Haiti Mission Trip: Coach G's Reflections

Amazing and astonishing.  That’s how I’d describe our mission trip to Haiti.  It seemed like there were two worlds competing for one space, almost like Heaven and Hell existing on the same turf.  I am positive that those of us who went will be changed forever.  We selflessly served the Haitian people and they certainly made a difference in our lives as well.

The Amazing

I was amazed at the Haitian people on a number of levels.  Haitians seem naturally kind and happy.  They live very simple, patient lives, rooted in Christianity and free from the distractions of wealth and status.  We encountered smiles and warm greetings everywhere we went, and heard many people joyfully singing as well.  We received love from orphans, school children, teachers, and strangers.  Our group earned the gratitude and help of the town’s people who consistently gave us a thumbs up and uttered “good” or “God bless you” in English for filling in potholes with cement.  Haitian children showed trust and affection to our players as they tried their hand at football and kicked our butts at soccer.  I was amazed at the Haitians love for Christ.  The name of Jesus is seen and heard everywhere.  The pride of the Haitian people is also amazing.  I was surprised at the high level of professionalism.  Men are always in pants and collared shirts, wearing shoes that are shined.  Women teach in suits and wear nice dresses.  Kids wear uniforms to school and carry a rag to make sure their shoes are not dusty.  All schools are private and it’s a privilege to be a student (there is a lot of discipline in the Haitian schools!).  Cars are clean.  The average Haitian has very little, but they really take care of what they have.  The people are also very resourceful and waste nothing.  Part of our mission work included pulling rusty nails out of boards so that they could be reused.  Lastly, the resolve of the Haitian people is truly amazing.  Haiti gained independence when African slaves successfully revolted against the French colonists in the late 1700’s.  More recently, the country was reduced to rubble after the 2010 earthquake that killed 300,000 people.  Yet, there is a unity and hope that is instilled in the Haitian people – a belief that they will stand strong through whatever it takes to get the country back on its feet.

The Astonishing

I am not sure how a society takes the leap to believe that anything that is nice must be guarded behind walls with barbed wire, but that is Haiti.  Of course the walls and our armed guard made us feel safer, but it’s sad in a way as well.  The poverty in Haiti was overwhelming.  I have experienced a lot of poverty in America, but I have seen nothing like this before.  Clearly world poverty is on a completely different level than American poverty.  As a kid, there were many times when we counted on the government to bail us out, but we were confident that we would have shelter and food at a minimum.  Most Haitians are just living in the moment, trying to gasp within the smothering poverty that makes tomorrow uncertain and every meal a luxury.  Minimum wage for hard working people is $5 per day in a place two hours south of Florida.  Astonishing.  Naturally there is not health care or retirement programs set up for the people unless they are funded by missionaries.  People graciously waited for hours to see the doctor at Three Angels.  I was disappointed in the lack of civil leadership.  People told us the government has suffered from corruption for years.  In the meantime, the things that we take for granted go unfulfilled in Haiti.  There is no water delivery system anywhere.  Electricity is sparse without a generator.  Most Haitians live without septic.  There is no regular trash pick-up so people inexplicably throw their garbage out on the streets.  Infrastructure is a mess.  We saw potholes deep enough to lose a car in!  I saw one police officer in six days and there seems to be no rules regarding traffic.  The United Nations serves as Haiti’s army.  Sadly, there is no public education in Haiti.  The overwhelming majority in Haiti are illiterate and the President of the country has a 6th grade education.  Children lucky enough to be sponsored get to go to school typically run by missionaries.  For me, education is the destroyer of ignorance, so I was very upset to find out how many kids never attend school.

The Conclusion

Haiti is an amazing place and the people had a great impact on all of us.  I would like to go back some day to look at the progress that’s been made.  And I hope that the Haitians would see a progress in my heart and priorities as well.