Haiti - more thoughts

There is a dentist who comes to the clinic 2 days a week from Ouanaminthe, near the Dominican border. I asked about her studies, how she settled on becoming a dentist. She was interested in agriculture, but failed the exam to get into that school. Dentistry school opened up for her. She attended school in Port au Prince and the government paid for it.

There is a debt that she must repay as a result of this. She doesn't HAVE to repay the debt. There is no signed paper saying so, no requirement. But, she feels the debt.

Why not leave and go to the US to live? "I am Haitian. I must live in Haiti." Haitians should live in Haiti. It should be this way. She has thought this since childhood. I am an American, and I live in America. She is Haitian and should live in Haiti.

She sees what is being done here. We are coming down and giving opportunities to Haitians. Education. Healthcare. Jobs. This is good. It is what Haiti needs. What do we get when we come down? Just the good feeling that comes with helping others? I said much, much more. My life was changed when I first came to Haiti. To see that not all people live the way I live. Not only is there a cultural difference, but there's an economic difference. Not everyone has a home, a car, a job, a free education. We have kids and give them everything. Toys, games, McDonald's Happy Meals. They are not always satisfied. Here, kids are so happy to get a piece of candy. They are happy to have clothes to wear. Seeing this makes me grateful for what I have. And not just gratitude. I see that others live differently. And they are happy. They are fun people to get to know. They feel like we feel. Love their kids like we love our kids. Worry like we worry. They are like us. Some things are the same, some are different. If we get to know them, our lives are better as a result. We are better people.

I think the dentist has not heard this expressed before. Maybe she did not understand that we give and we get. Haitians get and they give.

It is magical to see the hope on their faces. It's contagious. And I need an infusion of hope. Sometimes, I feel like my life can be bleak. It gets that way when I have nothing worthwhile to work on. But I come and I see the difference that a school can make. Getting an education and learning. And a clinic. The ability to visit a doctor and get better. These provide so much hope!

Staying in Haiti and making a difference. Young adults can make the difference. Haitians should stay in Haiti. I want to stay in Haiti. I am grateful for an opportunity to stay. The dentist has a job, this makes it possible for her to stay. Here in a village, it is not the city, but there is an opportunity to stay. The village does not offer movies, shopping, socializing in discos. There's not much to do, so the young people get bored. It's not such a good scene.

Talking with the dentist, she says she is so grateful that missionaries come in and bring hope. Haitians respond to that. There is hope that something could get better. Haitians can participate, and they are encouraged. Missionaries participate and they are encouraged. Hope can be a very contagious thing. What we are doing is good. It is helpful.

Request for help - Haiti

Dear everyone,

As you know, Haiti has been struck by disaster. The 7.2 earthquake has devastated an already desperate country. Who knew when I made travel arrangements that I would be here for such an incredible event! I'm familiar with earthquakes in California, and I survived Loma Prieta. This is different, however. These people are not familiar with the culture of earthquakes. They don't expect them, prepare for them or recover from them well.

We are in North Haiti, far away from the worst destruction. We are all safe here, mainly waiting as news trickles in about our friend & loved ones who may or may not have made it. There is much sadness all around. Right now, we spend time making calls and sending emails so that we can catch a flight out of here. Some flights have been cancelled, others changed. As we prepare to leave, others here are making plans to take relief to those who need it most in southern Haiti.

I'm writing to request help. Many of you may have chosen to give to some international organization already. There are many good choices of those who respond quickly to disasters. If you like, you can give money to Bethlehem Ministry for disaster relief. It's the organization that I'm traveling with and have worked with for decades. The Haitian people we know here are able to get around, gathering supplies to take to those who need it most. We can deliver food, fuel and other supplies, and we have ways to get where we need to go. Our goal is to raise $200,000 for relief.

Last year, when a hurricane devastated Haiti, we were able to do the same thing. Money specifically earmarked for Disaster Relief is used to gather supplies available, transport them and deliver them throughout an established network of people. Haitians have a heart to help their fellow countrymen, and we support them in this effort.

If you choose to give, you can go to www.bethlehemministry.org and click on "donate". Earmark your donation for "disaster relief".

Thanks for your consideration. Also, thanks to those who have sent emails. I will try to send out updates as I can.

