Bertsch Tales: Haiti

Its hard to believe that it has been a month since I was in Haiti. This week I started going through the hundreds of pictures from our trip. Looking at the pictures reminded me that I left a piece of myself in Haiti and that the people of Haiti have become a forever part of my life. Five years ago I would never have guessed that Haiti would be the country that God would place in my heart. I imagined adopting children from China, Colombia, or Ethiopia. Zach and I sponsored two children from Haiti and Zach had been on two mission trips there, but I didn't feel a strong connection to the country or the people. Forward to the fall of 2010 and Zach's desire to Redeem his Cancer. In a short amount of time we started sharing a dream to give children in Haiti forever families in Homes of Hope. While I believed in the mission it really didn't become real until I stepped into Haiti. I can't put in words my grief for the people I watched as we traveled through the city. The poverty, the trash, the crowded streets, the people... Leaving the city brought some relief as the green trees of the countryside hid what the city streets could not. The poverty continued,but there were less people. Children with few clothes, houses half built, tents, shelters made of sticks, women selling food from baskets, people crowded on the back of trucks. The children in matching uniforms walking home from school were the lucky ones because someone had enough money to pay for their education. The scenes outside my bus window were a great reminder of all the things that I fail to be thankful for. I wonder how many trips I will need to make to Haiti before I can take it all in.

Please join me in praying for the People of Haiti.