to the central plateau!

A great day, filled with lots of laughter and hope.

Unfortunately my phone clock and alarm were not accurate this morning making me think I had an extra hour of prep time I didn’t have before we left the hotel. It was a good thing Lori stopped by my room to see why I didn’t come down for breakfast! So needless to say my granola bar came in handy for breakfast. What a beautiful hotel!

The streets were busier today, but Bernie and I both remained so excited to see all of the clean up in the streets the piles and piles of rubble and garbage from 2011’s visit are gone and the rows and rows of tent cities have decreased significantly.  It does seem that everyone in Haiti is trying to sell something and the streets are lined with lots to look at as our drivers weave their way through the streets. I am reminded of how overwhelming the rows and rows and layers upon layers of housing up the mountain side can be.

We arrived at World Vision Headquarters to be addressed by some of the staff.  It seems they think us Canadians need it cold and the air conditioning has all of us just shivering. We find it funny as we all search our suitcases for big heavy sweaters in Haiti!  There are three excellent presentations, one concerning their Child Protection Policies, another from an absolutely hilarious Russian Security guard., he assured us that regardless of where we were, or what was going on “ I will get you out”.  I believed him!  As he described the layout of the city and the areas of extreme violence, precautions and restrictions on drivers and staff I felt I had a better appreciation for the justoposition we’ve seen between the media’s portrayal of  Port au Prince, vs the reality we are exposed to.  The poverty is very obvious, but the violence and carnality described by the media has just not been what we have seen. Now I understand the severity of different areas in the city, as opposed to others.  I am now kicking myself that I didn’t get a picture of him!  He said to us beginning his presentation “ I need you to know I have been married for 25 years, so I am used to interruptions.”  I could have listened to him for hours talk about the many areas including Afghanistan, that he has been posted to Direct peace over the years. The National Director Jean Claude joined us to answer some questions we had and make introduction and the every friendly face Paul-Emile entered the room.

When we were in the earthquake we wondered if World Vision staff knew where we were, or could even get to us, we wondered for 24 hours how long we would wait before someone found us, and then 24 hrs after the earthquake we saw Paul Emile’s beaming face come through the court yard, after walking over an hour through the city to try to get to us.  “ You are alive! You are well!”  His smile and hugs are forever etched in my mind.  To see him coming through the door today brought that moment back.  He has such a beautiful spirit and I will forever pray for him and his family.

The team wanted him to relay his experience in the earthquake.  As Paul-Emile told his story I was brought to tears.  But what is most moving is the hope that he has for his country and people and his faith in God. He talked about how there are 3 types of people after a tragedy: those who never move forward, those who deny what happened and those who find healing and hope for tomorrow. He talked about knowing each kind.  His faith in God working through such tragedy is overwhelming and beautiful.

From Headquarters we went to lunch and shared many laughs. Some team members prove to have quite a sense of humor!  Our translator Ingrid is in stiches much of the time listening to us talk and interact., taking pictures of the massive 1 glass pop bottles , gekos etc. She is fun to join our convoy.

We begin the long convoy to the Central Plateau, but this time in very comfortable vehicles with seatbelts even! Bernie and I joke that this group is getting royal treatment.

We arrive at our hotel close to 5:30pm and are immediately struck by the huge expansion they are working on.  We joke if we will get a choice between the rooms with the goats or roosters for back ground soundtrack. I have an upstairs room this time and am thrilled to see that the massive spiders seem to be abiding some where other than my room.

Supper has more laughs, this is a fun team to travel with and I look forward to getting to know them all a little more. As we begin to discuss tomorrow’s adventures I am ready to put all of the travel behind us and begin to see how the projects have developed and talk to the people.  As I sit here quietly tonight and think on the day I am reminded again at what an outstanding organization World Vision is, and how they truly are assisting communities to be self sustaining with a better future and hope for tomorrow. These people are so beautiful, I wish everyone had the opportunity I have had to meet them and fall in love with them.

