Haiti Hope

The Rains Came Down and the Floods Came Up (Re-Blog)

2012-08-29T16:46:00.001-07:00

As those of us in eastern Washington are plagued with fire this summer, many parts of the rest of the world have been deluged. This is a great post about the some of flooding has been devastating the rest of the world (including the effects of Hurricane Isaac in Haiti) by my friend Rebecca at She Becomes.

The Rains Came Down and the Floods Came Up:

This summer there has been so much damage caused by flooding. When storms rage in impoverished nations where buildings are weak and homes are temporary structures, the devastation is often massive. Please keep the following countries in prayer as they have recently or are currently being faced with massive flooding.

In June and July 100 lives were lost and hundreds of thousands left homeless due to flash floods and landslides in Bangladesh.

Source

In early August the Philippines were hit hard with monsoon weather and flooding, claiming at least 60 lives and destroying thousands of homes.

Source

Niger, the country worst hit by the West Africa food crisis, has faced relentless flooding in the last week as the banks of the Niger River have overflowed, displacing 200,000 people, killing livestock, and destroying precious crops.

Source

Most recently, Tropical Storm Isaac hit Haiti hard yesterday, where hundreds of thousands are still living in tent cities after the 2010 earthquake. The storm has taken at least seven lives, and has brought more destruction to a nation so desperately trying to rebuild.

Source
For more photos of flooding in Haiti visit Mark at Conspiracy of Hope.

Tropical Storm Isaac also hit Cuba, and is now threatening parts of the U.S. (mainly Florida and Louisiana).

As you walk on dry ground today, please say a prayer for all those affected by the floods.

Baseball in the Time of Cholera

2012-07-31T18:07:00.000-07:00

Aristide Flag Day Speech - May 18, 2003

2012-06-30T12:01:00.001-07:00

It has been several months since my last update. In terms of blog etiquette, this is a very poor practice. But I still have hope that this blog will someday become a helpful resource for the average person looking for insight into Haiti.

Haiti's history and current social climate is very complex and I fear that, at this point, making too many statements would oversimplify and misrepresent that reality.

On the flip side, I am currently writing an essay regarding the controversial Indemnity Debt which became globally visible in 2003. Jean Bertrande Aristide's request that France make reparations for this debt has not been regarded seriously by France or, really, any major players in the international community. This interests me.

This essay will be completed some time in early August.

I've had a heck of a time finding the text of Aristide's Flag-Day speech which was made on ~~January 1st, 2004~~ May 18, 2003, so I've posted the text below which I found at Webster.edu.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, HIS EXCELLENCY, JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE COMMEMORATION OF THE BICENTENNIAL OF THE CREATION OF THE HAITIAN FLAG

May 18, 2003

Excellency Mr. Prime Minister,
Distinguished members of the Ministerial Cabinet,
Mr. President of the National Assembly and,
Honorable Senators of the Republic,
Mr. President of the Chamber of Deputies and,
Honorable Deputies of the Republic,
Mr. President of the Court of Cassation,
Honorable Magistrates,
Mr. Mayors of Arcahaie,
Mrs. And Mr. Members of the Senior Branches of the Civil Service,
Excellency, Mr. Apostolic Nuncio,
Distinguished members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished members of the Consular Corps,
Mrs. the Delegate of the West,
Mr. Director General of the Police,
Dear policemen,
Dear policewomen,
Mr. Rector of University,
Dear Academics,
Mr. and Mrs. Representatives of International Organizations,
Dear compatriots from the Tenth Department,
Ladies and gentlemen,

