Thursday, April 22, 2010
History in the Making
So here we are on April 22 at 4:49PM with a challenge set before us. A challenge to walk the talk, to jump in and make My Dream Is Possible far greater than any one of us. Isn't it amazing how a simple question can stir you up and change the course of your day and maybe even your life? See, the challenge did not come in a harsh form but in a simple question: "So what are you doing to see your dream fulfilled?"
You might wonder:"What is your dream?" I (Maggie) can tell you a lot of different things I still want to do and see and I am fairly sure that is true for Mike as well. Yet the question wasn't directed to us about 'those things' but about My Dream Is Possible, which we have lovingly started to call 'MyDip'. Actually my culinary mind wandered today and I thought how cool that is - everyone's dip just tastes slightly different and we get to part take of each one if we want to. That makes this community so wonderful and awesome - all of our dreams are different but are so amazing and worth pursuing.
That is what 'MyDip' is about - A community that empowers, enables, and supports people to follow their passions, fulfill their life long dreams, and support others in doing the same! That is our dream - this is what we want to see happen. And in some small way we have made steps in that direction. The Facebook page was born on November 13, 2009 and within only a few months, we grew to over 1500 fans (woohoo!). We have video taped people as they shared their dreams, encouraged the members of the community to post and share with each other and we even started working on a documentary type pilot program for TV.
Our feature story for the pilot program is of the Sutton family who has been on a journey to adopt a special needs child from Thailand. We got the privilege of sitting with them in their kitchen and hearing their story. How can one not be moved to tears by the love, the hope, the courage of these people? Their journey has been long, full of ups and downs, but ever so inspiring. They never quit even when they had every reason to. Their dream to provide a home and family for this boy and his dream to have a family of his own has kept them going. And now after 2 years of waiting, the Sutton Family finally has their opportunity to go to Thailand in a couple of weeks to meet their son Aaron for the first time and take him home!
We want to be there to capture this awesome moment when they get to hug their son Aaron for the first time. Actually, we feel like we need to be there since this is part of our dream. We want to see your dreams fulfilled and share in the joy of that. We hope to use their story and many others to inspire you to pursue your dream, even in the face of obstacles. We desire for you to dream big and to encourage and support others to do the same. We want to show that dreams do come true, that they are worth pursuing, even when at times the journey goes up and down, even when it seems impossible, if we keep going - DREAMS COME TRUE!
For us, going to Thailand is part of our journey. It is part of our story as we pursue our dream and continue to press the envelope of the possible to create this community of dreamers and achievers called 'My Dream Is Possible'. Today a challenge was posed of walking the talk and we are up for it. Here is our response:
Today is history in the making and you better believe it!
Our names are Michael Catlow and Maggie Deller and Our Dream is Possible!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Land of Opportunity
Funny the things we notice now that we are back in Charlotte..... the lack of garbage on the streets, the insane amount of available groceries. toiletries and clothing at the Wal-Mart, the impatience that rises up within us while waiting on a table at Olive Garden.....
Today we got to have lunch with Pastor Vincent, whose house we stayed at in Port-Au-Prince. His view on Haiti was refreshing, different. Yes, he agrees, his country is poor, and yes, the devastation is great and shelter, medical assistance and basic supplies are needed. No question asked! Yet at the same time he sees Haiti as a land of vast opportunity. He has a vision to bring in a commercial type oven and stove and someone to teach the Haitians to make bread, pastries, muffins, etc. to provide them with job skills but also to sell the goods in the market to provide an income. Or how about an agricultural school to teach about cultivating fish and raising poultry?
He has no lack of ideas or vision and is realistic enough to know that this will require training and a consistent changing of mindsets among his fellow Haitians. The great news though is that they are so teachable, willing to learn, and tremendously hard working and also creative. We think this is a great recipe for success, not just in Haiti but anywhere for anything!
We have come away from the meeting with him and a handful of others with a greater focus and determination. Tents are still the highest priority and also medical supplies, hygiene kits, baby formula..... actually, we think you could probably ship anything and it would meet a need. The only exception would probably be winter coats and boots! So, here is where we have landed: Pastor Vincent and local friends of ours are about to fill a 40 foot container with goods to ship via the Dominican Republic (to avoid the log jam in Miami to Haiti). We want to see this container packed to the max and look for your help to fill it.
The first 'project' so to speak will be what we have termed the "Tents and Tubs"..... bring us a tent (for 8 - 10 people) or a 45 gallon rubber maid tub with needed items and we will get it to the people of Haiti through safe distribution systems. We are working on the details of what type of tents, checklists for recommended items, drop-off places, etc. so bear with us as we figure out these things. But please, please, please, keep checking in with us here at the blog!
