Beyond Myself
On February 8, I went on my first mission trip with my church. We returned home on the 14th.
Now two weeks have flown by and Haiti is still in the forefront of my mind. Thomazeau is beautiful, the people, the sights, the mountains, and the sun!
Even with all that is lacking there, you cannot deny the beauty. I woke up early every morning so I wouldn't miss the sunrise.
Breathtaking.
The first day was a travel day. We arrived to our location after dark. We unloaded the bus and had dinner. We were served a lot of different Haitian foods, there were only a couple of things I didn't try. One was a pickled salad, someone called it "shredded fire" and I knew I wouldn't be trying that. The other was the bright orange mangoes, they smelled delicious. Bummer, I'm allergic!
The second day, we bagged up rice and beans for the people we would be seeing throughout the week. Then we loaded up, like the Haitians do, on the back of the trucks and went to the orphanage to visit the children.
We loaded up the older children with us and headed to the water hole for a swim. After the swim, we went back to our location with the children for dinner. While waiting for dinner some children played soccer, and some played games and painted their nails. The girls wanted to paint our nails more than have their nails painted.
The children were served by the Americans and spaghetti was piled on their plates. They ate every last bite, and if a child wanted more, the child next to them would share. It was the sweetest thing. The children went home with full bellies.
First Clinic Day
We ate breakfast had a devotional and were given our assignments. Dr. David Vanderpool said, "Love the one in front of you!" Laurie Vanderpool said, "You are going to have a dual experience this week. You can bless others while being blessed by them. Don't miss a moment!"
I was assigned to the intake team, basically vitals of all the patients. I was excited, but I started to feel ill. I felt a little dizzy and light headed, so I laid down for a few minutes. The best mission trip ever, 3 of my roommates were nurses and 1 was a force to be reckoned with prayer warrior. The minute I said I wasn't feeling well, she brought Heaven to Earth. By the time everyone was ready to go I was feeling well enough to walk to the clinic area, but I still felt dizzy if I stood up. I said in my mind "I am not missing anything!"
So, once clinic started I just jumped in and asked where to help and when I got moving, I felt great. The wind was an amazing blessing and the shade was a plus! There were so many people. To open the clinic each day the Haitians would sing "How Great Thou Art" in Haitian Creole and then the Americans would sing in English, I couldn't hold back a tear or two.
The patients that were deemed underweight would receive a bag of beans and rice and everyone who wanted prayer received prayer before leaving.
In the afternoons, the teams make house calls. These are for people that are either home bound because of a disability or just unable to make the trek to the clinic. We made a special visit to a mother who had just lost her baby. This was her second baby born with hydrocephalus and he had a stunt put in but something failed and he didn't make it. Grief passes over any language barrier. I felt so sad for her loss. After visiting a few families we headed back to the guest house.
Second Clinic Day
The following day we headed up the mountain to Ca-Elie. A village that has a school with 500 students. When we arrived you could hear the children cheering! We quickly step up a few of the rooms for treatment. We lined the walls with their school desks. Intake was on skin duty. On the inside I flipped out a little bit, not going to lie. One of the biggest concerns I had about this trip was scabies. It's highly contagious and I have my own kids at home I didn't want to bring it home. I know, completely selfish, but God loves ugly.
So, as I am panicking in my head I think to myself no big deal "Scabies for Jesus"!
We used all the proper precautions, and the kids started filing in. I had to ask questions to confirm what I was seeing. You want to treat with the correct cream. We were told to go as quickly as possible, so I was just in a work mode. Wipe skin down, identify issue, apply cream, hand a sucker, next kid. But then something cool happened, I felt the Lord tell me to look up.
I wasn't looking in every child's eyes, I wasn't trying to talk to them, just getting the job done. This little boy, sitting there quietly, patiently as I looked at his skin, our eyes met, I smiled and he smiled. Connection.
I asked every kid from that point on what their name was, well the best I could. Some would respond, some wouldn't but they would smile. They knew we were helping them. Ring worm, scabies, burns we were meeting their needs. Some of them I just wiped down a little extra, they are covered in white dust, a little baby wipe bath is just an extra step.
This was my dual experience. The place that I was most concerned about was the place that He showed up. I was a part of something beyond myself, and it was great. We headed back down the mountain with a few house calls on the way. We had to gear up for another day in the mountain tomorrow.
