by Greta Kohl, 6-month Caribbean IMMERSION team member
I have been so blessed to be present for this incredible 5-weeks in Haiti . Yes, Haiti has been challenging, and there have been moments when all I want is to run away from the constant remarks about the color of our skin when we walk down the street. Or moments when I'd do anything to breathe air not polluted with smoke, exhaust, and dust. Yes, Haiti has been a bit taxing on my health, and many of my teammates' health, but that's just how living the local way goes, sometimes. You experience the good along with the bad.
On the brighter side of things, I was welcomed into Mona's home with open arms, and she showered me with so much light and love. I quickly noticed Mona cooks for every single person in the house every day, and doesn't take a second for herself. She cares so deeply for her family, and for me too. It inspired me to be a lot more like Mona.
About two weeks into our stay in Haiti, an older woman named Kristin, who is a relative of Monique, would come over to our house to cook and clean from morning until dark. We asked our translator why she comes to Mona's to cook and clean, and he said that she just genuinely loves helping others! She makes food and serves it to everyone, and then she will eat whatever is leftover straight out of the pot. One time me and Sierra were preparing to do our laundry, and she promptly came over, sat down next to us, and started helping us! We were kind of like, "Who is this woman and why is she helping us?" But it was still super helpful nonetheless! The more I saw her, the more I gained respect and appreciation for what she does. As we were saying goodbye to the family, we looked over to Kristin and saw that she had tears rolling down her cheeks. We asked why she was crying, and they told us it was because she will really miss us. This is a woman to whom we haven't said more than "Bonjour!" or "Koman ouye?" (which means "How are you?"), so we were quite surprised to hear that she will miss us. However, thinking back, I realized that we were pretty much the only people at the house who ever asked her how she was or even smiled at her! It definitely reassured me of how impactful a warm smile or kind remark really is!
I will admit, at the beginning of my time in Haiti, I really battled feeling purposeless, and even feeling like I was a burden to my host family. A lot of my teammates also struggled with feeling like we weren't doing enough for the people of Petit Goave. However, I reached an important understanding throughout this trip so far.
Sometimes serving alongside others in these communities may mean doing tasks I deem pointless or dull. Maybe my whole day is spent helping Mona cook a meal, or going to the market. And this may feel frustrating because I'm not truly DOING anything important. But I must be careful to avoid getting caught in "I don't feel like I'M doing anything." Because the thing about service is that you don't always SEE or witness the tangible difference you're making. It may just be sacrificing your own agenda to be entirely present for God's agenda. Like showing these people that they matter enough that I chose to sacrifice living my own life for a while to live alongside theirs. Whether it's something as simple as taking the time to learn a few new words in Creole, or as impactful as rebuilding an elementary school, either way, service isn't about the task; it's about the love. It's about intention. It's about BEING, more than it is about DOING. I don't want to just "do" God's work; I want to BE God's hands and feet in this world. I am going to choose to commit to being present for whatever each little moment holds for me. My eyes are open and my heart is full.
This Immersion trip is so great for me because it is shaping me to be best suited and equipped to serve others in the future. I am gradually learning how to serve using the posture of a learner and an equal. I'm just soaking up the lessons God is revealing to me each and every day :) I sure am enjoying the ride.
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