6. Brigitte Hudicourt Tuesday November 26, 5:30-6:30

Last evening Rayna’s mother, Brigitte Hudicourt, came to Goshen and spoke about how Goshen has made a lasting impact on her life. We gathered in the basement of Kulp for dinner and stories. A large group of 30 packed into the crowded basement. We ate dinner and then Mrs. Hudicourt began speaking. She spoke of her life starting with her youth, time spent at Goshen College, what it was like raising children during a politically turbulent and violent time, and what she does now and why she does it. Mrs. H, a young boisterous Hatian woman came to Goshen College in ’79. At that time the only dancing allowed was contra-dancing, nothing like at home. While a Goshen her life was impacted, impacted in such a way that she transformed into a different person. While at Goshen she accepted Jesus and learned to about those funny Mennonites. She became, as anyone does when living abroad, a “hybrid.” She explained the positive and negative aspects of being a hybrid. After Goshen she worked with MCC in Florida as a translator. Back in Haiti she married at had Rayna. During this time there was much violence and fear. She was adamant that she would never have a gun in her house, a idea that was hard for her husband to understand. Right behind Rayna’s school was no man’s land and you could almost always hear gun shots. What you heard was not one or two shots, but rounds of machine gun fire. Mrs. H is an opthamologist. She started her own group practice and performs surgery and other eye care, but not for only those with money. Her practice will not turn patients away, whether they can or can not pay. She also works with doctors without boarders. I knew that Mrs. H was Rayna’s role model, but I did not know her story. I now know why she is Rayna’s role model. Mrs. H’s story was amazing and she is an astonishingly strong woman (physically, mentally, and spiritually), a true heroin.

I can relate her story to my life. After coming back from living in Germany for a year I am too a hybrid of cultures. I need to pull from my experience when I teach to give a more rounded approach to my students.