One week in Haiti. One week of intense heat, intense work, and intense realities. But most of all, one week of intense love. I don’t hesitate to say that this one week impacted my life, challenged me, and most definitely changed me.

There are many things God opened my eyes to and battered my heart with in those seven days. I am still absorbing all that my eyes saw, my mind acknowledged, and my heart broke for. God used this completely new environment to teach me by giving me some very young and precious Haitian tutors. Jesus said to learn from the children, and from the children I did indeed learn.

I stepped through the gate at the Real Hope for Haiti clinic on my first day and was met by a little, Haitian girl with her hands raised for me to pick her up. Adorable, I thought to myself as I placed her on my hip. She gently stroked my blonde curls. Throughout my week in Haiti I was overwhelmed with the amount of joy and love the little Haitian children had. Their circumstances are not ideal by any means—many are sick, orphaned, badly burned, and suffer from malnutrition. Yet, this did not alter their joy in life. They valued the life they lived because the reality of death is often knocking at their doors.

Therefore, I could not help but lighten up as little girls put their hands in mine or grabbed me around the waist for a hug. And nothing rivaled their contagious smiles—smiles that make me want more Jesus. These children know what genuine love is. They love without regard to who you are. A blonde, white girl from America felt instant, selfless love within seconds of arriving. This genuine love forced me to consider the distractions in life that I often view as important. These children love you no matter who you are. They cared not whether I was successful or wealthy. These children love you no matter what you look like. They cared not whether I had a membership at the gym, or that my highlights were growing out. Whether or not my makeup was sliding down my face because of the heat or how much I weighed. This love completely goes against what I often feel, how I view myself, and what my culture tells me as a woman. These precious girls just wanted to be with me, love me, and hold my hand. I discovered that communication runs much deeper than language. These girls spoke to my heart.

It took my going to Haiti to understand with my heart, not just my head, that God is much like one of these little children. Success, wealth, weight, and beauty are not impressive to Him. He overlooks all of that. He is a genuine lover. He just wants to be with me, love me, and hold my hand.

Thank you Jesus, I love how you teach.