Personal Narrative: My Mission Trip To Haiti

To conclude I’ve been blessed to experience two different countries, although it wasn’t easy I’ve learned from both, while daily life in America/Miami is much different than in Haiti, there are many similarities as well. Underneath all of our cultural differences, the same heart still beats. Food must be eaten, clean water must be drank. Everyone must sleep at night, and wake up to a bright new day. Spending time with family and friends is at the center of the lives of both Americans and Haitians. With all of our differences, we are all simply human beings living a life on planet

In “Not your Homeland” by Edwidge Danticat she argues that in post 9/11 America, Haitian immigrants were mistreated because of the attack done on the twin towers by immigrants. The Haitians that entered America to seeking for a better life were looked at as terrorist. Danticat describes her experiences with meeting the Haitian refugees and how they were treated like criminals for entering America, along with their living conditions in the detention centers. She even talks about an emotional experience she had when her Haitian uncle, who was legally able to enter America, had to request to stay in a temporary Asylum because he was not able to return to Haiti, and if he did he would have been killed. (598-601) As Danticat had reported the mistreatment

Going to Haiti is an incredible adventure and it really puts in perspective how much I take for granted everyday. Most Haitians my age have no bed to sleep on, a small shack which they call home and share with their extensive families, and not a clue what they are going to do that day when they wake up. In a way, which may sound selfish, I wish to live like them to feel what it’s like to always be happy and full of spirit regardless of the food they eat or the clothes on their backs. I have many memories and experiences similar to the ones shared and I had moments like those spent with Kata and the man during village ministry every day with various Haitians. The Haitians impact my life more and more every second I am there, and even though Haiti may seem like the poorest country in the world and the mosquitos are horrible, and the heat could drive one mad, I will always choose Haiti over any other place in the world as my happy place, and there is not a place I’d rather be than

Misrepresentation plagues this island nation overwhelmed with endless suffering. No one sees the beauty of Haiti through a television screen. All they see is misery – natural disaster, disease and poverty—writ large on the evening news. When most Americans think of Haiti, they see problems and a stressed people. However, there is a resilience and a beauty of spirit to Haitians. Even after years upon years of being dehumanized, my people have never broken. Our culture is constantly belittled, but we smile and gather strength from the sun that shines on our island and we persevere.

Diverse individuals with distinctive stories apply for school each year. Some with stand-out encounters, others an ability that separate them from others. Be that as it may, for me my experience, culture and trials are what decide my uniqueness. Conceived from the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, Haiti where I lived with my persevering mother (after the death of my dad when I was 10 months) providing for us through her little business. Until the overwhelming quake that struck my nation in 2010. This disastrous occasion changed my viewpoint in life. I left my past life alongside my mom in Haiti. I packed material possessions alongside the adventures and memories that I experienced throughout the years and went to a foreign nation to close relatives. I went to

He shambled down to the first floor where his uncle handed him a box with bibles and snacks. They headed to the local church and went to pray and help the youth and the ministry there. He handed off his load to one of the members of the church and went to grab a drink. The only problem was there were no drinks around. He asked his pastor if there was anything to drink and all he got in reply was a sorry look and a plastic bag with water. The day was long and hot. Having no air conditioning in the middle of summer was one thing but to be in Haiti at the same time? He wouldn't have wished it upon his worst enemies. He ran back and forth between rooms delivering bags of water and supplies to students and helping out around the church.

In March of 2016, I took a missions trip to Gonaives, Haiti. This trip impacted me deeply. The people are poor but are still very happy with life and love God very much. I made lots of friends while teaching dance who I will remember forever. My most memorable moment was the Friday night service. Their dancing was cultural, traditional, excited, and energized. It made me feel connected to my African roots. This trip allowed me to receive the Silver Award from the Girl Scouts. I am most proud of

Groggily stumbling into the kitchen, I was met with nine pairs of eyes reminding me I wasn’t in America anymore. Eleven days ago, my team and I had flown into Port-au-Prince and driven to Jacmel, directed by Angel Wings International, a local organization that worked to deliver healthcare in Haiti. I received the run-down for the day: we were heading West toward a rural clinic located in Baie d’Orange. Climbing into a musty truck bed, I noticed a crew of dentists, doctors, and pharmacists accompanying us, signifying the most important day in our three-week-long trip. The truck revved into action, racing in Jacmel’s dusty streets, past the swelling river, through winding mountain passes, stopping at a tattered USAID tent that covered a burgeoning crowd of hundreds. Scanning the crowd returned the gaze of scared men, women, and children whose lives could be drastically changed through proper checkups and treatment.

