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