United with the First Lady of the First Black Republic of the World, we are
so happy and proud to give you our greetings, in the name of the Fathers of the
Homeland.
Standing in the shade of our Bicolor, of which we are celebrating the
Bicentennial, I kiss you all fraternally and patriotically.
To Dessalines, Christophe, Pétion, Catherine Flon,
Honor and Glory!
To our ancestors and to the heroes of the Independence,
Let us pay a vibrant tribute!
Hurray for our ancestors!
A big applaud from the bottom of our hearts for all our ancestors!
Our ancestors ask us to show happiness in dignity while we listen to what
they will tell us, while we open our hearts to applaud them sincerely, peacefully
and in dignity.
Let us applaud them!
To all of you sons and daughters of the City of the Flag,
To all of you sons and daughters of Arcahaie, a special greeting.
Beautiful park, beautiful road, beautiful church, beautiful monument,
beautiful spending for a beautiful celebration in a more beautiful Arcahaie to have a
more beautiful Haiti.
That deserves a beautiful applause!
Spending 142,429,495 gourdes, plus 2,2 million US dollars for electricity in
Arcahaie, despite the embargo, that is a great salute for a beautiful flag
that deserves a beautiful applause!
And to all of you dear compatriots of the Opposition, Happy Flag Day!
To you dear fellow citizens from the Tenth Department,
Sisters and brothers of Haiti who make our patriotic soul vibrate,
Happy Flag Day!
Help me wish all Haitians everywhere, all around, a Happy Flag Day, by
lending me your hands, thousands of you who are here, in the back and in the front,
so that your hands, together with my hands, wish all Haitians, without
distinction, a Happy Flag Day with a big loud applaud and louder!
Salute to our Papa Dessalines!
Salute to Catherine Flon!
Dear compatriots,
The creation of the Bicolor marks a decisive step towards the birth of a new
state. A black and independent state. The first of the big black family, the
Haitian state.
Our sisters and brothers from Africa, also victims of colonization, had to
wait almost a century and a half before registering the effects of a true
decolonization process.
>From Ghana, in 1957, its process was going to go through Western Africa and
Southern Africa, where flies since 1994, the flag of a free and independent
South Africa.
Emerging from over thirty African states of which flags of freedom sing in
unison,
Long live the Haitian Bicolor!
Long live the First Flag of Black People's freedom!
Hurray for the Haitian Flag!
With Angola and Mozambique's independence in 1975, 172 years after 1803,
Africa, our Mother, wrote a special chapter of decolonization. Indeed, from that
year 1975 to this day, 38 new states were born throughout the world. This
proliferation of states seen at the end of the twentieth century is unfortunately
linked to many crisis such as the burden of debt.
Where the flag of a new state symbolizes its political independence, the flag
of debt implies economic dependence.
And of course, lovers of freedom cannot ignore the importance of this
political and economic equation.
Dear fellow citizens,
When the flag goes up, doesn't it come down?
Unfortunately, when this flag of debt goes up, not only it doesn't come down,
but it continues to go up higher.
The external debt of the 187 developing countries goes up from year to year.
It was US$220,000,000,000 in 1976. Four hundred and sixty billion in 1980. One
thousand billion in 1985. One thousand three hundred billion in 1990. One
thousand five hundred billion in 1992. One thousand seven hundred and fourteen
billion in 1994. Two thousands five hundred billion in 2002.
Consequences:
The more the debt increases, the more poverty climbs as well.
The higher the flag of debt goes, the higher the flag of poverty goes.
And as we know, poverty and freedom are like milk and lemon. Just like a
squash doesn't give calabashes, poverty doesn't give freedom. And people who like
freedom don't like poverty.
Dear fellow citizens,
If dying for the flag, for the homeland is beautiful, then it is fair and
good to declare, for our flag and for our dignity that to die in this sub-human
misery is unacceptable!
Yes, we refuse to die as slaves of sub-human misery. So we have chosen to
look at the future of our Haiti and the stakes of that debt, chronic source of
misery. From 1970 to 2001, this external debt of the developing countries have
multiplied thirty-five times, a breathtaking progression, but proportional to
the growth of poverty on the world scale.
In this context, we must ask ourselves what will be the Haiti of tomorrow?
What does the future hold for our brave and courageous youth, standing in the
shade of this bicolor?
Since empty bags can't stand up, how long will we be able to stand up with
our empty stomachs under the flag of freedom?
And the 800,000,000 hungry people of the world? When will they share the
bread of freedom and the daily bread or "peace in the stomachs, peace in the
heads."
These nagging questions bring us back to the debt crisis of which disastrous
consequences affect our freedom and that of developing countries where 85 % of
the world's population live. Indeed, between 1983 and 2001, developing
countries have repaid $368,000,000,000 more than what they have received.
In good Creole, late Father Antoine Adrien and late Brother Enel Clérismé
would be as one to say:
"The bull who crushes sugar cane is not the one who drinks the syrup!"
And how sweet the syrup of independence is!
Whether it is the economic syrup, or the democratic syrup, they both are so
sweet!
Going from one to another, is to go from one sweet thing to another!
Since during 200 years, the bull who crushed the sugar cane was not the one
to drink the syrup, Papa Dessalines asks me to tell all Haitians: Rest! Rest!
Rest under the flag!
Rest under the flag of freedom!
Rest under the flag of unity!
Rest under the flag of fraternity!
Rest under the flag so that we trace a "vèvè" that is very sweet in order for
Haiti to become more beautiful!
Under that flag, after 200 years of freedom, our Mother, Haiti, cannot have
one breast that is as sweet as honey and another one that is as sour as the
gallbladder!
That is why today, we declare in a Dessalines way that all Haitians are
Haitians, all children are children. The syrup must flow in the right breast as
well as in the left breast!
-Do you agree with that?
-Are all Haitians Haitians?
-Are all children children?
-Are there children outside and children inside?
-Aren't we all equal?
-Aren't we all brothers and sisters?
-Aren't all Haitians Haitians?
To show that in a sincere way, applaud. All the people who want all Haitians
to live as brothers and sisters put your hands up with your flags!
The flag of all Haitians, because all Haitians are Haitians!
Shake the flags again for all Haitians!
Look how beautiful that is!
Look at that wonder!
When hunger gets in your stomach, it burns like hot pepper in the eye. So,
the syrup must sweeten both the skin of the hot pepper and its seeds. That is
the responsibility of all of us. It is Haitians' debt to Haiti. That is exactly
why Papa Dessalines says that there are different kinds of debt!
There is the debt of money.
There are moral debts.
There are patriotic debts.
Since the flag symbolizes the patriotic will for us to be as one, shake the
flag once again for all our ancestors who want us to be as one.
Shake the flag, shake our beautiful flag on the 200th anniversary of the
flag, to show how we agree to be as one. Because that is what our ancestors want.
All Haitians have a moral debt to our mother, Haiti. To pay that debt, we
will not ask what Haiti will do for Haitians, but what Haitians will do for Haiti.
To make peace,
To make alphabetization,
To make economic alpha,
To make alpha restaurants,
To make solidarity,
To make security,
Is to pay a great part of the patriotic debt we have towards Haiti, our
mother.
Just the same, to organize plots to make Haiti move backwards is to make it
so that the debt of money cannot be paid. The murder and sabotage in Peligre is
to make it so that the debt of money cannot be paid.
To make a blockade so that we don't get money to make more roads, more
schools, more hospitals, is to make it so that the debt of money cannot be paid.
To make a blockade so that we don't get money in order for justice to have
more means, for policemen to have more means to give more justice and
security, is to make it so that the debt of money cannot be paid.
To make a blockade in order to make the people become angrier is to make it
so that the debt of money cannot be paid.
Too often, too many people forget that the embargo is a cigar lit at both
ends.
To reach an agreement to put out that cigar is to pay the people a part of
what we owe them. And the earlier the better.
There, that is not a game. It is a debt. It is not a small debt. It is a big
debt.
When a good citizen cannot pay his or her debt, he or she feels embarrassed.
He or she feels awkward. He or she is ashamed. And we know that a small spoon
of shame is heavier than a barrel full of salt. When he or she can pay back
the debt, he or she feels better, he or she is happy.
Haiti owes 1.5 billion US dollars. We are working to pay that back. I can
guess how Papa Dessalines was happy to see here, under the flag, that unity will
allow him to pay back a patriotic debt with an independence check!
Before the birth of the flag, Dessalines and Pétion were always having
arguments, like two fighting cocks back then. So, in that time of slavery, because
of prejudices and complexes, the rich White man thought he was superior to the
White man in the middle class. The White man in the middle class thought he
was superior to the poor White man. The poor White man thought he was superior
to the mulatto man. The mulatto man thought he was superior to the African
Black man. And since the colonists always needed to take advantage of people, they
always stirred up ill-feelings between Papa Dessalines and Pétion, who was a
mulatto man. And up to that day, it is always: divide to reign.
However, for the delivery of the flag, Pétion behaved like an intelligent
man. When Papa Dessalines took the colonists' flag and tore the white color from
it, that meant that the Haitian flag had a caesarian birth and if there hadn't
been unity, there would never have been a flag nor victory on victory.
Fortunately, the flag was created and it was created forever!
That is the victory of working together!
That is "together, we stand"!
That is "a finger alone cannot eat okra!"
That is "many hands make the load easier to carry!"
-Do you truly believe that together, we stand?
-Do you agree that the flag is the flag of "together, we stand?"
Let's repeat with all our hearts:
TOGETHER, WE STAND!
That flag is our dignity's passport, it is our visa. That flag is us. We, who
don't believe that every firefly makes light for its own eyes only, or that a
goat's business is none of a sheep's business. The birth of that flag is the
result of Lavalas working together!
Yes, by this miracle of unity, on this May 18, 1803, the impossible became
possible! That's how it will be for the restitution of our US$21,687,135,571.48!
About this, it is good to remember that, already, in the 17th century,
continental Europe made the hearts vibrate when Emperor Ferdinand II, in 1629, with
the Edict of Restitution, demanded the restitution of the ecclesiastical fiefs
usurped since the peace in Ausbourg in 1555. In 1938 and 1945, the Nazis took
hold of the gold owned by the Jews everywhere in Europe. In 1946, after World
War II, the three-party commission charged with repatriating the gold seized
by the Nazis disposed of 337 tons of gold. With that, about 8 countries got
compensation.
Ah! That is good news!
The restitution and reparation machine may be slow, but it brings good
messages!
And good counts make good friends!
We must get to an agreement!
When Dessalines used to talk with the people, he also used to listen to them.
While I am talking with you in the name of Dessalines, you just chanted clear
and loud: "You must pay back the 21 billion dollars!" I hear you!
Dear compatriots, dear fellow citizens,
13 years ago, in December 1990, in Lagos, Nigeria, the world conference on
the reparations to Africa and Africans from the Diaspora had estimated 25
billion dollars the amount of reparations, a symbolic amount, of course. The
conference had also suggested that the cancellation of the African debt be considered
as part of these reparations.
Two years before, in 1988, the first reductions of the public debt was
mentioned in Toronto, by the G7 who had proposed to cancel one-third of the debt of
the poorest and biggest debtor countries.
There, once again, the reparation machine works slowly, but its engine
doesn't stop.
What needs to stop is not the restitution and reparation machine. It is the
machine of misery. And in order to not only stop the machine of misery, but in
order to destroy it and throw it away, how much money do you think we need?
Is that amount of money so great that it is impossible to count it, or to
find it?
No, no. Remember, the amount of money we paid in interest is more than the
original amount that was lent to us. If in 18 years, we, in the developing
world, have paid 368 billion dollars, an amount greater than what they lent us, why
wouldn't we be able to find a small 80 billion to eliminate poverty on earth?
What is missing is not the money.
It is the political will to put the money there on the path that will bring
it to us.
According to the United Nations, with an investment of 80 billion dollars a
year, in ten years, we would be able to eradicate poverty on a world scale.
Of this sum, we, Haitians, already have, with the 21 billion, a considerable
part to obtain with the restitution!
To get there, let us walk united!
To eradicate despicable misery, let us walk united!
For the opening of the roses of justice and peace, let us walk united!
For the construction of the new Haiti, let us walk united!
For the flag and for the Homeland, let us walk united!
Dear sisters and brothers, in 1492, dazzled with the beauty and the wealth of
our land, Christopher Columbus exclaimed: "Que maravilla! What a wonder!"
Today, let us walk united so that tomorrow we can tenderly kiss our mother
and also tell her: "Que marvilla! Haiti mi amor, te quiero!"
Our ancestors wrote the independence in red, the color of their blood.
Today, let us write Haiti in blue and red, the colors of our bicolor.
Thank you.
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Catherine Flon Park, Arcahaie
05/18/2003

