Last stop...the gate in Miami. I heard a group of folks chatting Haiti so of course I went over....they were from Savannah and were catching a flight to Jacksonville ( I guess it was cheaper ) they shared their story talked about their church and how they got involved invited me to an event in December....we were so engrossed in conversation..they missed their flight..so they got on my flight anyway.
On the plane the fellow next to me was young dusty and began the conversation first...Are you from Georgia? He told me he was from Guyton and he had been in the Dominican Republic. On a mission? He replied with a puzzled look.."What??" so the conversation continued.... What were you doing there? Playing baseball. With the youth of Dominica Republic? No I played in a league...Oh..so is that what you do? Yes...I play for the Boston Red Sox...What!.....wait a minute..I might be an old lady but you can't fool me about the Red Sox. My son is a Red Sox fan and knows everything about the team and anyway I have a friend who is related to the CEO Larry Lucino. No really I play for the sox.he said .What position? Mostly out field. I've been with the field team and moved up and then back again. He said his name was Josh Reddick. I asked if he had a baseball card..he said he didn't have any with him...I told him I would check out his story..and if true he would have a new fan and he gave me his autograph. He said his dad was a big baseball fan and he had played since he age of four, he is 23, recruited at age 19.
So when Seth came in to greet me at baggage claim in Savannah with a big hug and said "I won't catch anything from you will I "? Changing the subject , I said, " look at the young guy in the red T shirt..he says he is Josh Reddick with the Boston Red Sox." Seth went over introduced himself ,they chatted....he returned to me smiling.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Tears in my coffee
An hour and forty seven minutes later we were in Miami. It still amazes me Haiti is so close. I got my morning exercise with the walk from the plane through the customs process..will I ever get there? The passengers from our flight carrying backpacks and dragging carry ons continued, not amazing the sniffing "Mitzi " dogs found nothing in our group..and no one was pulled out of line for a spot suitcase search through the customs line. It was like they knew. Who would want to open these dusty bags..who would want the dirty clothes or would have the need for notebooks of reports.
At the main terminal we were suddenly dispersed everyone going in different directions for connecting flights. When I found a small Cuban cafeteria with tables I sat and ordered a cup of coffee and three dinner rolls ( something I craved all week..don't ask me why). I looked at the crowd. There were families, couples, flight attendants busily chatting and eating quickly. I was deep in thought trying to begin to process my week and then I spotted something familiar.. a group of three middle age weary looking travelers and i looked down and sure enough ...my proof .....their shoes were covered in Haiti dust, we exchanged glances, nodded and I began to cry. I put on my sun glasses drank my coffee and realized this trip had an enormous affect on me.
At the main terminal we were suddenly dispersed everyone going in different directions for connecting flights. When I found a small Cuban cafeteria with tables I sat and ordered a cup of coffee and three dinner rolls ( something I craved all week..don't ask me why). I looked at the crowd. There were families, couples, flight attendants busily chatting and eating quickly. I was deep in thought trying to begin to process my week and then I spotted something familiar.. a group of three middle age weary looking travelers and i looked down and sure enough ...my proof .....their shoes were covered in Haiti dust, we exchanged glances, nodded and I began to cry. I put on my sun glasses drank my coffee and realized this trip had an enormous affect on me.
Good Bye
As I waited at the Haiti Port au Prince airport. I saw a whole new group of folks, now dusty and exhausted looking, all returning to the comforts they left behind a week or so, all with light suitcases, no one caring souvenir bags or big straw hats, cartons of duty free rum or a new sarong. There were people with Tshirts announcing their mission, school project or medical team group. The CDC had a team that was leaving, a Canadian group that had installed a water filtration system to a rural village, there were two nurse returning from a month with a look on their faces that I've seem before after someone has seem the worst case ever. We were crowded around one of the two snack bars carrying familiar drinks like coke, snapple and gatorade. I drank two orange gatorades and heard some amazing stories. On the flight I sat next to a young woman from DC , a Haitian who came to the US as a teen and now is in the US Coast Guard. . She was eager to give me the recipe of the rice and bean dish that I ate almost every day and began to really enjoy .She travels with teams as an interpreter. We exchanged emails the I slept.
