eMi Haiti Trip Slide Show

Picture slideshow chronicling my time in Haiti...

Haiti Mission Possible: (Until We Meet Again)

So I left Haiti 2 days ago, and I can’t actually believe my 12 day trip is already over. It didn’t take long for me to get accustomed to my surroundings while in country; I’m a little torn coming home, but I know we did good work for the Real Hope for Haiti ministry. Ironically enough, despite all the hard work we as a team poured into planning the ministry’s future site, I think our entire team would say the ministry gave us far more than we gave it. The people and stories I encountered were eye opening and very touching; I can’t say there was anything I did prior to going to Haiti that adequately prepared me for the emotional roller coaster ride. As I leave, the only thing I am certain of is that this is not the last time Haiti will see me. The big question is in what capacity I come back. I leave Haiti a better person and stronger professional; I thank everyone for all the support and prayers during my time away. Take a chance to view my slideshow including many pictures that tell stories I could not adequately capture in words through this journal. Hopefully, my experience has touched you in some way. To Haiti I don’t say good-bye, but rather “see you later”.

Haiti Mission Possible: Day 11

Tuesday, July 6, 2010 – Today, I helped out around the ministry by babysitting Darlenz (DaDa); he’s one of the rescue center kids that require one-on-one attention because of his unique case. A long-term volunteer from the states, Anna (she is 21, and this is her second long-term trip as a volunteer in Haiti within three years), has been giving him that care, but she also serves as a home-school teacher to Licia’s three sons and today she was needed to focus on the boys, but she was also reluctant to leaving DaDa in the rescue center, because he is so weak. I’m so happy I volunteered to take on the assignment for a few hours.

DaDa is the most adorable boy, but his story is so sad. He was brought to the rescue center after the earthquake; both his parents were killed during the earthquake and an aunt brought him to the center to get him the proper help (apparently he was malnourished even before the earthquake). That aunt has not been back since and a 16 year-old sister has been by to visit him once in the 5 months he’s been there. They believe DaDa is 3 years old, and only weighs 16 pounds. He’s only gained 5 pounds since being at the center (he was 11 pounds when he arrived), and they do not believe he is going to make it long term. They believe his problems are far more than just the malnourishment, but they have not come up with any specific diagnosis. In just a few hours, I grew attached to this little boy; he has the greatest smile and is so loving, but it breaks my heart seeing how sick he is.

I also got to spend some time with Denny (I talked about him in a previous post) and Joel; they are the two oldest kids currently in the rescue center. They often get overlooked for attention because they appear pretty normal on the outside and there are plenty of little kids that need holding. They were jumping all over me, and though I was tired and they were heavy, these few minutes of being uncomfortable paled in comparison to the joy that was on their faces because I was focused on them. They are just one of the many reasons why this project is so important and needs to be made a reality. The ministry wants to give them and all the children a better facility, and I’m so happy to be a part of realizing this vision.

I was so excited about coming here to Haiti, but on the eve of my return home to the U.S., I’m a bit sad…I’m not sure I’m ready to go. Yes, I can’t lie; I want to get home and see my family and friends, eat ice cream, continue my job search, take a shower, wash my hair and watch T.V., but I’d be willing to stay longer. I don’t believe I’ve gotten everything I’m supposed to get from Haiti yet; there’s still so much I have to see and experience…

Haiti Mission Possible: Day 10

Monday, July 5, 2010 – Today we wrapped up our technical work on site and took the opportunity to lend a helping hand around the ministry and take in the community, but unfortunately the day started out with some bad news, two of the kids in the rescue center had died (which is actually not abnormal considering some of the severe sickness they suffer from); these were the first to die while we were on site. Though I had not directly interacted with the two children who’d passed, I still felt a sense of sadness come over me; these kids did not die because they were born with a disease or a deformity, they died because they had been severely malnourished for so long, and the rescue center just didn’t have enough time to reverse the health damages that had been already done. There was also a stomach virus going around that made most of the children sick and there was an outbreak of chicken pox that spread to 7 of the 60 kids at the center.

In that moment of hearing this information, I thought about my niece Natalia, my acquired nephews TJ and Lennox and all the children who are a part of and will enter my life in the future. These children are happy, healthy kids who can go on about the business of being children without the worry of not having their basic needs provided for. I can’t even imagine them not having food to eat or being severely malnourished. A large number of the center’s kids suffer from a form a malnutrition call Kwashiorkor (Kwash).  When a child has Kwash, they are lacking protein in their diet which first stunts their growth and then eventually causes swelling on certain parts of their body. When I first arrived, I noticed some of these children because they are so small and appear to be in so much pain; a lot of them have to have feeding tubes and/ or placed on oxygen to survive. But the most shocking thing is that these children, who appear to be infants because they are so small, are actually toddlers and young children ages 3 to 5 who can actually speak and understand conversation.