Kreyolicious.com :: The Haitian-American Lifestyle, Culture and Arts Magazine

2012-03-27T14:33:00.001-07:00

"Where have you been??"

I've actually been doing a lot of reading here (among other places): Kreyolicious.com :: The Haitian-American Lifestyle, Culture and Arts Magazine:

I find this magazine most compelling because it is not written for me, a white, middle-class American girl with a proclivity for social causes. There is no (overt) political agenda and no real call to action; the magazine is simply meant to celebrate Haitian culture in a modern setting.

Also of interest is the fact that this is most definitely a magazine not an academic journal. The articles are relatively short, relevant and very readable. I find none of the hyper-emotional language or the dramatic photographs that usually accompany articles about Haiti. It is not particularly hard-hitting or challenging, it is simply pleasant.

Perhaps this doesn't seem very complimentary. Please believe me that I actually consider both of these attributes refreshing. Perhaps it may be ignoring the less pleasant parts of Haiti or maybe it is not an accurate depiction of what it means to be a Haitian living in Haiti (but then, it is a magazine for Haitian-Americans, after all), but, for some reason, this all strikes me as unpretentious and honest more than irresponsible or out of touch.

At the very least it shines a light on the pieces of Haitian culture that you ~~rarely~~ never see on the mainstream news or hear from Haitian advocacy groups. Sure, I'm still seeking most of my historical and political information other places, but Kreyolicious is a departure from the norm that I find delightful.

'via Blog this'

The Apparent Project

2012-02-11T15:55:00.000-08:00

My sister in law read about the Apparent Project on a blog she follows and recommended it to me recently.

The project employs a network of Haitian artisans to make those rolled-paper beads that are getting so popular as well as journals, baskets and other hand-crafts and then markets these items via an online marketplace or home-hosted jewelry parties a la Pampered Chef or Cookie Lee (all the ladies reading this just sat up and sniffed the air).

While I am almost always a big fan of nonprofits that also support industry in Haiti, I was immediately impressed by how grounded this project seems to be. The administrators of the organization are in very close contact with their artisans, they are all friends and neighbors, and thus in touch with their needs. More importantly they strongly advocate the idea of solidarity, i.e. community with them.

I find this incredibly encouraging. Too many well-meaning individuals and nonprofits are moved by the plight of Haiti and attempt to meet needs without really understanding what those needs are. Generally speaking, as foreigners, we approach Haiti with a limited and often completely inaccurate understanding of her history, personality and culture (especially when it comes to foreign assistance) and bring with us our own history, personality, and culture. Until we can recognize that both exist and understand how fundamentally different they are, all of our relief efforts, even so-called sustainable efforts, are going to be short-lived at best and harmful at worse.

You can read more about the challenges and pitfalls to humanitarian work at the Apparent Project Blog here.

I've struggled personally with the way people like me, incredibly wealthy by global standards, approach poverty, especially foreign poverty. I've talked about the effects of a culture of affluence and even how we hate the poor. My battle against ignorance, fear and judgement rages daily and becomes even more difficult each day I spend away from Haiti. Still, it is the passion of my heart to know Haiti and to earn the respect of the Haitian people. To learn about her, to listen to her and to share what I learn with those who also long not to save but to understand her.