Here are a few of the pictures we took while in Haiti..... we hope they inspire you to help as you can and see fit! We know that we want to be part of what artists recently sang about: We are the world, we are the children, we are the once who make a brighter day so lets start giving!
Today we got to have lunch with Pastor Vincent, whose house we stayed at in Port-Au-Prince. His view on Haiti was refreshing, different. Yes, he agrees, his country is poor, and yes, the devastation is great and shelter, medical assistance and basic supplies are needed. No question asked! Yet at the same time he sees Haiti as a land of vast opportunity. He has a vision to bring in a commercial type oven and stove and someone to teach the Haitians to make bread, pastries, muffins, etc. to provide them with job skills but also to sell the goods in the market to provide an income. Or how about an agricultural school to teach about cultivating fish and raising poultry?
He has no lack of ideas or vision and is realistic enough to know that this will require training and a consistent changing of mindsets among his fellow Haitians. The great news though is that they are so teachable, willing to learn, and tremendously hard working and also creative. We think this is a great recipe for success, not just in Haiti but anywhere for anything!
We have come away from the meeting with him and a handful of others with a greater focus and determination. Tents are still the highest priority and also medical supplies, hygiene kits, baby formula..... actually, we think you could probably ship anything and it would meet a need. The only exception would probably be winter coats and boots! So, here is where we have landed: Pastor Vincent and local friends of ours are about to fill a 40 foot container with goods to ship via the Dominican Republic (to avoid the log jam in Miami to Haiti). We want to see this container packed to the max and look for your help to fill it.
The first 'project' so to speak will be what we have termed the "Tents and Tubs"..... bring us a tent (for 8 - 10 people) or a 45 gallon rubber maid tub with needed items and we will get it to the people of Haiti through safe distribution systems. We are working on the details of what type of tents, checklists for recommended items, drop-off places, etc. so bear with us as we figure out these things. But please, please, please, keep checking in with us here at the blog!
Here are a few of the pictures we took while in Haiti..... we hope they inspire you to help as you can and see fit! We know that we want to be part of what artists recently sang about: We are the world, we are the children, we are the once who make a brighter day so lets start giving!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Awake or Asleep?
We are back in the USA and are fascinated with the vast differences we notice. Let us just mention one: we left Port-Au-Prince at around 7pm. Taking off we were able to take one last glance at the city, or rather what we thought we could make out of the city since there were hardly any lights on. There still is no or only limited power. Arriving in Miami, we were greeted by a city clothed in bright lights as far as the eye could see. It looked like a Christmas tree in full glitz and glammer.
Our last day in Port-Au-Prince was spent very low key. At breakfast, we got to sit with the doctor of the clinic we had been at the day prior. Beside Creole, he speaks French and English, so communicating was easy. Yet, the conversation topic was not such an easy one to handle...... As we sat and chatted with him about the needs of the people, we also asked him about his family.
It is one thing to see something on the news and conceptually understand that someone lost a loved one, or two, or three, or .... Yet sitting with a person face to face, someone you have formed a relationship with, even if it is brief at best, is an entirely different thing. The doctor shared that he had lost not only his practice and his home, but every member of his family had died in the earth quake. His wife, his children, his brother, his father and his mother had all been inside the home when it took place and did not survive. They are burried underneath the cement. The only one he could get out was his brother - well, let us rephrase that and we apologize if this is graphic: his brother was cut in half by debris, so they were only able to pull that half of him out.
The pain in his eyes was evident although he did not cry. Maybe it is the trauma of the event and its aftermath, or maybe there are just no more tears to cry. The amazing thing is that he goes out to the clinic every day to volunteer his time to help his fellow country men, women and children. He said:"If I do not do this, I would be living on the streets just like them and I would go crazy." So he does what he can, treating anything from hypertension, rashes, fungal and vaginal infections, fevers,malaria and abdominal pain. He told us that people have died after the earthquake as well due to sicknesses incurred because they now live in the open.
Another thing he said:"It is like we are sleeping and are living in a dream, and we wonder if we will ever wake up from it, but then we realize that this is reality." What better way to describe everyone's attempts to grapple with what has happened. Are we awake or asleep?
Our trip back to the airport was uneventful, although new things caught our attention. We crossed a river where the water was no longer visible due to all the garbage that had been dumped into it. If you think that is the exception, think again..... a recycling plant would be in high demand! We are pondering how we could start a project or business like that to provide jobs and at the same time take care of the trash situation in the same go.