If one even spends a minute in the rescue center, you can clearly see the need for a bigger building/ facility where they can adequately care for these sick children. The ministry does the best they can with what they have, but it doesn’t mean they should accept that as the best and final solution for the needs of these children. Once again, I am amazed at the work they do with the facilities that they have. They are meeting the needs of Cazale and the surrounding communities in ways that can only be fulfilled by the grace if God.

Haiti Mission Possible: Day 9

Sunday, July 4, 2010 - After our presentation yesterday, we took the evening off and went to a nearby beach where we spent the night. Licia & Lori (Real Hope for Haiti ministry heads) suggested we take a little time to enjoy some rest and relaxation at a nearby beach; they thought we’d worked so hard yet had only been exposed to extreme poverty; they wanted us to see that Haiti had much more to offer aside from the devastation and scarce resources prevalent in the media. I was hesitant about leaving the center and village for an overnight trip at a resort because I didn’t want to indulge in excess while so many people I’ve seen all week had been struggling just to get by. I guess I felt guilty because I’d get to go and enjoy something the majority of them will never have the chance to partake even though it’s so physically close their own town.

Ultimately, I joined the rest of the team and we spent the evening at the beach. We stayed at the Kaliko Beach Club; the accommodations were nice, and though guest services were a bit shaky, the beach was beautiful. Although I was hesitant, I’m happy I could actually take a shower, wash my hair and properly groom after 8 days of not being able to do so. I woke up this morning feeling physically refreshed, but my heart and mind kept drifting back to Cazale. I didn’t complain about the housing arrangements we had at the ministry; most Americans would find the accommodations less than ideal, but to the Cazale villagers, I was living like a king. I had access to a generator for electricity; I had convenient access to clean drinking water; I had a bed with a mattress to sleep on and a flushable toilet to use. The basic necessities we covered, yet I kept asking myself, what would I do if I had to live like this forever; could I really do it or am I able to do it because I know I’ll be enjoying the comforts of home in just a short while? Why can’t we live in a world where everyone has access to basic essentials needs? Why can’t we live in a world where the difference between the “haves” and the “have nots” is not so drastic? I know everything can’t be perfect, but I was so conflicted as I sat on the sand taking in the beautiful beach.

When we got back to the ministry, the ladies had prepared a traditional American barbeque meal for us to enjoy. I almost forgot it was the 4th of July; but I’ve never felt so blessed more than now to call the United States home. I am so grateful for the many freedoms we enjoy and the governmental process (though frustrating at times) that will ultimately always protect and provide for our basic needs.

Haiti Mission Possible: Day 8

Saturday, July 3, 2010 - There were smiles all around today. After hours of work and many revisions, we had the opportunity to reveal the polished and refined plan to the ministry, but they’d already seen most of what we’d been working on throughout the week, it wasn’t until we presented the model we built to the client that we got a spirited reaction. You could tell in Zack, Licia and Lori’s reaction that the model somehow represented all the hopes and dreams they’ve had for the past eleven years. As simple as our model was (it was made from cardboard and random items we found lying around), it was a clear indication that God was moving their plans forward; it was a stepping stone that was the transition from dream to goal. At once, they all smiled from ear-to-ear, which was something they had not done during any of our previous meetings.

My favorite part of the model was the rainbow we added at the last minute over the property. When we first arrived, and Zack was driving us from the airport to the ministry’s home, he stopped by the future site and we all piled out of the truck. He saw a rainbow on the horizon and told us that was a sign from God that our team would surely be a blessing to the Real Hope for Haiti (RHFH) ministry. Throughout the week he kept referencing that rainbow, and we knew it would be a neat idea to make it part of the model. We got the biggest grin, laugh and smile from him when he saw the rainbow.

In that moment, we’d somehow brought them once step closer to fulfilling their hearts’ desire and God’s will for their ministry. It’s an indescribable feeling, that feeling you get when you know you’ve tapped into a source of true happiness for someone else.