I am very excited about the work that the Apparent Project is doing, their business philosophy and their personal investment in the people of Haiti. I hope that they continue to stay true to those philosophies and that their work multiplies not only economically but culturally as well.

Thanks for jambalaya and for my country

2012-02-07T21:56:00.000-08:00

I watched Bobby Flay make a jambalaya on Throwdown tonight. Oh man, it was beautiful. But I had to press pause when I found out that Bobby was making the traditional creole version of the dish while his competitor had decided on a cajun jambalaya. While I knew that jambalaya was from New Orleans, I didn't make the next jump to creole/Haitian influence.

Now, lest I make enemies in the Deep South, let me say up front that "creole" and "cajun" are two different cultures. I don't know how exactly they are different but they are. Google it.

This is yet another fun reminder of the continued influence Haiti has on our culture. But how far does that influence extend? Is it just lobster jambalaya and voodoo?

I've never visited anywhere east of the Mississippi River, so I'm really not the person to ask. However those who live in Louisiana can tell you that it's apparent in language, cuisine, the festival of Carnaval and many other ways that I've yet to learn. It makes me want to take a trip down to New Orleans.

So why does this tiny country have such a lingering influence and why specifically in New Orleans?

Sadly, most of us don't really know a Haiti outside of the poverty and political upheaval and thus don't understand the important role that Haiti played in the development of the United States in the 1800s.

Back when it was still owned by the French, St Domingue (Haiti) was one of the richest colonies in the world. New Orleans, situated at the mouth of the Mississippi river, became an important port of trade for France. Additionally, the Louisiana Territory, to the west, was a large, valuable piece of land that further enriched French holdings in the New World. In the early 1800s Spain, France, and the United States all were vying for ownership of this area.

Right around this same time, the little French diamond of the Caribbean, St Domingue, was experiencing a slave revolt. Napoleon scrambled to regain control of the colony but failed to do so. Without this colony, French interests in the Americas became unstable and they were willing to withdraw from the Louisiana Territory, allowing the US to purchase it, effectively doubling its size. If the US hadn't made this purchase, I would probably be writing in French right now.

Qui n'est pas une si mauvaise idée, non?

The Louisiana purchase is, without dispute, one of the most important events in the formation of the United States. I know this because it is one of the six things I remember from my middle school American History class. What I did not know was that a band of rebel slaves were directly involved in bringing this purchase about.

So, yes, Haiti has given the US more than jambalaya and voodoo.

Back to you, Bobby.

This country is too rich for her poor

2012-02-06T17:58:00.002-08:00

I visited the Carnaval National Les Cayes website today and the song Dekole started playing. As a rule, I hate autostart music on websites, even for musicians, but, as I was actually looking for some music, I let it slide.

I've been trying for a while to find some Haitian music that didn't fall into the "My Dad listens to that," category. I met some 20-something girls from Haiti working at a restaurant in Florida when I was visiting in November and they turned me on to kompas. I downloaded two albums, Carimi and T-Vice, while we were in the restaurant. They got a kick out of it though I'm sure they laughed at me when I left.

I actually enjoyed a few tracks, but it's hard to transition from Taylor Swift and Maroon 5 to this strange synth-ey island-feeling music with a merengue beat. This is why I was so excited to find that I really enjoyed Dekole. I suppose auto-tuning transcends culture.

I hunted down the video and immediately fell in love. Maybe its because I've got a case of the february winter blues or maybe because it is the patriotic almost-athemic tone (Haiti for life!). Maybe you just can't help but smile when you sing, Ole-ole-ole-o! Dekole-ole-ole-o! But I suspect that it is probably because this is the Haiti that has been hiding from me for so long.

She's proud, she's honest, and she loves to dance.

Watching shot after shot of smiling faces, beautiful women dancing, and an all-night block party, you find yourself wondering, "Wait, is this shot in Rio? Where are all the starving children? Where's the rubble and Red-Cross tents?"

It's a challenge on both sides of the coin. Does this paint a false picture of Haiti, one where everyone is happy and can afford to spend the night drinking and dancing and no one gets shot in the street or dies of cholera? Or are our camera crews missing something? In throwing our relief blankets over Haiti, we seem to have obscured her identity. But, perhaps "poverty" has no personality, it is only poor.

Maybe this video is only microcosm of Haiti, a bit of Haitian Hollywood targeting only those rich enough to afford such happiness. Maybe it does not fairly represent the millions who are in dire need. But somehow I suspect that, even though they may sleep under rotting canvas or rusty corrugated tin roofs, all Haitians come outside to dance.

"Peyi sa twò rich pou-l pòv"

"This country is too rich for her poor."

Haiti

Baoli Records baby

Oh, oh, oh

Ayiti

Sak gen la?

Amwey

Shabba!

Yeah!

M’gentan ave-w wi la

An ale…

JPerry

Oh yeah, oh yeah

Yeah, you know

Izo for Shizzle

Oh we

Kote Shabba?

Izo, chill

M’ta renmen pou peyi-m dekole

Ole, ole, ole, ole-o, deko-le, ole-o

Ole-ole, ole-o, ole-o

M’ta renmen pou peyi-m dekole

Ole-o, ole-o, ole-o, dekole-ole-o

Ayiti cheri, m’sonje lontan ou te la pèl dèzanti

La Perles des Antilles

Yo maltrete-w bèl ti peyi mwen

Men sa pa fini, wap reprann figi-w

Ooh-o, Ouh-o

Kite-l avanse

Kite-l dekole

Kite-l a-van-se

Yeah!

Fò nou tout chante

Pou’n di peyi fòk li dekole

Yeah, yeah

Li gen twòp tan kanpe

An nou met tèt ansanm, pou fè-l mache

Nou gen bèl plaj, bel solèy

heyyyyyyyyy

Kaskad nou se mèvèy

Ohhhhhhhhh!

Peyi sa twò rich pou-l pòv

M’ta renmen wè peyi-m dekole

Ole-, Ole, ole-o ole-o

Ole, ole-o, dekole-ole-o

M’ta renmen pou peyi-m dekole

dekole-o, ole-o ole-o

Ole-ole-o

Izolan!

Si-n vle peyi-n avanse

Fòk nou mache tèt kole

Kanpe tout ipokrizi

Ak JPerry nap dekole

Prodiksyon peyi-m bese

Touris pè vin vizite-n

Nou tèlman pa viv ansanm

Tout lòt nasyon vle imilye-n

Nou sipoze chanje paj

Yo fe’n pote tout vye chaj

Ayisyen nou dwe met may

Kounye drapo’n nan gen mèt kay

Le yo we peyi nou chanje

Kounnye nou pral di

Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

M’ta renmen pou peyi-m dekole

dekole-o, ole-o ole-o

Pou-n dekole ole-o

Se tout jounnen yap pale nou mal

Non!

