Hello all, below are our final thoughts on our trip last week to Haiti.

My body is here but my mind is still filled with images from Haiti. I wish I could share something profound or deep. But I feel very much at a loss for words. I didn’t realize how much it gets someone “down” to look around and see so much destruction every minute of every day – to look at rubble – to look at buildings and know there are bodies in there – to think about how many died in this place, in that place – to know that schools are demolished, garbage is mounting, sewage is flowing freely. After just a few days I already longed to see beauty.

And on the fourth day beauty came! and with it came hope.

I had asked Erold, the education director, if he could gather a few children because I had some cards children in Hartford had made for them. I wanted to take their picture with the cards so the kids in Hartford could see I had delivered them. So when these 5 neighborhood children came into the yard – all scrubbed and polished and in their neat and clean clothes – it really was a beautiful sight! Their smiles and enthusiasm and excitement at receiving the cards and having the sentiments read to them and explained – it was a wonderful moment. And those eager faces brought me to a place of hope as well. If we keep working together we can create a Haiti that will not fail these kids. We cannot give up and let them down. They are living daily with what felt to me like a boulder on my shoulders. While I knew I was going back home to a more beautiful place, they have to keep up the daily struggle for survival. So I ask all of you to continue your prayers, your interest, your financial support when you can. I know that we can make a difference for these children! …..Sue

I have never felt guilty about having to leave Haiti. But this time on the way to the airport I felt like I was leaving the scene of an accident. In reality our brief trip could not compare, in terms of impact, to the medical groups that preceded us or that will follow us. Still I felt that we were at least able to show a familiar face to the staff and to the neighborhood. We were able to say in halting and limited Kreyole that we were sorry for what had happened and that HSJ will remain committed long after international organizations and media run out of budget and will to be there. We were able to discuss plans for the future with Max and his management team and even shared a few lighthearted moments.

The contrast of demolition and reconstruction at HSJ was not lost on me and served as a metaphor for the challenge that HSJ faces. We have an opportunity, with God’s help, to recreate and rebuild with the resolve to effectively address the injustices that have long plagued the people of Christ ROi and all of Haiti. Like Sue the smiling faces of the children, the determined work of the contractors on our site, the resolve of Max and the staff, the tough decisions being made and the plans being executed demonstrated to me that hope is not lost.

We, personally and as part of the HSJ organization, have felt your support and prayers throught these past 2 months. It helps to keep us going and for that we thank you very much……..Dennis

We had an opportunity to see some of the destruction downtown and in Christ Roi up close. It is much worse than the clips shown on TV..entire neighborhoods buried under the rubble…tents everywhere some distributed by Hospice from those donated by CRS, families under tarps…people sleeping on the streets. About 6 hours after we returned we were sleeping and wakened by heavy rain on the tin roof of our dorm. We stayed dry …we need to thank the carpenters this morning for that. We are certain the people on the streets and in tents did not fair as well. There is rain in the forecast today and probably many days to come until the rainy season ends …maybe by July. Hospice and organizations like it are doing what can be done…but the need is great.

Max and I were able to get to the UN headquarters this afternoon …traffic notwithstanding…and met with a UNICEF representative regarding getting assistance for our nutrition program. We are hopeful that the conversation and follow up will be beneficial.

This is the last full day of our brief stay. We needed to see for ourselves what had happened. We were heartened that programs are re-emerging with a sense of purpose and we are now looking to the future. I believe a lot of productive discussions took place which will serve the post earthquake Hospice well. ..Dennis

I just couldn’t sleep last night – especially when the rain started. I kept thinking of the mommies holding the babies up. Max says they just try to find a building with an overhang that looks safe enough and they stand there as long as necessary – all night long if needed. It was hard to lie there safe and dry.

Today a baby was born right in the street. The poor Mom had no privacy at all, but at least the clinic nurses were still here and helped her. The doctor had already left.

I think I feel worse today than i did when we first came. The atmosphere is very oppressive. I feel a weight on me. I can’t comprehend how these people are living.

We passed Champ Mars yesterday. It’s a big park right by the palace. Over 26,000 people are living there right now. We drove up to a section called Fort Nationale – we went on street after street – i think there were maybe 2 structures that were still standing. Everything else was rubble. It was like someone had just dropped bombs on it.

It has been very cloudy today and I am pretty sure it will rain again tonight. The employees who have tents say they get wet anyway because they have no tarps underneath and the water just comes up.

Don’t mean to be so depressing. Guess it’s the way I am feeling right now.

On a positive note the clinic reopened today and there were at least 30 people waiting early this morning. So we continue…..

Sue

hello all,

Arrived yesterday early afternoon. The airport was a different experience but not as disorganized as i anticipated. We didn’t know which side to look out the windows as we were driven to Hospice. HUGE tent cities and many smaller clusters. Some are actually tents and others are a mix of sheets, tarps, plastic. When we arrived we took in the sights at and surrounding Hospice. Just utter diisaster. Most of what was close to Hospice is unusable. At Hospice itself we were surprised to see what has already gone up in the yard – with plywood, 2 x 4’s and metal roofing. There is a makeshift office, a dormitory and the initiation of a clinic area.

We were greeted by the employees – some of them still working and some just “hanging out” because this is their “place.” This is where I lost it and just cried for about the first 15 minutes as I greeted each one and asked about their families and their homes. Most of them have nothing left.

Later in the day we walked up the hill to the Genius School where many of the sponsored childdren went – it’s destroyed. We met the brother of the principal who spoke perfect Enbglish and had a nice conversation with him. He is hoping to rebuild – right now he and his father are working on salvaging what they can. At Hospice there have been several parent meetings. Max and Erold (Education Director) were hoping to gaher the children here this week, but because they are taking the building down it’s not safe or practical – hopfully by next week.

Max was out visiting his elderly father so we didn’t see him until the evening. Had a good long talk. Max feels that the earthquake really proved how necessary the services that Hospice offers – expecially the medical – are so needed in this neighborhood as Hospice was the only provider of anything for the first few weeks.

It is a hub of activity here. Five guys with sledgehammers are pretty much taking the building down by hand. This morning they are shoveling the debris into 5 gallon buckets and one wheelbarrow and carrying it down to the pool area (for those of you who don’t know – this was never used as a pool since we have been coming) and filling up that space. I can’t believe how hard they are working..

A small tip for those who follow us here..when taking a bucket shower do a little quality control on the bucket you are using before you take off your clothes…it shortens the shower by at least ten minutes..Slept remarkably well.

all for now.

Peace

Sue and Dennis