Okay, okay. Don't call me materialistic but this really hit home today. When I decided to come to Haiti, I sold a large majority of my clothes and stayed true (almost) to my vow of not buying one article of clothing from May-September. Big whoop, Kaitlyn. Not a big deal- but put things in perspective.
So far I have seen my fair share of orange-haired children, corruption and tent city after city. But today Brooke took on the challenge of fitting the older orphanage girls (13yrs-18yrs) into the donated clothes. I watched and truly started feeling sad for these sweet girls as they picked through piles of ugly clothes Americans don't want anymore. Worn t-shirts, unflattering dresses and odd fitting jeans. Most of them need pants and shirts and they are forced into wearing clothes that are too small/big and mismatched. Have you ever tried to fit 11 teenage girls into hand me down bras? Brooke you are a saint.
Then after the clothing was sorted the fighting and whining begins about who got what. You have a sister? Imagine fighting over clothes with 11 sisters and then going back to your room you share with those 11 sisters and put your 2 new shirts away into your one little drawer with all your belongings.
I have seen dirty children on the street and women walking around with shirts that read, "Johnny loves Miranda" - clearly a donated item from the US. But these girls are girls that I have started to love and their sweet spirits that give me genuine hugs before bed, grab my head and start braiding my hair into corn rows (gross I know) or ask, you have a mom AND a dad??
Come on ladies... We all the know the feeling of buying a brand new outfit, putting it together with some bomb shoes and KNOW you are looking fly. You leave the house feeling like a million bucks and feel like every girl is looking at you with envy. Then finally a girl complements you on your new buy (cause we all know girls dress for girls) and you act like, this old thing? when reallllly you know J. Simps just wore this same outfit last week (my former fashion icon). I completely know the thrill of wearing new threads you found on sale... and if you claim you don't, you're lying. Style creates identity.
I am aware that these girls are lucky to have roof over their head and 3 meals a day. Luckier than the hundreds of kids that die every day outside their walls. I know that they deal with larger demons than clothes. I know that they will grow out of the insecure image-crisis and become strong women of faith. I know that each are beautiful created in His image. I know that knowing the Father in Heaven and His salvation is a trillion times more important than having to wear pajamas as a cute top. I know that they will all find true style within Christ. But I know what it feels like to be a teenage girl. For now and for these girls this is the reality of a teenage orphan. And today, as small as it was, pulled at my heart strings.
...which made me start going through my clothes to create an outfit for them... I know, not the best lesson in discipline. Give something to one of them, they all want something... but discipline can be tomorrow's lesson.
Great lesson for all of us. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are fighting the desire to "help" an individual which may create division, and keeping each decison based on the larger, bigger picture/perspective. Hard to think long term not immediate when your are dealing in the immediate.
Kaitlyn, like I've always said, "you're amazing and are incredibly true to yourself." I have so much respect for you. You're awesome simply because you are you, and YOU should know that.
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