Coming up on two months already….two months in HAITI…WOW to say life has become a routine is strange to say, here in this third world country. I continue to teach my classes, set up the medical clinic and other construction/odd jobs around camp. Evenings are spent playing games with the crew, our game of choice has been FARKLE which is a game played with six dice…. strategy, gambling and most of all luck. We play for the camp RC (or Reigning Champ). I wish I could say I hold the trophy but I can’t…I have had a bit of a cold streak recently. It has been real hot, close to 100 with a heat index 110+, it is raining a little more frequently as well. I did anticipate more rain, but when it rains here it comes down in buckets. One night this week we had a thunderstorm it was so bad the thunder and lightning was happening at the same time. Well, I am still living in a tent (on a flat roof that floods) and I thought I was going to get blown off. I was the only one to stay in my tent that night, everyone else went into the building. I and all my stuff stayed dry however and my tent stayed up, a little lost sleep and excitment but just another night in Haiti.
Unfortunately no teams have signed up for the month of May so the “Long Termers” are working…a little at a time. The work consists of putting up the temporary housing (8 x 12 SHEDS), projects around our base camp (pouring a concrete slab) or putting gutters on the small house we built. Needless to say everything takes a little longer here, and there is always a story of how things worked out. The mission here did buy some property and started to clear the one story that used to be a three story house. After the second day Ricardo the pastor of the church came into contact with some people with some heavy machinery. After some negotiation and donations from the states, the property is cleared as well as half of the church across the street. It did cost more than the original price…but the job is done. This property is going to be Ricardo and his family’s home, a place for the church to meet, a place to teach English and a place to have a medical clinic…a true all purpose property. The base camp we are currently staying at will be set up for long term folks and teams that come in for relief work. It was quite the day, a true neighborhood gathering as we hauled out 70 dump trucks of rubble.
There are a lot great stories around camp. Currently a couple is praying about adopting a one month old orphan baby. The baby’s father died in the earthquake and mother died in labor. An aunt was caring for the baby and two brothers, living in a tent city…under terrible conditions. We have been taking care of the baby the last few days and looking into the formal adoption process, which can be quite extensive. In the mean time this baby (who doesn’t have a name yet) is getting a lot of love around our base. Prayers continue as to what the next steps are, there are thousands of stories just like this, all over Haiti. We do what we can and continue to leave the rest in God’s hands. It is so hard and a true tension for many of us at camp. I am working with a great team of kind, compassionate people, that hurt inside because of the conditions and pain of the people. God helps us. Ricardo just walked in and said (not knowing what I was typing) “with the eyes of God we can see the good in people (and circumstances).” Yes God, give us eyes to see.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
April 19th - 26th
I continue to stay busy with my classes and any other jobs that I am handed. The one week teams coming in continue to be a great help. They are the main crews putting up our shed homes and the “long termers” coordinate, taking care of logistics. This past week Haiti is experiencing a gas crisis (which could last until the second week in May). Our main source of power is from the gas powered generator, which powers our base. This includes water pumps, pumping water from the well (we then fill above ground water tanks (reservoirs)). Obviously water is vital so a lack of gas could hinder our water supply. This generator also powers electrical (internet ) to the base which includes our saws and battery operated drills. Overall we manage to take one problem at a time and everything seems to work out. We do have two other power sources; one is solar panels charging 6 car batteries. This gives us about 2 hours of power without construction equipment and water pump. The third is city power. Like many countries around the world, this power is “rolling” (we basically don’t know when it is going to come on). This past week city power didn’t come on for three days, well there was much joy and even dancing when “city” came on AND a mad scramble to fill the tanks.
People keep coming in and out of our base, PEOPLE from all over the world. This week alone we had people from: The U.S. (From New York to Hawaii, Duluth MN to Miami), Australia, Germany, French speaking Canadians, French speaking French, Denmark, Israel, even Amish (lol… yes Amish). It is encouraging to see all of the different people who have come to serve. Each person/team with special gifts and vision to support the overall vision…helping the people of Haiti.
