, they knew us a little better and the
relationship grew stronger. We said
“Good Morning” to each other with more enthusiasm and love as the week went on.
We watched the relationships grow into friendships by the end of the week. The other change was with the 12 members of
the team. We all knew we had different
gifts, but as the week went on, it became so obvious how each person was
shining! The way each person’s gifts played off the gifts of other’s to make
the team stronger made the Holy Spirit literally visible!
During the week, we were able to witness two church services
with the most amazing singing I have ever heard, adult education classes with
44 villagers learning their letters and how to write their names, and school
day classes in session with lunch and recess.
Some of our team members were able to fix a broken well to bring fresh
water back to east side of the village, knock down the old latrine at the
school, and take care of some electrical work to bring electricity into the
building from the generator when it is running.
Some members of the team taught health and hygiene lessons
to the villagers every day, and even encouraged a man in the community who was
building his own latrine to come talk to the whole village about why more of
them should build latrines in their backyard.
He spoke about his wife and daughter suffering from cholera and how that
motivated him to make a change for the better when it came to hygiene and his
family’s health.
Spending time in the classrooms each day with the children
and the teachers was an inspiration to all of us. The teachers talked about why they come to
the village to teach every day, speaking of the need to spread the gospel as
the reason why they want to be teaching in a church school. Two of the teachers live in village and
talked about their desire to give back!
We also met the four leaders who will act as the school board and heard
their gratitude for the school expressed.
They would love to see the school grow, adding higher grades and more
children, and want to work to make that happen.
While the team was in Haiti, we could physically feel the
prayers of friends and family and as we prayed with the people of Garat we
could feel the Holy Spirit fill the space with a presence so strong it was
beautiful!
Deborah Nixon
