Across the road from where our staff house was in Haiti is a family that sells drinks. We would get cokes regularly throughout our time there. One day, around half way through the Summer, one of our staff took a team there to minister to the family. It turns out there was a girl in her twenties that was a new believer, and the only one out of her 7 siblings and parents. They asked if they could pray for her, and she surprisingly said ‘no’. When asked why, she said that us staff had lived across the road buying soda from them, but had not once asked to pray for her. She eventually let them pray for her.
When I heard of this encounter, I saw how poorly I was ministering to the community around me. Of course I always mean to get to know my neighbors, but this is an ideal I never seem to attain. In my mind, I had viewed the short term trips I was helping to lead as my ‘ministry’, and didn’t realize how much not getting to know my neighbors was effecting the representation of Christ to others. They know what I’m here for and what I’m supposed to be all about (Jesus), yet where was the love for them? I then determined to get to know this woman. Her name is Samentha.
I remember when I first went over to ‘socialize’ (hard to do when you don’t speak the same language). She happily pulled out a chair for me and the staff I was with, and we tried to get by on what we knew- which sometimes resulted in… silence. When we were about to leave, she said she loves us, was happy we came, and that she would miss us until the next time. Thus starting our lovely, interesting friendship. I got to see her house and meet her family and friends. I accidentally attended an awesome house church she goes to (lost in translation). The last time we hung out, she had showed up at our door with a friend of hers to give me their numbers, in case they were ever in the U.S. (AKA Miami).
Samentha always had a smile. She was always up for hanging out or planning a time to hang out, because she just wants to be with you- nothing more. Even if it meant sitting in silence, or the hassle of trying to get something across through a English/Creole dictionary. She was constantly giving, giving, without expecting in return. She knows how to love. She taught me more of the simplicity of love and the importance of getting to know my neighbors. Please, keep her in your prayers as she continues to be a light to her family and her community.
I cannot wait to see her next week! I will be happy to share with her the impact she had on you.