One of my morning jobs is to help set up the medical clinic. The medical clinic has been going on since the earthquake and treats between one hundred and one hundred and forty patients a day. Our teams keep sending in doctors and nurses and treatment is happening. “Setting up” consists of getting six benches, two large tarps, folding chairs, two tables and all of the medical supplies about 60-70 yards from our compound over a rubble pile to a partially shaded spot under a tree. The clinic usually has four stations including a midwife prenatal area. We start the day with a health teaching and the Gospel message usually delivered by your truly.
Now, three and a half months after the earthquake, the treatment is quite different. Less wound care and triage more cleanliness issues, dehydration and nutrition…. one thing we are seeing is post traumatic symptoms. Many people can’t sleep at night, have bad dreams, are weak, listless all symptoms of stress. We have had opportunity to pray for people with some amazing results. For example we prayed for a guy with cataracts and his vision cleared up. Praise GOD
We have had more spotty internet…because of some router problems sorry this is late
More latter
People keep coming in and out of our base, PEOPLE from all over the world. This week alone we had people from: The U.S. (From New York to Hawaii, Duluth MN to Miami), Australia, Germany, French speaking Canadians, French speaking French, Denmark, Israel, even Amish (lol… yes Amish). It is encouraging to see all of the different people who have come to serve. Each person/team with special gifts and vision to support the overall vision…helping the people of Haiti.
One of my morning jobs is to help set up the medical clinic. The medical clinic has been going on since the earthquake and treats between one hundred and one hundred and forty patients a day. Our teams keep sending in doctors and nurses and treatment is happening. “Setting up” consists of getting six benches, two large tarps, folding chairs, two tables and all of the medical supplies about 60-70 yards from our compound over a rubble pile to a partially shaded spot under a tree. The clinic usually has four stations including a midwife prenatal area. We start the day with a health teaching and the Gospel message usually delivered by your truly.
Now, three and a half months after the earthquake, the treatment is quite different. Less wound care and triage more cleanliness issues, dehydration and nutrition…. one thing we are seeing is post traumatic symptoms. Many people can’t sleep at night, have bad dreams, are weak, listless all symptoms of stress. We have had opportunity to pray for people with some amazing results. For example we prayed for a guy with cataracts and his vision cleared up. Praise GOD
We have had more spotty internet…because of some router problems sorry this is late
More latter
Sunday, April 11, 2010
April 4th - 11th
This week….April 4th – April 11th
It seems time is going fast….and this week went fast. I continue to teach my conversational English classes and lead a bible study for translators. My curriculum for the English classes is wide and diverse. The students themselves have given me two different books which are book one and book four. I know they rescued these books from the rubble somewhere. The difference between book one and four is rather wide so I need to reach waaaay back to my grammar/English classes. (What is a predicate pronoun anyway?). Overall I have seen change in just the short time I have been here. The student’s vocabulary and understanding has increased rather dramatically. Another curriculum source is the Bible. I read the Creole Bible(or try to) and have them read English. It’s been really fun. The conversations always turn to the Bible and God and most can understand when I share the gospel.
Schools are starting to open which is encouraging, but it also can be rather frustrating. Most of the schools are private and have their enrolment. The public schools are not up and running yet and the private schools only take new students if: 1 they have room or 2. They have room and have official papers to tell what grade you’re in and 3. Room, papers and money. Well, most official papers are buried in the rubble and jobs are hard to find so still rather frustrating.
MY Other Jobs: Between classes I have other jobs which I continue to chip away at. One such job was to build 20 desk/benches and 8 desks for a local school we are sponsoring. They are rather crude but I was reminded of my roots back in Grand Rapids Michigan. Grand Rapids and western Michigan is known as the “furniture city” and even now has a couple major office furniture builders/distributors. So who better to build school furniture than me, although my creation would surely be rejected by quality control at Stealcase.