At the airport we got to talk with a handful of other foreigners. The common consensus: where do you start? The need is overwhelmingly huge! However, it seems that right now for the earthquake victims is shelter (tents, temporary houses), food and water, medical assistance and clothes. We definitely agree with the need for shelter: the last night we spent in a tent and were awakened by pounding rain. Now remember, the Haitians live in make shift tents made up of cotton sheets which provide no shelter at all. Many spent the night standing up holding their babies in their arms, because the ground was too muddy to sleep on. What will happen when the rainy season starts in a couple of weeks?
We know that our updates are only fragmented at best and we might be repeating similar points. These blog posts are probably our way of processing what we have seen, smelled and heard, but we hope that they still give you a glimpse into Haiti.
One small correction to a previous post: the marekt was not frequented by 2 million people, but 2,000 per day. Our apologies for this - much gets lost in translation when you juggle 3 different languages.
If you get a moment, go to Youtube and watch the "We are the world" video that was done for the relief efforts for Haiti.
So long until our next update!
Our last day in Port-Au-Prince was spent very low key. At breakfast, we got to sit with the doctor of the clinic we had been at the day prior. Beside Creole, he speaks French and English, so communicating was easy. Yet, the conversation topic was not such an easy one to handle...... As we sat and chatted with him about the needs of the people, we also asked him about his family.
It is one thing to see something on the news and conceptually understand that someone lost a loved one, or two, or three, or .... Yet sitting with a person face to face, someone you have formed a relationship with, even if it is brief at best, is an entirely different thing. The doctor shared that he had lost not only his practice and his home, but every member of his family had died in the earth quake. His wife, his children, his brother, his father and his mother had all been inside the home when it took place and did not survive. They are burried underneath the cement. The only one he could get out was his brother - well, let us rephrase that and we apologize if this is graphic: his brother was cut in half by debris, so they were only able to pull that half of him out.
The pain in his eyes was evident although he did not cry. Maybe it is the trauma of the event and its aftermath, or maybe there are just no more tears to cry. The amazing thing is that he goes out to the clinic every day to volunteer his time to help his fellow country men, women and children. He said:"If I do not do this, I would be living on the streets just like them and I would go crazy." So he does what he can, treating anything from hypertension, rashes, fungal and vaginal infections, fevers,malaria and abdominal pain. He told us that people have died after the earthquake as well due to sicknesses incurred because they now live in the open.
Another thing he said:"It is like we are sleeping and are living in a dream, and we wonder if we will ever wake up from it, but then we realize that this is reality." What better way to describe everyone's attempts to grapple with what has happened. Are we awake or asleep?
Our trip back to the airport was uneventful, although new things caught our attention. We crossed a river where the water was no longer visible due to all the garbage that had been dumped into it. If you think that is the exception, think again..... a recycling plant would be in high demand! We are pondering how we could start a project or business like that to provide jobs and at the same time take care of the trash situation in the same go.
At the airport we got to talk with a handful of other foreigners. The common consensus: where do you start? The need is overwhelmingly huge! However, it seems that right now for the earthquake victims is shelter (tents, temporary houses), food and water, medical assistance and clothes. We definitely agree with the need for shelter: the last night we spent in a tent and were awakened by pounding rain. Now remember, the Haitians live in make shift tents made up of cotton sheets which provide no shelter at all. Many spent the night standing up holding their babies in their arms, because the ground was too muddy to sleep on. What will happen when the rainy season starts in a couple of weeks?
We know that our updates are only fragmented at best and we might be repeating similar points. These blog posts are probably our way of processing what we have seen, smelled and heard, but we hope that they still give you a glimpse into Haiti.
One small correction to a previous post: the marekt was not frequented by 2 million people, but 2,000 per day. Our apologies for this - much gets lost in translation when you juggle 3 different languages.
If you get a moment, go to Youtube and watch the "We are the world" video that was done for the relief efforts for Haiti.
So long until our next update!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Never Anything As Planned
We are back in Port-Au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. It was a bit sad to leave our new Haitian friends in Montrouis to be honest, but we have a feeling we might see them again in the near future.
We are staying at the house of a pastor who has taken it on to oversee three tent cities to provide food, clothing, water. He is not getting the supplies from the UN but from private sources. Let me clarify though - we are not staying in the house, although it is standing. We are staying in tents in the back yard, since there are still aftershocks and everyone is worried to sleep inside. I don't blame them!