Pa pale-n mal

Pa pale-l mal

Chak peyi gen pwoblem pa yo

Se tout jounnen yap pale nou mal

Non!

Tout jounen yap pale sou do-n

Pa pale-m mal

This is Shabba

JPerry

Haiti for life

Izo for Shizzle

Chillaling, chillaling, you know

M’ta renmen pou peyi-m dekole

Dekole-ole-o, ole-o, ole-o, dekole-kole-o

M’ta renmen

Li dekole

M’ta renmen li dekole

Oh yeah, oh yeah

Lyrics courtesy of Kreyolicious.com

Carnaval National

2012-02-05T14:07:00.000-08:00

February 19th marks the beginning of Haiti's annual Carnaval National which will be held in Les Cayes. Because Carnaval is an important celebration in Haiti and because things are getting a little political around here, I'm going to take a few weeks to look at one of the more festive parts of Haitian culture.

You can probably guess that Carnaval National some some ties to the celebration of Mardis Gras held at roughly the same time in the US and throughout the rest of the world. This is one of those times where we can see Haiti's direct influence on our own culture in the US which is very exciting for me.

Former Haitian leader must face charges for human rights abuses, says UN - UN News Centre

2012-01-31T12:46:00.000-08:00

The UN has officially spoken out against the recent decision not to include his various human rights violations in the charges against Jean Claude Duvalier. This is very encouraging and I hope the United States will quickly follow suit.

Former Haitian leader must face charges for human rights abuses, says UN - UN News Centre:

Wall Street Journal

Former Haitian leader must face charges for human rights abuses, says UN
UN News Centre
The United Nations today voiced its concern at reports that former Haitian President Jean-Claude Duvalier may not face charges relating to the serious human rights violations that took place during his 15-year rule, while stressing that justice must be ...
Rights groups blast Haiti judge on Duvalier caseCBS News
Duvalier must face trial for serious rights crimes-UNReuters
Human rights groups denounce Duvalier decisionCNN
RTT News
all 731 news articles »

Youth: the hope of the future

2012-01-31T05:00:00.000-08:00

Something made me nervous in recent article in the Washington Post article about President Michel Martelly's desire to pardon former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier. That is, something made me nervous besides the fact that the current president of Haiti would consider pardoning a man who terrorized and stole from his own people.

It was a short statement that Martelly made about his desire to rebuild the Haitian army which was disbanded on former president Jean-Bertrande Aristide.

"...he [Martelly] said he will replace the peacekeepers with a Haitian security force that will create jobs for 3,000-5,000 Haitian youths and help Haiti become self-sustaining."

This is an positive statement in many ways. The Haitian people have long been decrying the presence of the UN appointed peacekeepers known as MINUSTAH. These forces have been accused of various abuses including rape, child prostitution as well as introducing the deadly cholera virus into Haitian drinking water. So the idea of a Haitian-led peacekeeping force is appealing. Additionally, the creation of a military force is a great way to create jobs that are desperately needed in a country with nearly 70% unemployment.

However, the Haitian military had a history of instability up until the time of that it was disbanded even being used as the presidents personal strong-arm, terrorizing, coercing, and murdering civilians. If the president wishes to reform the Haitian military to reduce foreign dependence, create jobs and foster pride among the Haitian people, this represents a tremendous step forward. But if this security force going to be yet another unchecked and unaccountable group of government armed thugs, I fear for Haiti's future.

The fact that Martelly has announced his intention to recreate the Haitian military right around the same time that he announced his desire that Duvalier be granted immunity for using a paramilitary group (VSN or the "Tonton Macoute") to terrorize civilians is, at best, a frightening coincidence. Also disturbing is President Martelly's former ties to the FRAPH, another paramilitary group established during the 1990s and also accused of various brutalities against civilians.

But perhaps most worrisome is the fact that Martelly specifically states that this force will create job opportunity for "Haitian youths." Now, this could be an arbitrary word choice or political rhetoric, but oppressive leaders frequently choose to indoctrinate their followers into their ideology at a young age, exploiting their idealism and naivete.

This may seem an unfair observation or a far-fetched speculation, but I suspect that, one year ago, it would have seemed far-fetched that the government of Haiti would grant its former dictator immunity.

Please understand, I have no personal agenda in Haiti and have no vendetta against Michel Martelly. Each accusation against Martelly has a defense or counter-attack and I have not ruled out the fact that I am completely wrong and my judgments are the product of the misguided myopia of an American blan. But, given the history of Haitian leaders in the past and the desire of the Haitian people to experience true democracy, I think that informed skepticism and accountability are in the Haitian government's best interest.

Exclusive - Haiti's Duvalier faces trial for corruption - Reuters UK

2012-01-30T10:11:00.000-08:00

As expected, the Haitian government has decided not to charge former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier with the many human rights violations committed during his presidency, instead choosing to charge him only with embezzlement of public funds. An article in Reuters this morning said that:

"While the ruling is a setback for human rights victims and advocates, it also marks a victory for those seeking punishment for Duvalier's alleged crimes who had feared that the judge would drop all charges."

I disagree. Five years in "prison" does not seem like a victory to me and it is certainly not one for those tortured in his prisons or the families of the thousands who were murdered by the Tonton Macoutes. I do not even have confidence that Duvalier will be convicted for crimes of corruption.

This entire fiasco feels like the final act in a charade that began long ago, before Duvalier inexplicably decided to leave the immunity he found in France and return to a country where he would likely be tried for innumerable crimes against humanity. I suspect that Duvalier knew before he came home that he would receive impunity from the current presidency, why else would he come home?

Exclusive - Haiti's Duvalier faces trial for corruption - Reuters UK:

Exclusive - Haiti's Duvalier faces trial for corruption
Reuters UK
By Joseph Guyler Delva | PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Former Haitian dictator Jean Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier will face trial for corruption during his 15-year rule, but not for human rights abuses, a senior judicial official told Reuters.

and more »

Why Doesn't the American Red Cross Want People to See "Haiti: Where Did the Money Go?"

2012-01-25T17:13:00.000-08:00

Since the earthquake in 2012, millions of dollars have been raised for Haiti relief efforts via several different organizations. By far the largest of these organizations is the American Red Cross. The ARC has been a leader in humanitarian efforts both domestically and overseas and, in all likelihood, deserves the respect and deference it currently enjoys.