I also have started to wire sheds for electrical. Our teams coming in are putting up 8 X 12 sheds, well I come behind the teams and put one light/switch, and one outlet. The owner then connects the electrical to the city power lines. The city has rolling power so the trick is to connect the power when it is off. Wiring electrical is a skill I picked up when I rewired my house back in Michigan.
Busy, busy, busy. Overall it is about relationships. I am really enjoying getting to know all the people in the neighborhood. From my students to the corner “drink lady” it is about relationship. I enjoy showing Jesus in practical ways, sharing the Gospel, the good news of Jesus by living side by side. I am learning a lot while I am here. I continue to lean in and press into God to hear His voice and steps He wants me to take.
It seems time is going fast….and this week went fast. I continue to teach my conversational English classes and lead a bible study for translators. My curriculum for the English classes is wide and diverse. The students themselves have given me two different books which are book one and book four. I know they rescued these books from the rubble somewhere. The difference between book one and four is rather wide so I need to reach waaaay back to my grammar/English classes. (What is a predicate pronoun anyway?). Overall I have seen change in just the short time I have been here. The student’s vocabulary and understanding has increased rather dramatically. Another curriculum source is the Bible. I read the Creole Bible(or try to) and have them read English. It’s been really fun. The conversations always turn to the Bible and God and most can understand when I share the gospel.
Schools are starting to open which is encouraging, but it also can be rather frustrating. Most of the schools are private and have their enrolment. The public schools are not up and running yet and the private schools only take new students if: 1 they have room or 2. They have room and have official papers to tell what grade you’re in and 3. Room, papers and money. Well, most official papers are buried in the rubble and jobs are hard to find so still rather frustrating.
MY Other Jobs: Between classes I have other jobs which I continue to chip away at. One such job was to build 20 desk/benches and 8 desks for a local school we are sponsoring. They are rather crude but I was reminded of my roots back in Grand Rapids Michigan. Grand Rapids and western Michigan is known as the “furniture city” and even now has a couple major office furniture builders/distributors. So who better to build school furniture than me, although my creation would surely be rejected by quality control at Stealcase.
I also have started to wire sheds for electrical. Our teams coming in are putting up 8 X 12 sheds, well I come behind the teams and put one light/switch, and one outlet. The owner then connects the electrical to the city power lines. The city has rolling power so the trick is to connect the power when it is off. Wiring electrical is a skill I picked up when I rewired my house back in Michigan.
Busy, busy, busy. Overall it is about relationships. I am really enjoying getting to know all the people in the neighborhood. From my students to the corner “drink lady” it is about relationship. I enjoy showing Jesus in practical ways, sharing the Gospel, the good news of Jesus by living side by side. I am learning a lot while I am here. I continue to lean in and press into God to hear His voice and steps He wants me to take.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
TWO WEEKS???
Two weeks….wow time has gone fast.
Spent the last week uploading antivirus to my computer…it can be a real pain when power/internet keeps going out….sorry about the lack of updates…a lot to do around here
I keep myself really busy, from construction, to rubble removal, to teaching. My latest project was to make 20 desk/benches for a local school that is opening up. Since the quake not many schools have opened, we are working with a school that was in our neighborhood and flattened by the earthquake. We helped clear some land, got some “big top” tents and started having class. The school is staffed by Haitians and we are helping with some of the logistics….like school benches. One great approach that Haiti Family is implementing is to get Haitians jobs…and helping a school like this helps get those teachers and administrators back to their jobs….it’s so fun to see the kids come to school, sit in their benches and learn…
Teaching: I continue to lead three different groups 3- 4 days a week.
