a snapshot of my life and ministry

haiti day one

Written By: Whitnie Williams

I’m overwhelmed. I feel like I’m in a completely different world.

I’ve never seen anything like this. Port-Au-Prince has this almost tragic beauty to it. The place is in ruin. The picture I’ve posted is of a tent city. A lot of people who lost everything in the earthquake have found shelter there, but it’s not the typical idea of shelter.

As soon as we began driving to the missions guest house, I witnessed much more than I could have possibly prepared for. I witnesses tragedy I have never seen before now.

Upon preparing to leave for an orphanage, a woman brought over a group of orphans she cares for to visit. My youth pastor, the leader of the trip, began to walk towards them, but it was them who flocked towards him, attacking him and greeting him with hugs and smiling faces filled with a joy I cannot explain. These children have lost everything, and in the midst of that, it was a simple stranger that could make their day. They then ran towards us, throwing their arms around us without reservation. I was overcome with emotion. It was the single most heart-warming and heart-breaking thing I’ve ever seen. I began to bawl. We’d been here for just a couple of hours, and I was already sobbing. I continued to cry as two of the most adorable children on the world held onto me. It was honestly a big comical… (Ok, it was hilarious. And yes, there are videos. No, you may not see them. )

We then boarded our bus and made our way to the orphanage our church sponsors, and it was there that I met some of the most humble, giving, loving, compassionate young ladies I have ever met. Through the language barrier, we connected. They were fascinated by my fair complexion and freckles, and one girl seemed to admire my purity ring.

I spent my bus ride back in reverence. God is so amazing, and that does not even begin to cover it. I cannot wait to see what He will do here through these amazing people and this amazing group He so eloquently and beautifully crafted by hand.

Keep us in your prayers, and I will update tomorrow.

Be blessed,

Whitnie