Catching up: Haiti

There are some great things that have been going on the last number of months that we haven´t been blogging about. In July, a group of 7 Nicaraguans and 2 Costa Ricans headed to Haiti to work and learn alongside Haitians as part of MCC´s long-term disaster relief efforts. All but one had never traveled in an airplane before, so the trip itself was full of learning and new experiences. I enjoyed the time of orientation with them beforehand, hearing them reflect about their experiences receiving help and recovering from trauma after disasters (for some of them, this included the earthquake that destroyed Managuan in 1972). These personal experiences formed a strong and unique foundation of empathy, respect, and a desire to encourage their Haitian brothers and sisters. They had concerns about differences in food, language, and religion, but went with open minds and very willing hands. Seth and Sarah Hays also have a great post about the trip, with different pictures.

Some of my favorite reflections from group members as they returned:

-One thoughtful pastor reflecting on the unresolved tension that he felt as he realized that the God in Nicaragua prohibits some things (like card playing) that their God allows. Yet they worshiped together, and it really seemed to be the same God.

-One young lady talked about the contrast of being among rubble, talking with Haitian families, one week, then at a hotel in Managua at a conference the next week. She was wrestling with how to live with that knowledge and guilt that she had plenty to eat and they did not.

-Part of their work was in Desarmes, working with environmental re-construction (reforestation). One man from the countryside in Nicaragua shared with urgency his realization that if Nicaragua continues on their current path with unsustainable agricultural practices and everyone migrating to the cities, they will end up in a very similar situation.

-Another pastor shared that he went to Haiti with a lot of voices from radio preachers in his head about how God was punishing the Haitians for their pact with the Devil, etc. (similar to comments from preachers about many different parts of the world struck by natural disasters). He said that as he learned about the political, economic, and religious context from Haitians themselves he realized: "It´s not God . . . it´s the government!"

The trip was difficult and wonderful for all of the participants from Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The challenge for all of us who are involved in these kinds of exchanges is how we continue to apply what we have learned, allowing God to use these experiences to continually mold us into more compassionately active people in our contexts.

These photos are all from Issela Medina:
With Pancha Moreno (she was the MCC Connecting Peoples Coordinator in Haiti--since she is Colombian, she was able to do the direct Spanish/Creole translating) and Pastor Yvone Georges.

Nicaraguans, Costa Ricans, and Haitians planting trees and playing music together

Worshiping together at Assamble de la Grace, a Mennonite congregation outside Port-Au-Prince.

The whole group outside Assemblée de la Grace´s church with pastor Yvone and a church deacon.

WAL participants Juana, Elvis, and Kimberly hold children at Assemblée de la Grace´s orphanage.