Port au Prince

Port au Prince
"He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure." Psalm 40:2

Saturday, July 30, 2011

It Just Takes One...

It just takes one plane ticket to get to Haiti.  It just takes one mosquito to make you itch like crazy.  It just takes one shower to make you feel like gold.  It just takes one glass of water to quench your thirst.  It just takes one breeze to make the day feel cool.  It just takes one book to make a child smile.  It just takes 1 translator to have a conversation.  It just takes one certificate to help get a job. It just takes one look from a child to make you want to give everything you have to give to him. It just takes one song to bring together two completely different cultures. It just takes one person to tell you CAN make a difference.

This week I took part, along with Tracy and Charlotte, in providing the Haitian teachers with tools to teach in their own classrooms.   But I think I did more of the learning than they did.  I was asked the question, "When children come to school crying and having a hard time separating from their parents, what do you do?"  My initial response was, "Have them become engaged in their favorite activity: books, trucks, coloring, etc."  The response was, "We don't have those kinds of things.  What do we do without those materials?"  I learned I had to be a bit more creative with my answers to their questions.  It's not easy here in Haiti, but the teachers and pastors have been such a welcoming and loving group of people. They have reminded me to start each day by praising and thanking God.  They have reminded me that food is precious.  They have reminded me to be thankful for what I have. They have reminded me that 80 degrees is not so hot.  They have reminded me that a smile can go a long way.  They have reminded me that we are different, but are one in Christ. They have reminded me that one person as an "encourager" is all the difference between accomplishing your goal or not.
Lindsay Shifflett



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