In the history of Haiti, there has never been an earthquake ever. Now they are told that the aftershocks might last for another 6 months.... Can you imagine living your live in a tent for 6 months? And if your house was destroyed to live in a tent city and share a port-a-john with thousands of others? Your personal bathroom, your personal kitchen, your personal everything is gone.....
Yes, we drove through the city again and it was even more overwhelming this time around. We went through what is known the economic center of Port-Au-Prince, a city that housed 3 million people before the earthquake. This is one of the areas that actually was hit the hardest: many stores are completely destroyed, others have cracks or are leaning dangerously over the street, threatening to fall any minute.
We drove by what once was the three story market that had about 2 million people frequent every day. It too is flattened like a pancake. And with many of those collapsed buildings, bodies are still trapped inside.
Again we drove past water and food distribution points. The lines are long and we are told that many times there are fights for the supplies. It made us think though if the other places that were hit the hardest, such as Jagmel (another city) is getting any help at all.
We went to the school that the pastor has started. His daugher showed us around the rubbel.... only one building is left standing which is now used as a clinic. The back of the school is completely leveled. Two children died in the buildings, many others were hurt.
Tents are camped around the one building and we are greeted by a chant of little girls singing "hey you, hey you, hey you". Somehow they are still able to smile in the midst of the tragedy - many of them do have psychological and emotional traumas though. As an example: they easily get scared when they hear loud noise.
Rachel, the pastor's daughter, surprises us with a number that is hard to believe: 2000 people (adults and children) live in these tents.... that is 2000 people in about 35 tents, some sleeping in the open. During the day, they go out to find food, jobs..... so that is why it looked desserted when we got there.
We were supposed to help with handing out food: a bag with oil, rice, beans and a salami type sausage. Everything is ready but they are waiting for the rice to finish the supply packages. So, when there is no rice, no food can be distributed. The same applies for clothes.... there are no clothes to hand out. So we were left with taking pictures of the kids, hug them, hold their hands, chat with some of the mothers and grandma's.
On our route through the city, we asked about insurance. Probably 3 out of 100 houses were insured, however insurance in Haiti does not cover earthquakes. So the people have lost everything that they have worked for, many of them for 10 or 20 years. And there is no way of rescuing any of it, since the cement boulders are covering everything. One is left with nothing....
We don't know what it will take to clear out all the debris and how long it will take. We ask the Haitians and all they say is "a long time". It seems the pathway to restoration is going to be a very long one............. And that is in addition to all the 'regular' needs that Haiti has. We are truly overwhelmed with the situation and feel a bit helpless on where to begin.
As we will make our trip home tomorrow, we will be sure to begin posting pictures and videos.... keep checking back with us!
We are staying at the house of a pastor who has taken it on to oversee three tent cities to provide food, clothing, water. He is not getting the supplies from the UN but from private sources. Let me clarify though - we are not staying in the house, although it is standing. We are staying in tents in the back yard, since there are still aftershocks and everyone is worried to sleep inside. I don't blame them!
In the history of Haiti, there has never been an earthquake ever. Now they are told that the aftershocks might last for another 6 months.... Can you imagine living your live in a tent for 6 months? And if your house was destroyed to live in a tent city and share a port-a-john with thousands of others? Your personal bathroom, your personal kitchen, your personal everything is gone.....
Yes, we drove through the city again and it was even more overwhelming this time around. We went through what is known the economic center of Port-Au-Prince, a city that housed 3 million people before the earthquake. This is one of the areas that actually was hit the hardest: many stores are completely destroyed, others have cracks or are leaning dangerously over the street, threatening to fall any minute.
We drove by what once was the three story market that had about 2 million people frequent every day. It too is flattened like a pancake. And with many of those collapsed buildings, bodies are still trapped inside.
Again we drove past water and food distribution points. The lines are long and we are told that many times there are fights for the supplies. It made us think though if the other places that were hit the hardest, such as Jagmel (another city) is getting any help at all.
We went to the school that the pastor has started. His daugher showed us around the rubbel.... only one building is left standing which is now used as a clinic. The back of the school is completely leveled. Two children died in the buildings, many others were hurt.
Tents are camped around the one building and we are greeted by a chant of little girls singing "hey you, hey you, hey you". Somehow they are still able to smile in the midst of the tragedy - many of them do have psychological and emotional traumas though. As an example: they easily get scared when they hear loud noise.
Rachel, the pastor's daughter, surprises us with a number that is hard to believe: 2000 people (adults and children) live in these tents.... that is 2000 people in about 35 tents, some sleeping in the open. During the day, they go out to find food, jobs..... so that is why it looked desserted when we got there.
