Haiti Immersion... Day 9 - Cultural Museum

This morning I woke up early. It was light out, but the sun had not yet crested over the mountains. It was still quiet around St. Joseph's Home. People were not yet stirring. However, the neighborhood was already buzzing. There was not much activity on the rooftops that could be seen. However, below in the streets and homes the voices and noises saturated the air. Roosters crowing, dogs barking, laughter greeting the morning, children talking, clanging of cooking pots. It was the Port-au-Prince Symphony to greet the rising sun.

I stood on the rooftop overlooking the city. Soaking it into my being. The cool breeze blew. My mind listlessly flowed from thought to thought. Did I witness what God intended for me to witness in Haiti this week? How do I even being to truly share this experience? My heart now has the imprint of Haiti, what's next?

Lots of questions.

Again... big questions.

All of our bags were packed and after breakfast we loaded the bus headed for the Haitian cultural museum. As we arrived at the entrance it was a familiar sight, yet different. Three bus loads of Haitian school children had arrived for a field trip. They stood in lines with their crisp uniforms waiting for their tour. Familiar, yet different.

Unfortunately we were unable to take photos inside the museum. I did my best to absorb all of the names, dates and knowledge that our tour guide imparted. However, my mind was quickly overwhelmed. There was so much, so much rich vibrant history. According to our tour guide scientists estimate the fist people inhabiting the island traveled in dugout canoes from South America around 5000 BCE. Toward more modern history there were five kingdoms on the island. As history played out four men rose to be the fathers of modern Haiti.

Ultimately, a story unfolded that included colonization, hundreds of years of slavery, European and North American countries taking advantage of the Haitian people, war, extortion, corruption of the Haitian governments, revolutions, forced Christianization, and poverty.... but also perseverance, bravery, relationships, resilience, rich culture, proud heritage and hope. Haiti exists in the tension of all of these stories. While each one emerges from the past and shapes the present, there is every reason to believe in a bright future for Haiti.

Each Haitian Timoun Foundation partner we met is evidence leading toward hope. Chemen Lavi Miyo is working to bring families up out of ultra poverty. Pazapa and Wings of Hope are changing societies misconceptions of people with disabilities. Trinity School and CEI are finding ways to make education accessible to all families. Tetkole and St. Joseph's Family work to reunite families or create family for children on the street. Haitian Education and Leadership Program is developing leaders, accompanying them through university and equipping them to be Haitians capable of making dramatic, systematic, long term positive change in Haiti.

There is hope. God is at work here. This week I had the privilege and honor to witness a small glimpse of all that the Spirit is moving.


For more info about Haiti's cultural center... www.visithaiti.com

For more info about Haitian Timoun Foundation... www.htflive.org