Hello From Haiti

Ok, so Dick posts on the other blog, but I figured I could post my impressions here.  I am not sure where to begin or how to explain what you see here.  When we first arrived at the airport all seems normal other than you are bussed to a large metal "garage" for immigration and customs as well as baggage claim.  There are hundreds of people in there and baggage comes fairly quickly.  Then once you proceed outside there is a large tent and hundreds of people wanting to help you with your items, for a fee. It is utter chaos and actually could have been quite frightening.  John Engle met us there and we proceeded through the crowds to his vehicle.

The streets are a mess of people, trash, rubble, animals, carts, fires, and so much more.  There are large holes, cracks, and more that you must drive around or through.  Many roads are unpaved and appear to be little more than a walking path that someone drove over.  There are small carts with food and goods for sale everywhere and amidst in all what looks like a million tents in areas that used to be parks and fields.  Those who are "lucky" have a tarp or tents, the unlucky try to string up any fabric they have found between wood poles.  There are lines of port a potties here and there and I did see one man with a bucket, cleaning them out. 

The children are seen waiting in line for water from one source or another, playing in a pile of rubbish, sitting on the side of the road or in it, hard to tell the difference.  They walk miles carrying water or anything else that the family needs.  Some have shoes and clothing, some do not.  Many people are trying to earn a living, through these streetside sales, offering some sort of service, or gathering coal, metal, wood or other items.

Each day I amazed at the horrific sights I have seen, the rubble is everywhere and it is obvious it was not there before.  I feel sad and powerless.  What can we do to help so very many who are suffering?  The sand and wind and dirt that blows through the air is a horrible reminder of the conditions here.  Your skin is almost coated in it, thrown from the still fresh debris.

The school IMN we visited in Darbonne is a simple structure with 3 rooms each divided in half for each class.  The children where all dressed up and had prepared a program for us.  They were adorable and grateful and so well behaved.  Yet what you did not see was the conditions they went home to.  The fact that water was only available from 4-6PM I believe they said, so we must be done in time for them to go wait in line at the only water source at that time.

Many have cleared rubble and some have been able to begin rebuilding in some form.  The director of the school has a small home (one room) with plywood and a tin roof.  He and his wife were so very wonderful, they welcomed us into their home, served us rice and beans and chicken.  They had been preparing the meal for 3-4 hours.  I felt so disheartened by what was around them and the conditions that is hard to accept food when you know they have so little.

I am not sure what more to tell you about right now, perhaps when I am back in the states I will be able to reflect more, for now, there is just a huge overwhelming sadness that there is so very little I can do for these people.  I am also so very grateful for being born where I was and yet that seems so very selfish...