We were supposed to help with handing out food: a bag with oil, rice, beans and a salami type sausage. Everything is ready but they are waiting for the rice to finish the supply packages. So, when there is no rice, no food can be distributed. The same applies for clothes.... there are no clothes to hand out. So we were left with taking pictures of the kids, hug them, hold their hands, chat with some of the mothers and grandma's.
On our route through the city, we asked about insurance. Probably 3 out of 100 houses were insured, however insurance in Haiti does not cover earthquakes. So the people have lost everything that they have worked for, many of them for 10 or 20 years. And there is no way of rescuing any of it, since the cement boulders are covering everything. One is left with nothing....
We don't know what it will take to clear out all the debris and how long it will take. We ask the Haitians and all they say is "a long time". It seems the pathway to restoration is going to be a very long one............. And that is in addition to all the 'regular' needs that Haiti has. We are truly overwhelmed with the situation and feel a bit helpless on where to begin.
As we will make our trip home tomorrow, we will be sure to begin posting pictures and videos.... keep checking back with us!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Market Day
Thank goodness for sun when you use solar power! We have electricity again - woohoo!!!
Today was an awesome day. We got to deliver about 70 bags of rice, 5 bags of beans (big bags, not the small ones you get at Wal-Mart), 10 gallons of vegetable oil, cases of water and loads of bags of clothes. These goods were dropped off at distribution centres where the refugees can come to get the needed supplies. About 700 refugees are registered in Montrouis, but there are likely more within the city that have not signed up yet.
Our last delivery was at night in the dark. What an experience sitting on the back of the pick-up truck on those bags of rice going down the familiar dusty roads but not having any light but the ones of the car. We even made it to the main road and found.... it is also pitch black. Forget street lights!
On that note, we only saw one official street sign as well. It was on the corner up the hill to one of the distribution points where the truck barely fit in between two walls as we went around the bend. Oh yeah, did we mention? The vendors do sit on those dusty streets leaning against those walls. So, as we come around the bend, we blow the horn and everyone scurries to move their stuff out of the way!
Something else to comment on is that as foreigners, we draw quite the crowd. We might have gotten a small taste of what the animals in the zoo could feel like since we get surrounded and stared at. And for every comment and attempted discussion with us in Creole, we just smile and sit there.... maybe this is how some of our foreign immigrants feel at times!
We found ourselves again comparing everything to the USA. Kids here are out playing with self-made kites, kids at home want the newest Wii. Here, not much goes on at night as everyone stays in their shacks huddled around the only light coming from the flame of a candle, at home people hustle and bustle at the malls or in clubs. The differences could not be much bigger in our opinion.
We have tried to film the market as we drove by and secretly take pictures. Again, a lot of them are quite skiddish about their pictures taken, although tonight we got some great shots of the kids surrounding the truck. And yes, even in the dark we are still very 'blanc' - white.
Something we have found about the Haitian people is that they are extremely creative. One of the children from the school who is sponsored by Jason, our friend, has drawn pictures that are beautiful. Also today we got to buy some paintings from local artists - acrylic paintings portraying the Haitian life. We could have spent a lot more money than we did :)
Tomorrow we are off to Port-Au-Prince. Although we have seen poverty, we are certain that the next two days will be much more difficult for us to handle as we will be in the midst of the destruction.
We want to leave you with a simple question: what is something small (or big) that you can do today to encourage someone else, to impact another person's life even just a little bit? We realize that every bit counts and often it is just the most natural and common things to us that will be used.
Signing off with a good Bonne Nuit!
Today was an awesome day. We got to deliver about 70 bags of rice, 5 bags of beans (big bags, not the small ones you get at Wal-Mart), 10 gallons of vegetable oil, cases of water and loads of bags of clothes. These goods were dropped off at distribution centres where the refugees can come to get the needed supplies. About 700 refugees are registered in Montrouis, but there are likely more within the city that have not signed up yet.
Our last delivery was at night in the dark. What an experience sitting on the back of the pick-up truck on those bags of rice going down the familiar dusty roads but not having any light but the ones of the car. We even made it to the main road and found.... it is also pitch black. Forget street lights!
On that note, we only saw one official street sign as well. It was on the corner up the hill to one of the distribution points where the truck barely fit in between two walls as we went around the bend. Oh yeah, did we mention? The vendors do sit on those dusty streets leaning against those walls. So, as we come around the bend, we blow the horn and everyone scurries to move their stuff out of the way!
