So…..you’re stressed out. I went to Haiti. Can I share something with you?

Sometimes, we need to take a look at what we consider “stress” in our lives.  My view of “stress” has now been changed forever.   You see, I went to Haiti a few weeks ago and this was my experience:

When I arrived, I was welcomed with excitement by Amber, who is on staff with Mission of Hope Haiti. She excitedly introduced us to our sweet interns, Taylor and Molly who showed us to our rooms. I was excited to get settled in.  I was taken back immediately by the starkness of the concrete floors and shutters on the windows. It resembled, to my dismay, a very clean prison.  My bed was covered in a mosquito net.  I knew there would be mosquitoes, but didn’t realize we’d be sharing a room.  I looked around and didn’t see an airconditioner, but there were ceiling fans.  They were on, but I didn’t feel any air circulating.  I thought, “surely it gets cooler at night”.   Then, I looked in the bathroom. “Wow”, I said as Taylor told us the toilet paper must go in the trash can and that water was precious.. so use it sparingly. Meaning that we couldn’t leave the “cold” water running while showering.  After that revelation, she told us that the water in the sink was not purified. So, I had to use my drinking water to wash my face, brush my teeth, etc.   This was definitely going to be an adjustment for this city girl from Atlanta.   Phillipians 4:11, 12  kept spinning through my head:  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

After Breakfast, we loaded up in an open air “work” truck and rode down a road of pot holes and cars driving on all sides of the road as we dodged them.  I’m glad our driver was Hatian and was used to the traffic.  We went into a village to do health and wellness training.  As I met the people of Haiti through our wonderful translators who work with Mission of Hope Haiti, I began to see why it was necessary for me to experience living at the mission.  My experience there helped me understand a little bit about the stresses they go through on a daily basis just to survive.  You see,  I was actually living in luxury at the mission and didn’t realize it  until I went into the village, but the discomfort and stress I felt was necessary so that I could see the difference in what I considered poor conditions and what poor conditions really are in Haiti.  What I saw was jaw dropping…….

To be continued next week!