However, it is vitally important that any NGO in charge of this kind of relief effort is held to a high standard of both efficiency and efficacy. This film (I have not seen it) takes a look at the work of several different relief efforts but spends a good deal of time focusing on the work of the ARC and makes some disturbing observations.

While I believe that we should be responsible when offering this kind of criticism, taking into consideration the complexities of the challenges they are facing, the truth is that, if you want to know how well an NGO is doing, the best place to start is by asking the people they are helping. Policy is important but if that policy is not manifested on the ground, then something isn't working.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the Center for Economic Policy and Research:

Why Doesn't the American Red Cross Want People to See "Haiti: Where Did the Money Go?":

Filmmaker Michele Mitchell presented her documentary, "Haiti: Where Did the Money Go?" at a congressional briefing yesterday sponsored by Rep. Yvette Clarke, Rep. Barbara Lee, and Rep. Donald M. Payne (CEPR Co-Director Mark Weisbrot spoke at the briefing, and CEPR helped to publicize the event.) Through visits to Haiti in 2010 and 2011 in which she conducted interviews with IDP camp residents, NGO spokespersons, aid workers, and others, and through other background research, Mitchell examines why so many people (currently half-a-million) remain stuck in tent camps with few services, despite the billions of dollars pledged for relief following the earthquake. The film is currently airing on dozens of PBS stations around the U.S.

One NGO that Mitchell focuses on, in interviews, and in on-the-ground examination of the situation in IDP camps, is the Red Cross. Mitchell notes that the Red Cross is the biggest NGO operating in Haiti, and American Red Cross (ARC) Senior Vice President International Services David Meltzer is provided with a significant portion of screen time to explain the Red Cross’ activities in Haiti, and why some services – such as shelter and sanitation – appear to be so sorely lacking. As the Huffington Post’s Laura Bassett describes:
A senior Red Cross official for international aid is interviewed extensively throughout the film, and Mitchell said she repeatedly asked ARC to answer questions and corroborate facts during the production process.

Despite the prominent role that Meltzer has in the film, and Mitchell’s apparent reaching out to the organization, staff from the American Red Cross attended the briefing yesterday, handing out copies of a document titled “Correcting Film@11’s Errors and Distortions on the Haiti Response” (which we have posted here in PDF format). The several ARC staffers from the Washington office also interrupted a panelist by complainting that the film was imbalanced and that Meltzer was not given sufficient notice ahead of the event (he was invited six days earlier, according to organizers).
Read more...

Haitians Don't Like Oprah's Haiti

2012-01-24T06:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I saw a lot of buzz on twitter about some Haiti special featuring Sean Penn that is launching on Oprah's Next Chapter this weekend:

The buzz intensified when Sean Penn also appeared on CNN with Piers Morgan last night sharing his opinions on the GOP race (surprise, surprise, he isn't a Rick Santorum fan) as well as his work in Haiti.

Sean Penn has gotten some love recently for his work in Haiti through his cryptically named humanitarian organization, the J/P HRO, even being knighted by former president of Haiti, Rene Preval, and Oprah is well-known for being interested in humanitarian efforts of all shapes and flavors so the marriage of the two makes sense.

But not everyone is a fan of Oprah & Sean Penn's Haiti. Both Oprah and Sean Penn have huge fans and haters so I wasn't surprised to see a range of positive and negative comments. What bothered me was the negative feedback from Haitian nationals. When Haitians don't like what you're doing in Haiti, you should probably listen.

Now, the primary objection with Oprah's "THIS...is Haiti," statement is that Haiti is a lot more than a single tent city, Haiti is a beautiful, diverse country with a rich and complex history. That is certainly true; I personal have beautiful photos from Haiti. But the reality is that, when you have a 70% unemployment rate and more than half the population living in abject poverty, you're going to get labeled as a poor country. That's not bad press, it's the truth.

On the other hand, to look at vast tent cities, violence and poverty and think, "Gee! Why doesn't anyone do anything about this mess? I know, I'll create an NGO!" is absurd. It's a gross oversimplification.

Perhaps I am being overly sensitive here because I believe Oprah has a history of oversimplifying complex issues and addressing difficult subjects after only a minimal amount of research. I don't consider Oprah a journalist and don't generally respect her opinions, to be honest. But that's probably just because she once hated on beef and I grew up in a cowboy's house.

Personal biases notwithstanding, I think that an American who has spent less than 10 years living in Haiti is in no place to fix Haiti. In fact I think that no one has the right to "fix Haiti." Haiti isn't a problem-child, it is an independently sovereign democratic republic and the sooner that we, the benevolent Americans, realize that, the better.

Let me be honest, I have spent a grand total of 15 days in-country. I am NOT qualified to tell anyone what Haiti needs in order to reach internal stability and I am certainly not qualified to tell you the best way you can spend your money (but I sure can, if you want!) but if I spent an hour telling millions of people in the states about the way to help Haiti, maybe four people would listen (and two would be my parents). When Oprah and Sean Penn start talking, a lot of people are going to listen.

I find that frightening because I don't think Oprah or Sean Penn have any more of an idea how to help Haiti than I do. Now to be fair, Sean Penn has spent two years and "all of his money" helping the country so he may have a little more authority than I do. But I guarantee you, visiting Haiti does not help you understand the complex social, political, racial and international issues that make Haiti what it is today. Before you can start telling people how to help Haiti or even help Haiti yourself, you have to understand Haiti and we just don't.

Perhaps it was Oprah's sweeping declaration that "THIS is Haiti," as the camera pans across a huge tent city or maybe it was the gushing narrator or Oprah's less than inspirational questions ("Did coming here help you with the divorce?") but I have a feeling that Oprah fans are going to get neither an accurate look at Haiti on Sunday nor a good idea how they can help the situation.

So what is Haiti? How can you help?

You have to answer the first question before you answer the second.

UN investigates new Haiti child sex case

2012-01-23T11:39:00.000-08:00

UN investigates new Haiti child sex cases - Independent Online:

Independent Online

UN investigates new Haiti child sex cases
Independent Online
He said the UN mission in Haiti, MINUSTAH, had informed the UN leadership of two cases of “sexual exploitation and abuse involving minors” on January 16, 2012. One involved UN police based in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the second was in Gonaives.

and more »

Aristide and the Endless Revolution

2012-01-19T13:36:00.000-08:00

Jean-Bertrand Aristide, president of Haiti, was
oustered from office by a rebel coup-d'etat in 2004

Last week, on the two-year anniversary of the Haiti Earthquake, I mentioned a documentary called Aristide and the Endless Revolution. I finally watched it last night.