T-Shirts,Wild Flamingos, Madame La Joi
The young men of Haiti wear T- shirts....but have no idea ( I 'm sure) of what the are announcing on their chest. There is every conceivable slogan and saying ( in English) music groups like the Doors and oldfoot ball and team jerseys , shirts with sponsor names on it like The Dental Group of Greensboro, and old sayings like Good Morning VietNam. IT became a game with me.....even till the last day I never saw what I was looking for.............
but no WVU or Steelers to be found,
Madame Le Joi is the grandmother figure of the orphanage. Not sure her age but I doubt she's even in her 50's but she looks so much older as most do. She looks after the only infant 9 month old Steven. She is different too in the fact she is overwieght. I noticed each time I wore a new outfit she looked and smiled. So when I gave her all of me Haiti outfits the morning I left she seemed most grateful. A while later when getting in the truck on route to the airport...I looked back once more at the place I called home for the last week and on the porch waving and smiling, wearing my pink Walmart dress was Madame La Joi.
On route to Ans Rouge a five hour trip through the coastal towns over what I will now refer to as Barney Rubble territory some thing amazing happened. About halfway through our journey after going past the group grave site of the 500,000 people who died during the earthquake, driving through one dusty poverty shanty town after another, passing Mack trucks going incredible speeds I thought would surely knock us off the road, the ocean appeared and I closed my eyes...I didn't want to see any more sadness ...and when I looked once again at the ocean the sun glinsened...I couldn't believe what I saw..a flock of beautiful wild flamingos pink and delicate....there is beauty here
but no WVU or Steelers to be found,
Madame Le Joi is the grandmother figure of the orphanage. Not sure her age but I doubt she's even in her 50's but she looks so much older as most do. She looks after the only infant 9 month old Steven. She is different too in the fact she is overwieght. I noticed each time I wore a new outfit she looked and smiled. So when I gave her all of me Haiti outfits the morning I left she seemed most grateful. A while later when getting in the truck on route to the airport...I looked back once more at the place I called home for the last week and on the porch waving and smiling, wearing my pink Walmart dress was Madame La Joi.
On route to Ans Rouge a five hour trip through the coastal towns over what I will now refer to as Barney Rubble territory some thing amazing happened. About halfway through our journey after going past the group grave site of the 500,000 people who died during the earthquake, driving through one dusty poverty shanty town after another, passing Mack trucks going incredible speeds I thought would surely knock us off the road, the ocean appeared and I closed my eyes...I didn't want to see any more sadness ...and when I looked once again at the ocean the sun glinsened...I couldn't believe what I saw..a flock of beautiful wild flamingos pink and delicate....there is beauty here
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Busy day
Toured Port au Prince, went to overlook 3500 feet above PAP...beautiful. Later worked in office trying to get childrens files up to date. Traveling tomorrow to a rural village to set up a clinic not sure what to expect bringing two suitcases of medical supplies, where are my doctors brothers and nephews when I need them? , we will over nite and be back Thursday.
About Pastor Ronald.. he was discovered about 12 years ago by Carol's son who was in Haiti on a mission. Introduced to Carol since then she has devoted her ministry to him and now 12 years later he oversees 30 churches, has the orphanage a school, clinic and parish of about 500 weekly worshipers. He seems to be in with the police because everytime we go out there is a police man with us who will frequently get out of the car and direct traffic in our favor. Port au Prince is an endless sidewalk of activity everyone hustling, no pollution control, no traffic lights. Keep looking for Sean Penn or Anderson Cooper but haven't seen them yet. Feeling OK still battling with the oppressive heat esp at night under the mosquito net
Love and miss U Donne
About Pastor Ronald.. he was discovered about 12 years ago by Carol's son who was in Haiti on a mission. Introduced to Carol since then she has devoted her ministry to him and now 12 years later he oversees 30 churches, has the orphanage a school, clinic and parish of about 500 weekly worshipers. He seems to be in with the police because everytime we go out there is a police man with us who will frequently get out of the car and direct traffic in our favor. Port au Prince is an endless sidewalk of activity everyone hustling, no pollution control, no traffic lights. Keep looking for Sean Penn or Anderson Cooper but haven't seen them yet. Feeling OK still battling with the oppressive heat esp at night under the mosquito net
Love and miss U Donne
Monday, November 15, 2010
Life at the Orphanage
Fifty children from 12 months to 16 are housed at the orphanage. They are divided into groups of five or six. There is a leader of each group assigned to make sure everyone in his or her group is dressed and ready for the day , at dinner and helps with studies. There are more boys than girls here. They are like most children running fighting, taking toys from one another.And they all seem pretty happy When I weighted them and took their height I noticed very little ill health. Perhaps one had allergies and a couple had a rash but on the whole they looked healthy.
