The first leg was super! We had a small but wonderful group of Haiti Connection members along for the ride - Roy, myself, Dan, Jen, Jonathan, Molly, and Geri. I journaled throughout my time these last 12 days and will be typing that all out eventually, but it seems like a daunting task at the moment, so please be patient. To tide you all over, I'll give a brief run down of what we've been up to...
We started our journey as soon as we touched down in Port au Prince with a trip to the baby center. This center serves children in the greater PAP area who are malnourished. I was super excited about this, since feeding is something I hope to focus on in my Speech Pathology program. I have been in contact with some volunteers there over the past few months, and prepared a feeding kit to take with me. But wouldn't you know it...I forgot it all at home. If anyone knows a way to send things to Haiti in less than a year, please let me know! There is such a need there though. So much opportunity to educate the people on proper feeding techniques that may help the children be healthier in the future. A 4-month-old simply shouldn't be eating a hard boiled egg out of his own hand!
After helping with the midday feeding, we took a trip up to a lookout spot that has a wonderful view of the city and the surrounding mountains. It was breathtaking. I could imagine Haiti in all of her tropical splendor from above all the smog and destruction. Upon returning from the lookout, we visited the Capitol building and the national cathedral of Haiti. They are both still standing in complete ruin. It really surprises me. I think it would do the people good to see these symbols of national pride back in working order. There has been a lot of clean-up being done - not so many tent cities or rubble everywhere - but more needs to be done. Slowly but surely...
Right before we headed out of the city, we had the opportunity to meet with Michael Ritter, the Director of Gadyen Dlo, our clean water organization. How exciting it was to talk with him! They seem to be making great strides. The CDC is actually donating $1100 for new systems in the area we sponsor. Helps us out a bit!
After helping with the midday feeding, we took a trip up to a lookout spot that has a wonderful view of the city and the surrounding mountains. It was breathtaking. I could imagine Haiti in all of her tropical splendor from above all the smog and destruction. Upon returning from the lookout, we visited the Capitol building and the national cathedral of Haiti. They are both still standing in complete ruin. It really surprises me. I think it would do the people good to see these symbols of national pride back in working order. There has been a lot of clean-up being done - not so many tent cities or rubble everywhere - but more needs to be done. Slowly but surely...
Right before we headed out of the city, we had the opportunity to meet with Michael Ritter, the Director of Gadyen Dlo, our clean water organization. How exciting it was to talk with him! They seem to be making great strides. The CDC is actually donating $1100 for new systems in the area we sponsor. Helps us out a bit!
On day 3, we loaded the truck and drove out to our sister community of Barasa near the Haiti/DR border. While there, we had the opportunity to really spend time with the members of the community - to see what they've been working on, to hear thier needs and concerns, even to dance and play with them. We heard from Rodrique, the head of our reforestation project. He has something like 10,000 saplings in his nursery right now (sweet and sour oranges, avocados, hardwood trees, and flamboyant flowering trees). They will be ready to plant any time. We went with him to the spot where he will plant the first "green hat" in the area. This term describes a cluster of strong and healthy trees growing on the top of the mountain. It is unlikely that all of Haiti will ever be reforested, but these "green hats" will help immensely. He is so passionate about those trees. I love listening to him talk about it. We really should have called it "Project Rodrique" instead of "Project Lorax, because, in the words of Dr. Seuss, "His name is Rodrique and he speaks for the trees!" They loved our books. I just hope the Kreyol translation was good and they don't think it's Voodoo.
We also accompanied a group of young children out to the source and had the chance to hear about their stories. The community cistern project we have in the works should help prevent them from having to make the treacherous hike multiple times each day.
We met with a woman who lost her husband and helped to fund his burial. It was neat to see the man's processional. Men from the community carry the casket down the mountain singing all the while to celebrate his life. What a beautiful way to go!
We also got updates of the children in the school sponsorship program. They loved all the gifts that were sent to them. Updates will be coming soon. Keep praying for those little ones. The largest school in the area, run by Dieufort, is looking to build a new facility that would be able to house the growing number of students they have, so we are hoping to help with this project as well. It's going to be at least a $12,000 project. My guess is it will be more. We want to make sure it's a functional building. No reason to fund a sub-par project.
