Hiking With Our Haitian Friends
Twelve years ago, a small group of Lynchburg College students visited the island nation of Haiti as part of a church sponsored retreat. Unlike many similar mission trips, the objective was not to complete a project or build a school or dig a well. Instead, the purpose of this trip was strictly relational. The students lived with local families and shared in their daily life tasks throughout the week. And in helping to haul water, walk to the outdoor market, cook over the charcoal fire, hand mash peanuts for peanut butter, and countless other tedious duties, the students came to fall in love with their Haitian hosts.
Upon their return to campus, one of the students, Rachael Tanner ’02, wanted to do something to return the favor of hospitality she had received in Haiti. She wanted to create a fundraising activity that reminded her of the people of Haiti. Rachael thought about all the walking that Haitians do on a daily basis. Only a very few select people in the community owned any kind of motorized vehicle so the great majority did all their travel on foot – often for hours at a time. So this freshman from Baltimore came up with the idea of the “Hike for Haiti.” She explored possible routes, involved other students in planning and preparation, and successfully inaugurated this now annual tradition.
Since that first hike eleven years ago, thousands of dollars have been raised to assist in a variety of projects and programs including solar panels, a food storage warehouse, teacher salaries, money to purchase land for a community garden, etc. For the 2011 hike, all proceeds will benefit the expansion of the school library.
This year’s hike will be held on Sunday, October 30th. Participants will meet at Snidow Chapel at 12:30 for an orientation and presentation about the school and then travel by shuttle van to the Black Water Creek Trail. The entire route is less than 5 miles on a relatively level paved bike path that passes through a wooded area that is especially beautiful this time of year. Hikers are asked to bring $10 to assist in the work of our partnership school, the Matenwa Community Learning Center for Development. www.matenwaclc.org.
In recent years, the organizers of the hike changed the name from Hike for Haiti to Hike with Haiti – a small but important change, signifying the sense of partnership and solidarity we feel with our Haitian sisters and brothers. When we do something for another person, it may imply that they are not capable of helping themselves. However, when we do something with another, we acknowledged that there is a relationship of mutuality and collaboration. Both parties contribute and benefit equally.
As we walk in solidarity on Sunday, may our steps remind us of the journey that Haitians and others around the world make each day to lift themselves out of extreme poverty and deprivation. May we be motivated to give generously of our own resources even as we recognize all that we receive in return from them – living examples of courage, resilience, perseverance, and hope.
Peace,
Anne