Haiti - Day 4

January 14, 2010

Today has been busy!

We woke up this morning to sunshine. Yipee! The first these people have seen in over 2 weeks. The ground dries quickly here, so there is not so much mud in the roads.

We ate breakfast... yummy fried eggs. Others had pancakes, and we all enjoyed fresh pineapple, watermelon, oranges and bananas. There was Haitian honey to go on the pancakes.

We left and went to the clinic. Finally, people are showing up! It was bustling with activity. We had children with runny noses and coughs. They aren't used to cold weather, and it has affected them. One little girl had an ear infection. A brother and sister came in and both were sick from the rain. I got to hold the little girl while the doctor was seeing the boy. She was tired and slept the whole time, because she had a fever and didn't feel well.

The 2 doctors from the US who are visiting to help in the clinic don't know how everything runs, so they spent a lot of time asking questions.

I've picked up some Creole words that help. Hello. How are you? Please sit here. Wait. Doctor. I'm hungry. What's your name. etc. It helps, and people are pretty understanding, realizing that we can't talk in the same language but try our best.

I miss my family, but all is well here. We are safe. Now we are focusing on healing people who are sick.

The kids still have not returned to school. First, because of the rain, now, because of the earthquake. I may not get to see the school in full session. I know it must be awesome to see 600 kids all in uniforms standing on the porch reciting their pledge or singing a song before school.

We took a break from the clinic for lunch -- stew with turkey, yams, carrots, doughboys (dumplings). Yummy. The rest go back to the clinic, I stay here and work on email and some stuff for mom. Mom is mad because the translator has left, taken the car into town (Cap Haitien) without the list of medicine to get. We need the car, the translator, and the medicine. I don't want to be there when he returns and gets yelled at by the clinic Director!

Her car is a mess. One guy visiting here is familiar with cars and looks it over. He tries to fix the broken window that won't roll down. But he can't without the right tools or the right parts. He says the car needs new tires, new brakes, new shock absorbers. We tell the handyman, Richard (pronounced with a French accent). He will fix the car. There are brakes and shock absorbers in town, and he knows how to install them.

Haiti - Day 3

We are trying to figure the best way to use our time. The earthquake hit, but phones are out, there is no internet, and there is nothing we can do, really. There are some who wanted to paint the clinic, but there is no paint.

1/13 11:00 am email sent out to family member:

Internet access is spotty. We will try to get word out as we can.

We continue to be safe. We were able to see a few patients in the clinic today, but the rain keeps most people away. Aside from the earthquake, the 2+ weeks of rain is the biggest news. Haitians just aren't used to such consistent rain. It has shut things down. And now, the biggest frustration is that people continue to not know much about what is going on, if everyone they love is safe, etc.

We have gotten lots of emails, letters and concerns. We are rich with friends, and feel very grateful for that right now!

We are hearing messages here and there of the damage and the effects it is having on the country. I'm sure you all in the States are hearing more. Rest assured that the trouble is far from us! The banks are closed down. Phone service is out, and internet access is spotty. But, we had a warm delicious lunch, are playing games as we wait for the rain to stop, and talking and getting to know people well.


11:30
I saw a couple of pics from yesterday. The presidential palace flattened. I heard from others the UN compound was destroyed. Many lives lost. Very, very sad. And hospital, bridges, etc. Send more via email, because web isn't working too well (don't ask me how email goes out but web doesn't come in...)

Haiti - Day 2

Last night, I brushed my teeth using a cup and some bottled water, since I can't drink from the tap here.

This morning, the roosters started crowing at 4:30. But I didn't get out of bed til 7. No shower this morning, the water is too cold. I'll wait til this evening, to see if the "sun" has warmed it up at all. There's no sun. It's still raining, but there is light all around.

Earthquake hits. Here is my first message out so people will know I'm safe: "I'm fine. The buildings endured with no problem. All is ok. No problem. Except we will be talking about this for a long time..."

After 1 hour:

We have electricity and other amenities. I've sent emails to people to let them know we are alive, well, safe, etc. We learned that the home of our hostess's parents collapsed. They were not in the house, but they did lose the dog and 7 pups they were raising. We learned from a relative that the hospital collapsed, bridges are down and its hard to get around.

