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 Opened
Eyes
by Jenny Dinelli
Let me begin by explaining when I first realized I was in Haiti. We had
just landed at the Port-au-Prince airport and I was anxious to take my
first breath of Haitian air and feel the tropical climate. However, I
knew it would take a long time to exit the plane, walk through the tunnel
into the airport, travel through customs, and wait for our luggage, which
I was told would take a very, very long time. In the meantime, I could
at least catch a glimpse of the towering mountains and brilliant blue
sky through the tiny airplane windows. Then the flight attendants began
to open the door of the plane. To my surprise, a really, really bright
light shone throughout the cabin. I asked Ann Van Valin, director of International
Child Care Ministries, who was seated next to me, why the light was so
bright. She explained that the light was actually sunlight! We would have
to exit the plane by stepping down a huge staircase and actually walk
to the airport. At this moment, I knew I was in for a life-changing experience.
Throughout
the trip, I began to realize — for the first time in my life —
the luxury I am able to live in as an American. In Haiti, there are UN
vehicles and helicopters everywhere — not to mention armed guards
with the biggest guns I had ever seen! One night on our way home from
a rare trip to a restaurant, we were even stopped by the police who asked
us where we were going, and then, fortunately, let us continue on our
way.
I also began to realize the true definition of poverty. Children would
clean off our windshield with old rags, hoping to earn a small amount
of change. Most of the shacks where people live did not have power, so
children would go around selling candles each night at dusk. At the restaurant,
a mouse and a cat wandered around the kitchen, and the power went out
while we were waiting for our meals. Two sticks in the mud at a schoolyard
served as a soccer goal, and an empty bottle became the soccer ball. A
Haitian teacher attending one of the workshops in Dessalines had lost
one of the bows from his eyeglasses, so he used a shoelace wrapped around
his ear to keep them on. I was also shocked to realize the sewer pipes
(from the shacks) emptied right onto the gravel allies — the stench
was something I cannot even begin to describe. Enormous cockroaches wandered
around our living quarters. The shower is basically a hole in the wall,
and for dinner I had some crackers. I cannot complain but I have never
felt so dirty before in my life (or so itchy).
 Now
that I've mentioned some of the filthy situations, I need to stress the
beauty of the trip ... the Haitian people. The teachers at our workshops
were so excited to receive a plain folder, four sheets of paper, three
paper clips, a few stickers and one pen. I was amazed at the energy and
charisma these people have.
One of the activities in our workshop involved Bible stories and a few
pieces of garbage Dr. Hall and I found in the schoolyard. The teachers
were amazed when we asked them to tell a Bible story by utilizing the
bottle caps, leaves, sticks, stones and anything else we found on the
ground. But they definitely got the hang of the activity. Their skits
were dramatic and extremely powerful.
My heart was broken when I learned nearly half of the teachers from one
of the locations were unable to make the long journey to the workshops.
An overabundance of rainfall created impassable traveling conditions,
and many were forced to return home.
All of the Haitian teachers that made the journey were so thankful for
us and our workshops — I don't think they understood how thankful
I was for them. They completely changed how I now look at
life and accelerated my spiritual growth. I will forever be grateful!
On the night we arrived I jokingly told missionary Gail Ennis how important
I felt walking down the steps of that plane. To my surprise she said,
"You are. ... You are very important." That statement has stuck
in my soul ever since. I began to truly understand how important missionaries
are and how millions of people depend on them. Lives are changed every
day because of these stewards of Christ.
 Editor's
Note: Jenny Dinelli, South Wilmington, IL, traveled to Haiti in mid-July
to participate in teacher training workshops coordinated, in part, by her
education professor, Dr. Valerie Hall, Marian College, Indianapolis, IN.
The Haitian teachers attending these workshops impact thousands of students'
lives across their country.
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