They eat mostly rice, beans and pasta. The older girls help in the kitchen and are rewarded with extra food they eat two meals a day and one evening snack. Bedtime is late. They love Michael Jackson videos and soccor on the tv. They sing their prayers every morning and every night which is a beautiful way to begin each day. We went to the school today and brought treats for each child. Some of the preschool classes were held out side all of the children wear uniforms. There was also the clinic, very meager, long line of patients, young haitian doctor. Days are long for me. Because our day is highly controlled and ther are long pauses I keep looking at my watch thinking if I could rule this world we could get alot done a lot faster...but that is my American way of doing things coming out.
It is difficult to get timeon the computer so if I miss a day be patient...I'll be back
love to all..Donne
BTW backpacks did arrive or at least some of them and it was great seeing some of the BP on the children at school and some of the dresses i packed on the children at church
They eat mostly rice, beans and pasta. The older girls help in the kitchen and are rewarded with extra food they eat two meals a day and one evening snack. Bedtime is late. They love Michael Jackson videos and soccor on the tv. They sing their prayers every morning and every night which is a beautiful way to begin each day. We went to the school today and brought treats for each child. Some of the preschool classes were held out side all of the children wear uniforms. There was also the clinic, very meager, long line of patients, young haitian doctor. Days are long for me. Because our day is highly controlled and ther are long pauses I keep looking at my watch thinking if I could rule this world we could get alot done a lot faster...but that is my American way of doing things coming out.
It is difficult to get timeon the computer so if I miss a day be patient...I'll be back
love to all..Donne
BTW backpacks did arrive or at least some of them and it was great seeing some of the BP on the children at school and some of the dresses i packed on the children at church
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Haiti Day 2
Bad night, very hot, esp under tight fitting mosquito net. Clostrophobic.
Up at 5 pm dressed and ready for bus ride to church. Two hour service we were guests of honor, sat on alter. About 300 well dressed perishiners sang & sang there were long and enthusiastic sermons and more music, I only wish I knew creole...everyone seemed so happy in church even though temps were hig. Three people were saved or that is what I was told.
Then we took about 23 widows back to the orphanage for lunch and crafts. I was called into checking a large abcess Ill spare details.
Now It is dinner... tired and hot,,,waiting for clinic days theis afternoon I weighted and measured all 50 kids
later donne
Up at 5 pm dressed and ready for bus ride to church. Two hour service we were guests of honor, sat on alter. About 300 well dressed perishiners sang & sang there were long and enthusiastic sermons and more music, I only wish I knew creole...everyone seemed so happy in church even though temps were hig. Three people were saved or that is what I was told.
Then we took about 23 widows back to the orphanage for lunch and crafts. I was called into checking a large abcess Ill spare details.
Now It is dinner... tired and hot,,,waiting for clinic days theis afternoon I weighted and measured all 50 kids
later donne
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Haiti day 1
Gate D24 destination Port au Prince was full. Mostly young what looked to be volunteers of some sort.
Anyone who had been there before were eager to give tips on how to maneuver through customs etc.
But it was the fellow who sat across the asile from me that helped me the most. He was with a team wo were doing prosthetics. He had a whole three ring binder incredably details with photos of the airport, luggage area etc.
And helpful it was . Theairport is small old dusty and hot and crowded but when I arrived into the area of chaos there was my savior. An older gentleman with a sign that read BONNE PAINE he helped find my luggage and spoke french to the cutoms agent and I flew right through.
I had to wait till the next group came in a few hours later.....they couldn't make two trips to the orphanage due to fuel shortage.
Two young men from the orphanage came up on motorcycles and were there to make sure I had company. So there I waited ...hot dusty but friendly company.