Monday Wednesday and Friday I teach conversational English class to two separate groups of young people. The first group is a group of guys called the Yung Goddis (young God followers). This is a group of twelve guys who have changed their lives since the earthquake. Before the quake they were going after money, girls and getting into trouble throughout the neighborhood, now they have dedicated themselves to following God. They range from 15 years old to 21 and many are street kids. Every morning at 5:30 they meet for a bible study, during the day they work. A group of volunteers from Colorado donated some money to start a work program with these young men. So we have used this opportunity to build responsibility and leadership skills into them. For example, being on time for work is very important and how hard they work is looked at etc…etc…etc…Overall they have responded really well to the encouragement that they CAN rebuild their city and nation….both physically and spiritually.
A second group of young adults I teach (Mon, Wed, and Friday), are a group left over from a group that friends Wes and Clint had started. These guys are in their early to mid twenties and just hungry for education and knowledge. Most of these guys want to become experts at the English language to be, politicians, lawyers and leaders of their community. Now I do have a curriculum but Wes and Clint original curriculum was reading sections of the English bible along with the Creole bible.
The Third group I lead is the translators bible study. Our organization, Haiti Family ministry, provides translators for our own medical clinics and a local hospital. So Monday thru Thursday I lead a voluntary afternoon bible study on their break time. We are going through the Gospel of John, reading, discussing and applying Jesus’ principles to our lives (or at least trying). There are six to twelve students, depending on the day and the time has been encouraging and challenging.
The rain seems to hit either early evening or at night, my tent has been dry but it gets really hot and stuffy after the rain. The rain busts are 30 -60 min but can be really hard…and in this heat it does not take long to dry out.
We continue to have groups come in from all over the states. Last week a group from Pennsylvania, they worked on a property we are setting up as a second “base” for lodging and relaxing. The group had a couple masons so they built some cinder block walls, and poured concrete, I tried to help but this was their profession…(so I ended up getting in the way), well I like to say I played a supervisory roll. We also are starting to put up “sheds.” Another group from Penn. sent down 50 8x12 Sheds to use as temporary housing…there was a three man crew…setting up two sheds a day. It is hard to keep up as the land has to be cleared first..which is very hard work breaking up rubble by hand and removing this rubble on wheel barrel at a time. Much to say…thanks for reading and your prayers/support
Next week a group from Florida….
Spent the last week uploading antivirus to my computer…it can be a real pain when power/internet keeps going out….sorry about the lack of updates…a lot to do around here
I keep myself really busy, from construction, to rubble removal, to teaching. My latest project was to make 20 desk/benches for a local school that is opening up. Since the quake not many schools have opened, we are working with a school that was in our neighborhood and flattened by the earthquake. We helped clear some land, got some “big top” tents and started having class. The school is staffed by Haitians and we are helping with some of the logistics….like school benches. One great approach that Haiti Family is implementing is to get Haitians jobs…and helping a school like this helps get those teachers and administrators back to their jobs….it’s so fun to see the kids come to school, sit in their benches and learn…
Teaching: I continue to lead three different groups 3- 4 days a week.
Monday Wednesday and Friday I teach conversational English class to two separate groups of young people. The first group is a group of guys called the Yung Goddis (young God followers). This is a group of twelve guys who have changed their lives since the earthquake. Before the quake they were going after money, girls and getting into trouble throughout the neighborhood, now they have dedicated themselves to following God. They range from 15 years old to 21 and many are street kids. Every morning at 5:30 they meet for a bible study, during the day they work. A group of volunteers from Colorado donated some money to start a work program with these young men. So we have used this opportunity to build responsibility and leadership skills into them. For example, being on time for work is very important and how hard they work is looked at etc…etc…etc…Overall they have responded really well to the encouragement that they CAN rebuild their city and nation….both physically and spiritually.
A second group of young adults I teach (Mon, Wed, and Friday), are a group left over from a group that friends Wes and Clint had started. These guys are in their early to mid twenties and just hungry for education and knowledge. Most of these guys want to become experts at the English language to be, politicians, lawyers and leaders of their community. Now I do have a curriculum but Wes and Clint original curriculum was reading sections of the English bible along with the Creole bible.
