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