Something else to comment on is that as foreigners, we draw quite the crowd. We might have gotten a small taste of what the animals in the zoo could feel like since we get surrounded and stared at. And for every comment and attempted discussion with us in Creole, we just smile and sit there.... maybe this is how some of our foreign immigrants feel at times!
We found ourselves again comparing everything to the USA. Kids here are out playing with self-made kites, kids at home want the newest Wii. Here, not much goes on at night as everyone stays in their shacks huddled around the only light coming from the flame of a candle, at home people hustle and bustle at the malls or in clubs. The differences could not be much bigger in our opinion.
We have tried to film the market as we drove by and secretly take pictures. Again, a lot of them are quite skiddish about their pictures taken, although tonight we got some great shots of the kids surrounding the truck. And yes, even in the dark we are still very 'blanc' - white.
Something we have found about the Haitian people is that they are extremely creative. One of the children from the school who is sponsored by Jason, our friend, has drawn pictures that are beautiful. Also today we got to buy some paintings from local artists - acrylic paintings portraying the Haitian life. We could have spent a lot more money than we did :)
Tomorrow we are off to Port-Au-Prince. Although we have seen poverty, we are certain that the next two days will be much more difficult for us to handle as we will be in the midst of the destruction.
We want to leave you with a simple question: what is something small (or big) that you can do today to encourage someone else, to impact another person's life even just a little bit? We realize that every bit counts and often it is just the most natural and common things to us that will be used.
Signing off with a good Bonne Nuit!
Monday, March 1, 2010
68 Bags of Rice....
Today our little group at the base split into different directions. Some went to Port-Au-Prince to drop off a girl at the airport, do some business at the bank and pick up 20 bags of rice and oil.
Another group went back to Saint Marc and picked up 68 bags of rice, oil, vegetable soup powder, water and clothes from the UN shipment. Together with the previous delivery, it will help alot of people in Montrouis. We are actually going to help with some deliveries to families tomorrow.
We stayed locally and spent some time at the school. The schools do not officially open back up until March 15 per the President's orders, however this one decided to have activity days for the kids. So we were surrounded by lots of children who wanted their picture taken.....it was very fun!
Walking back on the dusty road / pathway, we hear the children in the neighborhood calling out for us 'blanc, blanc' - white person! It is such a common sound, along with the other common phrase: one dollar. We simply wave, smile and use our little Creole that we have learned.
We spent time with some of the sponsor children playing cards. It was quite the sight the two of us 'blancs' trying to learn a Haitian card game, while not really speaking their language. One of the boys tried to teach us what is called "Casino" using Creole, while we tried to understand with English and French. Needless to say, he kept winning every hand and we kept laughing at what seemed changing rules.
Tomorrow will be our last day in Montrouis and on Wednesday we will travel back to Port-Au-Prince until we fly out Thursday evening. We will be staying on someone's property in Cite du Soleil.... their house was destroyed but people are laying out under the stars. They are feeding up to 3,500 people at lunch time we are told and have an orphanage of now up to 1,000 kids. We are looking forward to seeing the reality of this.
We ended today with another amazing meal (yes, where we are staying, we are fed amazingly well!) and a perfect sunset. It does seem strange to be in this place of beauty while also knowing just beyond the gates is a different world of dust, hunger, lack of jobs, etc.
So once again to you all in the US or anywhere else in the world: Au Reovir! Bonne nuit!
Another group went back to Saint Marc and picked up 68 bags of rice, oil, vegetable soup powder, water and clothes from the UN shipment. Together with the previous delivery, it will help alot of people in Montrouis. We are actually going to help with some deliveries to families tomorrow.
We stayed locally and spent some time at the school. The schools do not officially open back up until March 15 per the President's orders, however this one decided to have activity days for the kids. So we were surrounded by lots of children who wanted their picture taken.....it was very fun!
Walking back on the dusty road / pathway, we hear the children in the neighborhood calling out for us 'blanc, blanc' - white person! It is such a common sound, along with the other common phrase: one dollar. We simply wave, smile and use our little Creole that we have learned.
We spent time with some of the sponsor children playing cards. It was quite the sight the two of us 'blancs' trying to learn a Haitian card game, while not really speaking their language. One of the boys tried to teach us what is called "Casino" using Creole, while we tried to understand with English and French. Needless to say, he kept winning every hand and we kept laughing at what seemed changing rules.