The "Aristide" of the film is Jean-Bertrand Aristide, president of Haiti from 1991-1996 and 2001-2004. The majority of his first presidency was spent in exile, being ousted from office by a coup-d'etat a mere six months after his election and returning to to serve from 1994-1996. His second presidency in 2001 ended three years later in yet another coup-d'etat let by a rebel army made up of gangs armed with military weapons. The film explores the events leading up to and after both coup-d'etats.

Whatever the cover may say about Aristide and the Endless Revolution being a "well-balanced" look into the events surround Aristide's two ousters, this film does not paint the US or France in a favorable light. It suggests, among other things, that the gangs that tore violently through northern Haiti in 2004 were Haitians trained in the Dominican army and armed by the US military. Prior to this, in 1994, almost all foreign aid was cut off from the Haitian government which made it nearly impossible to maintain any kind of stable infrastructure and many people, including members of the United States government, claim that it was this instability that made the 2004 coup possible. Additionally, interim leaders during the coup were linked back to the US CIA. Aristide even describes his flight from Port-au-Prince as a "kidnapping," claiming that US and French officials threatened continued violence and the death of Haitian citizens if the president did not leave the country.

Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly
was elected president of Haiti in April of 2011

This is all disturbing and puzzling to me. Make no mistake, I love this country. I cannot imagine a better, more privileged life than the one I lead here. Still, I am intensely aware that the US's intervention in the political processes of other struggling countries often results in questionable actions. I know that we have made decisions that have damaged other nations in order to protect our own interests; whether or not this is justified is an ethical dilemma that every US citizen must face.

But regardless of whether or not these allegations are true, the reality is that, until Haiti can internally stabilize it's democratic process and eliminate the influence rebels and gangs pose to the government, it will always be subject to the interests of foreign governments. Though it may be recognized as an independent republic, Haiti continues to be seen by the international community as a broken country.

The real issue here is not aid, it is respect, and I don't know what it will take for Haiti to crawl out of the shadow cast by two centuries of tumult.

Haiti: Looking backward

2012-01-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

As I review the two years that have passed since Haiti experience a magnitude-7 earthquake, the millions of dollars in aid that has been delivered and the thousands of hours spent by volunteers and relief-workers, I must admit, I am disheartened. Two years have passed with very few measurable successes. Millions of citizens are still displaced, living in temporary housing that has long since become unsafe. Much of the promised aid has been clogged in the bureaucratic pipelines. A deadly cholera outbreak has taken nearly 7,000 lives and the number of abandoned children is steadily growing.

With two formerly ousted leaders, Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier and Jean-Bertrand Aristide returning to Haiti during the controversial presidency of newly elected Michel "Sweet Mickey" Martelly, along with accusations against UN appointed peacekeeping forces, the political and civil discord is likely to continue for some time.

Haiti is, as they say, a hot mess.

But this year, instead of talking about what is going on in Haiti's present, I thought it appropriate to take a look into Haiti's past. See, we as the "benevolent" saviors of Haiti have no hope of making sense of the situation in Haiti, let alone develop a successful plan for recovery unless we understand the history of this tiny, conflicted country.

In July 2002, I visited Haiti for the first time with a mission team from my church. We sent two more teams during 2003 and were planning more trips when Pastor Joseph, our contact in Haiti, warned us not to come. It wasn't safe, he said. Remembering the Haiti that I had visited two years prior, I recalled that it didn't feel particularly safe then either. I had no idea what had happened to make things suddenly unsafe, something about riots and political unrest.

I was 17 and had trouble understanding my own government.

During my last trip to Haiti, I spoke to a Haitian man about the recent presidential elections and as during that conversation, he brought up Haiti's tumultuous political history. The conversation stuck with me after I returned and I started looking into some of the events of the past 20 years in Haiti. It's a fascinating and disturbing study.

I discovered that, in February of 2004, less than a year after our last mission trip, a rebel army took control of the northern part of Haiti, including Port-au-Prince, resulting in the a violent coup d'etat. Reports surrounding this event are rife with speculation, accusation and conflicting reports and general political unrest. The ousted president, Jean Bertrande Aristide was exiled to South Africa.

Not safe, indeed.

In 2005 Baraka Production released a documentary on the 2004 coup called Aristide and the Endless Revolution. If you're interested in watching the film, it is available for $13 on Aristidethefilm.com (I haven't watched it yet). The trailer is below.

Live58 Challenge

2011-12-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

This video was made about 4 weeks ago, right after I got back from my Haiti trip with Compassion International. Compassion is involved with Live58, a coalition of nonprofit organizations dedicated to ending poverty by practicing a "True Fast." True fasting, as described in Isaiah 58, is characterized by loosing the bonds of wickedness, undoing heavy burdens, letting the oppressed go free, breaking every yoke, sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the poor cast-out ones into your home and covering the naked.

More than anything it is a call to love and have compassion on one another. This passage, the Live58 ministry, and my trip to Haiti raised some questions about how we respond to pain and poverty.

Voulez Vous Chante?

2011-11-17T18:48:00.000-08:00

Mwen kontan fe konoses ou!
That's the Creole that I'm taking away from this trip, it means I am very happy to meet you!

I can't remember how many times I said it this week, but there is one that stands out.

I met Shaika at a Compassion project in Versette, an area hurting more than most in Haiti for jobs. I brought Shaika's child packet with me when we visited her project today. I picked it out for the same reason I picked Fabi 8 years ago: she loves to sing.

If you've had the privilege of listening to a Haitian or African choir, you know that American kids don't sing the way these kids sing. It's an amazing experience. But I wasn't sure if Shaika loved to sing the way I loved to sing when I was seven! Hey, my mother thought it was beautiful.

So when we say down together at the project, my translator asked her, "Voulez vous chante?" - Do you like to sing? She smiled and said, yes, she did, and she would like to sing me a song.

I went to Haiti looking for another child to sponsor and if I had any questions about whether it was going to be Shaika, I forgot them.

God has a way of speaking to us that seems silly, small or surprising at times. I should know by now that it delights God to set His spirit on seemingly unworthy or inappropriate places, like a little shepherd boy who'd rather sing than go to war, a vain weak-willed man with long hair, a persecutor of the church, or a shy little Haitian girl singing on a concrete floor in the middle of one of the poorest countries in the world.

It is so very right, because He used the weak or foolish things to shame the wise. And God used this quiet little girl with the priceless secret smile to bring praise to His name.

