“What does it take to send a Sea Container?” by Sr. Cindy Burns

More than a few years ago, then First Lady Hilary Rodham Clinton said, “It takes a village to raise a child.” As I reflected on the May 7, 2010 sending of the three sea containers to Haiti by the Carmelite Community of the Word, I realized that it has taken much more than a village, or even a religious community of sisters, to accomplish this feat.

It started in mid-March, with a list of items from Sr. Emmanuelle Victor of the Little Sisters of the Incarnation in Haiti. This was the list of items most needed by the people of Haiti to help them begin to put their lives back together after the earthquake in January 2010. Since that earthquake, many people had been asking, “When will you be sending things?” So, as soon as the list was received and publicized, help started to arrive. This was my first inkling that it would take more than a village, and it was when the Carmelite Community of the Word discovered that we would be sending not one, but finally three sea containers!

From as far north in our Altoona-Johnstown Diocese as Renovo to the southernmost diocesan town of McConnellsburg, shipments of clothing, toiletries, wood and many other needed items poured in. And the help didn’t end there. I remember coming home from conducting a Confirmation Retreat one Sunday afternoon to be told by my smiling sisters, “We have a truck coming from New Jersey!” Another day, boxes from Pittsburgh were brought by relatives of our sisters. It is not possible to name all of the more than generous donors who dropped off items both large and small.

Finally, the big day came. Once again the “village” assembled.
The Carmelite Community of the Word sisters were joined by
members of the Society of the Incarnation (lay people committed
to living out the spirituality of the Carmelite Community in their
own lives), many people who have participated in mission trips to
Haiti, new friends and old friends, and friends of friends—all gathered
to pack the three, 40 foot “high boy” containers.

I know in my heart that the Holy Spirit was truly present that day
as well. The weather was perfect. The volunteers operated and
co-operated as smooth as silk. Oh yes, there was humanity present
as once or twice someone or another would tentatively ask, “Will it all fit?” or “Will we be able to fill them?” Nevertheless, we proceeded with faith and trust in the God who had gathered us together to accomplish this mission of love for the people of Haiti. In the end, everything did fit, 3 trucks were filled, and we gathered around a celebratory cake, thanking God and praying that the sea containers would arrive safely in Haiti.

As you can see, it really took the efforts of many to load and send these containers. It is comforting to the Carmelite Community of the Word that we can rely on the aid of so many, and it is tremendously appreciated by the Little Sisters of the Incarnation in Haiti.

Oh, by the way, if you missed out on being a part of the May 7 effort, don’t despair. We’ll be doing it all again in the fall!