Third Clinic Day
We headed back up to Ca-Elie the following morning. This time we set up clinic for the entire village at the same school. The people had not seen a doctor in years, and this was the first time there had been a clinic in this location. Once again we were gifted a beautiful windy day, there was a tarp hanging for shade which was perfect. Our team broke a record seeing well over 350 patients that day. The intake team rocked, if I do say so myself! We had a flow going and it was an awesome experience. We earned our cold shower that day!
Last Clinic Day
The last day of clinic was upon us. Where had the time gone? Realizing I liked that people I was with and that it was almost over made me a little sad. We were setting up clinic on the property again just like the first day but we were told that this village is the surrounding village of our guest house and that many of them practiced voodoo. Sure, you could be fearful, it's everywhere you turn in Haiti. But there are no curses in Jesus! We set up clinic and it was so windy, but we welcomed it. No complaining here.
We saw so many people, young, old, some healthier than others, and some that were too weak to stand on their own. It's gut wrenching. We finished up clinic and then we split up to go on house calls.
This was our last chance to see people we've never seen before. I knew which group I was supposed to go with but a part of me didn't want to go. I guess in a way I was trying to avoid more heartache. But I loaded up with that group anyhow.
Haiti is in the Caribbean so of course it is beautiful. Mango trees, banana trees, avocados, papayas, some fruit I've never seen, it's everywhere. Beauty.
We stopped at a village and meet with a precious little girl. Her mother set out chairs for us to sit down. Then we visited a few elderly people, then we went to the next village.
This village has a special kind of darkness, a woman actually cursed us and spat at the ground as we drove by. That was interesting. The truck stopped and we were at Annette's house. Annette was born with some disabilities, and you cannot really pinpoint what exactly but she has been outcast.
The people in her village abuse her, lock her up in a pig sty. She doesn't speak. She makes sounds like a pig, because that is the only communication she knows. Laurie sings sweetly so Annette knows she's there to see her. Laurie feeds her cheetos and helps her drink some gatorade. Annette chugs the drink almost without breathing, she's so thirsty. Laurie gives her high caloric foods because she needs the calories, desperately. And as she eats, the people of her village mock her. I'm really in shock at this point.
How can a human be so mean to another human. No, to you and I, Annette may not be "normal" you may not even see the beauty in her, but Jesus died for her too. She's a person, with a purpose.
For now we must head back, it's getting dark and you do not want to be out when it is dark.
As we leave, I cannot hold back my tears. I'm broken for Annette. Live Beyond will eventually have a place for Annette and others like her to be safe and cared for. I think of Annette often, and pray for her protection. We had our last debriefing on the rooftop and it sprinkled just a tiny bit, a little kiss from Heaven. We prepared our things for the journey home.
I had so much fun, learning about a new place and culture, with people I didn't even know. I am so glad I went on this journey to Haiti.
I brought home things from Haiti that are priceless. The beauty, bigger faith, and a love for His people like I've never had before. I want to continue living beyond myself. I want to go back!
Are you wondering how you can help?
I asked Dr. Vanderpool personally what I, at stay at home mom of four, can do to help Live Beyond. He said to raise awareness, fund raise, donate and come back with your friends!
I can do that!
We all can help, we all have $10 to spare per month. It takes $10/month to feed a pregnant woman in their maternal program. A month, $10. Really? That's a latte. A lunch.
This isn't to guilt you into donating to another thing, this is to stir your heart beyond yourself. Take the Christianity out of it, focus on the humanity of it.
If you want to donate to Live Beyond, awesome. If not, that's okay too. I encourage you to dig deep and look at others in their eyes and step outside of your world and look at all the things that you might take for granted and be grateful. And possibly consider living beyond yourself and living with a little less so that others can live a little longer with a little more than they have now.
Thomazeau, Haiti and the entire Live Beyond Team have made an impact on my life, and I cannot be the same because of it.
To learn more about Live Beyond and donate, click the link below.
www.livebeyond.org
The following pictures: Annette and Laurie. My Haitian nails after being painted by a 10 year old. Locals seeing us off after visiting their village. Clinic in Ca-Elie. Student peeking through watching the skin clinic. Locals driving along the road.
