Monday, May 31, 2010
Roger's story
My long term friend, Roger Desir, was next on my list of people I wanted to see while in Haiti. I didn’t know he was in the country, because he and Mithilde were in Washington, DC at the time of the quake to attend a special meeting of the Faith and Money Network (the successor organization of Ministry of Money). He came back to Haiti to participate in the funeral of a nephew who survived the quake after being pulled out from the rubble with only scrapes and bruises. But the trauma caused by the earthquake complicated some of his previous health issues, and he died suddenly.
Roger Desir, a retired Episcopal Priest, and his wife were surviving on his modest pension, living in their modest home in Port-au-Prince. This home was their security for their future. The earthquake destroyed their home and most of their possessions. As Roger described the loss, they even have to go out and buy new underwear.
Roger had not seen his home since the earthquake. So, Nixon and I took him by to see it. Roger pointed out the thin re-bar that had been installed in the cement walls of his home when it was originally built. It wasn’t built to withstand the 7.2 earthquake.
Roger and Tida are now trying to decide how to move ahead. They do not have the estimated $70 to 80,000 needed to build a modest, single story, wood home on their property. They may try to find an inexpensive apartment to rent in the Washington, DC area. Members of the Church of the Saviour are attempting to help them find such a place. But Roger indicated that he would prefer to return to his life-long home in Haiti.
Roger Desir, a retired Episcopal Priest, and his wife were surviving on his modest pension, living in their modest home in Port-au-Prince. This home was their security for their future. The earthquake destroyed their home and most of their possessions. As Roger described the loss, they even have to go out and buy new underwear.
Roger had not seen his home since the earthquake. So, Nixon and I took him by to see it. Roger pointed out the thin re-bar that had been installed in the cement walls of his home when it was originally built. It wasn’t built to withstand the 7.2 earthquake.
Roger and Tida are now trying to decide how to move ahead. They do not have the estimated $70 to 80,000 needed to build a modest, single story, wood home on their property. They may try to find an inexpensive apartment to rent in the Washington, DC area. Members of the Church of the Saviour are attempting to help them find such a place. But Roger indicated that he would prefer to return to his life-long home in Haiti.
Fonkoze and Anne Hastings
My first stop on Monday was to visit with Anne Hastings at Fonkoze. Fonkoze is a bank for the organized poor, and Anne has been the CEO for several years. She was personally recruited to do this job by the founder Fr. Joseph Philippe. For those of you who want to know more about this unique bank, check it out at www.fonkoze.org.
Fonkoze was hard hit by the earthquake. They lost five employees, 112 clients, with more than 14,300 of their clients who lost their businesses, their homes, or both. 470 members of their staff are without a home, and like most everyone else in Haiti, most everyone lost someone close to them.
Just prior to the earthquake Fonkoze, with their partner Alternative Insurance Corporation of Haiti, was about to launch a catastrophic loan product for their clients. This was created to provide help in response to the hurricanes and storms that hit Haiti in 2008. Sadly, the earthquake interrupted the implementation of this product, but Fonkoze and AIC decided they must treat the affected clients AS IF the product had been introduced. With that mandate in mind, Fonkoze successfully forged a partnership with the American Red Cross, Mercy Corps, and Opportunity International Germany. They have provided outright grants for shelter, and forgave the loans currently in force, and granted new loans to help their clients move ahead.
Since the earthquake the staff of Fonkoze has worked tirelessly to restore their services to their clients, dispensing a large amount of emergency funding and providing access to the funds they hold in trust for their clients.
Thanks, Anne Hastings, for your courageous and dedicated leadership of this outstanding program.
Fonkoze was hard hit by the earthquake. They lost five employees, 112 clients, with more than 14,300 of their clients who lost their businesses, their homes, or both. 470 members of their staff are without a home, and like most everyone else in Haiti, most everyone lost someone close to them.
Just prior to the earthquake Fonkoze, with their partner Alternative Insurance Corporation of Haiti, was about to launch a catastrophic loan product for their clients. This was created to provide help in response to the hurricanes and storms that hit Haiti in 2008. Sadly, the earthquake interrupted the implementation of this product, but Fonkoze and AIC decided they must treat the affected clients AS IF the product had been introduced. With that mandate in mind, Fonkoze successfully forged a partnership with the American Red Cross, Mercy Corps, and Opportunity International Germany. They have provided outright grants for shelter, and forgave the loans currently in force, and granted new loans to help their clients move ahead.
