Church taught me nothing. Week after week I’d sit there listening to the painfully boring messages, only half understanding what the preacher was talking about. That was until I heard the words, “ We are offering mission trips to many places around the world”. At that exact moment I knew this was my chance to make an impact on the world.  I tuned in and listened to the words. All of them! I didn’t know what God had instore for me, but I just followed my heart.  I went to mission trip meetings, and my heart led me to the beautiful country of Haiti. Fast forward 10 weeks and I was  being used by God in a way I never imagined. I had no clue what to expect, I didn’t know if I would be helping to feed hungry children, or love on and talk to people of all ages. But, what I had expected was nothing even close to the reality of this trip. Upon my arrival to Haiti, I immediately saw how great a need this country had. They were still suffering tremendously 3 years after the devastating earthquake. The people were hungry, their houses were damaged and they didn’t have much hope. The bus ride to the compound we were staying at was unforgettable. I stepped out of the airport and the heat overwhelmed me almost instantly.
As I walked over to our ride for the week, an old beat up school bus, my group and I were all thinking the same thing... “Wow”, some of us even said it aloud because we were so surprised. As I stepped onto the bus, I thought about how amazing this week was going to be. The heat was already affecting me. I began to develop a headache and so I just sat and looked out the window, trying to tune out the gleeful cheers and singing of my overly excited
group members. Looking out the window I was seeing things that are impossible to forget. Naked children, chasing after our bus seeing that we were white people; associating us with money and food, begging and crying for even a small morsel. Animals so malnourished that they couldn’t go on any farther on in life. Laying on the side of the road dead. Women walking tirelessly carrying jugs of filthy water on their heads; back to their homes, made of nothing but mud. But through all of this horrible poverty, I saw faith. Written on cement barrier walls, were words like “We will live,” “We survive” and “God is present” I couldn’t believe this. These people living in such horrible circumstances still managed to have faith. I also saw smiles. The children I waved to out the bus window, who were hungry and naked, in need of so much, were smiling. So happy and glad to be alive. They all waved back and laughed at you because it was so foreign and amazing to them to see a school bus and white people. They passed in a blur but what I saw of these amazing young survivors  portrayed such a happy image this country and made my heart flutter with joy.  I was content. I felt amazing that God had led to me such an amazing place with these amazing people. And I knew there was so much more to come for me during this week, because this was only the start of more great things to come.