Lesson #7: Language is not always a barrier

Hello!  Hola!  Bonjour!  Hey you!

First, thank you for the many comments on my last post!  It was sweet to know that someone is reading... I know that I typed in my first post that I didn't care if anyone read the blog, I was typing for myself, it is nice to know someone is listening.

The posts about Haiti will last a while...  I feel I still have so much to process, so much to say, and so much to change in order to honor the Haitians and all that they taught me.  Yes, the Haitians taught me so much, and just in one week.

My last post mentioned a few times that the language difference was a big scare in the beginning.  Actually, on the way to the airport in the church van, I asked my group to go around and tell their "good feeling and bad feeling" about the trip.  So, each person shared something they were excited for and something that was causing stress, worry, or anxiety.  One of our members said that the language barrier was a worry.  We all agreed with the worry and it was a mutual stressor.

I think that I can safely say that we all worried for nothing.  There was no language barrier, and each night we talked about how amazing it was.  Every night we gathered for our debriefing and every night we all had new lessons, new stories, new moments that would forever be remembered with people who spoke a different language.  Today I thought'd I'd type about just one.

Day 1 the bosses asked for 2 volunteers.  One of my hands shot into the air and the other pointed to Sable, a fellow member of our team.  We noticed the bosses sort of laughing to themselves but didn't think anything of it.  We were told to follow one of the bosses and he'd show us what to do.  If only we had known we had volunteered for sifting sand!  If anyone has not sifted sand in Haiti (which I imagine is a lot of you) let me tell you.  IT IS TOUGH.

Anway... Point of the story.  We follow one of the bosses to a spot in between two of the houses with a big pile of rocks, 2 shovels, 3 wheel barrels, and a sifter.  We watched as a few Haitians modeled for us what to do.  It was pretty simple.  One person shovels a big pile of rocks into the sifter and the other person holds the sifter, sifts, and dumps.  We started our job and found a sort of rhythm and thought we were doing fine.  Meanwhile there are Haitians all around, shoveling, cleaning up the dumped rocks, and crushing up more rock to shovel.  Then, one of the Haitian ladies comes and takes the sifter from Sable.  Another Haitian woman starts to shovel and the other starts sifting really, really fast.  Sable and I looked at each other and were amazed at the speed of these women.  Then, they handed us our tools back and looked at us as if to say, if you are going to do this, you gotta be more efficient.  After that, we picked up our speed until we were relieved.  We about died, but we did it.

The urgency wasn't rude, the lesson wasn't insulting, it was eye opening.  The only times that the people in the village can work on building more houses is when there is a group there.  With a group comes money, with money comes materials, with materials comes progress.  While we were there they wanted to get done as much as possible.  What was truly amazing was that the lady who taught us the lesson, the lady who sped us up without a word, she already had a home.  Her family was one of the first to recieve a home.  She had moved out of her tent long ago.  While she was helping us she was also doing washing her families clothes and watching after her many children.  She was busy, she had other responsibilities, and no one would have blamed her for not helping.  But she came out of her home, in the heat of the day, and helped build someones home.  SOMEONES home.  The home hasn't been assigned.  No one knows who will live there.

That lesson was taught to me without one word exchanged by this lady.  In this picture she looks small, but let me tell you about her might.  Her arms were ripped with muscles, her drive could be seen from miles away, and her heart was bigger than her entire being.  I wish so badly I could remember her name.  She told me, but there were some names that were so foreign to us that we could not commit them to memory because we could not grasp them.  I will never forget her though, and her amazing out pouring of love.

I pray that you will learn from what I have learned.  I only hope to pass on the lessons of the Haitian people so that when I return I can say with confidence that I have honored their teachings.  I can say that I have told my people what I have learned.  Then, maybe, I can recieve the blessing of learning more from them.

Lesson #6: Going to Haiti WILL change your life, if you let it

Bonjour readers!  I am sorry for the late blog... I know have been on home since Saturday... But, as usual, my life has been crazy and so, 5 days later here I am.  The blog has been on my mind since I returned.  I have thought over and over, where do I begin?  Just to warn you, the next million posts could be about Haiti.  You can ask my housemates, I can talk for hours about Haiti.  (They have heard enough, they probably feel they have been there)

In Haiti I learned SO many lessons.  My whole team learned so many lessons.  I literally don't know where to begin!