Unfortunately a dinosaur grasshopper creature awaited me on my bed when I got back from supper.  I explained to him I really did not want to share my bed with a stranger but he appeared not to care.  Thankfully Bernie was passing by my open door as I discussed what to do about our disagreement and carried the massive creature outside.  I do notice my geko roommate at the ceiling and pray he will stay there the night.

Tonight I wish to kiss my Nathaniel’ s sweet cheeks and snuggle my baby girls.

To tomorrow….

Travel to Port au Prince

What a full day.  It always amazes me how quickly one can adapt to a new environment, “ …and now I’m here.” 

It was an early start with a 3:45am alarm sounding and a 6am flight out of Fredericton.  I was am totally in awe of God today!  Unfortunately since the Earthquake in 2010, I have not done well in small spaces, particularly planes.  The lining up to get in, waiting to leave part has just been panic inducing. So many of my friends were praying this trip, and I was certain that I wouldn’t medicate myself out of this one, God is not a God of fear and I had faith (although it may at times have been small) that he would get me through the fear for this trip.  Seriously, he surprised me, not only did I get through the fear for this trip but I just didn’t have it. I was calm and at peace the entire process. God is a God of peace and he was travelling with me today.

I was reminded of my friend Sue’s prayer with me yesterday as she prayed and got this image of God and I, daughter and father, on an adventure trip together. I felt his presence with me all day as we travelled. Barry & Jasmine prayed God’s peace over every aspect of this trip, indeed, amazing peace I had.  I have not been able to adequately explain the anxiety flying had become for me, the change today was so intense and wonderful!

A close second to flying, I can honestly say the Port au Prince airport was not high on my list of fun things to do.  In my previous two visits the airport was aggressive and stressful. I was shocked at the newly renovated aiport, it was calm and organized and even enjoyable. I kept waiting for that moment when things got intense and chaotic, and instead-peace…

Bernie and I were both so excited to see the positive changes in the city since our last vist! Much rubble, garbage and debris have been cleaned up it truly is so hopeful.  Driving through the city was also peaceful today, unheard of usually, a huge soccer game has crowds gathered around small outside tv’s along the sides of the streets.

We arrived at our hotel for the night and I was in awe of the beautiful patio we had supper on.  We are so high above the city, it is like it was laid out before us as we ate-breathtaking.

Tomorrow we head to World Vision Headquarters in Port au Prince for a visit before travelling out to the central plateau. Another busy travel day ahead.

Sue left me with this Scripture yesterday  Isaiah 59:19-21

In the west, people will respect the name of the Lord;in the east, they will glorify him.For he will come like a raging flood tide driven by the breath of the Lord.^[a]20 “The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem to buy back those in Israel who have turned from their sins,”^[b] says the Lord. 21“And this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children’s children forever. I, the Lord, have spoken!

Haiti bound in 9hrs

It's hard to believe but in 9hrs I will be in the air, bound for Haiti for the third time. I can't wait to see what God is up to this time!

Häiti Day 7 Visit La Ville Créole

February 28, 2011

Day 7

9:00am Travel from Hinche to Port au Prince

2:00pm Visit La Ville Creole for lunch

3:00pm Debrief and strategy meeting at WV Headquarters

7:00pm Supper at Karibe hotel restaurant

Ah, nothing like a proper Hinche farewell with no running water this morning J.

It is a hard farewell this morning, realizing that we are leaving friendships behind, but I am also ready. I long desperately to hold my own babies in my arms again, so much so that my heart actually hurts.

We are traveling by truck back to Port au Prince today and I am so glad we did. What beautiful country! Really I thought that all of Häiti was deforestation, but there are many beautiful views along the river. It amazes me just how vastly different one mile of territory can be from the next though. One moment it is green and beautiful, the next it is bare and dead looking. Different worlds right beside each other. Much like the contrasts we see all over Häiti.

The drive to the city is nearly as long as the drive IN the city because of traffic. Traffic is absolutely crazy here in Port au Prince. We sit at complete standstills much of the time and the heat is so much more intense in the city, we are just baking in the vehicle.