Since the earthquake the staff of Fonkoze has worked tirelessly to restore their services to their clients, dispensing a large amount of emergency funding and providing access to the funds they hold in trust for their clients.
Thanks, Anne Hastings, for your courageous and dedicated leadership of this outstanding program.
Richard's Story
I met Richard for the first time ten years ago. He was one of the bright, articulate young men in Kaglo. He has an unforgettable smile and welcoming personality. So, it was a delight to reconnect with him on Sunday, when I spent the morning and afternoon at the Blanc family home. He had heard that I was coming to visit and he made a point of coming back to the community to connect with me.
Richard was living in the heart of Port-au-Prince, not too far from the Palace. This location provided him with a way to connect with any jobs that might become available. He is a trained carpenter. But even with that skill, he found it difficult to find regular work before the quake. Port-au-Prince has suffered from a very high unemployment rate … some say over 70 % of the available workers were unemployed. And they survived living off the alternative economy.
Richard was in his apartment when he began to feel something strange happening. He said he didn’t know what it was, but only that he had to get out of his apartment. Just as he jumped out of the room, the heavy concrete roof collapsed. He was covered with concrete dust and the soot left over from the falling buildings all around him. Everything he owned was in that room. He lost everything, except his life.
Richard was interviewed on ABC News after the quake. He was still covered in dust and soot, and needed a bath. He was asked if he knew anyone in the US. And he said, yes, my friends in Portland, Oregon.
Richard is one of those people living in a tent. While he is grateful for a place to live, he said the tent is dangerous. He and his buddy were assigned a tent to live in. It gets very, very hot during the middle of the day with the hot Haitian sun bearing down. And when the rainy season arrived (and it is now raining hard every day for hours), everything in tent city is wet and muddy. And when the sun comes out, the tent becomes a very hot and suffocating steam bath.
And it is difficult to find anything to eat. He said you stand in long lines for hours, and frequently the food is all gone by the time you get to the front of the line.
He said that life is very, very hard. He doesn’t know his future.
He was grateful that I came back to see how he is doing after the quake. He only asked for my continued interest and prayers.
Richard was living in the heart of Port-au-Prince, not too far from the Palace. This location provided him with a way to connect with any jobs that might become available. He is a trained carpenter. But even with that skill, he found it difficult to find regular work before the quake. Port-au-Prince has suffered from a very high unemployment rate … some say over 70 % of the available workers were unemployed. And they survived living off the alternative economy.
Richard was in his apartment when he began to feel something strange happening. He said he didn’t know what it was, but only that he had to get out of his apartment. Just as he jumped out of the room, the heavy concrete roof collapsed. He was covered with concrete dust and the soot left over from the falling buildings all around him. Everything he owned was in that room. He lost everything, except his life.
Richard was interviewed on ABC News after the quake. He was still covered in dust and soot, and needed a bath. He was asked if he knew anyone in the US. And he said, yes, my friends in Portland, Oregon.
Richard is one of those people living in a tent. While he is grateful for a place to live, he said the tent is dangerous. He and his buddy were assigned a tent to live in. It gets very, very hot during the middle of the day with the hot Haitian sun bearing down. And when the rainy season arrived (and it is now raining hard every day for hours), everything in tent city is wet and muddy. And when the sun comes out, the tent becomes a very hot and suffocating steam bath.
And it is difficult to find anything to eat. He said you stand in long lines for hours, and frequently the food is all gone by the time you get to the front of the line.
He said that life is very, very hard. He doesn’t know his future.
He was grateful that I came back to see how he is doing after the quake. He only asked for my continued interest and prayers.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
An off day
I’ve used this off day to rest and to try to shake off a cold. So rather than venturing down into Pétionville or Port-au-Prince, I’ve remained in my room overlooking the city. This day off has allowed me to catch up on some much needed sleep, to read, and to practice Sabbath.
I am currently listening to the Haiti Partners Youth Choir practice. Their youthful, vibrant voices are one strong sign of the future of this country. Based on what I hear and see, these young people believe in themselves and in the future of their country. And even though Haiti has suffered significant injury due to the earthquake, other natural disasters, and a troubled past, I can see in these young people a hope for a better future. If you want to hear their music and see these beautiful young people, click on www.haitipartners.org and then follow the links to the music.