Lesson #6: Going to Haiti WILL change your life, if you let it

I knew going in that I would come back different.  I knew that the person getting on the plane would not be the person getting off the plane.  I had no idea that my world would be turned upside down. 

People say, step out of your comfort zone.  Try something new.  Up until then, stepping out of my comfort zone had been trying the new vegetable from our CSA.  Stepping out of my comfort zone had been going to Washington, DC and sleeping on the floor.  Stepping out of my comfort zone had been going to work in a camp in New Mexico for an entire month without cell service.  When I stepped into Haiti, I was given a new definition of comfort zone.  I had never really, truly been out of my comfort zone.  Not like this.  The people, the buildings, the weather, the language, the smells, the tastes, the noises, the animals, the atmosphere, the traffic flow (or lack of), the attitudes, the money, the bathrooms, the shops,the plants, and the names were ALL new to me. In a blink of an eye, everything I knew was stripped from me and I had thrown myself into a world of unknown.

At first, I hated it.  On our 7 and a half hour bus ride, (YES, it was supposed to be 3 hours tops, it ended up being 7 and a half.  Soak that in.  Then add the fact that we went 18 miles.  Shocked?  We were too).  Anyway, on our 7 and a half hour bus ride I asked God a million times, why did You do this?  Why am I here?  I don't belong here.  How am I supposed to lead a group of 10 in a country I know nothing about?  I think You made a mistake, I am not cut out for this.  I was simply overwhelmed, culture shocked, and I felt all alone.

I could have shut down, went through the week numb.  I have seen many do this on my past trips.  I have seen it done before.  I was tempted.  I was SO tempted.  It felt too hard.  But instead, I prayed. And I prayed hard.  I have never spent so much time in prayer.  Me? Pray? Not usually, not that often. I use music as my way to worship. Me? Pray? Not usually.

See, some people, they learn after the first time they are told.  Me?  Sometimes I have be told twice, or three times, my mom would argue I have to be told 20.  I learned a lesson once before, a long time ago.  In 2008 I believe?  I went to New Mexico for the second time.  I stayed there for the whole month of June and while I was there I worked at a camp.  Working at camp IS NOT EASY.  You wake up and begin your day around 6:30am?  And you do not stop until 7:30 or 8pm.  Once again, I had no cell service, except a few hours on Saturdays.  And in 2008, Matt, who was my boyfriend then, was, of course, my whole world.  I was a teenager in love.  So, by the end of the four weeks I was tired, homesick, and emotionally exhausted.  I got on the plane to leave, but I wasn't going home.  I was flying to Chicago to join my youth group for a week long mission trip.  I was sitting in the airport, waiting for the church van to pick me up, my phone was about to go dead, and the van was stuck in traffic.  (Not 7 and half hours, thankfully).  The same thoughts were going through my head.  Why did I do this?  God, why am I here?  I am tired, homesick, and emotionally exhausted.  I can't make it through this week.  It's impossible.  So, I prayed.  I prayed for God to give me strength.  I needed strength so bad.  Physical strength, emotional strength, and mental strength.  And let me tell you, I got it.  The only explanation for me getting through that week was God.  He gave me strength and I felt refreshed.  I enjoyed that week and learned a lot.  I was thankful for my week in Chicago when I left.

So, let's refocus, I am sitting in the bus, in the middle of Haiti, people running all around us, beggers at our windows, motorcycles honking and flying by, cars going every direction, and I feel like I am all alone.  So, I prayed.  I prayed for the same thing I did in the Chicago airport.  I prayed for strength.  Physical, emotional, and mental strength.  And I also prayed for my eyes, ears, and heart to be open.  Open to the things I was supposed to see, hear, and learn.  I prayed that my team's eyes, ears, and hearts would be open too.  I wanted so badly to embrace the country of Haiti and to learn from the people.  And I did.  We did.

So, if you let it, Haiti will teach you a lot.  Haiti is something special, I cannot wait to tell you all about it.

Lesson #5: Packing for Haiti is interesting!