Now two weeks have flown by and Haiti is still in the forefront of my mind. Thomazeau is beautiful, the people, the sights, the mountains, and the sun!
Even with all that is lacking there, you cannot deny the beauty. I woke up early every morning so I wouldn't miss the sunrise.
Breathtaking.
The first day was a travel day. We arrived to our location after dark. We unloaded the bus and had dinner. We were served a lot of different Haitian foods, there were only a couple of things I didn't try. One was a pickled salad, someone called it "shredded fire" and I knew I wouldn't be trying that. The other was the bright orange mangoes, they smelled delicious. Bummer, I'm allergic!
The second day, we bagged up rice and beans for the people we would be seeing throughout the week. Then we loaded up, like the Haitians do, on the back of the trucks and went to the orphanage to visit the children.
We loaded up the older children with us and headed to the water hole for a swim. After the swim, we went back to our location with the children for dinner. While waiting for dinner some children played soccer, and some played games and painted their nails. The girls wanted to paint our nails more than have their nails painted.
The children were served by the Americans and spaghetti was piled on their plates. They ate every last bite, and if a child wanted more, the child next to them would share. It was the sweetest thing. The children went home with full bellies.
First Clinic Day
We ate breakfast had a devotional and were given our assignments. Dr. David Vanderpool said, "Love the one in front of you!" Laurie Vanderpool said, "You are going to have a dual experience this week. You can bless others while being blessed by them. Don't miss a moment!"
I was assigned to the intake team, basically vitals of all the patients. I was excited, but I started to feel ill. I felt a little dizzy and light headed, so I laid down for a few minutes. The best mission trip ever, 3 of my roommates were nurses and 1 was a force to be reckoned with prayer warrior. The minute I said I wasn't feeling well, she brought Heaven to Earth. By the time everyone was ready to go I was feeling well enough to walk to the clinic area, but I still felt dizzy if I stood up. I said in my mind "I am not missing anything!"
So, once clinic started I just jumped in and asked where to help and when I got moving, I felt great. The wind was an amazing blessing and the shade was a plus! There were so many people. To open the clinic each day the Haitians would sing "How Great Thou Art" in Haitian Creole and then the Americans would sing in English, I couldn't hold back a tear or two.
The patients that were deemed underweight would receive a bag of beans and rice and everyone who wanted prayer received prayer before leaving.
In the afternoons, the teams make house calls. These are for people that are either home bound because of a disability or just unable to make the trek to the clinic. We made a special visit to a mother who had just lost her baby. This was her second baby born with hydrocephalus and he had a stunt put in but something failed and he didn't make it. Grief passes over any language barrier. I felt so sad for her loss. After visiting a few families we headed back to the guest house.
Second Clinic Day
The following day we headed up the mountain to Ca-Elie. A village that has a school with 500 students. When we arrived you could hear the children cheering! We quickly step up a few of the rooms for treatment. We lined the walls with their school desks. Intake was on skin duty. On the inside I flipped out a little bit, not going to lie. One of the biggest concerns I had about this trip was scabies. It's highly contagious and I have my own kids at home I didn't want to bring it home. I know, completely selfish, but God loves ugly.
So, as I am panicking in my head I think to myself no big deal "Scabies for Jesus"!
We used all the proper precautions, and the kids started filing in. I had to ask questions to confirm what I was seeing. You want to treat with the correct cream. We were told to go as quickly as possible, so I was just in a work mode. Wipe skin down, identify issue, apply cream, hand a sucker, next kid. But then something cool happened, I felt the Lord tell me to look up.
I wasn't looking in every child's eyes, I wasn't trying to talk to them, just getting the job done. This little boy, sitting there quietly, patiently as I looked at his skin, our eyes met, I smiled and he smiled. Connection.
I asked every kid from that point on what their name was, well the best I could. Some would respond, some wouldn't but they would smile. They knew we were helping them. Ring worm, scabies, burns we were meeting their needs. Some of them I just wiped down a little extra, they are covered in white dust, a little baby wipe bath is just an extra step.
This was my dual experience. The place that I was most concerned about was the place that He showed up. I was a part of something beyond myself, and it was great. We headed back down the mountain with a few house calls on the way. We had to gear up for another day in the mountain tomorrow.