We arrive back at the hotel Karibe, it is so nice to be back in a facility that is clean and free of bugs with running water! I long to crawl up in a bed I don’t have to peer into and pray against before falling asleep! Our driver is late so we sit to begin our debrief with Janine. As we’re sitting in the café a host of reporters and photographers come running through and low and behold there is Bill Clinton quickly making his way with his entourage to the conference room. Mike waves at him, he catches his glance and trips. It is funny to see so many people scrambling around him, and I wonder what it must be like to have such excitability around you all the time. I am a bit star struck myself.

From here we head over to La Ville Creole for lunch. As I step out of the truck in the parking lot suddenly my mind is flooded with images, smells and sounds from the year before. As I walk through the grounds it is like a movie reel playing last years experiences back at me with fierce realness, and I feel it all again, or maybe for the first time. Last year’s experience was one of survival, there wasn’t room for feelings until we returned home and even then we had been separated from the experience. Today it was like the feelings met up with the space and I couldn’t control them. It was strange to be back.

Later in the afternoon we met with Jenine at WV Headquarters for a debrief and strategy meeting, how we might best accomplish our Freddylink goals in partnership and with proper WV processes. This was a great meeting, enlightening and exciting as we step into phase two of our partnership.

We wrapped up the night with a beautiful meal at the hotel Karibe’s restaurant (keeping an eye out for Bill) and now it’s time to call it a night. I shall rest well in my bug free environment tonight!

~H

Reflecting on Häiti

February 27, 2011

Reflecting on Häiti

Mike asked us all an interesting question tonight at supper. Did you have a “moment” when things changed for you here in Häiti? It was a question I hadn’t really thought about yet, I’d thought about the moments I’d really loved, some that stood out to me, but not the question from that particular angle. I’d noticed a change in me, but I hadn’t pinpointed the moment yet. For me, I realized that the moment things changed for me was meeting with the women in the Women’s Club.

I felt such immense solidarity with these women from the moment I walked into the church. We were part of a sisterhood of understanding. They were instantly welcoming, there was a high energy in the room as everyone met together with one common goal, the best for their children.

As they shared their experiences, their challenges, their hopes and dreams I felt the energy in the room around me and I too was charged with hope and joy in a way I haven’t felt in over a year since the earthquake. I felt God’s presence all around me and I could hardly breathe. I felt him show me that this was his promise to me actualized, this moment of realization, HERE was faith, hope and joy so real, so full, so true. I felt the burden and sorrow from January 12^th lift and be replaced by hope and joy deep beyond our circumstances. I was inspired and lifted high in one spirit with these women. I hadn’t realized that I had worn the earthquake like a cloak of heavy mourning. Here, we were one, we were unified.

As I shared with thesewomen the bond I felt, that we were all women with one heart, they clapped and cheered, they had felt it too. I encouraged them that they were extremely valuable and honoured them for the difficult but important work they do raising the next generation of children. I expressed the deep honour I feel to have the opportunity to partner with them in their great work. These were the mothers that represented the children we sponsor. I am so close,I Can imagine the connection I would feel with those who help me give my best to my children so that they can be their best, reaching their full potential. I can see their sincere gratitude as the possibilities for their children become even greater through our partnership. United women are a mighty force.

I can’t help but cry from the relief, the weight of grief being left behind and now I can really look forward to hope restored and a bright future as we partner together!

~H

Day 6

February 27, 2011
Day 6

9:30am Church in Hinche
3:00pm Visit local Waterfall attraction

This morning began with no water. Ah, how important is a shower in a hot, dusty environment where we have been travelling, kicking up dust all day long. Finally, enough water squeezes out that I have enough to work with. As I head up to breakfast I recognize that today is going to be hot, a nice hot, but unfortunately the majority of my “lighter” clothes are dirty and I’m stuck in jeans and a tshirt.

