Mission in Haiti

Last week I went to Haiti.

the streets of Port-au-Prince

In fact, my whole team came with me, as well as our chaplain, 5 Columbia students, and 6 students from other universities, including my brother.

our group at the airport

We spent the week working with an order of Italian priests called the Scalibrinis.  They have established a complex about 7 miles east of Port-au-Prince that contains a seminary for about 300 young men, a school for hundreds of kids, a bread factory run by Haitians who can then sell the bread in the city, a site where houses are being constructed for displaced people to live in (the Haitians have also been employed to build these), a medical clinic, and a physical therapy clinic.  We got to help out with all of those.

helping out with one of the construction projects

getting to pray in the archbishop's private chapel

 The Archbishop of Port-au-Prince was also temporarily living on the premises, since his residence was destroyed in the quake.  The former archbishop actually died in his home and is buried there at the Scalibrini's, along with his former secretary, who was at the Cathedral when it collapsed on him.  One of the priests told us an amazing story about him: he remained alive for seven days after the quake, stuck in the rubble, speaking with those who were trying to get him out.  When they finally reached him a week later, though, he had passed away.  When they uncovered him, he was found clasping a rosary in one hand, and the Eucharist in the other.  Wow.  What an incredible testament of faith, huh?

One of the coolest parts of the trip was the opportunities God gave us to interact with the local people.  Even though most of them did not speak English, we were still able to communicate.  I even got to use some French!

hanging out with some kids after playing soccer

One of the days, we had the privilege of being invited to visit the Papal Nuncio (the ambassador to the Vatican).

Justin with the Nuncio (he is a Bishop originally from the Philippines)

 He lives on a hill that overlooks the city.  From his home we could see the massive amount of destruction and poverty.  Parts of the city that had nothing in them before the earthquake are now filled with tents or small houses made of cardboard.

We also drove around and saw the Cathedral that collapsed, as well as the President's palace and some of the tent cities that have since been set up to house people.

The President's Palace

a tent city

The Cathedral

The last day we were there, we got to work with the Missionaries of Charity in a clinic they run for malnourished children.  It was a terribly heart-breaking experience, as all we could do was hold these teeny children and pray for them.

Overall, the Lord challenged me to search for Him in every moment of every day, in the mundane and in the incredible, in the poor and in the privileged.  He challenged me to trust Him and demonstrated that He is always working.  He always does more for me than I expect from Him and surprises me every day with His love.

It was a beautiful trip, and I am thankful for all the work the Lord did in the hearts of my team and our students.  Please pray for a continual conversion of heart for each of the students, and that we may continue to learn from the experience!

my team is awesome, and I am so thankful for them