We traveled via an old school bus through what lookd like an old beaten down area of PAP with endless flea market type tables and booths...selling everything .
Rubble tents, old shanties, Anything of values was behind high cement walls.
There is visable sign of the UN, and Oxfam.Litter, goats, large pigs in the streams.
There is litter litter litter. You would never know that Tomas come through here because it is soooo dusty. When we arrived at the orphanage children came one by one to shake our hand and give a kiss.
We were entertained with songs and dance. Now everyone is unpacking, putting up their mosquito nets ( really needed) The building is like India tile floor, inside plumbing, full functioning kitchen and bunk beds ( I'm on the bottom) The team are nice folks from NJ from a ministry that supports Pastor Ronald and the children of the orphanage. I'm a bit of an outsider...but that's Ok. Paster Ronald expects us at his service tomorrow at 6:30 am so I'm going to sign off, one more note. Thanks to sis Debbie. She identified a tech shop at the miami airport so that I could buy a cord for my cell which i forgot. Deb I owe you one.
BTW dinner was pasta and chopped up hotdogs. I ate so we will see.
Love to all from Bon Repos Haiti
Anyone who had been there before were eager to give tips on how to maneuver through customs etc.
But it was the fellow who sat across the asile from me that helped me the most. He was with a team wo were doing prosthetics. He had a whole three ring binder incredably details with photos of the airport, luggage area etc.
And helpful it was . Theairport is small old dusty and hot and crowded but when I arrived into the area of chaos there was my savior. An older gentleman with a sign that read BONNE PAINE he helped find my luggage and spoke french to the cutoms agent and I flew right through.
I had to wait till the next group came in a few hours later.....they couldn't make two trips to the orphanage due to fuel shortage.
Two young men from the orphanage came up on motorcycles and were there to make sure I had company. So there I waited ...hot dusty but friendly company.
We traveled via an old school bus through what lookd like an old beaten down area of PAP with endless flea market type tables and booths...selling everything .
Rubble tents, old shanties, Anything of values was behind high cement walls.
There is visable sign of the UN, and Oxfam.Litter, goats, large pigs in the streams.
There is litter litter litter. You would never know that Tomas come through here because it is soooo dusty. When we arrived at the orphanage children came one by one to shake our hand and give a kiss.
We were entertained with songs and dance. Now everyone is unpacking, putting up their mosquito nets ( really needed) The building is like India tile floor, inside plumbing, full functioning kitchen and bunk beds ( I'm on the bottom) The team are nice folks from NJ from a ministry that supports Pastor Ronald and the children of the orphanage. I'm a bit of an outsider...but that's Ok. Paster Ronald expects us at his service tomorrow at 6:30 am so I'm going to sign off, one more note. Thanks to sis Debbie. She identified a tech shop at the miami airport so that I could buy a cord for my cell which i forgot. Deb I owe you one.
BTW dinner was pasta and chopped up hotdogs. I ate so we will see.
Love to all from Bon Repos Haiti
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Packed and Ready to Go???
Packed and Ready to go
After multiple trips to second hand stores and my fav place, The Dollar Store I am just about packed. Including a backpack donated by Seth, a small carry on and two 50# bags of medical supplies donated by Carol Greco, Korky and a HH friend Regi Rennie
I referenced several check lists from individuals who have recently been to Haiti and a medical group that spent a month in Kenya. One of the list spread sheets not only listed the item but two opinions on why the item is helpful. Such as a multi socket power cord…why? There are usually few out lets and many people need to charge their electronics at once.
The most helpful has been Bill M. who led a medical team to Haiti two weeks after the earthquake. He is the SC commander for civilian emergency response. Among other things, he explained how to use water tablets and store my water, set up a mosquito net and how to apply various Deet bug sprays for maximum protection.
My questions are so basic (I‘ve never camped).
I’ve tried on all the clothes, tested my sleeping bag, and opened my mosquito netting and got it back in the tiny storage bag without tangles.
Sometimes I feel really organized…and a few moments I want to start packing all over again.