Breakfast this morning is some sort of pumpkin soup with what I think is goat in it. Kinda hard to wrap my brain around soup for breakfast, and I definilty can’t stomach goat. I tried it one day, but after spending much of my time surrounded by them I’m afraid it’s just not possible for me. Of course I knew that food would be limited in Haiti, but the amount of carbohydrates and pop are just about doing in me in. We laugh when Bernie steps on the truck to step into the back and the footstep breaks off. “Too much rice!” When I get home it’s going to be a pure veggie diet with loads of water for awhile. LOL!

Segnol, Marouse, Marcellus and Robert arrived fully decked out in suits to pick us up. We all looked at each other as if to say “oops”. It seems everyone dresses in their finest to church, and in the case of these guys they have specific dress based on their status in the church. I am constantly amazed at the significance of hierarchy and respect in Haitian culture.

This morning we are attending one of the many churches in Hinche. I amazed at how many churches are in one small village. Segnol tells us that they are all busting at the seams with no room for more. Since the earthquake attendance has more than doubled in size and Haitians are regularly giving their lives to follow Jesus. This morning there were at least 8—this is so exciting to witness!

Following Church we stopped off at Marouse’s house to meet his wife and one of his children. She immediately welcomes us in and serves us up the best fried banana and fried something else we’ve had since coming here. It was so good and she was so welcoming, anxious to have her picture with us, and handing her beautiful daughter over to me to carry around. We headed back to the hotel for lunch and as Sagnol says “rest”. Saying goodbye to Marouse was so hard to do. I have such great respect for him. As I have watched him meet with the various associations, the local governments and ADP staff and partners I have been amazed at his leadership skills. He always applauds something, and challenges something, giving the people something to think on, and he does it with great respect. I have learned so much from watching him this week. As we stand to say goodbye to him he surprises each of us with a gift. To Laura he gives his mirror, to me, his pocket comb, to Amy his pocket suite cleaner and to Mike, his watch. These gifts mean so much, especially from him because they are what he has, and they connect us to one another.

After lunch and a rest we are off to visit a local waterfall. It IS beautiful. We climb the mountain it is on to check out the cave, so cool, there are engravings in the cave walls left there by the people from before colonization. It was a great way to end this leg of our journey, in the central plateau. As we pull up to the hotel gate it is hard to say goodbye because we have experienced so much together.

As I’m talking to Bernie on the drive back to the hotel, I say something that resonates true with me after I say it. It’s that because of my experience in Haiti this past week, Haitians are no longer defined by their hardship, but by the relationship, the unity and friendship I have with them. Their need is still great, but it fades into the background of the picture, their faces and stories, their hope and inspiration take the foreground and I realize that I have more to receive from this partnership than I can possibly give.

~H

Day 5 - Sponsor Party

February 26^th 2011 - Day 5—Sponsor Party!

9:30am Meeting with the Mothers Club

10:30am Visit a Goat Project

1:00pm Sponsor Party

What an awesome day! As I sit here hauling pictures and video off of my camera, I can’t wrap my brain around the transformation I feel in myself after such a short period here in Häiti. Ah but I’d love for a piece of chocolate….anyway…

The morning began bright and early but a little cloudier than most. Of course my alarm went off and as I was lazing in bed for a minute pondering if I really had to get up just yet or not, the power went out everywhere. Luckily the water still ran as I grabbed my shower. Power goes out regularly in Häiti, for hours, randomly. During supper, our first night, in Port au Prince, we had just checked in to this beautiful hotel and gone down to the restaurant for supper on a beautiful terrace when all of a sudden there was a bang and the lights all went out. That was a moment! My first thought as my heart jumps in my chest is-earthquake! Luckily we were just out of power and ate the rest of the meal in the dark. So we began our morning without power a breakfast of boiled eggs and bread and MANGO—yummy on the Mango! (personally, if I ever eat another egg after this trip I will be surprised! Eggs every morning…)

We hauled 5 bags of luggage down to the trucks, and off we went for the day. I found myself thinking, “this road isn’t all that bad” lol. How quickly a persons reality changes!

