Wartburg in Haiti
Global Communities
"I'm not trying to save the world, but I can help and hopefully it gets paid forward down the line."
-Lynn Armstrong
Anna Askegaard
Wartburg College’s service-learning trip to Haiti was the most incredible trip I have ever been on. Not only was I able to visit a beautiful country, meet some amazing people, experience an entirely different culture, and learn some Creole, I was also able to serve a population that needed and appreciated our help.
In Haiti we worked with an organization called Partners in Development. PID does so much for the people in Haiti, including a sponsorship program for children, providing free health care at their clinic and sending teams out to build houses. Our group had people shadowing in the clinic and people doing construction in Canaan. At the construction site we built a house and began laying the foundation for another house.
We met so many sweet and inspiring people in Haiti that worked along side us, told us their stories, taught us Creole and shared many laughs. I fell in love with Haiti and the Haitian people. I have never seen such devastation and poverty with my own eyes and have never had the opportunity to serve and learn in a place like Haiti. The people of Haiti have had difficulty since the beginning of their country’s independence and the earthquake in 2010 just made it so much harder on them. There are so many parts to the Haitian culture that could cause true depression and leave the Haitians hopeless. In all honesty, if the same aspects of the Haitian culture were upon Americans they wouldn’t have the same attitude as the Haitians, they would probably give up and lose hope because Americans live in a selfish culture. The Haitians, however, put their faith in the community and the people they love, this is what gives them hope.
There is a valuable, lesson to learn from Haiti, the value in love, trust, and faith in others. The Haitians have taught me the true meaning of the Bible verse Romans 12:10-13, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” This verse has always meant a lot to me, but after getting to know the Haitian culture and being apart of their community for a week, I was shown first hand the true meaning of that verse in action.
Yes, there is also need in the United States and yes, I will continue to serve my own community, but poverty here is not the same and Haiti was able to open my eyes and my heart to see things that I will never forget.
Bondye Beni Ou Haiti! "God Bless You Haiti!"
Ann aprann pale Kreyol!
Our work site in Canaan was in the middle of the community that housed many families. When the children weren’t in school they wanted to play and talk to us, especially when we were taking water breaks. At first the language barrier seemed impossible and I thought that all I would be able to do is play, without truly getting to know them. However, as the week went on I realized that a few of the kids were learning English in school so we were able to have small conversations. These conversations turned into them teaching me Kreyol; they taught me most of the phrases below including a few more that I could use in brief conversation with other people.
Lets learn to speak Creole!
Kreyol – Creole
Bondye Beni Ou! - God Bless You!
Mwen Renmen Ou - I love you
Bonjou - Good morning
Bonswa - Good afternoon
Bon nwi - Good night
Kouman ou ye? - How are you?
Mwen byen - I am good
Mwen pa two byen - I am not too well
Pa pi mal - Not too bad
Kouman ou rele? - What is your name?
M rele …. - My name is ….
Non - No
Wi - Yes
Mesi – Thanks
Anmwe! - Help!
Mwen bezwen dlo - I need water
Kij an yo di ……. an Kreyol? - How do they say ……. in Creole?
Kilaj ou? - How old are you?
Mwen grongou - I am hungry
Mwen gen - I have
Fre - Brother
Se - Sister
Sak pase? - What’s up?
Map Boule! – Just chillin!
Li la cho! - It’s hot!
Yo - They or them
Ou - You
Nou - Us, our, or you guys
Zewo - Zero
En - One
De - Two
Twa - Three
Kat - Four
Senk - Five
Sis - Six
Set - Seven
Uit - Eight
Nef - Nine
Dis - Ten
Ven - Twenty
I hope to continue learning Kreyol throughout the next year so that I can return to Haiti and speak to the Haitians in their own language, building relationships, loving, and serving in their community.
Some of the adults that worked for PID also tried teaching us Kreyol but I was most successful learning from the kids. The kids were currently in school, learning a language so they knew a little bit more about teaching a language and what I needed to know to learn it. They were also very patient and confident in correcting me, this was very helpful and I really appreciated their consistency in making sure I got it right.
I became very close with these four kids that were teaching me Kreyol. It was because they taught me how to say simple phases that I was able to become close to many of the other children as well. It was a lot of fun learning Kreyol; it easily became my favorite part of the trip. Because I learned a little Kreyol I was able to get to know the community on a level that I would never have been able to without it. The best part of learning Kreyol was the Haitians responses to hearing me try to talk to them in their language. Their faces would light up and they would try to have an extensive conversation with me; even when they realized I only spoke a little Kreyol that smile stayed plastered on their faces and they slowed it down for me. It was truly inspiring to see the care and excitement they had with such a simple act.
In Haiti I learned that the people’s love for their community and care for the people around them is what has held their country together. Without the love for each other it would have made it so much more difficult to survive all of the devastation that they have been forced to endure. I went to Haiti wanting to serve the people there, expecting to make a difference with the physical labor, sweat and energy that I put into the country. I left Haiti realizing that it wasn’t I who made the big difference in someone’s life; it was the Haitians who made a big difference in mine. Yes, I did put in a lot of sweat and energy and yes, I did help and serve their community, but the real change happened in my heart. I learned that the simple act of loving the people around me and contributing to my community with care and appreciation for others is how I can make a difference in the world. As the quote by Lynn Armstrong says above, the act of love for your community might not save the world, but hopefully it will be paid forward down the line.
In the video: I asked, “How are you?” He said he was good, then I asked what his name was, he told me his name and I told him mine. I then asked him how old he was, he told him his age and I told him mine.