The Third group I lead is the translators bible study. Our organization, Haiti Family ministry, provides translators for our own medical clinics and a local hospital. So Monday thru Thursday I lead a voluntary afternoon bible study on their break time. We are going through the Gospel of John, reading, discussing and applying Jesus’ principles to our lives (or at least trying). There are six to twelve students, depending on the day and the time has been encouraging and challenging.
The rain seems to hit either early evening or at night, my tent has been dry but it gets really hot and stuffy after the rain. The rain busts are 30 -60 min but can be really hard…and in this heat it does not take long to dry out.
We continue to have groups come in from all over the states. Last week a group from Pennsylvania, they worked on a property we are setting up as a second “base” for lodging and relaxing. The group had a couple masons so they built some cinder block walls, and poured concrete, I tried to help but this was their profession…(so I ended up getting in the way), well I like to say I played a supervisory roll. We also are starting to put up “sheds.” Another group from Penn. sent down 50 8x12 Sheds to use as temporary housing…there was a three man crew…setting up two sheds a day. It is hard to keep up as the land has to be cleared first..which is very hard work breaking up rubble by hand and removing this rubble on wheel barrel at a time. Much to say…thanks for reading and your prayers/support
Next week a group from Florida….
Friday, March 26, 2010
The First couple of Days
Back To Haiti:
On March 19th I flew back to Haiti…for an extended time. As I leave I feel like a new chapter in my life is opening. I don’t know if this is a long…long term stay in Haiti, (like a year or more) or a time with a new focus (job), direction and reaching my dreams and visions. I DO know that as I thought and prayed, I told the mission that I could stay for three months, and then I would re-evaluate. I am looking forward to pressing in. I will press into construction and rebuilding projects, I will press into getting to know the people of Haiti, I will press in Also, pressing into myself (if that makes sense). What Fears do I have, what goals do I have that I need to take steps to accomplish, where do I want to be in five, ten, twenty years…A new chapter ….starting in a new country…a country torn not only by earthquakes but poverty, social/ political unrest…a new day indeed.
Saturday March 20
A group of 12 guys from the neighborhood got baptized today….we loaded fifty people into four vehicles (yes that’s right …two pick-up trucks) Drove about an hour to a “clean” beach and celebrated these guys and the choice to follow God. I had met all of these guys on my first trip, they are pressing into living a right life. We hired them to work on demolishing houses and have been involved in a daily bible study. A good way to enter back into the country.
Sunday, March 21
Found out at 10:00 am that there are 50 sheds at port for us. A company in Pennsylvania donated the sheds (8x12) put them on skids and shipped them…..we knew they were coming but not so soon. We expected them at least a week from now….(everything gets caught up in port)…either in the US or especially in Haiti. We Hired two flat bed trailers…drove into port they loaded them on the flatbed and drove off….not paying anything…ummm miracle? That usually does not happen. Once we arrived at our base camp (about 7:30) the plan was to unload by hand all 50 sheds. Now they are bound together in one “kit” ready to put up…so we did not want to break up the kits and become unorganized. PROBPLEM…they were heavy…we had 20 guys around on shed and had to transport about 100 yards…three sheds removed in one hour…tired men this is not happening. Need a fork lift…the search is on. Marine base…no…finally the small port in Carefour had a fork lift…made arrangements for 7:00amin the morning…paid the truck drivers extra to sleep here overnight. All in the crazy life in Haiti
Monday March 22
Woke up early to unload the trailers…got a fork lift from the port we now have 50 8 x 12 shed to put up. For the people of Haiti….to get them out of the rain. Took about an hour to unload the rest of the sheds…piled them up in the alley…All the Haitians are asking for one…We are clearing one lot at a time…one family at a time.