First we visited a Women’s Club. This was an awesome experience. They were so thrilled to have us there and the energy in the room was high. I immediately felt a connection to them, we were sisters with the same cause and hope and desire, the best for our children. The Women’s Club has done great things for them, 30-35 women meet for 2 hrs every Tuesday to learn about family planning, birthday control, environment and hygiene and nutrition, they learn how to care for their reproductive health and have orthopedic training for their children.

When we chatted with them we discovered that there are many orphaned children in the area. Many women have upwards of 5-10 children of their own, and then have taken on the care and responsibility of 3 or 4 orphaned children in their area. Our hearts are knit together as they express their love, hopes and dreams for their children along with the difficulties they have because of their economic condition. They are hopeful, and thankful and I feel immensely blessed to have sat and shared life with them for awhile. These are courageous women uniting to join forces in creating a better tomorrow for their children. Moreouse ends the meeting well by quoting and Africain proverb: “When you educated a boy, you educate and individual. When you educate a girl, you educate a community.”

From there we went to visit a Goat Project. This a brilliant project increasing the health and wellbeing of one family at a time. WV brings in a different breed of goat, healthy and high producing in milk, unlike the goats in the local community. The families in the community can then bring their goats to breed with the better goats and have healthy, strong, high milk producing goats of their own. WV also distributes goats to families in need. In this case, WV gives them a healthy goat, and when it produces it’s first offspring, the family gives it to WV in payment. A goat can produce a kid once every 6 months or so, so the family is then set up to have goats for milk and selling if need be. This was a very interesting visit, brilliant in processes, increasing the economics of the community as well as ensuring it’s continuation.

From here we are excited to go to the Sponsor party, the highlight of our trip! Today we would meet our sponsor children. When we first arrive we are overwhelmed with amount of children, youth, staff and parents on the grounds. Quickly they take us to a room in the headquarters where we can organize the gifts for the children. This takes us awhile as we have gifts for approximately 90 children together. I laugh with the team and say that it will all look so organized and happy in the pictures, thankfully noone will see all the chaos as we run around trying to organize ourselves before they arrive! Finally the children come. They are shy, and adorable. They don’t know quite what to think of us as we give them the envelope from their sponsor family but we pray that they will feel the love represented in each gift and that it continues to give them hope for tomorrow.

We have saved each of our sponsor children until the end of the presentations and I am anxious to see my sponsor child Micheala, and I hope that she is there. She is first to walk through the door and I see a spark in her eye, she is spirited and I know that she must be connected to the Billington girls-we’re all a spirited bunch! Immediately I go over to her and introduce myself. I can’t believe the connection I feel with her. I have prayed for her, hoped for her, talked about her, wrote to her over the past year and the connection is greater than I think. Having been so close to meeting her last year and then having to go home without, makes the connection seem stronger to me too.

She is shy with me, but I can see that she too has made the connection. She clutches her gift and I ask her if she wants to open it. I want to see her face as she opens her things, I want her to understand the love it represents. She peaks in her envelope and takes out the first miniature doll in the doll family. I can tell that she likes it and she reaches her hand into the envelope to feel the others. She doesn’t want to take her things out of the envelope because she wants to keep it safe. We look outside and see that most of the children have not opened their envelopes. Another difference in our culture, our own children would have ripped open the gift as soon as they were allowed to.

I also take time out with the KONNECT sponsor children. Laurie is a beautiful young woman, delightful and smiling. Mr. Walky Jewles is a tiny little guy full of character, his name says it all! And Bubnaud, I laugh because the kids at home can’t pronounce his names so we’ve been calling him Buba, he is such a little adorable Buba! I hope the little videos I took help convey a bit of who they are to the kids back at home.

The ADP has prepared a presentation for us so they usher us out to the front veranda. There is music and dancing and gifts for us. Youth girls come and present us with an envelope of our own and the MC tells us that they have nothing to give us but prayers and appreciation. How little the understand about the gift that they offer us. A gift of joy and hope and believing, a gift of relationship and brotherhood. We ask Segnol if it is alright to open them, and he looks shocked “no, no, you must wait!” We laugh, this is very hard to do.