Diane & Gabe leave Friday as well…but they are headed to Italy for three weeks! How did it happen I’m off to Haiti tracking down the backpacks she and I worked on last spring and she’s off to Rome? J
Some of you may remember that after the earthquake Diane and I did a community initiative for orphans in Haiti and collected almost 500 backpacks with clothes, hygiene products and school supplies. They were to be shipped to NJ to be put on a cargo container and sent to Haiti…but there were delays and confusion now I’ve been told they have or partially have arrived. My main goal is to identify them and assist in getting them distributed. And because I’m an old nurse, I’ll be doing some clinic work as well.
I’ll be at the Light & Peace Mission in Bon Repos.
Please keep our team (Carol Hawthorne, Pastor Bart Young, Linda Marcus, Renee Lawrence, Steve Hawthorne and Judy Banks) in your thoughts and prayers.
Till then
Donne
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Got Sanity?
The sun-drenched US Capitol building was the backdrop of the “Rally to Restore Sanity/and or Fear” sponsored by Comedy Central’s political comedians, Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert, Saturday October 30th.
At the last minute and through the encouragement of a group of senior activist mostly from Sun City I boarded the 7 pm Amtrak train from Savannah Friday night, October 29th heading for Washington DC.
First observations were surprising, the train was already nearly full and the majority of the passengers going to the rally.
There was also an interesting cross section of ages and reasons for going. But most thought it was time to get behind a voice that spoke for moderation. And that the screaming/shouting rally goers as shown on TV were not representing them. Hummm I thought…. there are more people than I thought that feel the same as I.
The train whistled through its journey with the sway and rock that made it challenging to negotiate to the dining car or restroom. It was quiet, most were able to sleep. I was restless.
We arrived at Union Station about 7:30 am, by 8:30am we were at the rally location on the National Mall between 3rd and 7th Street, but to our surprise the first section was already closed. Carrying collapsing chairs and backpacks we found a spot in the second section and watched how the entire mall filled to what seemed to be over 300,000 plus people.
The picture fame stage set up gave an incredible view of the capital building. Even before the program began you couldn’t help but be overwhelmed at the majesty of our capitol.
People watching took up our time, loved the creativity of the signs. They ranged from political to ironic to personal and just plain funny. Slogan sampling ; “ Make Love Not stuff Up”, “ Ruly Mob”, My Wife thinks I’m Walking the Appalachian Trail”, “ Fight Truth Decay”, “ Support the Metric System”, “ Thank God for Mexican Food”, " Legalize Marijuana, quickly before they search my fanny pack"
The crowd was attired in sensible fall clothes but a few came in costume (The Blues Brothers’, Mexican Hombres, Mad Scientists, Bed Bugs, Abe Lincolns, Arabs, Bears, and Chilean Miners).
About 10 am the jumbotrons began with past clips from the combined programs of Stewart and Colbert as they planned the rally. Then about noon “The Roots “opened the show with enough energy that got everyone out of their folding chairs and clapping.
Three hours later we were still standing and either clapping or laughing. Through musical performances and comedy routines the point of the program was to encourage more civility and reasonableness to our nations tone.
Stewart and Colbert used their familiar program format but enhanced it with musical guests such as Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, John Legend, Tony Bennett, Cat Stevens, Ozzie Osborne, the OJ’s Marian Steeples and Jeff Tweedy.
There were “Reasonable Awards” and “Fear Awards”. There were testimonials from folks that behaved badly and wanted to apologize and redeem themselves. (Steve Slater the flight attendant)
Every skit, song and banter perfectly planned and rehearsed to drive home the point…..We need more tolerance, toward those who are different.
As Stewart stated “ This was not a rally to ridicule people of faith, or people of activism, or look down our noses at the heartland, or passionate argument, or to suggest that times are not difficult and that we have nothing to fear--they are, and we do.
But we live now in hard times, not end times. And we can have animus, and not be enemies. But unfortunately, one of our main tools in delineating the two broke.
The country's 24-hour, political pundit perpetual panic conflictinator did not cause our problems, but its existence makes solving them that much harder……... If we amplify everything, we hear nothing.”
Did the Rally to Restore Sanity deliver? If it intended to drive home the point we need to work together to get things done, that we need to bring it down a notch, be more civil, be more reasonable and not so fearful…..it sure did. I just hope the message translates as a bipartisan message and gets to everyone…including our newly elected legislators.
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