Haiti, June 19-26, 2012 | Blog 1.

As soon as we landed in Haiti, it seemed that there was mass chaos. The minute the pilot announced that we could deplane, there was a mass exodus of people, not being pushy but really ready to be off a packed to the gills 3 1/2 hour flight. Then into the airport with our declarations and immigration papers, again packed to the gills with people and all their stuff. While Holly says that it went “the smoothest it ever has”, it was long, hot and stressful to me, not as much so as the gauntlet to get to our vehicle though. Noise, noise and more noise. Horns honking, loud engines, people wanting to carry your bags and not taking no for an answer the first ten times you tell them. Telling you this is really not about shedding bad light on the Haitian people at all, they are just trying to make a living and go about their daily business in the most populated city in the whole country of Haiti. But it is what it is --- extremely loud and hectic. But then!!! When you get to the Wings of Refuge Children’s Home (after a very bumpy, loud ride), you enter a world where the noise is at the opposite end of the spectrum. Children laugh and giggle and run around having fun, giving hugs, giving kisses, sitting on your lap and being kids. Behind the gate to the children’s home - a sanctuary. These children are loved and they are loving to each other - it truly is a family of 21 kids with caretakers like aunties and uncles - people who love them back. They are all equal, no one is preferred over another. They share most of the time and when they don’t, they work it out amongst themselves and keep on going. The baby, Darvensly is the most cared for baby I think I have ever seen, he is the object of everyone’s affection, they hold him, kiss him and touch his head in passing which is such a sweet sight, it speaks of pure love. As we talk about comUnIty at CLC, I look at these children and can’t help but realize that they have only been together for a year. This is what community looks like - they get along and love each other because they have genuine care and concern for each other regardless of any of their differences. Regardless of who and where they were before coming to the home. I think we, as a commUnIty minded church, could all learn a valuable lesson from the children at Wings of Refuge. -Susan Sanders