"What you have received as a gift, you must give as a gift." I gave my spiritual insights to Haitian students in exchange for a new perception on life.
Recently, I was in Haiti on a mission trip with four other Bishop Ireton students for a week of work, outreach, and spiritual growth. We prepared for the trip for a year through fundraising, public speaking at Mass and school, meetings, and reflections upon worldly problems.
During our Haitian week of work and prayer, we were at Louverture Cleary Catholic School for gifted students from disadvantaged families. LCS is otherwise known as Bishop Ireton's sister school in Haiti. In the mornings, we were involved in a number of maintenance/repair projects around the school. In the afternoons, we conducted a retreat with a select group of thirty students, in which we discussed their relationships with themselves, with others, and with God.
Our purpose was to: 1) increase the Salesian spirituality between Bishop Ireton High School and our sister school in Haiti 2) improve the campus by assisting with repairs 3) learn more about the giving of ourselves and 4) bring attention to the need in Haiti thereby facilitating more giving. Our group goal was to reach out and give hope to the Haitian students.
Upon my return from Haiti, I found that the students of LCS might have given me more than I gave them. Although the manual labor, communal living, and long days that we experienced in Haiti were difficult, the students of LCS made the entire trip worthwhile. These students created an environment of happiness with their bright eyes, eager intellect, and vibrant dancing and singing. Even at the age of twelve, these poor children from the Third World were motivated to create a better world. The students taught me to be appreciative of my blessings, because they were grateful for far less. Despite their poverty, suffering, and deprivation, these students rose above the challenge to achieve true happiness. They were happy for the blessings that God had bestowed upon them, none of which included materialism. These young men and women were a true testament of faith, because they devoted their lives to God with unwavering convictions.
LCS is a beautiful place because of its strong sense of faith, happiness, selflessness and community. My experience as a member of the LCS community was like a fairytale. I experienced fulfillment and enrichment from my experience. I created such a strong personal attachment with the students that it was difficult to depart.
Further, I learned that our presence in Haiti was greater than sending money. It was a symbol of love and a common bond, a symbol to these Haitians that others care about their situation and their poverty. The trip made me re-examine my own attitudes and perceptions. My concerns, worries, and problems seemed lessened. Maybe I was meant to have a greater purpose in life. Maybe we can make changes along with our friends in Haiti. If we can each affect some change while affecting others we can strive to create a better world.