A new team comes into Haiti today…we as “long timers” are setting up projects for the “one week” crew coming in. The main construction job is at Louis’ house…Louis opened up his property to the” Haiti Family” In the early weeks after the earthquake the teams slept in the courtyard, under the stars before tarps and tents started to arrive. The main focus is to build the walls back up to enclose the property…then put at least two sheds for Louis and his family. Everything takes longer in Haiti…cinder block has to be hauled 300 yards to the property…four or five at a time in a wheel barrel, mortar/sand sifted and mixed by hand….and rubble continued to be removed by hand. Working in 100 degree temps…a long hard days work.
On March 19th I flew back to Haiti…for an extended time. As I leave I feel like a new chapter in my life is opening. I don’t know if this is a long…long term stay in Haiti, (like a year or more) or a time with a new focus (job), direction and reaching my dreams and visions. I DO know that as I thought and prayed, I told the mission that I could stay for three months, and then I would re-evaluate. I am looking forward to pressing in. I will press into construction and rebuilding projects, I will press into getting to know the people of Haiti, I will press in Also, pressing into myself (if that makes sense). What Fears do I have, what goals do I have that I need to take steps to accomplish, where do I want to be in five, ten, twenty years…A new chapter ….starting in a new country…a country torn not only by earthquakes but poverty, social/ political unrest…a new day indeed.
Saturday March 20
A group of 12 guys from the neighborhood got baptized today….we loaded fifty people into four vehicles (yes that’s right …two pick-up trucks) Drove about an hour to a “clean” beach and celebrated these guys and the choice to follow God. I had met all of these guys on my first trip, they are pressing into living a right life. We hired them to work on demolishing houses and have been involved in a daily bible study. A good way to enter back into the country.
Sunday, March 21
Found out at 10:00 am that there are 50 sheds at port for us. A company in Pennsylvania donated the sheds (8x12) put them on skids and shipped them…..we knew they were coming but not so soon. We expected them at least a week from now….(everything gets caught up in port)…either in the US or especially in Haiti. We Hired two flat bed trailers…drove into port they loaded them on the flatbed and drove off….not paying anything…ummm miracle? That usually does not happen. Once we arrived at our base camp (about 7:30) the plan was to unload by hand all 50 sheds. Now they are bound together in one “kit” ready to put up…so we did not want to break up the kits and become unorganized. PROBPLEM…they were heavy…we had 20 guys around on shed and had to transport about 100 yards…three sheds removed in one hour…tired men this is not happening. Need a fork lift…the search is on. Marine base…no…finally the small port in Carefour had a fork lift…made arrangements for 7:00amin the morning…paid the truck drivers extra to sleep here overnight. All in the crazy life in Haiti
Monday March 22
Woke up early to unload the trailers…got a fork lift from the port we now have 50 8 x 12 shed to put up. For the people of Haiti….to get them out of the rain. Took about an hour to unload the rest of the sheds…piled them up in the alley…All the Haitians are asking for one…We are clearing one lot at a time…one family at a time.
A new team comes into Haiti today…we as “long timers” are setting up projects for the “one week” crew coming in. The main construction job is at Louis’ house…Louis opened up his property to the” Haiti Family” In the early weeks after the earthquake the teams slept in the courtyard, under the stars before tarps and tents started to arrive. The main focus is to build the walls back up to enclose the property…then put at least two sheds for Louis and his family. Everything takes longer in Haiti…cinder block has to be hauled 300 yards to the property…four or five at a time in a wheel barrel, mortar/sand sifted and mixed by hand….and rubble continued to be removed by hand. Working in 100 degree temps…a long hard days work.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
FIRST TRIP Feb 10th-28th 2010
A note on Haiti From the desk of Mark Leyen
Hello friends,
The whole country has seen the media images of the devastation in Haiti from the recent earthquake. Personally, I have been glued to the news reports and photos in the last month and have had a desire to help. I pursued volunteering with a number of organizations.
