Hollands sisters spend their reading week lending a hand in Port-au-Prince
When the earthquake hit Haiti on January 12, 2010, it seemed like a distant dream that they would be able to rebuild their lives from the tragedy. Over three million people were affected. 250,000 homes were destroyed and one million families were left homeless and hungry.
The earthquake was so severe that the Haitians named it “L’Evenement” which is “The Event,” a day that they divide their lives by: life before and life after. The already extremely impoverished country had been struggling, and after the earthquake the chance of it mending seemed impossible.
Everything from the U.S troops to fundraisers at high schools has helped Haiti climb out of their nightmare. Here at Bishop’s University we can proudly announce that two of our fellow students, as well as two University of Sherbrooke students and two Bishop’s alumni, took their own spring break to travel to Haiti with helping hands.
The two Hollands sisters, Sarah-Michelle and Melissa, raised the money and took off to Haiti for seven days. They were completely unaware of what to expect emotionally and physically, and based their decision solely on intuition.
Sarah-Michelle and Melissa were asked to join a team in Haiti by the International Mission Board of their local church, Eglise Renaissance. They raised the money through donations from local churches, family and friends. They were asked only two weeks prior to their departure and immediately jumped at the chance to aid in any way possible. With a hint of fear and tons of excitement, the Hollands sisters arrived in Haiti on February 28, 2010
The Haiti border was simply a one-way road. When the Hollands’ attempted to cross, it was packed with hundreds of cars, trucks and trailers. They made it through, and headed for a Haitian church where they set up their tents on the rooftop. They looked out onto what once were homes, to piles of rubble and homeless families. Struck with emotion, the Hollands’ got straight to work.
A day for a university volunteer in Haiti is physically and mentally exhausting. With a six o’clock wake up call, the girls got to work and were forced to finish at around three in the afternoon since the heat was so draining. During the day, they removed rubble and tore down walls and roofs to leave the families with a flat surface of concrete to build on.
From the afternoon on, they spent time with the Haitian families, usually singing and playing soccer with the children. Sarah-Michelle recalls this as one of her favourite memories because the children were so enthusiastic and joyful despite their hardships.
Being in Haiti was a very emotional experience for the Hollands’. Witnessing the aftermath of this fatal disaster completely changed their perspective, and made them realize how lucky and privileged they are to be from Canada.
Sarah-Michelle admits that now she reminds herself to constantly preserve—not just the food left on her plate, but to turn off the tap while brushing her teeth or in between dishes. After watching small children suffer from not having enough water, something we have endless amounts of, forces her to constantly think of what others don’t have.
To watch babies as young as one month old lose their lives due to the earthquake is a memory that will forever be with the Hollands sisters. That is why they make sure to cherish every moment they have with their friends and family now.
The two girls were blown away by the resilience of the Haitian community. It was remarkable that after what they had been through that they saw so many smiling faces and happy families. It was a portrait of true emotional strength.
Though the saying “One person can change the world” sounds cliché, Sarah-Michelle believes it is truly possible. She didn’t realize how much impact each set of hands could have before she arrived in Haiti. She explains that the biggest motivation to continue working was the smiles on the families’ faces.
If you’re thinking about going on a missionary trip like the Hollands’ did, Sarah-Michelle gives firm advice: “Go for it! Absolutely go for it. Don’t worry about the money, if your heart is there and if your heart is to help others then go for it. Don’t waste another day of your life.”
Sarah-Michelle can’t get enough—she is leaving for a five month trip to Haiti in May. She has been asked by the International Mission Board to lead a new team of university students in Haiti and since she is bilingual, she’ll be the interpreter for the Haitians and the team. The trip is strictly on a volunteer basis so she is giving up her summer job and summer break. “God wants me to be there. I just need to do it,” she declares confidently.
In order to finance the trip, Sarah-Michelle needs to raise at least $3000. While she will receive many donations from local churches and other families, she asks Bishop’s students for fundraiser ideas or any possible donations. She also urges everyone in the Bishop’s community to open their minds to volunteer work in third world countries and to donate to those who are still around the world fighting to make a difference.
