This trip was a great experience for me and one that I will not forget. I know it is a little different for each person but for me it changed my opinion about the country. I currently live in the USA. I grew up in Jamaica. While in high school, we learned about Caribbean history. That covered the islands from Cuba all the way down the chain to Trinidad that is at the bottom. After all these years since learning about the different islands, one thing stands out about Haiti.  You were always taught that it is an island of voodoo and nothing else. You never hear about the Christians or other religions there.

Even when I attended college here, all the books that I read about Haiti only talked about the constant unrest and their voodoo practice. I have met very few Christian Haitians. Most of the Haitians that I met had a very strong belief in witchcraft and voodoo. When I first heard about the earthquake, my first biased remark was "God is trying to speak to that country.” After that, I thought no more about it. I saw a couple of the pictures, heard bits and pieces on the news and left it at that. Then you had all the negative behavior that was on the news.

One day, I thought about if I should go there for relief effort. I convinced myself, “No, I would not.” One night, while at home, I received a call from Robert Rose. All he said was, "Sheena, we are going on a medical mission to Haiti and I would like you to join the team.”  I cannot express how I felt. There were no words to describe my elation!

I emailed my supervisor that night about 9:30 PM and told him that I needed to meet with him first thing the next morning. Bright and early at 7:00 AM, I was at work. All I said to him was, “Sir, I have been called and I am going.” I did not need to give him any more information. He knew right away that I was referring to Haiti. I had no reservations or fears about what I would do if another earthquake occurred while I was there. People whom I told about my upcoming trip had reservations and some tried to persuade me not to go. My answer was, “If I am called, I obey.” 

The 10 days that I spent there working with the Haitian people and seeing other parts of the country have totally changed my opinion and how I will view that country and the people. I stand guilty of accusing everyone who lives in that nation of being voodoo worshipers.  I can now say that I am wrong. I met some beautiful people there who are Christians and are willing to stand for Christ. I prayed with some of the patients I worked with and others I sent to the prayer station.

However, I will not forget one patient, Kadet Fausher, who escaped the earthquake. I saw him and when I asked if he knew the Lord, he said he no longer believed because of the earthquake. I then asked, “Who do you think protected you that you are here today?” He looked me in the eye and mumbled something that was not pleasant. I knew this because my translator became very upset. I told my translator not to worry but tell him, “that even if he did not love my God now, my God still loved and cares for him.” I looked him in the eyes and smiled.
 
With tears rolling down his face, he told my translator that he wanted me to pray for him and that he wanted to accept the Lord right there at my station. I was lost for words. I had prayed for people before and sometimes wondered if my prayer made sense.  Just looking at his face and the feeling that I had after we prayed is an experience I will never forget.

Since I have been back, I have been telling people about the Haiti that I saw, the people that I had met, and what I have learned about that country. I no longer judge them and have no reservations about joining another team on a trip there.