There are many people we have yet to hear from, and the phones are down. Many people go to bed, wondering what the next day will bring.

Landing in Haiti 1/11/2010

My first day in Haiti for over 2 decades. Some things are different, some things aren't. Here are my first impressions:

There were cows munching on the side of the runway in Cap Haitien's International Airport when we landed. We get off the plane and go through the door, then wait 20 minutes while they find the right form for us to fill out to get into the country.

At the airport, someone wanted to carry my bag. I thought he was so thoughtful! But then he hounded me for money for the next 15 minutes.
"yes ma'am, I will help. I will help" Give me, please. Give me one dollar. Give me one dollar please miss.
They are persistent and never leave. We get relief only when we drive away and start the journey toward town.

I look out the window as we drive through town. Everyone stares at me. I'm the only white face for miles around. I stick out in a crowd here.

Honking a horn is not just for attention. Here, you honk to say "I'm coming", hello, I'm passing you, please get out of the way. Here I am. Make way for me. Because the roads are unruly. No stop lights (that requires electricity). No signs (that requires some sort of infrastructure). Just people, on the roads, signaling, honking, waving at one another. Stopping to talk along the way. You say hi to those you know.

Little huts. Small. Dilapidated. Constructed with thin cement, boughs from trees around in the area. They look like they groan under the weight of the roof set on top of the walls. They might fall down at any minute. Sometimes they do. But they are homes, and people live in them. In between the homes are cactus hedges that serve as organic fences. The juice from these hedges are used to brand cattle (no kidding).

Snow days are common in many US areas. Here, we have "rain days". It's been raining for 2 weeks. It has paralyzed the town. No one wants to go out in the rain. It is cold. It is wet. It is uncomfortable. They canceled school today, and 600 kids went without a hot lunch. After 2 weeks of cold, wet, overcast weather, the people are depressed. They aren't used to so much glum weather.

You can see Terrier Rouge, Haiti on google maps.

We are on a compound. On the way into town, there is a very nicely paved road. Thanks to the EU. Complete with road signs (cows crossing here, people crossing there, etc). The don't have a "goat pooping in the middle of the road" sign. It would come in handy here. Nor do they have the "stop here and talk with your neighbor in passing" sign.

The signs look funny in this area of the world. The stick figures crossing the street don't look Haitian. They look out of place. Their orderliness looks out of place. This world is haphazard. The buildings are tenuous. They add water to cement to make it go farther, so its weaker. They build buildings, but then they fall down. They paint walls, but the thinned paint fades quickly. Requiring more painting.

But the people. They are so amazing. Smiling, gracious, graceful. Happy to see you. Not the ones that approach you on the street, begging for money, "give me one dollar". But the friends you've made, or have yet to make, they are happy to see you.

We stay on a compound at the school. It's safe. It's orderly. The surroundings look chaotic, but only to the untrained eye. Look around you now. Remembering a time in the past when you went to that store, visited that house, walked down that street. It's familiar to you. That's the way it is here. It may not be familiar to us, but many people walk down these streets, visit these houses, go to these stores.

The most prominent logo around here is Digicel - the Verizon of Haiti

The first night, the group gets together for sorting suitcases: people bring stuff with them on the plane ride down here: meds (ibuprofen, vitamins, etc), clinic supplies, sheets, clothes, embroidery thread. Sort out what goes where. We each find something that has been requested. I was asked for aqua and turquoise embroidery thread. Evidently that's the popular color for those who embellish linens, towels and fancy dresses to be sold in the States.

The sun hasn't come out for 2 weeks. That means that the solar panels are lounging around, unused. Instead, we must start up the diesel generator if we want to keep the lights on to socialize after the unseen sun goes down.

Traveling to Haiti - Monday, 1/11/2010

I'm sitting in the airport of Ft Lauderdale. I've been waiting 2 hours for my flight to leave. They had to weigh my carry-on, my luggage and me. No boarding pass, no security checkpoint. Evidently, this is a flight that few terrorists would be interested in making a statement with. ;)

I'm traveling with my mother, who has been talking non-stop. Thanks goodness she has a cell phone, or we would have to arrange the dormitories in terms of "introvert/extrovert" rather than male/female!