Marking 10 Years: Reminiscing Good Times, Praying for Better

A Letter from Cindy Corell, serving in Haiti

Summer 2023

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Dear friends,

How can it only be 10 years ago when I moved to Haiti? I’ve lived my whole life there. I grew up there.

Or so it seems. I write this the day after my 10-year anniversary of moving to Port-au-Prince. I spent part of May 25 looking at photographs, remembering. I remember the heart-stunning joy of landing at Aeroport International Toussaint Louverture. The song by Philip Philips rang in my head:

“Hold on to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you’re not alone
‘Cause I’m going to make this place your home.”

That first year was a gift. I met new friends, adopted a new family, walked in tropical heat and climbed mountains. I learned a language as if I were a toddler, and my teachers were patient with me. I enjoyed the freshest fruit and read God’s word in Krèyol.

The family of Luc Celestin welcomed me with warmth and affection. Papa Luc’s eight children taught me Krèyol and Haitian culture. I learned the language and so much more.

When I left his house the first time (it is my Haitian mountain home!), I told Papa Luc that he had taught me how to serve others with humility and kindness.

Within months I welcomed delegations from U.S. churches, began to network with members of peasant organizations and traveled the country. Haiti might feel like a small town, but it takes hours to go a few miles. I let fear take a pass. I journeyed with friends and faith and was always better for it.

Thank goodness I was just wise enough to know it wouldn’t always be this way. Each time I arrived in Haiti, friends met me at the airport. As soon as the Caribbean heat hit my face, my heart lifted. A stupid-looking grin covered my face.

Awkward.

How can I feel such joy being in a place where there is such misery?

The first seven years I served the people of Haiti from Haiti gradually became more dangerous. My presence made life more of a struggle for those in my home. As I balanced reality and my desire to stay internally, Garry, our guardian, came to me:

“We do not want you to leave,” he said. “But if your bosses say you must, then go. We will be OK.”

The fifth time I evacuated from my home has been the longest. As of May 25, I’ve been back in Virginia for 1,158 days.

A common thread in conversations with dear friends in Haiti is the rapidly deteriorating security and economic situation there.

“Se terib.” It’s terrible.
“Peyi nou malad.” Our country is sick.
“Ede nou priye.” Help us pray.

My heart breaks with all the people of Haiti. My soul feels sick. Helplessness veers toward hopelessness, but my friends don’t let me fall for that.

I tell the story of how in the scary mess that Port-au-Prince is, Garry encouraged me to give the trash guy a raise. “He works hard,” Garry said. “Everything is expensive.”

Or about the photo of a dog, Garry sent me, a sad-looking pup covered with mange. Turns out when the dog became ill, his owners put her on the street. Garry found medicine and treated her back to health.

These are tiny examples of how the people of Haiti – with all the misery and uncertainty, the fear and the hunger – continue to live with grace.

Half of the people of Haiti are hungry. Our Joining Hands network struggles to get funds out of the bank to send them where they are needed. Our staff there have been ill, and getting around remains difficult.

But the kind of heart that looks out for the trash guy and a sick homeless dog still burns.

FONDAMA will soon begin working in a northern border community to help women learn best practices in agriculture. Everything takes more effort than it did, but networking and putting resources where they do the most good will create a better life for the hungry.

For all these years, I’ve said God sent me to Haiti, but I was wrong. God sent me to serve alongside the people of Haiti – and despite the increasing difficulties, we continue the work.

Ten years of my life accompanying the folks of Haiti have hands-down been the best years of my life.

To all who have financially and prayerfully supported my sending to serve with the people of Haiti thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am grateful for each moment we spend in seeing God’s work through our beloved siblings there.

As for me, from the Shenandoah Valley, I’m ready to start my next decade in this holy and amazing calling.

Cindy