I plan to spend most of tomorrow in Kaglo, sharing life with the Blanc family and the other people in the lacou (neighborhood). Hopefully by morning this cold will be only a bad memory.
I am currently listening to the Haiti Partners Youth Choir practice. Their youthful, vibrant voices are one strong sign of the future of this country. Based on what I hear and see, these young people believe in themselves and in the future of their country. And even though Haiti has suffered significant injury due to the earthquake, other natural disasters, and a troubled past, I can see in these young people a hope for a better future. If you want to hear their music and see these beautiful young people, click on www.haitipartners.org and then follow the links to the music.
I plan to spend most of tomorrow in Kaglo, sharing life with the Blanc family and the other people in the lacou (neighborhood). Hopefully by morning this cold will be only a bad memory.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Rain
Friday,
This is the rainy season. For the first time today I understand why it has such a distinction. At 11 am today, the skies opened up and the clouds began to release the rain, and it has been coming down in a heavy downpour for over 2 hours, with no signs of it letting up. So, Nixon brought be home. It wasn’t safe for us to try to go where we had planned to visit. I am safely back in John and Merline’s home, writing email messages, resting, reading, and taking some Sabbath rest.
Before the rains came, we stopped by the Mennonite Central Committee to connect with a remarkable woman from the Albany Mennonite Church, who came to Haiti to do some trauma counseling training. Many people are living with trauma, unable to cope with life after the quake. Many people are sleeping in tents, because they fear being inside thru the night. And a significant number of people are just wandering the streets aimlessly, some without any clothing. That is why she came to Haiti, to train people to deal with the trauma. But her work was already completed and she left Haiti to return home yesterday. I am sorry to miss seeing her.
Our next stop was to connect with Brother Michael at St. Joseph’s Boys Home. I won’t attempt to tell his story here. You can look it up on the web http://www.heartswithhaiti.org/ We first connected with Brother Michael and the Boys Home 15-20 years ago. He is still going strong, with three homes for boys in various parts of the country, to meet a variety of special needs. The St. Joseph’s Boys Home was badly damaged in the quake. One visitor from the US was killed, but all of the rest made it through okay. Workmen are in the process of demolishing the rest of the building, so they can start rebuilding from a new foundation. You can see some photo’s on the blog of the damage, the workmen hard at work, and one of Brother Michael.
Because of a building damaged in the quake has continued to collapse into the street, we had to find an alternative route back to the main road from St Joseph Boys Home. The only way was through a large crowd of people who had gathered to receive food from the Red Cross. They started to gather at 5 am, and when we passed through at 11 am, over 2,000 people were standing in line. The orderly line of people, 3 and 4 abreast, was over 3 city blocks long. When I asked Nixon how to describe what we were experiencing, he made the following comments:
These people have no way to get jobs.
Without jobs, there is no money
Without money, there is no way to buy food,
So, when people hear of a food distribution, they gather early and wait until the food is distributed.
The food distribution will not start for another 3 hours. And it has started to rain even harder than it does in Oregon.
Sometimes people fight for the food, for their children and themselves, because they are desperately hungry.
This is the rainy season. For the first time today I understand why it has such a distinction. At 11 am today, the skies opened up and the clouds began to release the rain, and it has been coming down in a heavy downpour for over 2 hours, with no signs of it letting up. So, Nixon brought be home. It wasn’t safe for us to try to go where we had planned to visit. I am safely back in John and Merline’s home, writing email messages, resting, reading, and taking some Sabbath rest.
Before the rains came, we stopped by the Mennonite Central Committee to connect with a remarkable woman from the Albany Mennonite Church, who came to Haiti to do some trauma counseling training. Many people are living with trauma, unable to cope with life after the quake. Many people are sleeping in tents, because they fear being inside thru the night. And a significant number of people are just wandering the streets aimlessly, some without any clothing. That is why she came to Haiti, to train people to deal with the trauma. But her work was already completed and she left Haiti to return home yesterday. I am sorry to miss seeing her.
