Haiti: Unity

U was for Unity.

Unity that allowed them to stay up late each night, talking about things that most adults would never even think to ask. Unity that allowed them to wake up tired the next morning after four or five hours of sleep and still great their teammates with grace.

Unity that pretty much worked me out of a job.

At VBS they worked seamlessly, every person pulling their own weight. Fully in, and fully in together.

Tuesday and Wednesday, there were dance parties in the back of the bus, music blasting as they let their otter sides shine through, as they did everything possible to hold back the exhaustion that was pounding at their bodies. And, still, they looked out for one another. Songs were changed without comment, and, when the quietest one began to mouth the words, everyone noticed, exchanging bright, triumphant smiles as if they had just conquered the world.

Prayer happened in tight huddles, arms over shoulders and around backs, ever cautious of sunburns, but wanting, needing, to be close together, to come as a team, a family, a small segment of the Body brought together for just these few days.

"A....men!" The sign would start on their own fist and end on a neighbor's, followed by laughter or cheers as this one simple act turned out to be so very complicated to coordinate. Complicated, but somehow important enough that they kept at it, all the way through to the end of the trip. Tangible proof of their ability to work together.

Often messy, hesitant at first. This proof that they could watch and listen, that they could be tuned in and focused, that they were a team that knew each other and that functioned well.

Four hours of unexpected waiting in the Port Au Prince airport, and they simply sat, talked a little, shared snacks for lunch. Peanut butter pretzels, lifesavers, fruit and nut medley, beef jerky. Riddles and Mad Libs on phones. Quiet, effortless existence, circled up between suitcases and around backpacks.

Most teams take this time to pull apart, to begin to separate, create an existence outside of the trip, but this one stayed close.

There was frustration and moments where heads were about to be ripped off. Twenty-two people crammed together for nine days are going to rub on a few raw nerves. But, over and through all of that, there was a genuine desire to love one another selflessly.

Mariah was sick on the first morning of VBS, and in the midst of the craziness, Nathan asked to pray for her twice. He talked about her in the car, and gave an assessment that her best friends could not have topped. After just a few hours together, he had watched carefully enough to gauge her character.

They were unified because they allowed Christ in them to love, and to love enough to never stop paying attention.

"They will know you are Christians by your love."