Well, Haiti is 2 days away and I cannot wait!  It's one of those things that doesn't feel real until it happens and it is in your face... So it hasn't FULLY hit me quite yet!  (I felt the same way about my wedding, I didn't realize it was actually going to happen until I was standing behind a line of bridesmaids in my wedding dress, my dad had to do some breathing excersises with me...)

Anyway, the packing has been going on for about a week now but tonight we actually put everything into bags!  My comment to Matthew was, "I have never packed like this before."  Let me give you a list of some odd items that I have in my backpack:

• Toilet paper minus the cardboard center, squished to fit into a ziploc baggie.
• Reasoning: Not all public bathrooms have toilet paper.
• Waterproofing materials.
• Reasoning: There is a chance that we will be traveling in an open truck.  There is also a chance it will be raining.
• Money divided into small amounts inside envelopes, strictly small bills.
• Reasoning: Carrying large bills or a large amount of bills can put you in danger.
• Disposable cameras.
• Reasoning: Wouldn't want to lose/break my nice camera.  This really isn't that weird, but I was just in shock!  I didn't know they still existed!  Did you?
• NOT PACKING: Wedding bands.
• Reasoning: Showing signs of wealth can put you in danger.
• Yes, this makes me very sad.

That is all the physical stuff.  But emotionally, I have packed some odd stuff as well.  I am very excited, but also very nervous at the same time.  I have only been out of the country once, in the Bahamas for my honeymoon less than a month ago.  I feel it didn't really count... So I think I can say I have never been out of the country, really.

I have tried to emotionally prepare for the poverty I will see.  Looking at pictures of others who have traveled there breaks my heart, seeing them in real life... I cannot imagine.  I am "packing" courage, more courage than I have ever felt I have needed.  Courage to see God in all of the people and the condition they are in.  Courage to love people who are different than me.  Courage to be open to a new life that is different than mine.  Courage to be myself in a different culture.

I have attempted to prepare to have strength, more strength than I have ever felt I have needed.  Physical strength to do the physical labor that is demanded of me everyday, all day in the heat of Haiti.  Emotional strength to lead a team of others through the week and to help them have strength as well.  Mental strength to keep myself together and to remember that even if the week does not go as I have planned, it is exactly what God has planned.

Compassion is something I am packing in the "handle with care" section.  Compassion is something that I try to be careful with.  I want to have compassion, I want to show others that I care.  But, I also do not want to be condescending.  I do not want to force my beliefs and ways on the people I meet.  I do not want to only "do for," I want to teach and discuss and help and learn from.  I need to remember that compassion is something from the heart and that pure love is the only way pure compassion can happen.

Lastly, I am packing flexibility.  My "go with the flow" attitude.  Flights may be delayed, schedules may be flipped upside down, food may be different, jobs may be difficult, it may rain on our heads all day.  I need to be ready for anything and respond with a smile.

NOT PACKING:
Control.  I do not have control over this week.  I do not want control over this week.  I want to hand it over to God and say, what happens is up to you.  I trust You, fully and completely.  I need to let go and let God.

Well, my packing list has lots of check marks beside it and the bags are looking full!  Sorry no pictures today, I didn't figure you'd want a pic of my red suitcase.  It's pretty standard if you'd like to imagine. (:

I hope to post one more time before we leave, but if not... I hope you all have amazing weeks learning lessons wherever you are, whether it is at home or out of the country.

Lesson #4: I am truly blessed

Hello again!  It has been a while (over a month)!  It has been an insanely busy, awesome, life changing summer!  Even more than I imagined!  I could literally write for days about all my adventures and lessons learned... But I think that it would only result in a hand cramp.  (:

Lesson #4: I am truly blessed.

There are many times in my life that I have realized this.  Sometimes I forget, and I need reminding.  But when I sit back and really think about it.  I am TRULY blessed, for many different reasons.  Where do I even begin?  I guess with the first thing that pops into my head.

Here I go, I love lists.

1. I have the best husband a girl could ever ask for.  I know that each day I log on facebook someone has that exact same status, and I admit, it is a bit of a cliche.  But really!  I do!  I knew that I loved dating Matthew and I knew I was making the right choice when I vowed to be his wife... but this is so far beyond my expectations.  Every morning I wake up and I am overwhelmed with love as I hear him say, "Good morning."  There have been moments where I have loved him so much that I have felt anger! (Yes, anger!)  I am angry because I am sitting there, heart swollen with love, overwhelmed with feelings, and there are literally no words to explain to him the extent of my love.  I try so hard, but I feel that nothing I say can explain the intensity I feel.  I am truly happier than I have ever been and I cannot wait to live my life with him.

