Every morning we shoved ourselves into the dirty, white Jeep as we traveled up the rocky road. Every pothole and bump on the way to school was familiar to us. Every day we passed piles of trash laying on the side of the roads, and we watched women balance bowls of fruits and goods on their head as they walked through town. And every night we experienced the loud music and cultural dancing that brought the community together. My first trip to Haiti was life-changing as I was introduced to a selfless and caring community of individuals who taught me that what we have does not define who we are.
Our flight landed in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on a sunny, beautiful Sunday. My mission group and I found our way through the small, crowded airport, went through security, and made it out of the building. From the moment we stepped outside, our focus went directly to the hundreds of Haitians that surrounded us. They aggressively grabbed our luggage and unceasingly asked for money. We had to push ourselves through the elbow-to-elbow crowd to reach the safety of our Jeep. As our interpreter drove us to our house, I watched the culture of Haiti unfold from the backseat. Election posters were piled on top of each other on every corner detailing the various men running for office. The chaotic mayhem of the city, had been replaced by the smiling faces of children and families gathered together as we left Port-au-Prince and entered the countryside.
I have never seen poverty and beauty come together in such a way. I spent most of my time in Haiti at a primary school where I played with the children. During that time, my eyes were opened to how Haitians are natural and selfless, and their hearts are pure. I witnessed their daily school schedule, which was a metamorphic experience. The day began with 80 students filing in to fill up all available space in the small, dark, humid classroom. A single teacher would lead the bustling class through instruction while the children shared the limited workbooks. At lunch the children took turns eating, passing the spoon to their neighbor after finishing their meal. Not one piece of food was left in anyone's bowl. Despite having a concrete slab for a playground, they found joy in teaching us Haitian songs and dances during recess. My experience in Haiti impacted me personally by helping me embody positivity in all that I do. The Haitians encouraged me to keep a genuine attitude by showing me that it is possible to find joy in everything.
The Haitian community, of all ages, expresses incredible trust in God and their country. They have hope for their future and success in their lives. They own very little, yet give so much. They have so much love to offer to their peers and family, and they show that love through their bright smiles. Why, as Americans, do we complain continually when we are so fortunate? Despite Haiti being the poorest country in the Americas, they are the richest in spirit.
Saturday came quickly and leaving was bittersweet. I stepped onto the small airplane as tears filled my eyes. The plane took off and the beauty of Haiti unfolded in front of me once again. As we passed the tall mountains, all of the memories that I made with my Haitian friends filled my mind. My heart ached to know that I was leaving behind beautiful, thankful people who are struggling, and going back to a financially blessed country that continues to be unappreciative. In America, as students, we are given our own textbooks and we are able to provide a nutritious lunch everyday. We have a well- furnished classroom with appropiate air conditioning. Yet we still complain when the textbooks are a few years old, or when the lunch special is not our favorite. Although I cannot cure the negativity and hatred that is dominating American headlines, I can spread the kindness that I learned from the Haitians.
