Community based on trust and acceptance

By Trip Manager Stephanie Mutert

It’s always fun when paper and pens come out and the kids get to use their imaginations. One never knows what will manifest on that piece of paper, or what it might turn into. During this particular visit to Marmelade, the kids were drawing images of their village, friends, and favorite subjects in school.

We love seeing the relationships that our staff develops at the Pastor’s villages, too. Jonas (above), our GO Haiti staff translator, is a great example. He facilitates wonderful conversations between visitors and the kids and has developed a trust with many kids he works with. But he is also an older Haitian male that is able to reach a different level with the kids on a regular basis.

Whether it’s talking about life with older boys, or humoring the little ones that look up to him, he always makes sure the kids know he values them; he is known to make several jokes that make everyone laugh. These young ladies were so excited to show an unsuspecting Jonas what they had drawn that they all ran to him at the same time, essentially mobbing him! Some wanted help writing their name on the paper and others wanted to know how to write in English, but they all simply wanted to show Jonas their creations. The laughter and fast Creole around the group was an easy draw for others to see what was going on, but at the core, it was community built on trust and acceptance. Any day we are able to see that in any part of the world is a good day.