As the day wraps up I am surprised at how in just a matter of days I can see so much changed in myself. I am surprised at how after you meet the people, spend time with them and get to know them, you don’t see the living conditions as much, but feel the unity in spirit.

~H

Day 4

February 25, 2011 - Day 4

10:00am Arrive & Welcome at UDICC

11:30am Visit Public School & young Craftsmen, Fruit Processors & Tree Nursery

3:00pm Meeting with the administrative board, local government and community leaders

4:00pm Meet families beneficiaries of the gift catalogue program (ie: Fill a Stable)

It was another beautiful day this morning. There is nothing like waking up to the sounds of a wild Jurassic park bird of some sort (oh the images I have in my mind every time is squawks) and a chorus of goats J outside your window! The spiders decided that I’m quite friendly and they should invade my room. I’d yet to see any until this morning when 4 large ones decided to crawl down my wall and make their presence known. We had a chat and have come to an understanding, I am friendly in that I will not track them down, but I am not so friendly that I won’t demolish them in the event that they decide to overtake my territory. As of tonight, they seem to have understood me quite well. Geckos, Chameleons and lizards are everywhere and I’ve tried a number of time to get a really great picture to bring home to Lex and Cole, but these little buggers are fast too, and they aren’t overly keen in getting their pictures taken, although the Gecko commercial would have you believe otherwise.

I’m frustrated with just how horrible the internet connection is around these parts, mostly because I long to communicate with Chad and the girls and see them on skype, and I’m hoping some of my friends and family that are interested will follow my daily trek and fall in love with the Haitians along with me. But alas….

We started the morning hopping into the trucks again and taking off to UDICC ADP. This drive will be longer, but we haven’t been warned that it will be harder, like we were for the trip to La Belle Mer. I am hopeful and unsure just how long my buttocks is going to put up with this kind of treatment. The scenery on this drive is truly beautiful. We stop at a look off and take some pictures of the beautiful valley. There are many more trees, although the mountains still loom brown and bare above them this area looks much more rich in resources. It seems that this must be the case as we drive through the community. The people are going to market so it seems everyone has a dead chicken under their arm, horses, mules and oxen are a plenty. Everyone is stopping to bathe in the streams we are driving through.

It never occurred to me to hurry as we stopped at the lookout to take pictures, that people would be on the other end waiting for us. Even after the last two days of welcomes, I am again amazed as we drive into their village and are greeted in the streets with a huge, and excellent, fully uniformed youth band. As we crawl out of the trucks and the band plays the community leaders and mayor join us shaking hands. Mayor 1 is quite the character with a top hat and massive glasses. This seems to me like something right out of a movie. Children line the school yards to watch, roosters crow, dogs yelp, horses and donkeys neigh and sigh, this is a busy village!

We are ushered in to the yard beside the ADP Headquarters where we are given special seats with programs near the sound equipment. The band sits in front of us and I am amazed at the sense of celebration. Balloons and streamers hang from carefully hung tarps to give us shade. Two young girls lead the morning with a welcome, informing us that we hold the key to their hearts, the love us, and we are make UDICC our home. The mayor proudly welcomes us and gives us the symbolic key to the city. They call us the Canadian Delegate. I have never been more proud to be Canadian, or a representative of Canada than I have been these last 3 days. As I stand to the band’s playing of my national anthem, I am moved at the contribution it has made in the life of others like the children and families of this ADP.

On the drive up to UDICC, Morose was in the truck with us and began talking about the differences between the countries in WV that he has worked with. He thought it was important to inform us that what he noticed most about Canadians was the desire to make the experience of partnership with WV relational, coming to see the Haitians, to meet with them, know them, have relationship with them. I am proud that this is something that makes us stand out from the pack. I do believe that relationship is the key to making a partnership like this really work.