Haiti Mission Possible: Day 7 (Beautifully Yours)

“No I am not dressed up and yet I’m beautifully yours; cause I’m showing my praise to you.  And this is no vain pursuit, and there’s no need to be cute, I’m a beautiful soul in you.   
When I appear to complain, all this world brought me was pain, I was left to love myself.   
But when I looked in your mirror, Lord I saw things much clearer I’m wonderful in your sight.
Beautifully yours, your love from inside me pours, there is no average or ugly in me…”

Those are a few lyrics from a song called “Beautifully Yours” written by my friend Hakeem. I’ve loved this song from the first time he Iet me hear it, and I often listen to it as a reminder of the beauty all of us have in God’s eyes. Today I want to reflect and talk about some of the people I’ve met during my time in Haiti thus far. There have been so many great people with beautiful stories that I’ve encountered here in Haiti; these are a few of their stories.

Denny – is a 6-year old Haitian boy who lives in the rescue center. He was born with hydrocephalus (a condition that retains water in the brain); the condition takes on many different forms in various children depending on how quickly the condition is detected and operated on. Denny was about 2 years old when his family abandoned him at the gates of the rescue center. A team of doctors from the University of Miami and various philanthropic organizations banded together to perform the surgery of Denny, but it had been untreated for far too long, which caused Denny to have an abnormally large head from all the water swelling. He can live a long life with proper care and so long as the shunt does not shift; if it shifts, he can die instantly. He’s lived in the rescue center since he was left here 4 years ago; the clinic has not sent him to an orphanage because of his condition, but they have tried to work with various orphanages to try to get him adopted; there have been many initial interest about adopting him, but for one reason or another those proceedings have fell through. He has such a magnetic personality and seems to have taken a liking to me (although I’m sure he wouldn’t mind anyone who would shower him with love and attention). I give him as much love as I can on my short stops at the rescue center daily. Despite his physical deformity, he’s beauty shines through every time he smiles.

Yves – is a RHFH staff who does random odd jobs around the facility and basically serves as a right-hand to Zack (the ministry patriarch). Yves was born and raised in Haiti, and has worked for Real Hope For Haiti (RHFH) for a quite a while; he is faithful and has an infectious personality though he is shy and quite. I’ve chatted with him a few times (I’m been practicing my Creole so much since I’ve been here). The thing that strikes me the most about Yves is that he seems to think he is not good enough to interact with our team because he is a RHFH worker. A few of us were taking a ride the jobsite and there was room in the truck’s cab, but he stayed outside the cab’s cage and held on to the outside, we asked him to come on in and he said he couldn’t because he was just an employee. After a few more pleads, he agreed to come in and sat off to the side. I think that was my first time holding an entire conversation with him; we talked about our families and discussed various topics surrounding Haiti, the earthquake and his hopes for the future. If you ask Yves if he thinks he is beautiful, he’ll probably say no because he’s focused on the outward beauty, but I say his beauty is his wisdom and his willingness to be of service. He has a warm spirit that puts all at ease; and that beauty beats out any outward appearance any day.

Jess – is a college student from Minnesota who decided to come to Haiti as a volunteer to RHFH after finding their blog and donating supplies and goods to their storage distribution center in Minnesota after the earthquake. She contacted the ministry and asked about volunteering and arrived here in May after her semester was over and will be here through the summer. I think back to what I was doing during my summer term at 21 years-old, and it comes nowhere near the level of compassion and willingness to serve that she displays. At such a young age, she recognized a need and immediately answered the call. Her heart is amazingly beautiful, and is meeting a specific need with such joy in her heart.


These are just a few of the people I had the chance to interact with since being here. They all radiate beauty in such unique ways, which makes me wonder how I exude beauty in my everyday life…

Haiti Mission Possible: Day 6

Thursday, July 1, 2010 – Today was yet another long day of work, but the long days seem like nothing compared to the long days most Cazale villagers spend going about their daily business of living life. I didn’t feel good most of the day due to a stomach virus, but complaining about my ailment seemed unwarranted when there are hundreds of people who walk long miles and many hours just to get to the clinic for their health care needs. Real Hope for Haiti’s clinic (The Good Samaritan Clinic) is the only source of medical care for Cazale and many surrounding villiages. After interacting with a couple of locals and reviewing the process by which all these people are serviced, there is no doubt that this ministry needs a bigger facility that is actually designed as a medical facility for meeting their basic functional needs. Currently, the clinic operates in a large house that is modest compared to even most houses in the states.

