Last week I returned home from an unforgettable experience. After the earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010 I knew I wanted to do something but I wasn’t sure what it was. I texted my donation to the Red Cross but I felt like I needed to do more. Thanks to Twitter, I found out about a trip to the Dominican Republic to help Haitian refugees. This seemed perfect because it was going to take place a few months after the quake, when media coverage slows down and we go on with our lives. What I didn’t know was that we were going to be able to go to Port Au Prince on one of the days.
What I saw is hard to describe. An orphanage in the D.R. with injured Haitian kids. One little boy hopping around on his one leg. Another little boy wanting to take pictures with my camera but needing help because he only has one arm. Kids with their legs in casts unable to move around because there are no crutches. The crazy thing is, they were happy. Smiling, having fun with us and their friends.
In Haiti we saw tents everywhere, people relieving themselves wherever they want, a mother collecting rain water from the top of her tent to give to her baby. Destruction everywhere with bodies still inside. The crazy thing, life is still moving forward. The people smiling at us as we drive by.
As you can tell, I’m really good at describing what I saw but I’m not very good at explaining how it made me feel. I wrote in my journal the night we got back and when I was flying home. I wouldn’t normally share from my private journal but I think knowing what I felt is an important part of understanding why I want to do what I want to do (details will be below the video). So here they are, my raw, uncensored feelings…
“What happens to these people when the aid slows down? They have nothing. They need help and will continue to need help for years to come. The help will not come from their governement so who’s job is it to help? Us. One person can’t save the world but they can make a difference. When I first saw everything I thought- there is way too much to do here, it is hopeless. But when I look into the eyes of the people and they smile at me, I realize, they still have hope and their hope comes from seeing people like me coming to their country to help. We are their hope and we cannot forget them. We can’t forget that their suffering has not stopped because there is less media coverage. It hasn’t. It won’t. I have so much. They have nothing but the hope that someone will help them. I don’t want to forget what I saw… the look in their eyes, the destruction, the hope. ”
When I was on the plane, what I saw really started to hit me. Here are some of my thoughts at that time…
“As I fly home emotions are filling me. Sadness, drive to help, overwhelmed, hopelessness. Anger that more people don’t want to help and just don’t care. I want to yell at them, I want them to have compassion for others- not just Haitians, but anyone, just compassion, a heart to help others. The people of Haiti are so lost, desperate and in need of experiencing love. God is love. They have faith, some do. I believe those who have faith know, trust and love God in a way I cannot comprehend and I’m almost jealous of it. If things don’t go my way I want to turn my back on God, blame Him for my minor inconveniences. How little my faith is. These people have lost everything and still worship God. That is a faith I can learn from.
For the rest of Haitians, they have nothing, no reason to live. They need to know God, for their salvation and their country. People don’t help their neighbors… why should they? Their hope is limited and dwindling. The chances of their government changing are slim. Their hope lies in God and His people. He is the only one that can save this country. We are the ones who can show his love. I don’t want to just show his love by sending money, I want them to physically see it. I don’t think this is the way for all people but they should at least be showing his love at home, right? We aren’t perfect and we may slip up but showing love and compassion should be our focus. Anywhere we are. A simple smile shows his love. In Haiti and D.R. their cold, distant faces would look at me. I would smile and instantly their entire body language would change, their faces soften. Most would smile back. Such a simple way to share Gods love. It’s not hard, it doesn’t take alot of time and energy. Why are we so cold? What happened? What can we do? Pray, smile and share his love… it is contagious.”
I know most people have given money and at this point don’t know what to do to help. I truly believe that prayer is powerful and God answers our prayers. One thing we can all do is pray. I want the people of Haiti to feel our prayers… to know we have not forgotten. I also want them to see our prayers… see how many people are praying for them. I want there to be a wall in Haiti filled with names of those praying for them so they can see that we have not forgotten them. I’m not sure how I can do this and if anybody is reading this that would know a way to help me, please email me! It may seem small and insignificant but I truly believe that if they have hope and know God is present, things can change. Of course they need food, water and shelter but they also need the power of God to help them get through this tragedy.
Wow, I wrote a lot and I hope you have taken a few minutes to read it. If you haven’t, that’s okay… you can just watch the video but I encourage you to read it when you have more time. =)
Pray for Haitians from Richelle Dante on Vimeo.
A few stills…
In Port Au Prince
Back in the Dominican Republic, we helped a Haitian church put down a tile floor.
I taught a few of the kids how to play Bejeweled on the iPhone. An important life skill. =)
This boy asked me to take his photo and was very excited to see it!
This boy asked for a photo in front of the motor scooter. After I took it, I had a line up of boys wanting the same shot. =)
If you are praying for Haiti, please leave a comment below. Even if I can’t have a wall of names in Haiti, I will find someway to let Haitians know they haven’t been forgotten!
Also, feel free to share my video on your Facebook pages. The direct link is http://www.vimeo.com/10712217.
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