Life goes on in Haiti

Eighteen months after the earthquake wreaked cataclysmic havoc, we find ourselves in Carrefour, Haiti. This is our second time in Haiti in the last 10 months. As we interact with our friends here, and work amongst the poor one thing is very evident, life goes on in Haiti.
Don’t misunderstand me by thinking much progress has been made in terms of rebuilding Haiti. Not all, in fact things look almost the same as they did 10 months earlier. Tents run amok in the city, piles of rubble make many two lane streets almost impassable in parts, a plethora of garbage piles abound in Carrefore reflective of the pervasive impotence of the government. These are just a few of the many things yet to be addressed. In fact it could be argued that whatever was broken or non-functioning in Haiti prior to the earthquake seems worse now, and definitely not better
What I mean by life goes on, is more of a disposition that I found many held. It was hard to find someone who would voluntarily talk about the earthquake. It was as if it never happened. We would have conversations about their need, hopes, plight, family, etc but their feelings about the earthquake and its effects were matters that had to be prodded. I didn’t get the impression that they had worked through deep emotional hurts and thus the earthquake was a passé issue. Instead it was as if misery loves Haiti, and the earthquake was another semblance of this fact. They would continue to survive as they had in the past, and thus it has become pointless if not distracting to delve into the past.
Coming from the outside, this attitude shocked me. I in my western solution oriented mindset wanted to determine cause and effect, and postulate solutions. Thus, I found myself disarmed by their survivor mentality, speechless often I was forced to be reflective and ponder these things in my mind. Being still helped me develop a better listening ear in support of my friends. Surprisingly I discovered that this unusual approach worked. Not prodding, or asking, but befriending and waiting for the timing, I found that my friends would share. Not in many words or with much emotions, but like a dam with a little breach, a trickle of words would often turn into a full expression of their pain and cry to God for help.
I am reminded that everyone has a story, and not to judge by externals. Just because our translator, our cook, or our chauffeur in Haiti had a smile and a great attitude did not dismiss that they all were probably adversely affected by the earthquake. These wonderful people who seemed to have it all, (after all they had a job unlike most Haitians and were not living in a tent) often had great scars. As we ministered in the tents, we found ourselves also ministering within our quarters, be it in the office, our missions base or our hired transport vehicle. God opened doors of ministry because we were willing to be used, within and without.
May God’s hand be on those who have lost children, homes, parents and friends, yet who keep going. I pray that they not only be strong in themselves and for their family, but also strong in God, for when we are weak in Christ, he makes us strong in Christ. Amen