Rice Tears

Social Work in Haiti: 

This morning we set out to visit an orphanage down the mountain. 

When we stopped off to call for directions, I saw a lady selling bananas that had about an hour of hope in the hot sun, so I bought all 16. 

She screamed in joy. 

100 guds made her squeal. $2.25 USD completely changed her day. And now I was armed with a healthy snacks for the babies. 

The orphanage I visited has 14 sweet children, that are loved. Like a lot caretakers in Haiti, they are weary from political corruption, and low on resources. 

I made friends, and offered support. And I'm thrilled for the opportunities this meeting provided. I am excited to bring Miles and Everest to love those kids. I see my boys understanding the love those kids need better than me. I look forward to meeting with some of the parents of the children, and hope we can bring some families back together. 

Then we headed up the beautiful mountain. Montage Noir. To meet with a mother that asked me to help her daughter. 

She was at our door at 9AM from a village up the hill. I'm assuming she walked about 4 miles. 

We stopped to call for directions as is the custom, and she met us at the end of a rural road. We took the motto over complete rocks the rest of the way. As an American you are just waiting for a tire to pop. But we got there. 

There were pigs and trash in the side yard, and clothes lines hung from bananas trees. She brought me in and gave me a seat. Nicola my driver translated that her daughter is having pain all thru her arm, and her finger no longer works. It was bizarre. Her pinky was completely curled up, and it hurt to touch it. 

I looked at the finger, and had no assessment skills whatsoever. I have no idea what can be done for that. But this girl deserves to see a doc, right?  I told her to let me know what the expenses will be to see one. She was incredibly grateful. 

I carry snacks around with me for kids. When I gave her kids some crackers, it was obvious they hadn't eaten for a while.

I asked her what food they have at home right now. 

She said they did not have food for 3 days.

I asked her how many people she feeds. She said 6.

Her children both had school uniforms on. I asked her what she pays for their school. 

She said $30/mo. 

So many Haitians choose between food and education. It sucks. 

I asked Nicola to stop translating and asked him what I could get them to eat that would help. 

He raised his eyebrows like 'really, white girl?' and said "rice?"

Duh. Rice. 

So I got back on the motto, and bought them a 30 pound bag of rice. We punctured a tire on those rocks hauling that rice back up.  

But, people cried about the rice. I just can't handle leaving people hungry yet. Maybe I will eventually grow accustomed to it. But, I am still hauling rice up mountains right now. I am not ready to go home and eat dinner knowing a family God placed in my life this morning is on day three of hunger. I know I can not feed all of Haiti, but I really wish I could. They deserve food. 

$3/usd to get the tire fixed here. Thanks for hauling me around the mountains, buddy.

I love Haiti. I am so excited to get the employment program rolling. Woman need jobs, so bad. They deserve them. Every woman I've met so far would do anything I asked her to to make money. They would happily do anything. Product development has resumed! I just need a space to work with them now. 

I have this vision for a community center in my village. There are some beautiful houses mixed in with cement huts. I want to have a place to run my employment program, that is also a place children can play, and learn, and starving people can eat. Pray for that with me. My only limitation is money. But I know if God gave me the vision, He's got the moola. 

Tomorrow I meet the Social Work students I will be teaching. Tausha the teacher! Whoop! :-) 

Time on this island is like LOST. 

It's been a week in your world. It's been a year in mine. 

I love it.