Too Fast

Another trip comes to a close.  It always flies by too quickly.

After the recent hurricane, the families took the materials from the broken
shelters and sold them to buy chickens and feed.

Michel Delecia will have a baby by the time I return.

They do have a partial set of Dominoes.

Broken drain on the well.

Edison

From the minute I met this gem, he stole my heart.  Edison (eight months) has been living in the village with his grandmother for just under two months.  His mother died in an accident and he has not been taken care of.  My heart hurt when I found him crying in a house by himself.  I hold him most days and spent half of a day trying to buy formula and a bottle at the outdoor market just to feed him.  Whenever I see him he is always dirty and nearly always alone.  When I ask the people who is responsible for him while his grandmother is in town, no one responds.  He is alone and usually forgotten.  He is treated like a burden to those around him.

When I found him on this particular day Edison was naked and dirty.  I scooped him up and took him to the van.  The kids of the village started laughing and followed me.  Carlitos held him while I washed his body with water and face with a wipe.  Then we held him and prayed for him.  Carlitos in Spanish and I in English.

Edison is very little.  He is able to sit but can't do much else as his legs are not strong enough.  His hair is patchy from malnutrition.

These are the types of circumstances I come across that break my heart for this country and for the world.  I've been in Haiti, but there are children just like these suffering in our neighborhoods, schools and even churches in the United States.

"Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it."

"Well why don't you ask Him?"

"Because I'm afraid He would ask me the same question."  -Anonymous

"If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered."  

-Proverbs 21:13

Sometimes I need to get away from the work and that is when I visit Jeanilia.  She is always the person I need to see.  We worked side by side at Victory Compassion my first two months in Haiti this year.  She is so sweet and we communicate speaking Spanish.  Jeanilia is a remarkable woman and ray of light to those around her.  She is so wise and has a gentle spirit.  I spent all afternoon with her catching up, laughing, and just enjoying her company.

Jeanilia's Dad and I with their "pets".

Jeanilia and her family in her home. 

Carlos and I spent some time in Jeanilia's village and the girls wanted to do Carlos' hair.
It was the afternoon entertainment.

Jeanilia's home.  She lives on one side with her two children and her Dad lives on the other.

We walked to a small hut to buy cokes.

The locals got a kick out of us.

On our walk back, Jeanilia's kids had to walk by their friends who were at the well getting water for their families.  If you look closely at the left - her kids are hiding their cokes behind their backs so their friends don't see their treats.

Village Photo

Small damage from a recent Hurricane.  I planted this tree last year.

The People

Checking in on the people.  They always make me smile.

Edison  <3

Bathtime with Stefana and Mom Nerlande. 

Rodella and I near the well house.

Hardware Stores

For those who are curious.  Here are the insides of two hardware stores.

MSC - the biggest hardware store in Port-au-Prince. $$$

Medium-sized Hardware Store

Plumbing Fixtures and Tile. My favorite since I work as a Project Engineer in between trips.

Parengcoy Medal Parade 2012

Many congratulations to my Parengcoy friends

(Paraguayan Engineering Company) on their year of service in Haiti!

September Trip

I was so honored to be invited back to Haiti to celebrate the Medal Parade Ceremony with my United Nations' Paraguayan Friends.  They have played such a big role in my Haiti experience and I was overjoyed to spend their special day with them.

Due to bad weather in Florida, my flight was delayed and rerouted.  To make matters worse, I missed my flight and it was the last flight to Port-au-Prince for the day.  Along with nine others, I had to stay in Fort Lauderdale for the night.  After a long and stressful day, there was an upside.  I met a new friend named Cara.  Cara was heading to Haiti for three months to work on a project she started with a friend to help kids overcome hunger.  Completely inspiring and encouraging!  I was definitely supposed to miss my flight to meet her.  We had dinner and even ended up sharing the cost of a hotel room.  I know we will be in touch.  It is fun to meet people and feel understood.