on a mission.

Got a great email from a stranger yesterday. It was so encouraging in so many ways...

But the best part about this email was the way she talked about her experience in being called on a short-term mission trip and her reactions while being here, and after getting home. I loved it.

I asked her permission to share because I feel like it sums up where a lot of people are when they experience Haiti.

Read on...

*****

It wasn't until January 12th, when I was
sitting in a car wash in Chicago, Illinois ( I had since moved to be
closer to my boyfriend) that the news came on about the earthquake in
Haiti. They flashed photos of children's faces, my eyes filled with
tears, goosebumps ran down my back and something said to me "you've
got to go". Easier said then done, as I had nearly put my family into
cardiac arrest when I told them I was moving half way across the US to
be with "some boy"......how on earth would they react; the news
portrayed so much violence and hate; but I knew I had to go. (and know
now, the news..... was really wrong).

You can probably guess what happens from here.... :) In a sort of
whirl wind, the Children's Hospital I was working at in Chicago wanted
to send 2 nurses and 3 doctors to Haiti. Somehow, being a brand new
employee, amongst the many nursing volunteers, I was chosen - and my
life has never been the same.

I spent 2 weeks in Haiti, not nearly "saving the world" as well as I
would have hoped. In fact, upon departure, I felt that we perhaps
harmed them more than we had helped them. Sure I was able to care for
their "immediate" needs, but what about follow up? Who would care for
the wound I had bandaged in the days to follow that I was no longer
there, were we just slapping a band aid on every wounded heart and
calling it a day? I knew nothing about their culture, didn't speak
their language and had basically dropped in from the sky to deliver
care that I couldn't even follow up on......I spent the following
weeks at home heartbroken. I didn't speak of my visit for weeks; I
needed time to process; the people, the culture, my life. All awhile
reminiscing about the people, their fascinating strength and ability to
overcome anything, their love for life, their love for people - over
time, slowly and completely falling in love; with Haiti.

Since my returning home, things are different, how I brush my teeth
has even changed, I spare water now, knowing how uneasy it is to
obtain for a lot of people, how precious even a few drops can be. I
want to come back - I need to come back. And I sincerely don't know
where to start.

****

This is a pretty common reaction we get when people get "back home" from a short-term missions trip to Haiti. They will call us a few days later and say something to the effect of, "I just don't know how to reconcile the "two worlds" I am experiencing. How can I live here in THIS one when I know THAT one is there?"

That is an excellent question. And here's what I have to offer you.

Nothing.

We couldn't reconcile it.

We took the easy way out and moved here. :)