About 2 weeks ago a co-worker of mine suggested that we have Jim Meyer come speak to our seventh grade students. We had just finished Greg Mortenson’s “Three Cups of Tea” and found that our students had quite a bit of humanitarian inside them, but it just never had the chance to escape and blossom. Jim came in and gave an incredible slideshow presentation filled with images of destruction but symbols and themes of hope and perseverance. After talking with him for about an hour after-school, he offered me a spot on his next adventure in Haiti, the catch was that it was in 2 weeks! I made a game time decision and the next thing I knew I was in Port Au Prince this afternoon, while my students were over a thousand miles away in our Chicago classroom.
When we arrived today, I really had no idea what to expect. I was like any other American who only knew about Haiti from the news and Hollywood fundraisers, but after meeting Jim I saw that there was an incredible place and story behind this mysterious land. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, the weird thing is I didn’t even know what I was nervous about. Maybe just soaking everything in, and experiencing something very different from what I’m used to. Well, I was right, at least a little bit. Haiti was different, and overwhelming, but also strangely beautiful and inspirational.
After cruising the streets for a bit, I found myself staring a bit, and quickly tried to correct that so I didn’t stand out that much! Being a 6’5’’ white American in Haiti already had me targeted from the second I stepped off the plane! But something amazing began to happen… instead of meeting my lost stare with hostility or a look of apprehension, I found just about every Haitian, young and old, happy or sad, smiling a sometimes weathered but also optimistic grin in my direction. This land that I was so nervous about entering had already welcomed me in, and I knew this would be an incredible experience.
As we ate dinner, which was well-needed after a long day of travel, the idea to pop into the orphanage came up. “Sure!”I thought, those kids were one of the major reasons I wanted to come in the first place. What transpired in the next 45 minutes would be an experience I will never ever forget.
Endless smiles, echoing laughter, continuous hugs and introductions, broken attempts at me speaking French and these incredible, beautiful young ladies speaking much better English! Did they have a formal education? No. Did they have supportive parents who encouraged them to study? No. But an enduring spirit, and incredible leaders (Marie and her staff, and Jim and his relentless crew), has inspired these girls to not only see the bright side of things, but to be unconditionally happy and full of love. Lifting these girls to the sky, counting the stars with them, playing jump rope, and just hugging and holding them, made me truly realize, for the first time in my life, how right it is to care. These girls taught me a lesson I will never forget, and they didn’t even speak English! It was an amazing feeling to experience a bond where there are no boundaries… culture, race, age, background… it didn’t matter. My head full of doubt turned into a mind full of wonder… what else is out there in the world for me to experience? What other lessons can I learn and share? I guess time will tell, after all, it’s only been 4 hours!!!
So… what are we doing tomorrow?!
Brad Parker
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