Thoughts on Haiti

I walked the streets with bent paths leading all directions, and not with many pot holes and garbage lying everywhere . The air was filled with gas, burnt oils and stench from decomposed wastes. Sounds from cars and trucks siren through air and my feet were tired from the walk over the mountain of cement pieces that lay were a road use to be.. I noticed the vendors were gone, sadness filled the space were they use to sell goods to the people. There was a silence found beyond the siren sounds from the vehicle’s . A silence that I could not explain. Children looked lost and they held tight to their mothers. I saw dogs , pigs, goats, and cow eating trash beside the mound of garbage and debris in the city. I noticed that the sky was blue, that there were clouds far in the distant but looking around in the streets , each direction I faced there was many people search for something. Some for food, others for water and many searching for what they lost. There houses are no longer a safe haven, and millions flood the street s and side walks to lay down for rest. There was houses, buildings , markets, apartments, banks and gas stations completely destroyed. Beside them was a building standing , beside the building stand was one destroyed. It was everywhere the same situation. No one can be certain who’s would stand and who’s would fall. Each looked as strong or stronger then the other, and yet the weaker stood, then there were some buildings stronger then the weak that stood.. It is almost like a huge snake was below the ground moving around, and were he had moved the land had fallen.




The grocery store that I bought supplies for the office was still standing, and the restaurant we all went to was there still but the many that I had visited and visited where gone.. You never can tell what will and will not happen in the future. No one can know but God. I just knew in my heart that we could not let go of the project that was started. Everything in my soul kept telling me do not give up on these people. Even when everywhere you look is completely flipped upside down and back up like a puzzle from when you saw it 3 weeks prior.. And your mind. It will be completely shocked, almost traumatized if you have never witnessed anything in life like this before. I remember trying to figure out what can be done to help rebuild or how to bring fresh water to these people, and what about the rain that will arrive then what… There was never a silent thought.. It was consistent with all that came .. I believe nothing is done by mistake and all that we do is set forth by God before we even do it. He knew that I would be there and I never thought or knew much about the place until it touched my soul.. And moved me. Sometimes it is that which we can not begin to understand, that which we can not begin to know that moves and shakes our soul like a tree in the wind.. And we awake to what we are to do in life. He shock me completely .





I had seen before this town with the others and we stayed there for a little while. We met many people in the streets in this small village, so of them stared at us and others were friendly and smiled… I wonder if they are still there. That day, must have been a special day because everyone was out of their homes and in the street, and there was so many of them .. I looked many in the eyes.. And now I wonder if I will ever see their eyes again..



Back to the devastation, when I was searching for a place to rest my worries for a day, I went to the city to locate a hotel that I could lodge at for the night. On the way to the hotel, there was hundreds and possible thousand s of people in the streets . There was so many people in the streets the the car was going slower then the people walking beside us. I think they were walking to a demonstration or event. Not sure but I have never experienced anything of the sort in my life. When I got settled into the hotel, I went to see the streets and a lady was asking me to buy her painting from her. I was staring at the hundreds of tents on what looked like a turning island for drivers, and looked into the woman’s eyes and thought to myself, she is selling what ever she has to feed her children. I asked the guard to translate for me, and tell the lady to please take this money and buy food for your little ones, but I can not take the painting because I have no room for it and must help the people on this visit. One day , if I return and I see you then I will buy the painting. She heard the translation and a smile appeared on her face, she shock her head and told the guard to tell me thank you and she was wanting to buy food for them. She said to come see her when I return and then left with her small children and the painting.



When events like this occurred there, which was very often. I always thought are they selling their art work or the paintings in their house for food. I worried that these paintings might be the only thing left of their beloved and that how could I take something that is the last they have to remind them of their loved one. I would not want someone to do that to me. So I instead paid for her food and she kept the painting as well. I had many of tests, and lessons in Haiti. And at night , I would always look to the stars and think we share the same sky , we share the same moon…and in the morning we will share the same sun.



Often when God shows me these things, I can not express to man what I experienced verbally or explain it in casual conversation. I must write it down so that it is understood. So , I am writing so that everyone can understand what my eyes saw , and feel the sorrow and pain from those who survived a terrible event in history. One man told me , he felt like he died when the earth quake struck and he feels dead now walking and breathing still normal but inside he said he feels dead. I asked him why. He said I lost everything,. My family, my house, and my work is destroyed. I stand in front of you as nothing. I told him , that is not true because you still have a soul that is ever alive and in deed God has a job for you to do. He thanked me and walked on.. This happened a lot and some over lap the others, because multitudes would come to me with their stories or to ask me questions about God, or what they can do for their family. I then felt a need to be in Haiti. A very unique connection that grew from the last time I was there. They need reassurance for their souls, their souls need gentle guiding words to help them to become something which they lost who and what they are and will be.





More thoughts soon.. Lovingly , Jennifer Johnson