Lisa’s Journey of Hope

Recently, Watch U Want photographer, Lisa Smith, took an adventure that changed her life. She had the privilege to travel to Haiti with the organization, Haiti’s Hope, on a mission to help those less fortunate.  This trip included hard work for orphanages that were left destitute from the extreme poverty that unfortunately reins throughout the island. She also visited a village that is so isolated, it is basically forgotten. What Lisa experienced is what most of us in the United States or even most parts of the world cannot comprehend and understand.

The team’s mission was to spread hope, happiness, and love to each heart. The team wanted to lift up the hearts of these children by making their only shelter feel more like a home. So the team worked on painting the inside and outside of the orphanages, installing fresh plumbing pipes, installing new solar powered lights and also providing their rooms with decent fans for the children to sleep in a cooler environment.

The team also provided children in a nearby village with vitamins and manna packs filled with rice, soy nuggets, vitamins and dehydrated vegetables.

With Haiti’s economic and physical destruction due to the 2010 earthquake, it is heartwarming to know that it is so easy to fill up someone’s heart by sending love and affection to the people who need it the most.

We are proud that a Watch U Want team member was able to step out of her comfort zone to help children in need.  The world is a big place, but when we care for each other, we help our world grow much closer.

Below is a quote from Lisa about her experience in Haiti:

“My recent and first trip ever to Haiti has been a landmark in my life. To say it is a whole different world is an understatement. I was able to go with the dedicated organization, Haiti’s Hope. (www.haitishope.org) I personally know the President, Jonathan Scutt, who is the youth pastor at my local church. I could not understand the heart he had for this country, but now, I feel I finally have an idea. The physical ruin you see as a disadvantage doesn’t even touch the spirit you feel there. They represent their love, culture and beliefs freely. They make do with what they have and do not complain. One quote a local man named Ron told me is that in Haiti, they constantly say “make it work.” No matter the circumstances, they truly live day by day. I took so many photos every second and I don’t even feel I could capture it all. I have shared a couple of photos to give you a glimpse, but I would encourage anyone to consider a trip to see outside our world here in the U.S. (and not just to the nicer areas). I met people shouting for joy outside in the heat with no shoes and only a mud hut to their name. I held the child that wants nothing but love and affection. I saw people scramble to the ground for ice chips to touch their tongue. I shook the hand of a woman that walks miles to get food for her family. But they all had smiles and grateful hearts. Nothing compares to that joy. Is there need everywhere? Yes. But don’t let that overwhelm you. The little you do makes a difference, because it means the world to at least one person. May we spread the love everywhere, because God knows, we all need it. Thank you for taking the time to read about this event in my life. Having the support from my teammates at Watch U Want has made all the difference. Thank you guys –  you have been nothing but a blessing in my life.”