My Haiti Trip

From the onset, I confess that one week in Haiti, does not a Haiti expert make, but I'd like to share my thoughts since these beautiful people have been in the news so much since the terrible earthquake. So here goes in no particular order of priority.

For a first-timer, there are few words to describe the devastation in Haiti (it is much worse that I ever imagined it could be), but much of this devastation occured years before the earthquake and has more to do with systemic governmental corruption and misguided foreign aid.

The people of Haiti have been exploited and victimized for generations and therefore have a severly diminished sense of what normal life should look like.

Therefore they have learned wonderful coping and survival skills.  They're physically and spiritually strong.

Despite the above, but all the more inspiring, they possess a wonderfully infectious joy and when they come in contact with Americans, they generally treat us like rock stars.

Many Haitians have a wonderful commitment to God and Christ in particular.

Haiti is a ecological nightmare. My guess is that the country is 80% deforested and there is little in the way or sewer sanitation, garbage is everywhere.

The U.S. and other countries need to be very careful that our attempt to "aid" Haiti doesn't hamstring them. Aid should come with strings attached for governmental reform, measures that insure justice and improvement in education.

For all our issues and failures, the U.S. is the greatest country on the earth and the greatest that has ever been, in my estimation.  The most generous and kind, exporting much more good than evil.  I more than ever, very humbly and thankfully, continue to believe in American exceptionalism in our world.

While there are many truly orphaned (no parents) children in Haiti, there are many others who have one or two sets of parents. However, their parents often cannot financially care for them so they are sent to orphanages. Some children are able to see their parents or other family members during holidays.

My heart was smitten with this people and the beautiful children that were thirsty for affection and affirmation. I received so much more than I gave and would welcome the opportunity to be a blessing to them again. Learn much more from our Haiti veteran friends Kirk and Kelly Metty @  god-not-forsaken.

Not driving miss daisy, driving in haiti

Driving in Haiti is like NO other experience I have ever had. Driving with a NYC or Mexican taxi driver is NOTHING like driving in Haiti. There was two traffic lights in entire country (in PAP), there are no speed limits, no traffic cops, no manners, it was every man for himself and the faster the better. The game of "chicken" took on whole new meaning, since if your vehicle was larger, you knew the other guy would yield and everyone would push it to extremes.

Danlo

We spent yesterday doing demolition and food distribution t the Calvary Baptist church.

Made back thru the border

After an hour wait in limbo, we made it thru the absolutely crazy Haitian/DR border. After letting in two or our vehicles they closed the gate on the other two and made us wait in limbo. This place is surreal.

Haiti - day three

Today we did some of the same as yesterday. We brought many bags of rice and beans to two different church/school areas that are affiliated with this same Baptist pastor in PAP. Once we arrive we begin to play with the children, today playing frisbee. They some others begin to break open the sacks or food and break them into roughly two pound sacks of rice and beans. Shortly before we distribute the pastor shares with the people why we are there and has had two of the pastors on this trip also share about how as Chrisition's we have come to encourage them and provide some small token of God's love. Since more people come than we have supplies for, the Haitian pastor's that we work with must explain that their first priority is to provide for their members first and then the remainder can go to others in the community that he designates. This system seems to work well, since he's local and knows the people. They are fine men, who love their people and can talk tough with them when needed. It was needed today at our last location. There were of course more people than food and there was some yelling and commotion towards the end when some realized that they were not going to get food. I'll tell you the story of the guy with the machette, who Kevin says, was out to get me and he saved my neck. But it has really been very safe here otherwise.

We toured the most affected areas of PAP today, the presidential palace and official ministry areas and such. There is huge devastation. One ministry guy who runs missions programs all over and in Africa, says that he's NEVER seen poverty, homelessness and devastation the likes of Haiti. But you have to wonder that it was very, very bad before the earthquake as well. My political position is forming on this country and if I was in charge, I would hunt down (aka, Nazi hunters) all the previous (and current) rulers of the country and bring back public hangings. This country has been exloited and abused for decades and their is dripping blood on their hands, give all the millions of dollars that has been poured into this nation. More on this later.

