Haiti Assessment Trip #4
Slept in until 8.30am -- so tired! Ate freeze-dried egg/ham breakfast. Dialoged with Hatian Pastor J about ideas how CoAid could help. Shared idea of disaster preparedness bootcamp. Met with Pastor G later in the morning and shared same ideas and explored how CoAid could partner with their development ministry (SKDE).
Skipped lunch. Visited small area where about 200 people camped in rough conditions. Uneven ground, no water, limited shelter, not very good situation at all. Was told there are 42-44 families in this location. Getting GPS fix has been difficult in general.
Drove through ruined streets to SKDE ministry center and toured the building. No damage to their property, but people living in tents outside on street. Visited a woman in ruined property across the street. Her son is dead inside. Her son was visiting for Christmas/New Year from overseas. She seemed resigned to her situation. Hard to know what to say. All I could say was “I’m sorry”. She told me that she’s living with her aunt or cousin nearby. The house appeared to have been a sizeable one – would have cost money. Earthquake is no respector of persons or property. The rich and poor have suffered alike.
Visited “Maison Des Enfants De Dieu” (Home of the Children of God) orphanage (Delmas 31, No 32) to look for Oslene B, an 11 month old girl adopted by a family known to us in Denver. I was told Oslene had already left for USA. I met the orphanage manager (Pierre A) and gave him the baby formula and some cold medicine (Motrin, Tylenol). They seemed really happy to receive them. Spent a little while taking photos and with the orphans. One 7 year old girl, Sabine seemed particularly interested in meeting me. She spoke some English and I actually started to feel a bit choked up, wanting to adopt her there and then! There seemed to be some kind of connection with Sabine. I asked Pierre about her situation. He told me her parents dropped her off because they were unable to take care of her since the quake. He said he even doubted they would return for her and asked if I would want to be contacted if he learned more. I assumed by this he meant adoption. I said “yes”. Youngest infants sleeping with flies on their faces. Handed out 6 small boxes of raisons to the kids. Gave the first one to Sabine. Didn’t really want to leave.
Drove to Presidential Palace area and took photos. Saw thousands of people living on streets. Trash and filth everywhere. Visited another pastors sister. His nephew was attending a technical college, but that got flattened. He lamented his future saying it just “exploded” on January 12th. The pastors sister doesn’t make much of an income so they’re struggling. I prayed with him that he wouldn’t lose hope and keep faithful in prayer.
Returned to Pastor G’s guesthouse for a welcome meal of rice, beans and fish. Paid $50 for diesel, $50 for driver. Need to be better prepared next time for knowing what expenses to be prepared for (take more smaller bills, $20s, $10s, $5s).