Tomorrow will be our last day in Montrouis and on Wednesday we will travel back to Port-Au-Prince until we fly out Thursday evening. We will be staying on someone's property in Cite du Soleil.... their house was destroyed but people are laying out under the stars. They are feeding up to 3,500 people at lunch time we are told and have an orphanage of now up to 1,000 kids. We are looking forward to seeing the reality of this.
We ended today with another amazing meal (yes, where we are staying, we are fed amazingly well!) and a perfect sunset. It does seem strange to be in this place of beauty while also knowing just beyond the gates is a different world of dust, hunger, lack of jobs, etc.
So once again to you all in the US or anywhere else in the world: Au Reovir! Bonne nuit!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tragedy versus Serenity
How can one describe Haiti in just a few words? It seems like an impossible task to truly paint a picture of this country and its people.
We landed in Port-Au-Prince on Friday after a very uneventful flight and upon landing had to fight our way through the mob of men waiting to get a few dollars for helping new arrivals with their luggage. Key is to only get one and indicate that very clearly, otherwise everyone thinks they deserve some money for even just touching your bag. But who can blame them? In a country where people have been struggling to find jobs even before the earthquake, what else is left to do?
We took a tour of the city....although the word tour would indicate a nice leisurely sightseeing excursion, which is in no way what we experienced. We got to see the vastness of the devastation: rows of buildings collapsed, 3 story houses flattened like pancakes, rubbel and debris everywhere, mixed with tents set up on the side of the streets, trucks delivering water to lines of thristy people waiting, tent cities where there once were parks..... it is difficult to put into words what we saw, heard and smelled.
It is erie driving passed the collapsed buildings knowing that there are still dead bodies burried in the cement trap that took their lives. The absence of heavy machinery is very evident, as we see men with hammers and chisles slowly chipping away at huge concrete blocks in an attempt to remove what is left.
And at the same time, the Haitians seems so very resilient. They are back to sitting on the side of the street selling their goods: tomatoes, cabbage, handbags, sandals, oranges, bananas... you name it.
Many have left the city and went to the plaine and the country side out of fear of further aftershocks. They set up shelters with sheets and tarps if they had any. So even on our drive to Montrouis about 2 hours away from Port-Au-Prince, we saw other 'tent cities'.
Montrouis is nestled at a mountain and a bay. Dirt roads and little huts along with street vendors are part of the scenery here just like it seems every where else in Haiti. As we pulled into the base where we are staying, we found a much needed refuge of the poverty and tragedy we just had seen..... Looking over the water of the Carribean ocean from the back porch is the ultimate picture of serenity.
This update is long, we know, but we have not had any power the last few days. There is no working generator at the house and the few hours of power we get are from solar panels.... well, it was overcast and rainy the last few days, so there goes the electricity.
We got to go to Saint Marc yesterday to pick up 30 bags of rice and 2 bags of beans from the UN aide shippments and also bought three bikes. The food will be distributed in smaller portions to families in Montrouis and will also be used to feed the 500 children of a local school. The meal they get at school for lunch is likely the only food many of them get on any given day. We were discussing how the norm here for many is to go to bed hungry and to be used the the feeling of hunger whereas we are going to bed oversatisfied and being used to being full.
The ride back from Saint Marc is about 1 hour. We drove back in pouring rain, with those 3 bikes, 30 bags of rice and 2 bags of beans on the back of our pick-up truck and 5 people sitting on top of the rice at the speed of 60 mpH, racing against large dump trucks down a road that would be considered 'hazardous'. We are told that this is the 'Haitian Way' - well, I think we got the full experience!
Today was at a slower pace, yet not less impactful. We got to sit with a handful of earthquake survivors and heard their stories. One of the ladies could not tell us what had happened but only had tears left to tell her story..... her son was killed in the earthquake, hit by a falling wall at work as he was trying to rescue some of his co-workers.
One of the other man told us how he was at his business when he felt the earth move. He and his extended family lost their houses and with that all their belongings along with their businesses. Nothing is left standing!
Some of the goods we brought over were given to them, which was incredibly rewarding for us to see. Other items are deposited at the base to distribute as needed: the rice, beans, medical supplies, etc. The workers at the base know the community and its needs, so we are confident that it goes to the right people.
We will try to get to Port-Au-Prince in the next few days to help with feeding programs that are taking place as well as removing rubbel and debris. We have had a difficult time with the phone system here, but something will definitely work out!
As we have walked the roads of Montrouis and seen the conditions that people are living in, our thoughts are spinning and we are trying to find answers on how to help this nation...well, any nation really, that is in this kind of state. Where does one begin? What are the pieces of the puzzle that need to come together for the full picture? We have yet to come to a conclusion.....