On Monday (Feb 8th), a friend sent me an e-mail of an organization which has been flying people (mostly medical staff) into Port-au-Prince to work at a mission. The mission is located in Carrefour, which is a suburb of Port-au-Prince and was one of the hardest hit locations. The e-mail stated a need for a person to help with logistics, including clearing debris, and starting two rebuilding projects. After calls back and forth, there is one seat available on Thursday (Feb 11th) 10:00am. Needless to say, yours truly now has that seat reserved.
In this short time I have researched and found out the local mission is being helped by two organizations, World Compassion Network and Mission of Mercy. These organizations have had a presence in Haiti before the earthquake and obviously will continue to serve the people. I have felt God's calling and feel this is an awesome opportunity to serve the Haitian people! My desire is also more long term. I would love to lead and set up future trips so others, like yourself, can have opportunities to serve in this time of need.
As I write this letter (on Tues the 9th) things are happening so fast. I booked a flight to Fort Lauderdale for Wed, I’m starting to pack and get the resources needed for such a trip, and cancelling some work and appointments. Yes, I am excited to go and serve the people of Haiti. I also find myself really anxious; what it is really like down there… the hurt, the pain, the devastation. On a personal level I am anxious about the financial cost of the trip. I am fortunate to be working as an independent contractor which allows the time flexibility. However, I’m estimating my expenses to be about $2,000 for the two week trip and Praying God will provide.
NEW UPDATE: Sat Feb 13th
I made it to Haiti...WOW the buildings are just rubble and the ones still standing are not being used because they are not structurally sound. We woke up this morning to a aftershock. The organizations I'm down here with are doing a great Job supplying Doctors, nurses, medical supplies, food and water. The people are scrambling for their daily food. Walking the streets which I have done a couple times, i have felt safe (been with a translator each time) people ask for food etc but not threatening. The base camp I'm staying at is made up of a medical storage/bunk house, it has a water filtration system and a well, which has a spicket outside of the wall for the people of the neighborhood. My tent is on a building next door to the base camp. I worked building a wall out of scrap material, and building a storage shed. So much to say and I don't have much time on the internet.
Carefour
The City we are staying in is a city/ area called Carefour (ka foo). This city is directly south and West of Port-au Prince and is one of the hardest hit/damaged areas for two reasons. First: it is close to the epicenter, Second it is a middle class neighborhood. Just about all the buildings are built with concrete and cinder block all throughout Haiti. Carefour, as most highly populated, middle class neighborhoods throughout the world, the residents build “up” or have multiple floors on their buildings. Therefore as the earthquake hit, the concrete slabs that made up each floor, fell straight down like a house of cards. Just about every house miles upon miles, caving in, falling in on itself. The residents, fearful of entering into any building left standing, have taken to living in the courtyards, open spaces and even setting up “camp” in the streets. A true homeless country.
Walking the streets in Carefour Haiti:
From the first day our team of American relief workers were walking the streets throughout the Carefour region. Throughout this time the people have been good, appreciative with smiles and high fives. Each and every day about three or four oclock the boys take to the streets to play soccer. Make shift goals ( 3 foot by 2 foot) a two lane paved street and some really good futball players. As we walk or drive many times we hear the words “hey you” or “blah” (which means white) yelled from the children playing. We respond back with a “hey YOU” or a “wee blah” (yes white), Always getting a smile in return. The adults greet us with a “boijure” or “boiswa” (good morning, good afternoon). We have bought some food from street vendors (being careful not to upset our system to much). More and more we see the Haitians starting to remove rubble. Hauling it out to the streets or shoveling the debris into dump trucks. The City of Carefour has hired young men (all dressed in yellow) to shovel rubble into a dump truck. Needless to say there is good job security because each day more rubble replaces the removed rubble. Seems like a never ending Job…the way we look at it is bringing HOPE one shovel of rubble at a time. One cleared lot at a time…one new shelter at a time…drops of HOPE.
Mark
Hello friends,
The whole country has seen the media images of the devastation in Haiti from the recent earthquake. Personally, I have been glued to the news reports and photos in the last month and have had a desire to help. I pursued volunteering with a number of organizations.
