Change is inevitable. Seasons change, years go by, and people come and go. There is not a single thing any of us can do except learn and accept this reality. Margaret Mead, a famed 20th-century cultural anthropologist, said of change: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Now that we are home from our latest trip, I find this quote quite poignant. Not that I think AAMMR is going to change the world or even Haiti as a whole, but I do see the dedication of our members and those that support us bettering the small "world" of Haitians we encounter, and for that, I thank the entire AAMMR Team from the bottom of my heart.
As always, there will be a lot of reflection regarding this trip, both as individuals and as a group. We, as individuals carry to Haiti our "world", be that our home life, work lives, or just own thoughts and worldview. Haiti has the ability to alter your perspective regarding those things. It's unlike any place one can experience and Being there allows us to see things in a different way, gain a different and more broad worldview. It's up to us to interpret this for ourselves and find how we can incorporate it into our lives. What I have realized is that even after spending time in Haiti over the last 12 years, I don't understand Haiti at all. I am still learning and continually humbled by what I take away from these trips. Unfortunately, some will take what they learn, see it as a negative, and run from it. Be it their first trip or their hundredth, theyll say, that while they appreciate the experience, they would never go there again; never again experience the possibility of growth and wonderment that immersing yourself into this culture can be. As much as we may see things in Haiti that remind us of home: cell phones, cars, music we recognize, no one should ever think that Haiti is the United States. It's an easy lesson to forget. Words and actions here that are perceived a certain way carry a whole different meaning there. It is for this reason that it is imperative that we continue to learn and grow. It doesn't mean they are wrong and we are right, or vice versa. It is that we all have things to learn about each other. It is this way that small groups from different cultures can come together and enact change.; analyze our differences to find common ground and let those lessons strengthen us.
We are already seeing the change that is possible when AAMMR and ALOM work together. We saw this in the construction site of the new clinic. We saw this in the excellent care provided at both the fix and mobile clinics. We saw this in meetings with the clinic leadership in which we discussed the future and how AAMMR can provide support. We see this in the dedication of the members of AAMMR and their families; we have such a strong and dedicated group that love our work and respect one another, especially the sacrifices we all have to make to do this work.
So, as this trip ends, we start thinking about the ramifications, the lessons learned and we look both ahead and we look back. We all will have our own thoughts and come to our own conclusions as to what this trip meant to each of us, but I know that this group is dedicated and will take the lessons learned from this trip and affect change in their own lives, as well as in the lives of those whom we have vowed to help. So again, thank you Team AAMMR... thank you. Your work is amazing and appreciated more than you will ever know. The love you show Haiti is beyond description. I hope you let our trip be a chance for growth in your lives and for the life of our mission. Likewise, all of you that follow us and read these blogs, thank you for your support. We can't do this work without all of you. I would also be amiss if I didn't thank the AAMMR board members that stayed at home this trip: Nick Wagner, Tanya Day, and Leah Hill. Thank you for hard work behind the scenes. Until next time...
Warmest regards,
Team AAMMR
