Hello. My name is Adam Potter. I am the Associate Pastor at State Street UMC and the team leader of this wonderful group of people traveling to Haiti.
When the earthquake occurred, closing in on two years ago, I immediately felt the calling to go and help, but I didn't know exactly how. I began the process of putting together the details of leading a team, which first meant (by UMVIM standards) I had to travel there myself. I had the great privilege of serving as a member of a team led by Don Dexheimer from Rockford, IL and the Northern Illinois Conference in February. We worked in the town of Thor (pronounced Tore) and helped refurbish a home that would not only be a residence, but eventually serve as a guesthouse for future teams to come and work in that area.
Our team this fall is working in the town of La Tremblay, located about an hour east of Port-au-Prince near the Dominican border. We will be helping to rebuild the Methodist Church there that was completely destroyed by the earthquake. It serves as a house of worship, yes, praise God; but also as a center of life for that community.
I have served on and/or led a number of trips spanning from regional youth mission trips to international. I have traveled in mission to nine different nations and have seen the beauty and smiles of the human race. I have laughed, cried, worked, and sung with brothers and sisters from around the globe. I am confident that we are all children of God and honestly - we are the same. We all laugh, we all love, we all work hard, and we all want the best for our families. As a minister, I believe my first obligation when leading a trip of this magnitude is show others that same beauty. We lose track of it and sometimes don't even realize it is there. That is why I go - to gather with my brothers and sisters, as the scripture says, 'face to face'.
I also believe whether we are in Joplin, MO; New Orleans, LA, Port-au-Prince, Haiti; or in Bowling Green, KY - we all need help. It has always been my perception that we, as followers of this man called Christ, are simply called to go. I don't believe there is ever an exact minimum or maximum to that calling ... be it for 8 days, 8 months, or 8 years. We are called to go and do what we can with the gifts God has given us for as long as he asks us to do so. Period. Some people go and work. Some people go and stay. Some people cannot physically go at all, but can spiritually go by praying and helping to send others.
I personally am a great supporter for any mission trip. To me, it is the fulfillment of a much larger picture than any of us can ever pretend to grasp. The UMC in Haiti has been doing an excellent job through UMCOR and UMVIM by helping Haiti to rebuild Haiti. I say those words specifically in that manner for a purpose. The UMVIM teams that go (over 200 in 2011) are not giving handouts. In fact, they are being led by Haitians who have been employed and reemployed through this process. We are not doing for, we are doing with. We are a small piece of a great puzzle - one that includes many facets and takes all of us.
This past February, as I walked the streets of the market in Carrefour, Haiti, a young man in his twenties stopped me. He said, "Thank you. Thank you for coming and giving a spirit of hope to my people." I will never forget that. That trip was not about the concrete I mixed nor about the paint I slapped on some walls. It was about hope. In all honesty, I didn't do a lot that week. But if my presence there helped to encourage and edify one person (and I know it did), then it was worth it. It was worth the plane ticket. It was worth the medications. It was worth it.
I have no idea what true measure this team will be put to this trip nor the things that will be asked of us, but I know as long as our focus is to unite as children of God, then He will do amazing things through us. Thank you to everyone has has prayed for us, donated items, and helped to send us. May we be a light of faith, hope, and love this week.
Unloading the tap-tap.
