Culvers Night!

Culvers Night!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Day in Port au Prince

Good morning. Today is Thursday. Yesterday Jake and I went to Port au Prince for the day to help build shelters for the people affected by the earthquake that are living in tents. We didn't exactly know how it was going to go.

I didn't write anything last night because I really didn't know what to say and needed some time to process everything that happened during the day. I could give you all an account of where we went and what we did, but I don't think its all about that. So I'll skip the details for this post and tell you what we experienced.

There were so many people without proper homes. They were so hopeful that we would choose them to build a shelter. How do you choose? As Jake already said, "How do you help one and not the other?" There were so many, even in the smaller area we were in, that we began to feel overwhelmed. Their eyes looked at us like we were their saviours - but we're not. Only Christ is. What were we doing there? How could we begin to help them? What were we thinking? Who did we think we were? I struggled with this. Seeing their desperate faces, trusting us even though they didn't know us. I was getting discouraged. My heart felt very heavy. I didn't want it to be all about how it made ME feel.

God calls us to be servants. He calls us to remember those less fortunate than us. He himself humbly washed the feet of His own disciples. Jesus wants us to follow his example, so become His hands and His feet. He look into the eyes of the hopeful and give them all the hope we can. We are just each one person, but when we love as Christ loved, we become Christ to them.

What were we doing yesterday? Who did we think we were? We were giving as much hope and love as two regular people from northern Michigan could bring to a little spot in Haiti. We had the honor to be Christ's feet and hands to someone in need - if but only for a day.

You can visit our video feeds to see what we did :)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those are the emotions that I would have (fear) also. How to help one and not the other? How to choose who to help, when there are so many eyes pleading with your eyes to help them. You are right though, you are only 2 people, doing the most that you can. May God give you the emotional strength to carry this through and process it. You are both very special people for undertaking this emotional trip. You are both in my thoughts and prayers, as are the people of Haiti May the Holy Spirit strengthen all of you.

Anonymous said...

The lord says, Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me. Be strong and keep washing! We love you and pray for continued stength for you and our haitian brothers and sisters.

love, Your family

Aunt Dawn said...

How heart wrenching, a very hard decision you had to make. It was nice to see so many helping hands...and opinionated voices take part in the construction. I take it the structure being built is for one family, yet many others gathered around...no fighting or stealing from the pile of wood...no yelling that the structure would not benefit them...they seemed unified by the event. Your presence brought them hope and reassurance that they are not forgotten. XOXOXO, Aunt Dawn