Reflections from a few days in Port au Prince

I just returned from a few days in Haiti, and I am not really sure where to begin the description. Just being in Haiti is exhausting. Your mind is working so hard to take in everything you are seeing. You are working to push away the sadness, the despair, and the amazement of what has happened and is happening in Haiti. The smell is overwhelming. Everywhere you look, there is a sea of humanity. Random items are sold on the sides of the street, so there is always something to look at as you are driving by. The toppled buildings and half-standing structures are everywhere. Tents are on every corner, beside houses, in front of houses, in every open area of Port au Prince.

Even with all of the destruction and pervasive poverty, there is something beautiful about the city. Port au Prince sits between towering mountains and the ocean. The location is gorgeous. Houses seem to climb up the hills, piled on top of each other. Every turn of the roads where we stayed gave great views of the city below us. I am so thankful for the chance to spend a few more days getting to know this city.

In addition to just getting to see more of the city, my friend Anna and I were able to stay with some great friends. We were able to experience a few days of their life in Port au Prince, as well as having some really special time to hear their stories from January 12th. I can't begin to explain how powerful it is to sit down with someone and have them share so openly what it was like to try to survive...how they were pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building...how they wandered the streets of Port au Prince after the earthquake with nothing in mind but getting to their families...how they slept outside in tents behind their house even when it was no longer necessary, because it was much more frightening to begin to sleep inside again. Their stories would blow your mind, break your heart, and leave you amazed and thankful that God is good, even in the face of disaster.

Our friend Pashoo sat with us on Monday night as we ate dinner and shared his story with us. He was working out at the gym when the earthquake hit, and was on the third floor of a building that collapsed. Someone pulled him out from under a wall, and freed him from the building. He broke and dislocated his elbow, but proceeded to walk to his mother's school to try to find his family. He said he has no idea how he survived. Then he said, "I mean, as a Christian, I know how I survived. But as a human, I have no idea how I lived." January 12th changed the way he lives. As I think back to everything he said over the days we were visiting, I can see that everything he wants for his life, his career, and the use of his gifts is not only for himself, but for the betterment of Haiti. He has big dreams, and hope that God will use him to do great things for Haiti. I hope that everyone I spent time with who loves Haiti will used by God to help change that place. I am excited to see the future of Port au Prince because of these men who are going to do great things for their country.

Now, on a much lighter note, if you want to meet the people I stayed with in Haiti, check out the music video I have posted! They are a well-known kompa band called Toxic, so as you watch this video, you will see our friends! They took amazing care of us over the course of our days in Haiti, in addition to just being really incredible people. We even got stopped a few times because people wanted to say hi to them. That's right, friends...I was rollin with famous musicians in Haiti. Booyah!