My name is Obed Will Arris and I am an 18 year old Haitian.

In 2010, my life changed.

One day, I was in my area of Haiti, and the land began to shake under my feet. That day was January 12, 2010. Seeing dead bodies, houses destroyed, and suffering people made me sick - I was lost and sad.

The view that I had of life was gone and I thought that it would never be the same - it wouldn't.

After some weeks, people from the United States, led by a mission called Adventures in Missions came to us. Praise God, my house wasn't down, so they stayed with my family.

Day by day, I got to know them, and even though I didn't know English, I could feel the blessing that was in their words. I could feel the encouragement they were giving us.

Teams come and teams go.

By living with these people everyday, I got a better understanding of their work, the work that they were sent by the Holy Spirit to do: love, preach, and bless Haitian people.

Personally, I was the mean guy that no one would like to talk to, but they were not afraid to question me about everything. They loved me, and I saw that no matter who we are, respect and love can get through to us. The impact this has had in my life is still inside of me. Their love influenced me; their character, the character of Jesus in them, has got through mine to make me a better man.

I've now learned English without taking any lessons, only by practicing with them. I read more because of the example they gave/give me. Every morning, a phrase read can make your day wonderful, and the most important I've learned is that a loving smile is the biggest encouragement!

Thank you guys for coming! You have changed my life.