Our next stop was to connect with Brother Michael at St. Joseph’s Boys Home. I won’t attempt to tell his story here. You can look it up on the web http://www.heartswithhaiti.org/ We first connected with Brother Michael and the Boys Home 15-20 years ago. He is still going strong, with three homes for boys in various parts of the country, to meet a variety of special needs. The St. Joseph’s Boys Home was badly damaged in the quake. One visitor from the US was killed, but all of the rest made it through okay. Workmen are in the process of demolishing the rest of the building, so they can start rebuilding from a new foundation. You can see some photo’s on the blog of the damage, the workmen hard at work, and one of Brother Michael.
Because of a building damaged in the quake has continued to collapse into the street, we had to find an alternative route back to the main road from St Joseph Boys Home. The only way was through a large crowd of people who had gathered to receive food from the Red Cross. They started to gather at 5 am, and when we passed through at 11 am, over 2,000 people were standing in line. The orderly line of people, 3 and 4 abreast, was over 3 city blocks long. When I asked Nixon how to describe what we were experiencing, he made the following comments:
These people have no way to get jobs.
Without jobs, there is no money
Without money, there is no way to buy food,
So, when people hear of a food distribution, they gather early and wait until the food is distributed.
The food distribution will not start for another 3 hours. And it has started to rain even harder than it does in Oregon.
Sometimes people fight for the food, for their children and themselves, because they are desperately hungry.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Thursday - May 27
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Today Nixon Blanc and I drove through Pétionville and Port-au-Prince to get a first hand view of the damage caused by the earthquake, to connect with some of the people we know, and to begin the process of discovering what it is that we can do to help in the recovery. I think the most important gift we can give is our compassionate presence. I hope I did that today, in each encounter with the people we met.
Today I had an opportunity to stop by Matthew 25 House (formally Visitation House), to connect with the people currently managing the house. The house itself wasn’t very badly damaged by the quake, compared to the other houses in the area. Two of the sleeping rooms were destroyed. But the bath and shower areas were all working. You can see a picture of what one bath looks like without the sleeping rooms. The major transformation is in how the soccer field has been turned into a tent city. I do not know how many people are living in the tents (nor did I ask). My guess is there are at least 200 tents in the soccer field, and they have a school organized in the back yard area.
From the Matthew 25 House, we drove by the former home of Roger Desir. It is now just one big pile of broken and crushed cement. I knew it was badly damaged in the quake, but I didn’t expect it to be this demolished.
We next drove down into the center of the city so that I could see the Palace, the Catholic Cathedral, and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. I’ve included some pictures of each of those sites. I did see evidence that the people at the Trinity Cathedral are attempting to protect one of the paintings that adorned the walls. All three of these buildings, along with a host of others, will need to be demolished before anything new can be built in their place. I was encouraged to see that Trinity Episcopal Cathedral had already demolished the school, and built temporary classrooms so that the children could continue their education.
I was amazed to see that many buildings were not damaged by the quake, while buildings next door were completely demolished. I wonder why. Perhaps it has something to do with the way the buildings were constructed (use of rebar and a lot of cement)? Or perhaps it has something to do with the way the earthquake manifested itself in various locations. Or some of both.
One of the positive impacts of the quake is the large number of jobs available. Where previously up to 70% of the people were unemployed, today a lot of those folk have work. And there is a lot of work to do.
Now, may the rest of the world help in the reconstruction of Haiti, not only the buildings, but also the quality of life for the Haitian people. May they have quality education, medical care, clean water, good roads, etc. That is were you and I have a role to play.
Today Nixon Blanc and I drove through Pétionville and Port-au-Prince to get a first hand view of the damage caused by the earthquake, to connect with some of the people we know, and to begin the process of discovering what it is that we can do to help in the recovery. I think the most important gift we can give is our compassionate presence. I hope I did that today, in each encounter with the people we met.
Today I had an opportunity to stop by Matthew 25 House (formally Visitation House), to connect with the people currently managing the house. The house itself wasn’t very badly damaged by the quake, compared to the other houses in the area. Two of the sleeping rooms were destroyed. But the bath and shower areas were all working. You can see a picture of what one bath looks like without the sleeping rooms. The major transformation is in how the soccer field has been turned into a tent city. I do not know how many people are living in the tents (nor did I ask). My guess is there are at least 200 tents in the soccer field, and they have a school organized in the back yard area.
