"I Think I left my heart In Haiti.....

.........All that I think about is what I would be doing If i were still there, I can't stop thinking about Haiti. I have finally been able to do what I've wanted for nearly 4 years now, and I have loved every second of it and I want to get back as soon as I can!"

This past week I spent my time Volunteering as a Britsionary at the Be Like Brit Orphanage in Haiti. 

"The Orphanage was built in loving memory of Britney Gengel, who perished in the 2010 Haiti earthquake while on a service trip through her college, Lynn University. Be Like Brit honors Britney’s memory and legacy of compassion to those less fortunate, and was inspired by a text message she sent to her mother just 3 hours before the quake claimed her life.'They love us so much and everyone is so happy. They love what they have and they work so hard to get nowhere, yet they are all so appreciative. I want to move here and start an orphanage myself.'" (Taken Directly from the home page of BLB)

During my time at Be Like Brit I learned so much about Haiti, along with about myself. I experienced joy, love, compassion, guilt, hope, and faith. 

  I never thought I could fall in love with a place, a country, people so true, hard and as fast as I did. Each day of my time in Haiti I fell just more in love with it all. 

  I fell for the children first and foremost. Not only the ones with in the walls of BLB, but also with the ones outside of the walls of BLB. I love them, each and every one of them. Originally I thought the Language barrier would prevent us from communicating. I also didn't think the kids would really attack us with love when we walked into BLB. But Boy was I completely WRONG!

They LOVED my watch

 We were greeted by children singing for us and the second they finished singing, we all had a child in our arms, on our back, and by our sides. It was one of the best feelings. I had ever had until that point. The feeling of complete trust, and Love. 

 Each day I would meet a new kid who would stick with me every time we were doing activities that day. I also had children who every time they saw me RAN towards me and stuck with me. Both the children in the community and at BLB had lots of love to offer. Where ever you went rather you had a peewilly to offer them or not they wanted you. A high-5, a hug, a piggy-back ride, to be picked up, to be played with, to sit with you, to teach you their language and to be a kid. Rather we were working at a site, at church, the market, on a hike, at the beach, or just about anywhere, I met a child. One thing each Haitian child I met seemed to have in common was hope, faith, and love in their eyes. I heard their faith in song, experienced their love, and saw their hope. I feel in love with the children. I truly did. And I miss them, all of them, the older ones, the younger ones and the ones in between. I saw what Brittany saw- they were all grateful and proud of what little they had they LOVED us. 

  

Second I fell in love with adults. The mothers, the fathers, aunts, uncles, grandmothers. and cousins of the children I met. Each place I went I met someone new. Neither of us spoke the same language, but both of us were on the same page. We did our best to communicate. We used sign language and out fingers to point out and act out what we were trying to say. We taught each other the words for what we were trying to say. They helped us help them. One women on our second day in Haiti saw that I was too short to reach the top of a window to paint it. She saw me leaning to reach it from a tree stump. Then she brought over 2 cinder blocks for me to stand on so I could finish painting someone's house in her community. Someone who she didn't even know. She then stood by me holding the paint bucket up, and scratching the dried paint off my leg until the window was done. She was not only was helping the "Blan" (us) but she was helping someone in her community that she didn't even know. This didn't only happen while painting the house but also when we where building a house for one of the Caregivers for BLB.  I also got to know and love some of the caregivers who taught me as I taught them. I also saw within the community the strength in the people. They have nothing compared to what I have. Many times they go to sleep in fear for safety, with an empty stomach, in pain, sick, and so much more, but they don't complain. They pray, the hope, the have faith, and most of all they give what little they have and they are proud.

The nature- I feel in love with the landscape. The mountains, the ocean, the flowers. Yes, it is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't have natural beauty.  The water, why it was beautiful, and warm! I wish we were allowed and had time to swim. The mountings-they allowed me to see everything. I felt like I was on top of the world. It was amazing! I loved standing on top of Brittany's orphanage and looking past everything into the ocean. Its such a serene view, and it looks past all of the poverty and pain. I loved the view of the beach!  And the flowers- I usually don't care to much for them but I loved them! They where beautiful! However the Sunrise was the prettiest that I've EVER seen. nothing like I've really seen anywhere else. And the sunset were pretty high up there too.

Lastly a big part of what I feel in love with was Be Like Brit and the people who make it run. Kristin especially played a large role in this for us, as she is the one who organizes all of the Britisionary groups. She did an amazing job teaching us about the culture and preparing us for what we would see and what we would be doing. I had a lot of fun getting to know her and spend time with her and learning just some of what she does at BLB. I'm so thrilled to have been able to also meet & spend time with Len and Cherylann, Gama, Franky, Jonathan, Cupidon, Peterson,  Joe-Bear (I know I may have that completely spelt wrong--- Sorry), and everyone else who makes Be Like Brit amazing. I really love you and all you do! I can't WAIT to come back! I would love to do intern work with you somehow! I have my fingers crossed to be back for Christmas week!

In addition, I am so grateful for the other Britsionarys that I got to meet. You guys are amazing and I already miss you!! Tom and Christina- you guys are the best and I really hope we meet again. And Everyone from Becker- I'm super glad to have had the opportunity to create friendships with you! We have a bond of poop sharing and fart sharing, thanks to Kristin! We have to all hangout sometime and have a reunion- I mean 4 of you are nursing students with "no lives" and one of you are taking applications for friends, so I think we should make it happen!! and BEFORE you Seniors Graduate!!! Love you guys!!!!