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!