From the Matthew 25 House, we drove by the former home of Roger Desir. It is now just one big pile of broken and crushed cement. I knew it was badly damaged in the quake, but I didn’t expect it to be this demolished.
We next drove down into the center of the city so that I could see the Palace, the Catholic Cathedral, and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. I’ve included some pictures of each of those sites. I did see evidence that the people at the Trinity Cathedral are attempting to protect one of the paintings that adorned the walls. All three of these buildings, along with a host of others, will need to be demolished before anything new can be built in their place. I was encouraged to see that Trinity Episcopal Cathedral had already demolished the school, and built temporary classrooms so that the children could continue their education.
I was amazed to see that many buildings were not damaged by the quake, while buildings next door were completely demolished. I wonder why. Perhaps it has something to do with the way the buildings were constructed (use of rebar and a lot of cement)? Or perhaps it has something to do with the way the earthquake manifested itself in various locations. Or some of both.
One of the positive impacts of the quake is the large number of jobs available. Where previously up to 70% of the people were unemployed, today a lot of those folk have work. And there is a lot of work to do.
Now, may the rest of the world help in the reconstruction of Haiti, not only the buildings, but also the quality of life for the Haitian people. May they have quality education, medical care, clean water, good roads, etc. That is were you and I have a role to play.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Second day
Wednesday May 26, 2010
John had an appointment with a couple of young men coming in from the US to work on a video they are creating regarding life in Haiti following the Event (as everyone calls the earthquake). I accompanied John into Pétionville – to meet with these young men. He was to meet them in a hotel, but they were not there when we arrived. He wasn’t sure what happened, but we waited for them. John was on his cell phone and email, connections. Finally he heard from them, and they were to be at another restaurant near-by. So we traveled over to the restaurant … only to discover, after a couple other phone calls he learned that they were trying to get new cell phones (cell phones we use in the US do not work here) only to be caught up in some administrative detail. John made arrangements with them to connect next week.
I accompanied John into Pétionville to give me some more time with him, and also to experience more of the aftermath of the quake. They were also doing major reconstruction at the hotel. Workmen everywhere: welders, carpenters, masons, concrete workers, painters, and others patching the cracks in the floor.
Haiti is a paradox to me. It is as confusing as ever. With the massive amount of $ flowing into Haiti from so many sources: government, religious institutions, non-profits, etc. – there seems to be a hyperactive spirit at work. It feels like chaos to me.
Esther just sent me this quote from Howard Zinn – and it goes along with what I am experiencing in Haiti and the book I am reading by Howard Zinn.
“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something.
“If we remember those times and places–and there are so many–where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.”
John, Merline, and the children left the house at 1:30 pm to catch a flight to Vero Beach, FL. The children we excited about going back to their other home in Vero Beach.
At about the time they left, a large group of people had gathered in their driveway, which is a shared driveway with their neighbors, to get their share of resources sent by MCC for the people of Haiti. There were at least 150 souls waiting, mostly patiently. I went over to see them, and in the midst of the group was Madam Blonc. She is the mainstay of the family that I stayed with on a previous trip, when I unsuccessfully tried to learn Kreole. It was wonderful to see her, especially because I had planned to walk up the hill to their home that afternoon. After gathering my stuff (water, camera, phone, etc.) we set out for the climb up the hill. I knew it was a steep and long climb, but it somehow got steeper and longer since my last visit in 2002 or 03. I made it, but was hot and sweaty once I arrived.
I was able to visit the people in the lacou (neighborhood), and remembered their faces and most of their names. It was great to reconnect … and I plan to return for another visit while in Haiti. I also toured their homes to see the damage the earthquake had caused. Nothing major, like down in Pétionville or PauP.
I am back at John and Merline’s home for the evening. Nixon Blanc will come tomorrow morning at 9:30 to cart me around the city to see more of the damage and what is currently being done to restore Haiti. It promises to be a good day.
John had an appointment with a couple of young men coming in from the US to work on a video they are creating regarding life in Haiti following the Event (as everyone calls the earthquake). I accompanied John into Pétionville – to meet with these young men. He was to meet them in a hotel, but they were not there when we arrived. He wasn’t sure what happened, but we waited for them. John was on his cell phone and email, connections. Finally he heard from them, and they were to be at another restaurant near-by. So we traveled over to the restaurant … only to discover, after a couple other phone calls he learned that they were trying to get new cell phones (cell phones we use in the US do not work here) only to be caught up in some administrative detail. John made arrangements with them to connect next week.
