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Thanksgiving in Haiti
By Camille Brouillard, IHM
Camille Brouillard, IHM, traveled to Haiti from Nov. 21-27, 2011, to visit the Little Sisters of St. Therese of Riviere Froid, Haiti. The IHM Sisters of Monroe, Immaculata and Scranton have twinned with the Little Sisters since 1995. Below is Camille's brief reflection from that trip.
Speechless...community...hope.
Speechless...as we drove through Port-au-Prince.
Silence was the only response to what we saw.
People in crowded streets, selling whatever they could.
Makeshift shelters of tin, sheets and tent material.
Standing water, garbage, beggars and vehicles cramming a rocky, hilly space.
At times, smiles and waves to us.
A boy writing in a copybook outside.
A small family tent.
I could not imagine what night was like there.
Community...with the sisters was a gift.
Sharing prayer (in French and Creole), meals and conversations.
Visits to other convents and schools.
Carrying buckets for bathing and flushing.
They truly are our sisters who value our presence,
As they teach us about faith, humor and collaboration.
Amazing grace to speak with the sisters, the children and men and women of the area.
Sharing stories, prayers and love.
Hope...in the signs of rebuilding (very slowly).
Removal of rubble.
Children back to school.
And in the millions not giving up/in.
Death is not victorious.
One sister's story of surviving two days in the rubble, thought dead.
A priest celebrating Mass who works with "slave" children.
Amazing grace!
We brought back more than the money and supplies we took with us.
We brought back a real connection to our Foundress,
our sisters,
our donors
and God's great love which unites us all. |
