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BY HANNAH STARNES EWALD

When I first heard about the Baltimore-Washington Conference Young Adult mission trip to Haiti I knew I had to go. For years I had dreamt of going on a mission trip out of the country and making a difference.

The Rev. Brian Shockey was the leader of our young adult group, and we traveled with three other women: Holly Phipps, Jordan McKeon and Melissa Myers. In Haiti, we worked with a group called Partners in Development, an organization that has a vision to rebuild a city in Haiti for the earthquake victims. They also run an amazing child sponsorship program.

When we arrived, the streets of Port Au Prince were filled with people, dust and trucks. There is no street organization whatsoever.

I was greeted at PID by a young Haitian girl, Alexandra; her mother was on the cooking and cleaning staff. Before I could enter the bunkhouse she climbed on top of me, put her hands around my neck, and then leaned back to flash me a gorgeous pearly white smile. I knew God hadsent me here for a reason.

The morning began with homemade breakfast and loading our gear to head into Demian.

As soon as my foot hit the ground five children came along with it. If there wasn’t room on your arm, there was room at the front of your shirt. These children of all ages were ecstatic to have playmates for the day. And it was impossible to turn down those beautiful smiles and caring hands.

Brian led the group in a few worship songs before the Bible lesson, and by the end of the week everyone had learned each song in Creole and English. Bible lessons included team members and volunteers from the audience to act out the scenes. Throughout the day the children learned more about how to relate the lesson to their own life, and spread the word of Jesus Christ.

Aside from the heat, the language barrier was a struggle that took some getting used to. Although each of us had a translator, I always had a craving to know just exactly what that little boy was really saying.

After each station had been visited it was time for lunch. The Haitian crew from PID would meet us at Demian as we assisted them in serving the little ones with what may have been their only meal of the day. There was never a sliver of food left from those heaping piles of rice and beans on the children’s plates.

Before I left for Haiti, I attended the Wednesday night Gathering worship service at Middletown UMC, where my brother Jake and I lead the music. Peggy Bishop, a member of the church, had sewn dresses out of pillowcases and intended to give them to the young girls in Haiti.

After finding out about my trip Peggy gave the dresses to me and on the last day of VBS we were able to send each child home with a gift bag. Girls received dresses and dolls, while boys received shoes and balls, each child received school supplies and treats for the walk home.

If there was one thing I learned in Haiti, it was this: these people have hope, a hope that is much stronger than money, a job or a home.

When leaving to travel back home, I was reassured that things will change. No one is dwelling on the past in Haiti because they know that nothing good will come of that wasted time. Day after day parents are looking for job opportunities, and ways to feed their children and send them to school. The little things we take for granted are the things these people strive to receive.

I pray for Haiti every day, their hope has given me hope for a better world, one that does not take anything for granted. And I wish that we could learn from the faith they live each day of their lives.