Ben and I are feeling well, no sickness and I took a bath today! (more like a sponge bath, first one since Saturday). Tent camping has been good with the help of my air mattress (with hole) and Tylenol PM. The children as always, are precious, but last night began asking for our things when we leave (they been programmed here to ask Americans for their stuff). We are blessed beyone imagination and have no idea who fortunate we are. It is a must that you (Becca) come here, given your great french, nursing skills and love of Africa and innners city places (Haiti has this all in abundance!) It has been hard to get to this internet cafe (a serious hole in the wall - no joke, i have a picture of it). Each time I ask Garrison (a young man who works here), he needs to get permission from the director (who isn't around alot) - so there is alot of waiting arount - a Haitian standard operating procedure.

I spoke with Pastor Val this morning and he's is supposed to come here at 6pm for the hand-off, of course I'm sure it won't go that easy. I plan to have someone with me when I give him the funds (to witness) and to encourage him with Kelly's words about re-building.

I love you all and miss you dearly but am confident that this was the time to be here. Ben is being stretched along with me, but there are few words to describe this place. Peace and love. Becca you are my heart-beat.

haiti - day two

hello from Haiti. I was able to get to an internet cafe that is not far from our compound. Garrison, one of the older guys here, son of one of elders took me and a few other guys here. They always say we need to be with someone if we ever want to leave. Other than our today and last night we have not left the compound. Our compound is near the airport off of 1st Nationale road. there is a school and an orphanage. Yesterday we got hear early in the morning after our all night road trip. upon arrival we played with the children alot and spent time learning their names and telling them about ourselves. they are very interested in us telling about ourselves and learning their names, they say "I want to be your friend". Last night we had a short service, where they sang for us (so beautifully) and we sang a song together as well. Then one of the pastors (Frank's brother) shared a short message (interpreted) with us all. Yesterday afteroon we took a tour of two tent cities that have arisen in soccer fields. People construct simple plastic tarp or cloth homes from sticks used the make an "A" frame. Incrediblty sad to see so much devastation. The pictures will not do it all justice, the massive devastation is indescribable and there are masses upon masses of people homeless. However, nearly all the people were kind, wanting to show us their makes-shift homes and wave to us. Haitians treat Americans like rock stars, everyone wants to shake our hands. Today we drove to one of their other churches and schools in a more rural area and help demolish part of their church that had fallen due to the earthquake. We also bought 50 100 pound bags of rice and had a food distribution for the people there. It was hard work and very hot, but the people were very sweet and the children so very precious. Here the knew more about how to beg and ask foreigners for things, but we were kind to them still. Ben and I keep saying how we need mom here to interpret the Creole they speak, but we get buy with a little french and spanish.

I haven't been able to contact pastor val and give him the funds since we have been so busy. The director of the orphanage is alao hard to pin down, but very nice. I plan to talk with him about it again tonight. Ben is doing well and we slept well in the tent together last night. We sleep in the compound in the school section in our tents, since they are not having school now. Please let all the children know that I love them and miss them and hope they are feeling better. So sorry to hear that now Caroline was sick. Ben and I feel fine and never had any sickness, a miralce. Love you Becca, thanks for keeping everything together and praying for me. This place is like none other, I'm sure and definitly will change how I view the world.

love and kisses,

Ron

The brakes on the bus are burning hot (can smell them), so we stopped in this village to try and get some help. Doesn't look that promising...

This bus is full, we'll be sleeping sitting-up :)

Saturday 2/27 9am

Ben and I met the other team members at the airport at 5:30am this morning. Under the warm, cozy shower water this morning I realized that this was the cleanest I'd feel until I return next Friday. I already began to feel blessed. Despite the fact that my sweet Rebecca (my hero!) was now on her fourth day of nursing stomach bug patients (after she had had it). I saw Luke laying on the bathroom floor when I woke, the room smelling like a poorly run animal shelter, he'd been losing it on both ends all night. Somehow by God's grace, Ben and I haven't been smitten and if it lasts, this will be the first major miracle of this trip, since everyone else in our family suffered it this week.

We'll make it to the DR this afternoon, purchase relief supplies and then drive to Port Au Prince late tonight. It's nice not having to be in charge. Boy this plane is bumpy...until later.