As you hop in the shower and enjoy the running water, the electricity at the flip of a switch and a comfortable bed, maybe you too can spare a few thoughts to find a solution to help the people of Haiti and other developing countries.
Until our next contact, we will say as the Haitians do: Mwen alle, bye bye!
We landed in Port-Au-Prince on Friday after a very uneventful flight and upon landing had to fight our way through the mob of men waiting to get a few dollars for helping new arrivals with their luggage. Key is to only get one and indicate that very clearly, otherwise everyone thinks they deserve some money for even just touching your bag. But who can blame them? In a country where people have been struggling to find jobs even before the earthquake, what else is left to do?
We took a tour of the city....although the word tour would indicate a nice leisurely sightseeing excursion, which is in no way what we experienced. We got to see the vastness of the devastation: rows of buildings collapsed, 3 story houses flattened like pancakes, rubbel and debris everywhere, mixed with tents set up on the side of the streets, trucks delivering water to lines of thristy people waiting, tent cities where there once were parks..... it is difficult to put into words what we saw, heard and smelled.
It is erie driving passed the collapsed buildings knowing that there are still dead bodies burried in the cement trap that took their lives. The absence of heavy machinery is very evident, as we see men with hammers and chisles slowly chipping away at huge concrete blocks in an attempt to remove what is left.
And at the same time, the Haitians seems so very resilient. They are back to sitting on the side of the street selling their goods: tomatoes, cabbage, handbags, sandals, oranges, bananas... you name it.
Many have left the city and went to the plaine and the country side out of fear of further aftershocks. They set up shelters with sheets and tarps if they had any. So even on our drive to Montrouis about 2 hours away from Port-Au-Prince, we saw other 'tent cities'.
Montrouis is nestled at a mountain and a bay. Dirt roads and little huts along with street vendors are part of the scenery here just like it seems every where else in Haiti. As we pulled into the base where we are staying, we found a much needed refuge of the poverty and tragedy we just had seen..... Looking over the water of the Carribean ocean from the back porch is the ultimate picture of serenity.
This update is long, we know, but we have not had any power the last few days. There is no working generator at the house and the few hours of power we get are from solar panels.... well, it was overcast and rainy the last few days, so there goes the electricity.
We got to go to Saint Marc yesterday to pick up 30 bags of rice and 2 bags of beans from the UN aide shippments and also bought three bikes. The food will be distributed in smaller portions to families in Montrouis and will also be used to feed the 500 children of a local school. The meal they get at school for lunch is likely the only food many of them get on any given day. We were discussing how the norm here for many is to go to bed hungry and to be used the the feeling of hunger whereas we are going to bed oversatisfied and being used to being full.
The ride back from Saint Marc is about 1 hour. We drove back in pouring rain, with those 3 bikes, 30 bags of rice and 2 bags of beans on the back of our pick-up truck and 5 people sitting on top of the rice at the speed of 60 mpH, racing against large dump trucks down a road that would be considered 'hazardous'. We are told that this is the 'Haitian Way' - well, I think we got the full experience!
Today was at a slower pace, yet not less impactful. We got to sit with a handful of earthquake survivors and heard their stories. One of the ladies could not tell us what had happened but only had tears left to tell her story..... her son was killed in the earthquake, hit by a falling wall at work as he was trying to rescue some of his co-workers.
One of the other man told us how he was at his business when he felt the earth move. He and his extended family lost their houses and with that all their belongings along with their businesses. Nothing is left standing!
Some of the goods we brought over were given to them, which was incredibly rewarding for us to see. Other items are deposited at the base to distribute as needed: the rice, beans, medical supplies, etc. The workers at the base know the community and its needs, so we are confident that it goes to the right people.
We will try to get to Port-Au-Prince in the next few days to help with feeding programs that are taking place as well as removing rubbel and debris. We have had a difficult time with the phone system here, but something will definitely work out!
As we have walked the roads of Montrouis and seen the conditions that people are living in, our thoughts are spinning and we are trying to find answers on how to help this nation...well, any nation really, that is in this kind of state. Where does one begin? What are the pieces of the puzzle that need to come together for the full picture? We have yet to come to a conclusion.....
As you hop in the shower and enjoy the running water, the electricity at the flip of a switch and a comfortable bed, maybe you too can spare a few thoughts to find a solution to help the people of Haiti and other developing countries.
Until our next contact, we will say as the Haitians do: Mwen alle, bye bye!
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