I accompanied John into Pétionville to give me some more time with him, and also to experience more of the aftermath of the quake. They were also doing major reconstruction at the hotel. Workmen everywhere: welders, carpenters, masons, concrete workers, painters, and others patching the cracks in the floor.
Haiti is a paradox to me. It is as confusing as ever. With the massive amount of $ flowing into Haiti from so many sources: government, religious institutions, non-profits, etc. – there seems to be a hyperactive spirit at work. It feels like chaos to me.
Esther just sent me this quote from Howard Zinn – and it goes along with what I am experiencing in Haiti and the book I am reading by Howard Zinn.
“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something.
“If we remember those times and places–and there are so many–where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.”
John, Merline, and the children left the house at 1:30 pm to catch a flight to Vero Beach, FL. The children we excited about going back to their other home in Vero Beach.
At about the time they left, a large group of people had gathered in their driveway, which is a shared driveway with their neighbors, to get their share of resources sent by MCC for the people of Haiti. There were at least 150 souls waiting, mostly patiently. I went over to see them, and in the midst of the group was Madam Blonc. She is the mainstay of the family that I stayed with on a previous trip, when I unsuccessfully tried to learn Kreole. It was wonderful to see her, especially because I had planned to walk up the hill to their home that afternoon. After gathering my stuff (water, camera, phone, etc.) we set out for the climb up the hill. I knew it was a steep and long climb, but it somehow got steeper and longer since my last visit in 2002 or 03. I made it, but was hot and sweaty once I arrived.
I was able to visit the people in the lacou (neighborhood), and remembered their faces and most of their names. It was great to reconnect … and I plan to return for another visit while in Haiti. I also toured their homes to see the damage the earthquake had caused. Nothing major, like down in Pétionville or PauP.
I am back at John and Merline’s home for the evening. Nixon Blanc will come tomorrow morning at 9:30 to cart me around the city to see more of the damage and what is currently being done to restore Haiti. It promises to be a good day.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
First Impressions
I am coming to the end of my first day back in Haiti. It is important for me to pay attention to my first impressions. The airport is functioning, although it is easy to see the damage that the earthquake caused. The terminal building has many cracked walls, and they have moved passport control, baggage claim and customs to a building I don’t remember ever seeing previously. And we had to get on a bus to get to that building.
Upon leaving the airport the car made its way through many back streets and along some routes I have never seen before. Many of the buildings didn’t show any damage, while others right next door were totally destroyed. I was impressed by the way people seemed to be getting on with their lives, as if the quake never happened. But it did happen, and now these people must cope with living in the midst of the rubble, as yet another challenge.
We passed several tent cities. They are found in large open spaces. All kinds of tents from an assortment of materials. And the tents are snuggled close together, with no more than a small space between the tents for people to move about. The tent cities do not provide much personal or private space. And with the advent of the rainy season, the tents are wet, the personal items inside the tents are moist, and mud is everywhere.
Before leaving Ft. Lauderdale on the last leg of the trip to Haiti, I sat next to a young Haitian man in the airport.. His left arm was in a sling. I assumed he had been injured in the quake. He was returning to Port-au-Prince, even though he has a green card that would allow him to move to the US. He couldn’t find a job, and although he prefers to live in the US, he was returning to Haiti, to live in a tent, because he has a job here. This is his home. And this experience in the US helped to confirm that his place to be is in his home, working for the good of his country, his people.
Throughout my first day back in Haiti, I was struck by the sense of optimism and hope I kept bumping into, against the overwhelming odds. And tonight, as I pen this reflection, I too have a sense of hope for Haiti.
Upon leaving the airport the car made its way through many back streets and along some routes I have never seen before. Many of the buildings didn’t show any damage, while others right next door were totally destroyed. I was impressed by the way people seemed to be getting on with their lives, as if the quake never happened. But it did happen, and now these people must cope with living in the midst of the rubble, as yet another challenge.
We passed several tent cities. They are found in large open spaces. All kinds of tents from an assortment of materials. And the tents are snuggled close together, with no more than a small space between the tents for people to move about. The tent cities do not provide much personal or private space. And with the advent of the rainy season, the tents are wet, the personal items inside the tents are moist, and mud is everywhere.