The smells, sights, and sounds of Haiti will forever be etched in my memory. Growing up in a small town in Haiti I witnessed a great deal of poverty, injustice and even death due to increased political and social injustice occurring within the country at that time. Reading a headline about a local farmer beheading for stealing bananas from his garden may sound shocking to most people; unfortunately I had grown accustom to such tragedies occurring. My family and I had all been observers of such heinous, acts and were firsthand victims to exceptionally cruel acts as well. As a result my father risked his own life to seek a better life in the United States of America, by crossing the ocean in a very small and rickety boat.

In the summer of 2014 I, along with 30 friends from St. George Church, took part in a week long mission trip to the beautiful country of Haiti. While there, we did a lot of service work, including planting trees and painting a school. But way beyond all that, we got the incredible opportunity to care for and play with hundreds of unbelievably lovable and, despite their unfortunate circumstances, immeasurably happy children, most of whom were abandoned, orphaned, or severely ill with HIV/AIDS. Their smiles and radiating happiness are among the brightest I've ever seen and they inspired our entire group to change the way we perceive the world. Therefore, getting the chance to see those beautiful kids again would make me and them, too, unimaginably happy.

After the coup d' etat, thousands upon thousands of Haitians set forth on a long journey with hopes of seeking refuge in the United States, "the land of opportunity", via Florida.

Think about the poverty and problems that all countries around the world are facing today and every day. As Americans we have an urge to go into these countries to help as much as possible because of that we have begun a revolution. Americans began going on mission trips around the 1960s but did not really pick up until the 1990s. The trend grew after multiple natural disasters, Americans saw and need and went, since then short term mission trips show no sign stopping anytime soon. As the popularity of leaving our comfort zones, many people have found issues with the way the trips are led to the extent of questioning whether or not these trips are really worth the amount of money and time that they consume. Through periodicals, interviews, narratives, and articles, I will show the issues and improvements that could be made to the living situations, attitude of the Americans, and relationships that are acquired during the short term mission trips.

With over 220,000 people deceased and 300,000 injured, this by far was the most horrendous event that Haitian people ever had to deal with. With my

The crowds were overwhelming, the air was thick with sweat and tears, the waves were colossal. Ricardo held our child, Wesley, as they boarded the unsteady boat. The boats were crammed full of hundreds of Haitian asylums, all who were looking for the same thing my family and I are looking for: freedom. (citation) They all had a certain look to them – their eyes bright with anticipation, but also filled with fear for the dangers of the sea. It was such a thrilling concept, escaping to your new world; however, there was the potential that they would not succeed in their travels. From whispers I’ve heard in town, some boats haven’t made it the whole trip. What did we expect, really? A bunch of men and women on boats, desperate to get off as soon as possible, none of which have any experience in sailing. It’s somewhat of a recipe for disaster, but we think it’s worth the risk.

Here I am 15 years old getting on a plane to a country with 46 other people from my school to head to Jamaica. We flew out from Tampa, Florida which is my hometown and the flight took about 2 hours, but for me it felt like it took a lifetime. We had boxes and boxes of stuff we packed from clothes, toiletries, school supplies, first aid, and many other things we were bringing over to the Jamaicans. After it felt like hours we finally got through customs and boarded Southwest Airlines to head to the country that I didn’t know then would soon change my life. I sat in the middle seat on the plane between two people I did not know. During this time, I journaled. I journaled my thoughts, my feelings, and if I am completely honest I journaled just how scared I was about what was to come in this week.