On Monday (Feb 8th), a friend sent me an e-mail of an organization which has been flying people (mostly medical staff) into Port-au-Prince to work at a mission. The mission is located in Carrefour, which is a suburb of Port-au-Prince and was one of the hardest hit locations. The e-mail stated a need for a person to help with logistics, including clearing debris, and starting two rebuilding projects. After calls back and forth, there is one seat available on Thursday (Feb 11th) 10:00am. Needless to say, yours truly now has that seat reserved.
In this short time I have researched and found out the local mission is being helped by two organizations, World Compassion Network and Mission of Mercy. These organizations have had a presence in Haiti before the earthquake and obviously will continue to serve the people. I have felt God's calling and feel this is an awesome opportunity to serve the Haitian people! My desire is also more long term. I would love to lead and set up future trips so others, like yourself, can have opportunities to serve in this time of need.
As I write this letter (on Tues the 9th) things are happening so fast. I booked a flight to Fort Lauderdale for Wed, I’m starting to pack and get the resources needed for such a trip, and cancelling some work and appointments. Yes, I am excited to go and serve the people of Haiti. I also find myself really anxious; what it is really like down there… the hurt, the pain, the devastation. On a personal level I am anxious about the financial cost of the trip. I am fortunate to be working as an independent contractor which allows the time flexibility. However, I’m estimating my expenses to be about $2,000 for the two week trip and Praying God will provide.
NEW UPDATE: Sat Feb 13th
I made it to Haiti...WOW the buildings are just rubble and the ones still standing are not being used because they are not structurally sound. We woke up this morning to a aftershock. The organizations I'm down here with are doing a great Job supplying Doctors, nurses, medical supplies, food and water. The people are scrambling for their daily food. Walking the streets which I have done a couple times, i have felt safe (been with a translator each time) people ask for food etc but not threatening. The base camp I'm staying at is made up of a medical storage/bunk house, it has a water filtration system and a well, which has a spicket outside of the wall for the people of the neighborhood. My tent is on a building next door to the base camp. I worked building a wall out of scrap material, and building a storage shed. So much to say and I don't have much time on the internet.
Carefour
The City we are staying in is a city/ area called Carefour (ka foo). This city is directly south and West of Port-au Prince and is one of the hardest hit/damaged areas for two reasons. First: it is close to the epicenter, Second it is a middle class neighborhood. Just about all the buildings are built with concrete and cinder block all throughout Haiti. Carefour, as most highly populated, middle class neighborhoods throughout the world, the residents build “up” or have multiple floors on their buildings. Therefore as the earthquake hit, the concrete slabs that made up each floor, fell straight down like a house of cards. Just about every house miles upon miles, caving in, falling in on itself. The residents, fearful of entering into any building left standing, have taken to living in the courtyards, open spaces and even setting up “camp” in the streets. A true homeless country.
Walking the streets in Carefour Haiti:
From the first day our team of American relief workers were walking the streets throughout the Carefour region. Throughout this time the people have been good, appreciative with smiles and high fives. Each and every day about three or four oclock the boys take to the streets to play soccer. Make shift goals ( 3 foot by 2 foot) a two lane paved street and some really good futball players. As we walk or drive many times we hear the words “hey you” or “blah” (which means white) yelled from the children playing. We respond back with a “hey YOU” or a “wee blah” (yes white), Always getting a smile in return. The adults greet us with a “boijure” or “boiswa” (good morning, good afternoon). We have bought some food from street vendors (being careful not to upset our system to much). More and more we see the Haitians starting to remove rubble. Hauling it out to the streets or shoveling the debris into dump trucks. The City of Carefour has hired young men (all dressed in yellow) to shovel rubble into a dump truck. Needless to say there is good job security because each day more rubble replaces the removed rubble. Seems like a never ending Job…the way we look at it is bringing HOPE one shovel of rubble at a time. One cleared lot at a time…one new shelter at a time…drops of HOPE.
Mark
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