Thoughts on the Summer

I could write for ages about Haiti and how much I enjoyed it and learned. This will be my last blog post about my trip, but of course if anyone has questions or wants to chat about it, you are welcome to email me at: shelbytaylorrudy@gmail.com. I want to thank everyone once again for your consistent prayer and support leading into this trip and throughout the summer. I could not have done it without all of you, and you are very appreciated.

At the beginning of English Camp, like I wrote about a little before, I was helping out wherever I was needed. Working in the kitchen, running around and handing out coloring pages, and getting daily counts were all entailed in that. Although I knew I wanted to interact more with the kids, I really enjoyed working in the kitchen as well. But the second week of camp, my routine was changed as I was placed to teach younger Science (5-9 year olds). I was incredibly nervous at first. Science was never my strongest class, public speaking has never been something I am comfortable with, I have never taught a class (not to mention forty young children), and the kids do not even speak my language. I was confronted with the fear of failure, although I complied without a complaint. Coming into English camp I had the mindset that whatever job I was placed in I would serve to the best of my ability and if it turned out it was a poor fit, then we would readjust. I was able to get advice from people who had taught the few weeks before and the older Science teacher and I would often collaborate and talk out our lessons. The first few days were kind of shaky, but by the end of the summer I found I really enjoyed it.

Aside from being nervous about teaching, the summer had its other challenges. Throughout the summer I had three different translators, all varying in knowledge of the English language and in enthusiasm. I ended up getting into a rhythm with each of them, but the inconsistency proved to be challenging at the beginning. Each class had around 40 kids in it and that combined with being in a third world country led way to the challenge of doing experiments. I was not always able to do an experiment because either I did not have the supplies or the kids just would not understand. I did them when I could, and we were able to do some fun ones like testing the five senses, creating a raincloud in a jar, making ecosystems, creating the water cycle, and demonstrating digestion with crackers and water.

I enjoyed working with the kids much more than I thought I would. Seeing them explore their curiosity by asking questions and being intrigued by experiments was a really cool part of teaching them. Also just seeing them remember me, want to participate in class, and seeing them laugh and have fun was a great encouragement to me. I loved greeting them with a kiss in the morning and playing with them after camp.

Three weeks later, though, what is still impactful to me? Upon reflection, what do I hope to take with me? I expected to be confronted with poverty and to feel very materialistic, which to an extent I did. But maybe because I was expecting it, it did not hit me as hard as I thought it would. I was challenged to be more thoughtful with where I spend my money and less wasteful with water and food and such, but also coming to the realization that me cutting something out of my life does not necessarily mean that I am helping someone else. Rather, I was encouraged to carefully think about how I can help and how it will actually be helpful in the long term. Before I left for Haiti, I read a small part of When Helping Hurts, which I know has mixed reviews, but there were some really solid points that I took to heart. I think taking tidbits from that book, combined with the knowledge that I will not be changing a country in 9 weeks, helped my heart from being shattered by the things I saw.

Something I did not expect, but was confronted with, was how much these kids needed love. Of course I know that every child needs love and that is a huge part of children’s ministries in the States, but in Haiti it just hit me so much harder than it ever has here. To think that from infancy some kids have not had the love and devotion we often take for granted blew me away. So it was a joy to just love the kids, even if they were clinging onto you or acting out to get attention, to let them know that they were loved and treasured was a huge part of our ministry there.

Along with working with the kids, there was a great team of interns there. We had so much fun and worked really well together. Each one of us brought something unique to the camp and it was cool to see God work in each of us. Would I do it again? Absolutely.

Thank you all for sharing in this journey with me and for your encouragement and prayers along the way! It was such an adventure and I am so glad I had the opportunity to go. For those of you who are wondering, I have moved to the Oregon Coast to work, which starts next week. I am excited for this new adventure and would appreciate your continued prayers as I begin training and learning lots for this new job. Thank you all again, I am excited to see what God does!
PS-Pictures are coming soon, I promise!