Third Clinic Day
We headed back up to Ca-Elie the following morning. This time we set up clinic for the entire village at the same school. The people had not seen a doctor in years, and this was the first time there had been a clinic in this location. Once again we were gifted a beautiful windy day, there was a tarp hanging for shade which was perfect. Our team broke a record seeing well over 350 patients that day. The intake team rocked, if I do say so myself! We had a flow going and it was an awesome experience. We earned our cold shower that day!
Last Clinic Day
The last day of clinic was upon us. Where had the time gone? Realizing I liked that people I was with and that it was almost over made me a little sad. We were setting up clinic on the property again just like the first day but we were told that this village is the surrounding village of our guest house and that many of them practiced voodoo. Sure, you could be fearful, it's everywhere you turn in Haiti. But there are no curses in Jesus! We set up clinic and it was so windy, but we welcomed it. No complaining here.
We saw so many people, young, old, some healthier than others, and some that were too weak to stand on their own. It's gut wrenching. We finished up clinic and then we split up to go on house calls.
This was our last chance to see people we've never seen before. I knew which group I was supposed to go with but a part of me didn't want to go. I guess in a way I was trying to avoid more heartache. But I loaded up with that group anyhow.
Haiti is in the Caribbean so of course it is beautiful. Mango trees, banana trees, avocados, papayas, some fruit I've never seen, it's everywhere. Beauty.
We stopped at a village and meet with a precious little girl. Her mother set out chairs for us to sit down. Then we visited a few elderly people, then we went to the next village.
This village has a special kind of darkness, a woman actually cursed us and spat at the ground as we drove by. That was interesting. The truck stopped and we were at Annette's house. Annette was born with some disabilities, and you cannot really pinpoint what exactly but she has been outcast.
The people in her village abuse her, lock her up in a pig sty. She doesn't speak. She makes sounds like a pig, because that is the only communication she knows. Laurie sings sweetly so Annette knows she's there to see her. Laurie feeds her cheetos and helps her drink some gatorade. Annette chugs the drink almost without breathing, she's so thirsty. Laurie gives her high caloric foods because she needs the calories, desperately. And as she eats, the people of her village mock her. I'm really in shock at this point.
How can a human be so mean to another human. No, to you and I, Annette may not be "normal" you may not even see the beauty in her, but Jesus died for her too. She's a person, with a purpose.
For now we must head back, it's getting dark and you do not want to be out when it is dark.
As we leave, I cannot hold back my tears. I'm broken for Annette. Live Beyond will eventually have a place for Annette and others like her to be safe and cared for. I think of Annette often, and pray for her protection. We had our last debriefing on the rooftop and it sprinkled just a tiny bit, a little kiss from Heaven. We prepared our things for the journey home.
I had so much fun, learning about a new place and culture, with people I didn't even know. I am so glad I went on this journey to Haiti.
I brought home things from Haiti that are priceless. The beauty, bigger faith, and a love for His people like I've never had before. I want to continue living beyond myself. I want to go back!
Are you wondering how you can help?
I asked Dr. Vanderpool personally what I, at stay at home mom of four, can do to help Live Beyond. He said to raise awareness, fund raise, donate and come back with your friends!
I can do that!
We all can help, we all have $10 to spare per month. It takes $10/month to feed a pregnant woman in their maternal program. A month, $10. Really? That's a latte. A lunch.
This isn't to guilt you into donating to another thing, this is to stir your heart beyond yourself. Take the Christianity out of it, focus on the humanity of it.
If you want to donate to Live Beyond, awesome. If not, that's okay too. I encourage you to dig deep and look at others in their eyes and step outside of your world and look at all the things that you might take for granted and be grateful. And possibly consider living beyond yourself and living with a little less so that others can live a little longer with a little more than they have now.
Thomazeau, Haiti and the entire Live Beyond Team have made an impact on my life, and I cannot be the same because of it.
To learn more about Live Beyond and donate, click the link below.
www.livebeyond.org
The following pictures: Annette and Laurie. My Haitian nails after being painted by a 10 year old. Locals seeing us off after visiting their village. Clinic in Ca-Elie. Student peeking through watching the skin clinic. Locals driving along the road.
What an amazing and precious experience, one I know you will do again.
ReplyDeleteSo amazing!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome experience!
ReplyDelete