"The first thing you noticed was the smell of garbage piled everywhere, animals roaming everywhere, animal waste, human waste, and the dirty water of the river," Ms. Bertleson explained.
Haiti is located 60 miles southeast of Cuba in the Caribbean Sea. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The average income is about $400 a year. The country is still devastated by the 2010 earthquake, and has frequent tropical storms.
Bertleson, a fifth-grade teacher at Vacaville Christian School, traveled with a group of 12 people from her church, Crossroads Christian Church. They began their journey at an orphanage called Danita's Children.
"God Called me at just the right time. As a Christian follower, I was determined not to be stuck in my little American bubble."
The Haitians speak Creole, which is a tribal form of French. Pam speaks some French so she could communicate a little with the adults. The children at Danita's learn English in school, so Pam could speak with them. However, the way she bonded with the children was through her actions. A hug shows love in any language.
"The Haitians are some of the most friendly, thankful, joyful people we'll ever meet," Pam said.
Pam and her fellow missionaries learned a lot about teamwork.
"One day, our team unloaded two trucks with over 4,000 cinder blocks, weighing over 20-30 pounds a block!" she exclaimed. "I will never forget that!" The team also held a vacation Bible school for the children at Danita's. Each team member had a talent for the Bible school program. For example, some did singing, teaching, crafts, or games for the children.
Pam also learned a lot from the people she served.
"Life is not about having stuff. It is about loving others and God. Be thankful for what you have, because there are others who have less than you. Much less than you," she said confidently.
The author is a fourth-grader at Vacaville Christian School.
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