By Jaclynn Balas, Haiti Missions Leader

A few years back I started a personal tradition of making my number of resolutions correspond with the year. I had 10 resolutions for 2010, 11 for 2011 and so on. One of my goals in 2011 was to “serve more.” Determined to keep just one of my resolutions, I headed back to Haiti with a great team from Pacific Crossroads Church to visit our partners at Souls Winning Ministries in La Plaine.

The rumors are true. Haiti, from the outside, can look hopeless. There is political unrest, extreme poverty and much rumble remains from the earthquake that devastated the country in early 2010. But, over the last year, I’ve witnessed transformation and hope in the Le Plaine community. I’ve witnessed spiritual growth (admittedly mostly my own), a strengthened community and rising leaders. As our van approached the SWM gates I was eager and excited to see familiar faces, many of whom I could now call friends.

Our trip had a medical focus but we also had time to strengthen our relationships with the community in Le Plaine. On past trips we reached out to the kids, mentored community entrepreneurs and addressed medical needs, but we had yet to speak and really connect with the many women in the community. We decided to call a “women’s only” meeting, no boys allowed.

Sitting there in the intense Haitian heat, settling into the silence, I felt ridiculous and insensitive, wondering what we’d really talk about. What did I know about hardships in Haiti? Born in “the land of the free and home of the brave,” I have been blessed with a life void of their challenges. First there were just a few women, sitting patiently on the church pews. Slowly, others followed, filling the benches until there were five rows stacked. We all sat there undeniably different but remarkably similar waiting for the conversation to start. It began simply; my name is “this”, I do “that.”

Slowly, by God’s grace, the women began to open up to us. We saw their pain and they likely saw our shock as they shared their dreams, hopes and heartaches. We listened, tears rolling down many faces, about the challenges they had overcome. We heard about choices that no one should have to choose between. We felt God’s love bridge cultural and language gaps.

I could stop there, leave you with images of misty eyed women who found community in Christ but that’s only part of the story. What I witnessed, what really stood out, was their RESOLVE. A resolve different from my superficial goals of slimming up, toning down or giving up fro-yo. They had resolve to keep their faith full even if their stomachs were empty, resolve to keep trying to improve their family’s life though they’re aware of the existing social structure that prohibits it. They had resolve to not let pity inhibit their empowerment. We saw their resolve to smile and laugh and be hopeful not just in spite of their circumstances, but also because of them. They were thankful, joyful and graceful. They gave us so much love, so much insight and so much hospitality.

I realized then that it was I who had just been served. So, once again, “serve more” will be on my list of resolutions for 2012.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.