Before leaving Ft. Lauderdale on the last leg of the trip to Haiti, I sat next to a young Haitian man in the airport.. His left arm was in a sling. I assumed he had been injured in the quake. He was returning to Port-au-Prince, even though he has a green card that would allow him to move to the US. He couldn’t find a job, and although he prefers to live in the US, he was returning to Haiti, to live in a tent, because he has a job here. This is his home. And this experience in the US helped to confirm that his place to be is in his home, working for the good of his country, his people.
Throughout my first day back in Haiti, I was struck by the sense of optimism and hope I kept bumping into, against the overwhelming odds. And tonight, as I pen this reflection, I too have a sense of hope for Haiti.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Why am I going on this trip?
As the time draws near when I will depart for Haiti, friends and family have asked several good questions about the trip ... but the one that calls for an answer is, "So, Dale, why are making this trip?" I am aware of three distinct reasons motivating this trip.
(1) To reconnect with friends in Haiti, and to find out how they are doing now, after the quake. I want to know what this experience has been like for them, what kind of challenges have they faced, and what they sense is the future for themselves and for Haiti.
(2) To see for myself what Haiti is like now. I have heard from others that the Haiti I knew is greatly changed. I want to experience this for myself, and to share what I learn with others who are also concerned about Haiti.
(3) To keep my eyes, mind and heart open for what needs to be done now, and discern if anything is mine to do.
(1) To reconnect with friends in Haiti, and to find out how they are doing now, after the quake. I want to know what this experience has been like for them, what kind of challenges have they faced, and what they sense is the future for themselves and for Haiti.
(2) To see for myself what Haiti is like now. I have heard from others that the Haiti I knew is greatly changed. I want to experience this for myself, and to share what I learn with others who are also concerned about Haiti.
(3) To keep my eyes, mind and heart open for what needs to be done now, and discern if anything is mine to do.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Email from Garfield
The following email is from Garfield - a young man we met several years ago in Cite Soliel. We have kept in touch over the years. This is our first significant contact since the earthquake.
Dear friend Dale !
It is good to hear from you again. Anyway in spite of all problem we are there safe!
Therefore, since after the earthquake life in haiti become very much complicated. fortunately I was out in cite soleil while there it was sometime in the afternoon!
While at there I felt the ground was about to go up with me and go down with me - everyone was very much scared no one knows where to go cause everywhere was in danger .
That day I saw lot of people got injured I saw to the next few days lot of people died on the street and in a lot of collapsed houses.
Our homes collapse likewise! I have ever seen such thing happened since I was born. It is the first time I saw a such earthquake.
Fortunately I can see no damage to the prosler's family house. Still there living with sadness the Mother is nowadays not able to work she got sick.
Nowadays I live under tents . I am alive we all alive but our house collapsed .thanks for asking and for not forgetting us at all .
Sophia is not doing well she becomes very skinny.
I applaud for the leaders overseas who contributed to send their assistance .
Lot of people find help. Lot of others have found nothing. I never get no chance to find anything. I use to get a pass looking for job but have found nothing sorry .
It is very good to read your e-mail.
May God bless you.
Hope to hear from you again !
Dear friend Dale !
It is good to hear from you again. Anyway in spite of all problem we are there safe!
Therefore, since after the earthquake life in haiti become very much complicated. fortunately I was out in cite soleil while there it was sometime in the afternoon!
While at there I felt the ground was about to go up with me and go down with me - everyone was very much scared no one knows where to go cause everywhere was in danger .
That day I saw lot of people got injured I saw to the next few days lot of people died on the street and in a lot of collapsed houses.
Our homes collapse likewise! I have ever seen such thing happened since I was born. It is the first time I saw a such earthquake.
Fortunately I can see no damage to the prosler's family house. Still there living with sadness the Mother is nowadays not able to work she got sick.
Nowadays I live under tents . I am alive we all alive but our house collapsed .thanks for asking and for not forgetting us at all .
Sophia is not doing well she becomes very skinny.
I applaud for the leaders overseas who contributed to send their assistance .
Lot of people find help. Lot of others have found nothing. I never get no chance to find anything. I use to get a pass looking for job but have found nothing sorry .
It is very good to read your e-mail.
May God bless you.
Hope to hear from you again !
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