Megan Nichols (second from the right) is going to be a sophomore this fall at Northwestern College majoring in Elementary Education. She spent three weeks in Haiti earlier this summer. This was Megan’s first time in Haiti.
To read the previous blog from this group click here
My experiences in Haiti have varied in the degree of spiritual impact that they have had in my walk with Christ. With this being my first experience out of the country, there was certainly an alteration to my world view and idea of God’s love. While interacting with the community in the Pignon area, Matthew 18:2-5 comes to mind. I also think of a comment made by Christi on one of our more eye-opening outings. We had pointed out the utter joy of the Haitian people living in such heartbreaking circumstances. She said, “Most Americans think life is easy and are disappointed or upset when it is not. Haitians know life is really hard. They do. This mindset allows the good occurrences in life to be that much better.”
These people exemplify an impeccable child-like faith. Jesus says in Matthew 18:4 we must humble ourselves like a child to enter the kingdom of heaven. I have not met a group of people more humble or humbling than the Haitians who I have built relationships with here. Scripture is their life source and they are simply on fire for God. They seek out every opportunity to share the gospel. If I am being honest, many days when we are heading back to Many Hands’ campus, I find myself questioning my own faith in comparison.
“I have not met a group of people more humble or humbling than the Haitians who I have built relationships with here. Scripture is their life source and they are simply on fire for God.”
On Sunday July 4th, we went to an orphanage in Pignon. Upon our arrival, kids swarmed. Our team worked our way up the hill to what looked like a courtyard of some sort. I found my way over to a wall and a bench and took a seat. I reached in my bag for the $1 nail polish I purchased back in the states.
With the language barrier, everything here is about your body language and reading others’ body language. So with a big smile, I grabbed the foot of a little girl sitting a couple feet away from me and began to paint her adorable little toenails. The line for pedicures began instantly and I did another and another and another with no words. Four or five girls sat with me the entire length of our time at the orphanage. Taking turns sitting on my lap, braiding my hair, painting my nails, and showing me all the love, kindness and trust that they could.
I found that God also does not need words. I think He has been grabbing my foot and painting my toenails my whole life. He has always been readily available for a relationship with me, but I never took the chance to return the favor. The Bible, the church, and our relationship has been accessible my whole existence. However, I never showed Him the level of trust that these girls had shown me. He used these children, just like He did in Matthew 18, to place a conviction on my own heart and upon our relationship with Him as Christians. I need to trust him with all of my heart and soul for the relationship to truly flourish.