Yesterday we saw the Haiti that can be. We started with a church service at Grace Village and then Jake looked at one of their vehicles that is not working. We then went to Wahoo beach at a resort that rivals any vacation spot. The white beach and azure waters were stunning and we had fun swimming in the ocean and the pool. On our way back to Port-Au-Prince, we paid our respects at a mass grave of 300,000 people who lost their lives in the earthquake. Finally we went to Petionville, an upper class city, and went salsa dancing for Molly's prom. It was amazing to watch people dance and gave us HOPE for Haiti's future. Monica This is the second day that we went into Cite Soleil to deliver fresh water. Deliveries are made into the largest slum in Haiti 6 days a week, but when groups like ours go in, it is special for the kids because it is the only time some of them get human touch. Many of the children are restavek, which translates to "lives with" but really are kids who are more like a slave. The kids gather around the truck, and can't wait to be picked up. I am nursing a bad back and can't do this, so on Tuesday I sat on the street and let children sit on my lap. Because of this, I spent time with the kids on the bottom of the social order, and it was absolutely heartbreaking. The average lifespan in Cite Soleil is 52, but that number is brought down by the restavek's average lifespan of 10. They eat after the family they stay with eats, and they sleep outside. I was told over and over by the kids that they had no mother and father and asked if I would be their mama. That us the reason I could not post on Tuesday and did not sleep Tuesday night. Today was a different day on the water stops. It has rained almost every night, so the need for water is not as desparate. It was a Saturday so there were more kids there who were in school on Tuesdsay. I brought a chair which improved my status a little over sitting on the ground. I could go on but will stop for now. After our three water truck stops, we went to a small orphanage. There were 10 kids, ranging from about 10 months to 16 years. It was a great way to end the day because they were happy and healthy. I played the penny whistle and tought the interested ones how to play, leaving three with them. We sang for them, they sang for us, we gave them necklaces and bracelets (made by Molly, Rose, and Katelyn), read them stories, played jump ropes, jacks, made balloon animals, showed them a magic trick, and of course held them and played with them. A good way to end the day. Monica I have been asked who our fabulous photographer is and I am proud to say that he is my brother-in-law Michael Stoebner. This is his tenth trip to Haiti as a photographer, his fouth as co-trip leader, and the reason Molly and I went the day after Easter, which is crazy for someone who works for a church. He has also done photography in Kenya. He does weddings and senior portraits when he is home in Stillwater, MN. The Haitians know him and they call him Mr. Click-click. Monica We get around Haiti in a vehicle called a tap tap (which is what all taxis are called). We travel with a driver (Cadet or Maxim) and an interpreter (Jonas). On water day in Cite Soleil we have a third person (plus the two water truck drivers). We literally put our lives in their hands every day and it is easy to love them. The tap tap is completely covered in a metal mesh and we are able to lock it when we are not in it. I must say that Minnesotans have nothing to complain about potholes! The drivers know where they can go fast and where the road goes to one lane because that is all there is. There are no stop signs or lights so they communicate with hand gestures and honks. We have seen many close shaves and often it is better not to watch! The pedestrian is the lowest on the pecking order, and NO vehicle will stop for one. Today we stopped on the side of the road to ask for directions, and our helper got brushed with a motorcycle passing on the right - his cell phone went flying, but thankfully he was okay. Monica We began our day (the group minus the 3 teenagers) with a 6 am church service. The Haitians worship with their hearts and bodies! The pastor worked on some English because he saw us come in. We then made a trip to Village of Jesus home for abandoned women in Leogane. Leogane was the epicenter of the earthquake and it was amazing to see what is still not cleaned up during the ride there. The women were brought to the hospital and left there because their families could not afford to care for them. Their dormitory collapsed in the earthquake but all survived because they pray the rosary every day at 5 pm outside, and the earthquake was at 5:02. We sang and danced with them, put lotion on their hands and feet, fed them applesauce and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that we made the night before, and then painted their nails and gave them cross necklaces. The highlight of their day may have been that they each got a Jesus doll or stuffed animal. They were tickled with the visit! Our second stop was to a hospital in Leogane where we dropped off supplies but did not visit. Our last stop of the day was General Hospital, which has free medicine and care but no food or blankets. We gave each baby and child a stuffed animal and receiving blanket and gave the nurses bottles with formula, children's clothing and other supplies. Monica |