Two Years …
It is hard to believe it has been 2 years since the devastating Haiti earthquake. Two weeks and eight days ago, I was leaving Haiti, coming back to the United States. Little did I know, eight days later I would be staring at the TV in disbelief at the destruction that had occurred a mere week after my leaving. Roads that I had just walked on, were now filled with the debris of collapsed buildings and homes.
Today I was thinking about, what is it that I really love about Haiti. I began looking back at my time there, to think of the events that have truly stood out to me.
One particular moment comes to mind; it is a simple event but reminds me of so much, in terms of God’s love for His children.
As an intern for Northwest Haiti Christian Mission one summer, we had a movie night. I can’t even remember what movie we watched, because I’m not sure I saw most of it. Everyone pitched in to prepare the courtyard for movie night, this includes moving benches, putting up a giant sheet and popping popcorn, to name a few things.
When the gates opened, as the evening hours approached, dozens of children started sprinkling in. A wide range of ages, from tiny little fellas to young adults started wondering through the gates. Immediately, upon watching this invasion take place, I’m taken back to the one dance I went to throughout my entire thirteen years as a student with Scott County Schools. Being the shy, quiet kid most of my life, a social gathering was my idea of pure torture. I went to one, never again though. (No, I did not even attend my junior or senior prom.) Obviously, although I was only I middle school, that one dance, a mere two hours of my life, made a big impression. What do I remember most about this isolating event of my middle school years? Feeling as if I was living within the years of segregation, except this segregation was between male and female, and also realizing I’m not the only shy person in middle school. (Although, this event made me realize others are not as outgoing as they might seem, I also did not allow it to get me out of my shell.)
Watching the young people come through the gates of the mission for movie night, I couldn’t help but visualize those two impressionable hours of my middle school existence. I noticed that both girls and guys had clothed themselves in their finest attire, made sure every strand of hair was fashioned into place, & of course, worn their most prized shoes. Precisely what I remember from my middle school dance experience (I so wish I could remember what I wore, I’m sure it would cause uproarious laughter from even the humblest of critics).
The great divide could definitely be considered a theme for the evening. There were those few, most gregarious, who decided to defy the odds and cross the boundaries set up by the mindset of peer judgments. However, this was soon put to the background of my thoughts as the movie got underway.
Darkness had just taken over, the perfect timing for an outdoor movie event. Everyone was settled into a seat, popcorn in hand, staring at the movie screen as if it was a spectacular splendor. Not long after everyone was settled, I sat down in the back row, more people watching than movie watching. I didn’t even notice the young boy as he approached, then I felt hands on my lap. Moments later, a little boy had crawled into my lap, settled in for a long winters nap (on a summer evening). This sweet little boy crawled up into my lap, out of pure exhaustion. He was barely seated before he was fast asleep.
Like I said, I don’t remember the movie that we watched that night, but I do remember staring at this little boy, thinking, who is he? Where did he come from? Is he here alone? Numerous thoughts ran through my mind, during that couple of hours, as a loud movie played, but a little boy slept peacefully.
As I’ve thought back on this scene numerous times, I’m reminded of God’s love for his children. That sweet little boy had no clue who I was, he saw rest in the arms of a stranger. He knew, that there must be some kind of safety in being at the mission, simply a place where he could find rest, but he was too little to understand much more than that.
Is this not what God wants of his children, to find solace & rest in his presence? We aren’t asked to name the books of the Bible, to share our knowledge of Bible trivia, we’re not asked to know anything, except the grace, love & mercy of a tender & compassionate Father, that loves His children.
This little boy, whom I don’t even know the name of, reminded me, of the simple pleasure of being able to always find rest. How grateful that I am, that I can always find rest in the Father. No matter how little I know, or how little I do, His arms are always open & his lap is always ready.
As I think about Haiti today, & everyday, my prayer is that they may know nothing more, than the love of the Father. That they may know, when they’re weary and need rest, His arms are always open.
Haiti … Forever in my Heart