**Side note: Please keep comments about being young and in love and how this will pass to yourself.  I am happy and I would appreciate the negativity being kept to yourself**

2. My friends are the best friends in the world!  My wedding day was the best day of my life.  One, because I married my best friend of 7 years.  Yes, that was important.  But it was also the best day because I had all of my closest friends with me.  My girls made my day so special and I loved having all of them in one place.  They all became friends and it was one big happy group.  I was drowning in all the love and happiness they had.  Then, at the wedding.  The entire wedding party was amazing.  The groomsmen and bridesmaids and flower girls and ring bearers together were so wonderful.  I could not stop bragging on them.  They were amazing.  They danced all night, they talked to everyone, they checked on us, and they just simply had good, honest fun!

I have been asked what my favorite moment of the day was.  I feel like I should say "you may kiss the bride" or "saying i do."  But, I think that would be a lie.  I think I have finally decided that my favorite moment was sitting at our table.  The caterer had fixed Matthew and I plates full of delicious food.  I sat down at an empty table, with my husband, to eat.  I look up a few seconds later and our table had filled up with a part of our wedding party.  There I was, with my husband and best friends, at our wedding, and everything was perfect.  I felt so lucky in that moment to have so much love in my life.

Wedding party, if you are reading this, thank you.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you.  Each of you played such a big part in our day and it meant the world to have you standing by our sides.  We love you so much, you will never understand.  We hope that whenever your special day comes, if it hasn't already, we can help make your day just as wonderful.

3. My family is the bomb!  Seriously, I know I am lucky to say that!  There are so many torn families, broken families in the world.  I KNOW I am lucky to say that.  My family means the world to me.  My brother and sister were the best Maid of Honor and groomsman you could ask for.  My sister was with me all day and made a wonderful speech I can't forget. My brother made me cry with a big hug and words of excitement.  I know we fight (a lot sometimes) but you all will forever be my siblings and I will always love you, no matter what.

My parents, where do I even begin?  First, they gave me the wedding of my dreams.  I could not have pictured a better day.  They put so much money, time, effort, frustration, and PATIENCE into making my dreams come true.  Week of, they were amazing!  My mom had to work because of her brand new job, so my dad took off.  He did everything he could to make everything perfect.  At one point the guest table was not staying and I just closed my eyes and yelled, "DAD!"  (It was day of people, I was a bit stressed.)  And he just walked up to me and said, "I'll fix it, don't worry."  (Probably top 10 favorite moments of the day)  (Wow, I sound like a spoiled brat)  My mom, she had the best excuse for not being there, everyone would have understood.  But she was not absent at all.  She was just as present as if she was off work.  Everyday she got off and I got the call, "What needs to be done?"  She did anything she could to be the best mom ever, and she was!  All of those picture frames were put together by her hard work, and she sacrificed some blood too.  One night I was lost in working on something and I looked up and it was midnight.  I felt so bad!  My poor mom is up at midnight and she has to work in the morning.  I looked at her and she was lost in her project too.  She didn't care what time it was, her daughter's wedding was on Saturday.  That's all that mattered.

4. Having (nearly) every person that you love in one spot is literally the most overwhelming feeling, ever.  And I got to experience it!  At one point in the ceremony, while Tim was reading scripture, our pastors had us turn and face the crowd.  At that point every face looking back had a special place in my heart.  I tried to look at every face, but the blessing is there was too many.  To know that we are loved by so many people is just something that makes me want to cry everytime I think about it.

(If you haven't noticed, I was very overwhelmed June 16)

Well, this is officially the longest post I have posted.  I hope it isn't too long.  I have so many more other blessings in my life.  But I think I will leave it there.  I need to go work on stuff for Haiti.  (WHICH IS 3 DAYS AWAY!)  I might post about that tomorrow... Talk about overwhelming!

Hope you are having a wonderful summer, learning lessons everyday.