My heart is so happy right now - in this photo, Patterson, one of our college scholarship students is surrounded by his art students! I first met Patterson in July of 2014. In the next several years, I would bring him art supplies, drawing paper, charcoal pencils, sharpeners and other supplies.
I knew he liked to draw, and truthfully it was really the only thing I knew about him. Most Haitians aren’t super chatty, but Patterson was even more – non-chatty, so getting to know him was a lengthy process.
Fast forward 3 ½ years, to March of this year. While I was communicating with Patterson on Whatsapp, he told me I was the only American that had ever supported his art, who had made him think it was worthwhile, he said thank you mom for supporting me.
This caused me to want to explore this, – because other than knowing he loved to draw and was very talented, I honestly hadn’t asked him many questions about it.
I proceeded to as Patterson why he draws, and was surprised by the answer. He told me that when he is drawing he does not think about anything else, like his problems. Whoa.
I never thought of art as particularly valuable, especially in a place like Haiti. To be honest, I had been on a mission trip years earlier, the trip where I met Patterson actually, and someone proposed doing an art class for the kids. I remember thinking, look around, there are so many more important things to address here – far more important than an art class. In hindsight, I see that was a very narrow minded – meaning I really didn’t see the broad range of needs. I was looking at primarily physical needs, not really seeing the deeper needs and therefore missing the value of art.
In the conversation we had in March, Patterson opened my eyes to how wrong my perspective was. Art is needed everywhere. Kids everywhere need to have a place to develop an imagination and to explore creativity. Certainly everyone ( young and old) who lives in difficult circumstances needs a way to disconnect from the difficulties of life, art is just one way to do that – some people write, some people run, some people play music or sing, fish, play sports, the list is lengthy, I’m grateful for the insight this conversation gave me.
I thought about this for a few weeks and thought about the neighborhood where our English Program operates. The kids in this neighborhood have a very difficult life, the neighborhood is particularly economically disadvantaged, there are many missing fathers, there is crime and there is drug and alcohol abuse. These difficulties don’t even include the daily struggle for food and water, the lack of electricity and plumbing and scarce resources for education. I started to consider that maybe art could be a refuge for some of these kids.
I talked to Patterson about the idea of an art class, and he told me he always wanted to teach art.
With (our Director of In-Country Operations) Angelo’s help, Patterson put together a list of supplies he needed as well as a course outline and we moved forward with the plan for a pilot art class.
Today, Patterson came to the location of the first art class, he was dressed like he was meeting the President, he was prepared, had all his supplies and set up his class before the students arrived.
I was nervous about the teaching aspect, Patterson is by nature an introvert, he’s not outgoing or proactive, he’s never demonstrated what could be called leadership skills, he is shy and reserved, he is happy in the background. I was a little anxious, I did not want him to fail, but I also wanted to let him try.
Patterson honestly blew my mind – he was professional, he was engaging, he was serious yet relaxed, he was encouraging, he was patient, he was knowledgeable, he was a natural teacher. He was in his element. I could not have been more proud of him. What an amazing experience, to see him come alive the way he did today.
Thank you Lord for the opportunity to really hear what someone so different than me was really saying.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your prompting about what might be needed in this community. Thank you that you care so much for the people in this neighborhood and for Patterson as well.
And thank you for your continued provision that supplies for the art class and another job within our organization.