Hello. Here we are at day four. After seeing the pictures
that Jamie, Caitlin, and Briana brought back and the stories they told, I was
still not very prepared mentally for what we would be experiencing. I have been
amazed at the beauty of the culture and still saddened by the immense poverty.
We have had a lot of experiences already, even just in the short time we’ve
been here; from serving water to the impoverished in Cite Soleil, to washing the
feet of the elders in Titanyen, visiting the Hope Village Orphanage and the
mass grave memorial. It’s been very eye opening to see people living in such
poverty but finding happiness in the simplest of things. Some of them seem
happier than many of the people we see every day in America who have so much.
This is just another example that ‘things’ don’t bring
happiness. When providing water in Cite Soliel, the kids find so much joy in
just being held. We have been able to visit several separate locations that
Healing Haiti has helped start businesses that are giving jobs to Haitians to
support their community. We have heard so many stories of people who have been
blessed buy the opportunity to have a job and begin to financially support
their family.
Apparent Project was founded because so many parents were
having to give up their kids for adoption just because they couldn’t afford to
keep them. Apparent Project gives them a job and provides day care so they can
work and keep their family together. God is doing amazing things through people
here in Haiti. It has been great to share this experience with Caitlin (who says
everyday how much she loves Haiti and the people here), as well as make some
new friends (some Haitian & and some of my American team members). Most of
all, I’m so thankful for the blessings in my life don’t want to take any of it
for granted.
-
Michael
Shell
-Madison Munger
