James Bruzzi
Haiti Mission Team
Haiti Mission Team
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Taking off from the Port au Prince Airport and watching the mountains of Haiti disappear into the clouds, I began to process my experience. Immediately I was struck by some true and life-changing revelations that I stumbled upon during this visit.
We are all the same
We are all just people living in one world under one God. Whether from Scottsdale or Leogane, our hearts and souls are the same. People want what is best for their children, and people work hard to provide for their families. People go to church to pray, and people go to the market to shop. People mourn death, and people celebrate life. Some differences exist to be sure, but our similarities will always outweigh them.
Be who you are
Wandering the streets of Jacmel we stumbled across a wall painted in bold letters: “Be Who You Are.” This week gave me the opportunity to see a nation of people who walk with their heads high and carry themselves with great poise; people who are very proud to be exactly who they are. Within our group itself, working and living so closely we were able to get to know each other on a very personal level. Through everything from worksite conversations to late night chats over cold beers, our group became a family who appreciates all the quirks that make us who we are.
God gives, but it is up to us to share
One night we had the pleasure of being joined by Pere Kerwin, the rector of the St. Croix church (and 6 other parishes!), who shared some words that resonated deeply: “God gives, but it is up to us to share.” We received a true glimpse of these words in action during this trip in moments ranging from one of many lovingly restored desks being placed in a classroom by the St. Anthony team to a six year old Haitian girl who was watching us work handing me a plastic ring, smiling and saying “Belle homme.” God gives but it is up to us to share indeed.
I am truly blessed to have done this trip with a group of people who practice exactly what they preach and do so with a full and true heart. We left Haiti a little better than we found it, and Haiti left me a lot better than it found me. As the Haitians say, “Merci, Jesus!” and merci to you Haiti – you have made me a rich man.
We are all the same
We are all just people living in one world under one God. Whether from Scottsdale or Leogane, our hearts and souls are the same. People want what is best for their children, and people work hard to provide for their families. People go to church to pray, and people go to the market to shop. People mourn death, and people celebrate life. Some differences exist to be sure, but our similarities will always outweigh them.
Be who you are
Wandering the streets of Jacmel we stumbled across a wall painted in bold letters: “Be Who You Are.” This week gave me the opportunity to see a nation of people who walk with their heads high and carry themselves with great poise; people who are very proud to be exactly who they are. Within our group itself, working and living so closely we were able to get to know each other on a very personal level. Through everything from worksite conversations to late night chats over cold beers, our group became a family who appreciates all the quirks that make us who we are.
God gives, but it is up to us to share
One night we had the pleasure of being joined by Pere Kerwin, the rector of the St. Croix church (and 6 other parishes!), who shared some words that resonated deeply: “God gives, but it is up to us to share.” We received a true glimpse of these words in action during this trip in moments ranging from one of many lovingly restored desks being placed in a classroom by the St. Anthony team to a six year old Haitian girl who was watching us work handing me a plastic ring, smiling and saying “Belle homme.” God gives but it is up to us to share indeed.
I am truly blessed to have done this trip with a group of people who practice exactly what they preach and do so with a full and true heart. We left Haiti a little better than we found it, and Haiti left me a lot better than it found me. As the Haitians say, “Merci, Jesus!” and merci to you Haiti – you have made me a rich man.
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