There is one occurrence this week associated with the clinic that sits atop the many moments of awareness that struck a chord with me this week. This happened since Monday, June 28th, but I didn’t know how to verbalize what I felt in the moment; 3 days later, I’m finally able to attempt to describe the situation. The clinic operates 3 days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) to treat a variety of non-life threatening medical cases to at least 350 people per day, with Tuesday being the busiest day because of the break in between treatment days. The clinic services on a first-come-first served basis, but recognizing critical cases and pushed them to the head of the line as needed.

People coming for service are handed a ticket number at the beginning of the day outside of the clinics gates and 50 at a time are let into to clinic gates to sit in the waiting area at a time to wait to be triaged and ultimately serviced. People come from near and far to receive care and thus are willing to get to the clinic gates a day before to start lining up to receive a number to ensure they will be seen during that day before the clinic closes at 6pm. They sleep overnight outside the gates in the elements just to make sure they can get medical care. They don’t have camping chairs or sleeping bags or a soft surface to help make their (12- 18 hours) wait more comfortable.

As we, the project team, were walking back to the guest house on Monday night after our nightly devotion and technical debriefing meeting, we had to go through the clinic gates (because the guest house is next to the clinic and our work areas is in a house 2 doors down the street). What I wasn’t prepared for was all the people lined up on the ground in front of the gates sleeping on the ground in front of the gates. They were literally lined up on the exposed ground piled on top of each other sleeping amidst the dirt and trash lined street. We could not get into the gate without having to break through the human chain on the ground and stepping over people.

In that moment, I wanted to run away and get back to my comfortable American life because the scene was too difficult to bare, but I had no choice but to step over those people in the middle of the night with our flashlights (there are no streets lights so it is pitch black) all the while thinking why them Lord, why not me, what did they do to deserve such a bleak fate, what did I do to deserve the comforts of my American life? Are they not humans too, why are they to be made to live in such sub-human conditions? That moment was the hardest human moment I’ve ever experienced because it was clouded with my personal guilt because I knew once I stepped over them, I would be going inside and sleeping in a bed; I also felt guilty because I knew I wouldn’t even for a moment trade places with anyone of those over 200 people.

I saw it with my own eyes and I couldn’t even image what it feels like being that person on the ground with lights flashing in your face as you’re trying to sleep with these supposedly better people trying to get by. Did they feel shame, did they feel less than human, did they think we thought we were superior to them; did they look at me and think why I wasn’t subjected to their conditions? I was one of 2 black people on our 12 person team; I looked like them, but I got to go into the gates and live with the white people “blancs”, so was there something better about me versus them? God I don’t know what to do with this feeling at the pit of my stomach that makes me want to scream. I know life’s not far, but we as humankind have to do better for the less fortunate. What are you trying to teach me in this moment? Because right now, I feel overwhelmingly powerless. For the first time in my life, I can actually say Maya Angelou’s book “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” makes sense, and the book's message can apply to many different types of life experiences…

Haiti Mission Possible: Day 5

Wednesday, June 30, 2010 – Today was another long work day. Sarah worked on the site’s master plan, while Phyllis worked on the designing the work team facility and I worked on space planning and determining appropriate square footage allotments for the clinic & hospital. When Bob (our eMi project team leader) told me I’d be on the architect team, I didn’t really know how my skills (as an interior designer) were going to be put to use on the project; designing basic needs facilities in third world countries is far different from what I’m accustomed to working on in the states. I knew that my space planning skills could be used, but aside from that there is no priority placed on interior finishes and materials on such a project; we aren’t designing to attract business, we’re designing to fill a basic need for the less fortunate.

Both Sarah and Phyllis have both previously participated on eMi projects and were both architects; I didn’t know how the team dynamic would work. After 3 days of working together thus far, I’m pleasantly surprised at how we’ve all come together to fill specific technical needs on this project. I also garnered a stronger sense of respect and appreciation for what architects do. It wasn’t until working with Sarah and observing how she had to effectively communicate surveying and civil and structural engineering concepts to even begin properly planning the site and building locations and design. She has to have such a strong understanding of all related disciplines to do what she does.

This trip has afforded me the opportunity of reflecting on my attitude towards some of the behavior attributed by architects I’ve had to work within the past. It’s now a matter of perspective for me and not about trying to make them understand my importance on a project. I can now make an effort to better relate by understanding their challenges and needs, which will ultimately lead to reciprocity of their offering the same consideration to me. Who knew I’d learn such a lesson while in a rural village in Haiti. God never ceases to amaze me on how he chooses to reveal himself to us!!!