Haiti Friends

In my life as a Christian, thoughts of being a missionary has always appealed to me. Being able to serve God and man, see a foreign country, meet new people, and live within their culture allures me. In my fantasies, going to a different land every year sounded great.

Now, here i am, back in Haiti. Being here again has allowed me to connect with most of the Haitian people that I got to know from last year. When I first saw them when we got here, last Saturday, they still remembered me!!  “Chris!! Chris!!” greeted with hugs and affection as if I am some family member!! Words are really too small for me to express how overwhelmed with joy that I was and am to be with them!!

I came here to serve them and they have served me far more than I could ever serve them. Haitians are leaders in hospitality. I commented to my friend, Steve, that I loved the bracelet that he was wearing. He began taking it off to give to me. Most would say, “Oh, thank you.” Steve took it to the next level. He was willing to give it to me without even caring about it!!! I am learning that Haitians love to do things for others with no expectancy to be blessed in return, but, I really didn’t want to take it from him. Thing is, I know that if I would’ve asked him for his pants,  he’d probably give them to me. I really wanna spare him the embarrassment, so, I’ll not be asking him for them…..lol!!!

If I had no family and friends back in the United States, I could just live over here!! I feel so welcomed. I sit among them. We play together. We eat sugar cane, together. We laugh together. There’s a big language barrier, but, with the love of Jesus, that barrier is nothing. Love is the language over here!!

In Haiti, most of these people have nothing. I am wealthy, compared to them!! Yet, they are rich in love, tenderness, and just being together!! If you don’t love people, this place is NOT where you wanna be. Everybody is elbow to elbow……lol!!! Whether it’s riding in the back of a truck with a dozen people, walking the streets of Cap Haitien, or worshipping in church with a thousand people.

Working at Vacation Bible School here, being with so many Haitian people has taken my life to the next level!! These people know how to love. I NEVER had a free arm, this whole week!! Kids were hangin on me and some of the others on the team, the whole time!! They always want hugs and affection!!

Sure, I’d love to serve in other places, but, now, I feel that if I don’t come to Haiti, that I am neglecting my Haitian friends!! God is doing a wonderful work over here with them.

-- Christopher Watrous