People are still struggling with home repairs and the everyday challenges of life, but it is our hope that our projects will empower them to make a better life for themselves. We did get to visit the house of the woman whose house was damaged by a falling rock in the earthquake. We gave her the money on our last trip and she was so grateful and proud of her new home.
From Barasa, we traveled to Gros Morne in the north. The roads have been improved tenfold since I was here last, so the ride was much shorter and more enjoyable. The improvement of the roads is a great first step in decentralizing from PAP. Change is happening here, little by little. My time spent in Gros Morne with the group was extremely encouraging and motivating.
In Gros Morne, we were able to hike to the top of Tet Mon to see the sunset over one of the very first successful "green hats" in Haiti. It was planted by the Haitian government. Oh how I hope our "green hats" turn out to be as prominent as that one and the government renews their interest in reforesting Haiti! What an example for us to model after!
We traveled out to Fonibo (where we will be running summer camp) to see Becca's wonderful work with compost toliets. These toilets could be revolutionary down here. Not only do they teach the community about proper hygiene and clean water, but they also develop an awareness for agriculture. Waste from the community is filtered into receptacles and covered in organic matter to keep it from smelling and to help with the decomposing process. It is something we hope to implement in Barasa. Not only would it benefit the community, but it would prevent us from having to go in a smelly hole in a slab of cement (which I about fell into our first day there...ask for the full story later)! Beautiful! I think Janet and Denny should try it out at their place too. The Sisters here tested the use of the compost on crops and found they yield 3x more corn than without. Could really help with that garden of theirs! ;)
We spent the entire next day visiting our sister community of Dekosye. Our relationship with Dekosye is very new, so I was a little apprehensive about what we would be able to do there. It was perfect though! We first met with Father Monfort, who is working with the region as well. He showed us a lake they are building. They hope to pool water in the lake to breed fish, attract other wildlife, and to water crops during the dry season. We saw a bird perched on the shore, so it's already working. The lake is slowing filling as we get more and more rain. Haiti Connection will be raising funds to purchase a pump for transporting water to crops.
As we continued into town, we were greeted by children from the school who had prepared a parade for us. It was absolutely precious! They danced in the streets for a solid 30 minutes in the heat and sun. What a gift!
The kids from the sewing center we opened up last year then showed us their projects. They have moved into a larger building since I was last here, and they are having much success with the program. Their work is great! The girls and Madame Denis are working on a beautiful table cloth for me to bring back home with me.
We also met with a community committee that is focusing on clean water. They came with so many ideas for hygenic toilets, how to implement Gadyen Dlo, and how to get the whole community on board. It was very refreshing to see the community taking an active interest in our relationship. I'm so very excited to further develop the relationship there.
Starting tomorrow, I am officially Brittany's slave. She is a volunteer, who first came down with Roy's group back in 2009. She never left. She is about to wrap up year 2 and head home to go to nursing school at Mass General Hospital. Sounds like she will be keeping me busy here in the month leading up to camp (leg 2 of my journey). We will be working on a house that will house medical mission teams when they come in the future. She has been heading up the remodeling of the building and will have some things for me to do with that. Our first group comes June 16, so we are getting down to the wire! There will also be LOTS of work to do to gear up for camp. We will be meeting sometime in the next few days to talk about exactly what needs to be done. I'm sure I will be hitting the ground running, so there will be many more updates in the coming days.
I will try my best to my journal entries copied. They have much more of a personal touch from my experiences thus far. I send my love home to you all! Please keep Haiti in your prayers. I hear things are kind of chaotic at home with storms, so I'll keep you all in my prayers as well.
Peace,
C.
We also accompanied a group of young children out to the source and had the chance to hear about their stories. The community cistern project we have in the works should help prevent them from having to make the treacherous hike multiple times each day.
We met with a woman who lost her husband and helped to fund his burial. It was neat to see the man's processional. Men from the community carry the casket down the mountain singing all the while to celebrate his life. What a beautiful way to go!