Following the presentation we were taken to the school. I am so excited about this. The road there is very narrow, almost a walking path, and very steep in places. I look back in the truck behind me to see Laura covering her eyes with her hands as we travel along a very narrow patch cut into a mountainside.

The children are so excited to see us when we arrive. They come running out of their classrooms to greet us. The Education facilitator takes us in to a room to talk about their accomplishments and their needs with us. I watch as one mother’s face lights up when Laura explains to the group that she is there representing her church who sponsor 27 children. So many children, who were not able to school are now benefiting from a good education in a new facility that enables them to divide the children by grade level, instead of all of them in one room. Having said that, there are still upwards of 68 children in a class.

We then tour each classroom. As I walk by the doors I sneak in a peak and give a little wave, the kids are quick to respond with giggles and excitement. We begin in the primary classroom, age 5. These little babies are absolutely adorable and pretend to be shy. Then we move on to Grade 1 and as we walk in I say “Bonjour, comment ça va?”: and they all immediately respond in unison “Bon merci et toi?” They are ready to engage with us. As we move through each classroom the engagement level grows with some posing for pictures, some singing for us. The teacher heart it me wells up to come and teach and share life with these kids, help them get themselves set up for success. They are absolutly delightful. They are dismissed from school as we are about to leave and they hang back watching us. Mike starts shaking their hands and Bernie starts giving them 5, the laugh and giggle hysterically at the interaction with a man so “blanc!”.

We hate to leave but carry on to the Craftsmen and Fruit Processors Centre. The children follow us. I am so glad we visited here. We sat and listened to a man talk about how much he appreciated the centre teaching him to make his own shirts, and shirts to sell and the women show off their embroidery work on tablecloths, dollies etc., which is beyond beautiful. Another young man presents their fruit processing and shares his excitement that now with the hope of work and trade he and his friends and children will not be forced to leave the country in order to prosper, but see the hope in the future if they stay to build their community together. One lady walks us through, step by step, the process of making tomato paste. She speaks with pride in her hard work and success. Another woman comes up behind her and assures us that is it very good tomato paste.

A man steps forward, he is a wee bit excentric looking with a big cowboy hat and in his best English, expresses to Mike that he wants to give him one of the shirts he has made. Mike is so overwhelmed by his gift, but I was not prepared for the women coming to me because they wanted to give me a gift. They folded up a beautifully embroidered tablecloth for me. Again, I couldn’t begin to comprehend the influence WV support makes in their lives.

As the day windes down we travel to another tree nursery to see the benefits of compositing and gifting fruit, avocado and wood trees to the communities families. Here they are learning compositng and proper care for their trees to combat deforestation and increase their resources.

From there we travel back to the UDICC ADP Headquarters for a meeting with local government, officials and leaders in the community to discuss their needs and accomplishments. 70’s American love songs crone over the PA during lunch, and I can’t believe they would have thought of this too. Everything is a deliberate attempt to make us feel comfortable, appreciated and at home and it is intentional! I choke down the chicken, while watching it’s brother or sister peak around under my feet. I may have to be off meat after an experience like this. A young baby dances to the 70’s music and her mother looks at me and laughs. We have a connection, a mothers heart. . WE are all very tired at this point and struggling to stay awake, as much as we long to be engaged. It is interesting to see that the Mayors are so involved in the activities and futures of the ADP.

Another highlight in the day, a good way to wrap it up, was in our final stop before home. We walked through the community to visit a few families who have benefited from the gift catalogue (ie: our KONNECT kidz participated in a Fill a Stable program this Christmas). Here I met a father who had just recently lost his leg in an accident, beam with pride and appreciation for the pig and training for proper care of the pig that his family had recently been gifted. Now his pig can reproduce with other pigs in the area, giving him added resources to care for his two young girl.

Finally we stopped at the house of a mother of 3 children. Her oldest was a sponsor child, her middle boy had just recently joined the program, and she had a baby. She explained to us her story of having been hurt in the earthquake, just 2 months pregnant and decided to travel to UDICC to build her life. Here she has received a goat to help the family. Her appreciation is so apparent, and the significance of gifts like these goats and pigs is made even more real.

