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This summer (2007) the Lord put a desire on my heart to serve orphans in a foreign country. He fulfilled that desire through taking me to live for a month in Haiti, at Three Angels Children's Relief. Three Angels is a non-profit organization that runs an orphanage, as well as a school and a medical clinic located on the border of Port au Prince. Haiti is colorful, diverse, wild. It's people are loud, tragic and exultant all at once. Their joy changed my outlook- the way they dance, the continual music they play, the rythmn in their drums and the time they took for community slowed me down and made me think back on my life in the states, and all the days I've been rushing towards the next thing, without enjoying the color, the music, the joy in life. He created all of that. Haiti opened my eyes to a God who created diversity, color, beauty and culture.
Seeing Haiti from the air alone is eye opening . The island is surrounded by murky brown, aqua blue and neon green water, sometimes so bright it seems dyed. My plane flew over breathtaking mountains and tropical landscape. But Haiti is a land of stark contrast, and soon I saw tiny tin huts with dirt floors, people covered in filth and rag-like clothing hanging out to dry. This was why I had been brought to Haiti: this was a country of abundant need. But His plan for my helping that need was far more about His glory than it was about mine. I had plans for my glory. He had plans for His.
My first week was spent wondering what in the world I thought I was doing. But He began to show me that the need I was to fill was that of little hands reaching out for my love and attention. Days went by where I wasn't given jobs, or affirmation that I was even needed. In my feelings of uselessness, I saw my selfishness, my lack of love for others- even beautiful Haitian children. I watched the Lord change me from someone who had come thinking of all the wonderful things I could do, to someone who didn't really feel needed, but knew He had brought me there. In that way, Haiti taught me to trust that where He called He had a plan, and perhaps it didn't look at all like mine. I blew bubbles, drew with chalk, held babies, put together puzzles, colored, and handed out vitamin juice. I learned that what I thought of as insignificant was exactly what He called me to. Coloring, drawing with chalk, blowing bubbles- these were the works of righteousness He had picked out for me. By my last two weeks in Haiti I had abundant joy in doing what He had called me to, and looked forward to sitting and being climbed on, having my hair pulled and braided by little fingers and receiving slobbery kisses.
It was both humbling and inspiring to serve with the Three Angels staff. I lived in Haiti with three other women from the states who were all sacrificing chunks of their lives to be with these children. Their lives challenged mine- I saw that I had lived in almost complete selfishness until arriving at Three Angels and being forced to give of myself to the children there. My time in Haiti was one of the hardest, and then happiest of my life- being forced to serve and to give of myself to 40 little amazing people was the best thing the Lord possibly could have called me to this summer. I learned about adoption- and how I have been grafted into Him, like these children are grafted into families. I learned about giving to others, and how it brings far more joy than can be gained in giving to oneself. I learned about a God who is much bigger, bolder, and awe-inspiring than He had been while I remained at home. He revived my heart in Haiti. He expanded my perspective. He gave me new friends. He gave me Himself in different ways than He had before. "But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly" (Psalm 52:8-9).
Shanley Knox
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