Mwen tre kontann fe konoses ou, Shaika.

To Haiti With Love: Itinerary

2011-11-13T20:00:00.000-08:00

Well friends, I fly into Port au Prince tomorrow!

I met with the rest of the Compassion team tonight (including Bethany, my roommate), it still all seems a little surreal but I'm going to be in Haiti tomorrow, crazy!

I'm not sure what the specific itinerary is but we will be flying in tomorrow morning and flying out Friday, it's kind of a fast and furious trip. That is compounded by the fact that we are meeting with so many people.

If you are the praying type, we could definitely use prayer for safety and health (don't drink the water, don't drink the water...). I don't know if you heard, but they've got a cholera outbreak in Haiti (the first one in 100 years!) and that is one Haiti-immersion experience I would like to skip.

You can also pray for my poor little arms. I am checking two 50 lbs bags and one 25 lb carry-on bag of donations for the projects and people we meet. Thank the Jesus that my insurance covers chiropractic care!

As for me, I will be living out of a backpack for the next 6 days! I normally wouldn't mind but I'm planning on taking a lot of pictures and a few will probably have me in them. The fact that I am forgoing all but he most essential hygiene items raises some concern about the quality of those photos.

Yes, its a ridiculous concern but there you are, I'm a vain little girl at heart.

But above all please pray that the people we meet will be better for our visit. Pray that the people we talk to when we get home will be filled with love and compassion for the people of the tiny, downtrodden, resilient little country.

Pray for Haiti.

What I'm listening to: Arcade Fire

2011-11-11T04:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Veteran's Day!

My (first) flight leaves tomorrow at 2:30 PST. I'll be in Ft Lauderdale on Sunday morning and fly into Haiti with the rest of the Compassion International team on Monday!

If I can magically access a wifi signal in country I'll be posting on Twitter and updating the blog with pictures. But I have some posts scheduled in advance about another I am currently on, not as exciting but still challenging!

In honor of my impending trip, I took a break from Christmas music to listen to Arcade Fire's Haiti. I was going to break out some Wyclef Jean, but this is a bit more my style.

Haiti

Haïti, mon pays,

wounded mother I'll never see.

Ma famille set me free.

Throw my ashes into the sea.

Mes cousins jamais nés

hantent les nuits de Duvalier.

Rien n'arrete nos esprits.

Guns can't kill what soldiers can't see.

In the forest we lie hiding,

unmarked graves where flowers grow.

Hear the soldiers angry yelling,

in the river we will go.

Tous les morts-nés forment une armée,

soon we will reclaim the earth.

All the tears and all the bodies

bring about our second birth.

Haïti, never free,

n'ai pas peur de sonner l'alarme.

Tes enfants sont partis,

In those days their blood was still warm

Translation:

Haiti, my country,

Wounded mother I'll never see.

My family set me free.

Throw my ashes into the sea.

My cousins never born

haunt the nights of Duvalier.

Nothing stops our spirits.

Guns can not kill what soldiers can not see.

In the forest we lie hiding,

unmarked graves where flowers grow.

Hear the soldiers angry yelling,

in the river we will go.

All stillborn form an army,

will we soon reclaim the earth.

All the tears and all the bodies

bring about our second birth.

Haiti, never free,

I am not afraid to sound the alarm.

Your children are gone,

In those days their blood was still warm

P.S. Happy birthday to my big brother, Matt!

It just keeps coming!

2011-11-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

Becca at She Becomes sent me beauties yesterday. I'm astounded! You can tell she's a teacher :)

Awesome!

More stuff!

2011-10-24T15:41:00.000-07:00

Thanks Jill!!

Do you feel it? I feel it!

2011-10-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I asked people in my office to help me "fill my suitcase" with gifts & supplies for the Compassion projects I'm going to be visiting.
They've already filled this box with many more promised.
Feeling the love!!

Oh, the Joys of Traveling...

2011-10-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

I took the day off to get my (FIVE!!) vaccinations that I need for my Haiti trip. I wasn't super excited, obviously, especially when I found out that I left my checkbook at home, 30 minutes away.

Not happy.

Fortunately, I ran into my friend Chelsey at the Health Department, and her baby, Ellie, smiled at me. Babies make everything better.

Then, I found out my friend Shellie was going to be giving me my injections, which made the whole thing more fun, if getting five injections is ever fun...

I have so much more respect for infants now.

(forgive the wonky perspective!)

Haiti Update: Send some love!

2011-10-11T11:49:00.000-07:00

Things are gearing up as November approaches! I have my ticket to Florida (finally) and am making cards like a mad woman. Thank you again for all of the encouragement and support. I am amazed by the number of people who have voiced their support and are praying for me.

Thank you!

If you have no idea what I am talking about, you can read more about my trip to Haiti with Compassion International here.

May I share with you a bit of this trust-building journey I'm on? Back in January, I made a list of "I am going to"s (and pretended that they weren't resolutions). These were not intended to be my promises to myself, the world or to God, but rather a commitment to live confidently, to trust, in the promises that God has given me. One of those was the promise that I was going back to Haiti.

I had no idea how I was going or when but I believed God was going to make it happen. I found out that Compassion was sending their first teams to Haiti (since the quake) in July about 3 weeks before I needed to come up with the $1500 fee. It was like God dropped a crumb in front of me and asked, do you trust me for the rest of the cookie?

With the quaking faith of a shriveled and underdeveloped mustard seed, I watched people pour their love, encouragement, and support over me over the next three weeks. Friends, family, acquaintances, and strangers, harbingers of God's promise.

It's a frightening thing, to do something alone. But may I just say how much more frightening it is to need help doing something? I am terrified that I'll reach out and nothing will be there, so I just make the most of it on my own. But God pushed me to reach out, to put my faith and trust in Him and in others and, yes, I quaked.

So, at the risk of gushing (do you pronounce that guh-sh or goo-sh?) or sounding hyper spiritual, thank you all, even the ones who have prayed and never told me. Even if you have just thought in passing, "Hey, it's nice that that girl is going to Haiti," I appreciate your good juju.

(In love) He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Eph 1:5-10

Reminder

If you would like to send some love to Haiti with me, I am going to be taking down a suitcase full of cards and letters to share with the kids that I meet.

A few guidelines:

Keep it simple, I'm not sure what kind of translating resources will be available.
Keep it fun: brightly colored paper, stickers, activities (simple, again)
Keep it personal: Include your name (first name only is fine) and a little piece of "you," ex: include a coloring page and another page you've already colored!

[[[[Sorry I'm having trouble uploading the pictures!]]]]