We also got updates of the children in the school sponsorship program. They loved all the gifts that were sent to them. Updates will be coming soon. Keep praying for those little ones. The largest school in the area, run by Dieufort, is looking to build a new facility that would be able to house the growing number of students they have, so we are hoping to help with this project as well. It's going to be at least a $12,000 project. My guess is it will be more. We want to make sure it's a functional building. No reason to fund a sub-par project.
People are still struggling with home repairs and the everyday challenges of life, but it is our hope that our projects will empower them to make a better life for themselves. We did get to visit the house of the woman whose house was damaged by a falling rock in the earthquake. We gave her the money on our last trip and she was so grateful and proud of her new home.
From Barasa, we traveled to Gros Morne in the north. The roads have been improved tenfold since I was here last, so the ride was much shorter and more enjoyable. The improvement of the roads is a great first step in decentralizing from PAP. Change is happening here, little by little. My time spent in Gros Morne with the group was extremely encouraging and motivating.
In Gros Morne, we were able to hike to the top of Tet Mon to see the sunset over one of the very first successful "green hats" in Haiti. It was planted by the Haitian government. Oh how I hope our "green hats" turn out to be as prominent as that one and the government renews their interest in reforesting Haiti! What an example for us to model after!
We traveled out to Fonibo (where we will be running summer camp) to see Becca's wonderful work with compost toliets. These toilets could be revolutionary down here. Not only do they teach the community about proper hygiene and clean water, but they also develop an awareness for agriculture. Waste from the community is filtered into receptacles and covered in organic matter to keep it from smelling and to help with the decomposing process. It is something we hope to implement in Barasa. Not only would it benefit the community, but it would prevent us from having to go in a smelly hole in a slab of cement (which I about fell into our first day there...ask for the full story later)! Beautiful! I think Janet and Denny should try it out at their place too. The Sisters here tested the use of the compost on crops and found they yield 3x more corn than without. Could really help with that garden of theirs! ;)
We spent the entire next day visiting our sister community of Dekosye. Our relationship with Dekosye is very new, so I was a little apprehensive about what we would be able to do there. It was perfect though! We first met with Father Monfort, who is working with the region as well. He showed us a lake they are building. They hope to pool water in the lake to breed fish, attract other wildlife, and to water crops during the dry season. We saw a bird perched on the shore, so it's already working. The lake is slowing filling as we get more and more rain. Haiti Connection will be raising funds to purchase a pump for transporting water to crops.
As we continued into town, we were greeted by children from the school who had prepared a parade for us. It was absolutely precious! They danced in the streets for a solid 30 minutes in the heat and sun. What a gift!
The kids from the sewing center we opened up last year then showed us their projects. They have moved into a larger building since I was last here, and they are having much success with the program. Their work is great! The girls and Madame Denis are working on a beautiful table cloth for me to bring back home with me.
We also met with a community committee that is focusing on clean water. They came with so many ideas for hygenic toilets, how to implement Gadyen Dlo, and how to get the whole community on board. It was very refreshing to see the community taking an active interest in our relationship. I'm so very excited to further develop the relationship there.
Starting tomorrow, I am officially Brittany's slave. She is a volunteer, who first came down with Roy's group back in 2009. She never left. She is about to wrap up year 2 and head home to go to nursing school at Mass General Hospital. Sounds like she will be keeping me busy here in the month leading up to camp (leg 2 of my journey). We will be working on a house that will house medical mission teams when they come in the future. She has been heading up the remodeling of the building and will have some things for me to do with that. Our first group comes June 16, so we are getting down to the wire! There will also be LOTS of work to do to gear up for camp. We will be meeting sometime in the next few days to talk about exactly what needs to be done. I'm sure I will be hitting the ground running, so there will be many more updates in the coming days.
I will try my best to my journal entries copied. They have much more of a personal touch from my experiences thus far. I send my love home to you all! Please keep Haiti in your prayers. I hear things are kind of chaotic at home with storms, so I'll keep you all in my prayers as well.
Peace,
C.