Well I can hardly keep my eyes open, so I’m going to hit the sac. It was a full day today, but tomorrow we’ll be flying so high we’re not likely going to need a flight home. Tomorrow, we meet and play, party hard with our sponsor children in the COBOCOL ADP.

~H

Day 3

February 24^th, 2011 - Day 3

8:30am Depart for La Belle Mer

10:00am Arrive & Welcome at La Belle Mer

10:30am Visit Lajeune Clinic

2:30pm Visit with a group of parents and leaders from the community

4:00pm Meet with the coordination and administrative Board on the communities needs

5:00pm travel back to hotel

Today is another beautiful day, with a lovely refreshing breeze blowing through. We started out on our journey to La Belle Mer, the youngest ADP in the Central Plateau. I had many expectations of a young ADP, mostly expecting to see less organization, less affluence, less sense of community. La Belle Mer is only 3 years in cooperation with WV.

If we thought that the road to COBOCOL was bad we were warned that further to La Belle Mer was much worse. Mike joked “How can it possibly be worse than this!” we would soon find out. It is really impossible to explain the road conditions and just how treacherous they are, but the route from COBOCOL to La Belle Mer was much much worse than the road to COBOCOL.

Having said that it is also very very beautiful and much more lush and green than what we’ve previously experienced in Haiti. Hedges of cactus line most properties, trees and some grass can be found too. There is still loads and loads of dust everywhere, and I wonder about respiratory issues here, but although the road is horrible, the view is quite nice. We stop for a stretch break on the way, so so needed. None of us were complaining, but we very much appreciated it. I’ve learned in this kind of travel it is better not to brace yourself, or hold on to anything for support if you can help yourself, the key is staying lose and going with it as much as possible but I can’t help but wonder if it is good for my brain to be shaken around in my head so much for such long periods of time!

When we drove into the old Missionary compound we were again surprised at our welcome. After yesterday’s we didn’t expect anything else, but easily 150+ children stood outside of the WV headquarters to welcome us. The gave us special seating and then sang songs and danced for us, recited monologues and gave us great honour and showed so much appreciation. The president of the ADP and all of the volunteer staff were there to welcome us. Everyone was so happy to see us, it was overwhelming, again. We struggle to understand the impact we are having, and the love that these people have for us because of our support. Seeing so many children, so many little people, not just faces, all so anxious to see us, treating us with such honour, brings it all home in such a new way. Our hearts are changed.

Morouse tells us that all the children wanted very much to dance for us, so he gets them to make one massive circle, all holding hands and dances them around the lawn. They are in hysterics with it all. I then haul out my camera and start asking them if they want their photo taken and showing them their picture afterwards. They love this and I’m immediately swarmed with kids, and loving every moment of it, of this connection with them. I could have stayed for hours, but the team takes us into their headquarters to show us where they work from, they are beaming with pride. The children are all peering in the windows, sneaking in the doors to be close to the “Blanc! Blanc!” people J as the staff takes us on a tour.

Following the tour the staff celebrates with us by serving us up monstrous Coke bottles (I’ve never drank so much pop in my life!) while the children, over 20 at least, have snuck into a corner of a room to stare at us. LOL. I start asking them questions with my limited French, I so desperately want to connect with them, want them to feel the connection. So Segnol decides a little Q&A time would be nice. So he encourages any of the children who would like to stand up and ask us a question. I get the first one, “how many children do you have?” Laura gets the next, “how many children do you have?” they are in awe that she not only has 4 children but 6 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Mike is then asked if he has any brothers and how many” the questions continue until one little girl gets up and walks over to Segnol to translate. She asks “why is it that you only sponsor the little ones? I want a sponsor parent. I want to write you a letter.”

This is a hard question, a good question, a question made by a courageous leader. It stops us all up short. The truth is that she benefits from the ADP sponsorship program, she goes to school, has clean drinking water and healthcare, she has many indirect benefits of sponsorship, but she does not have a sponsor parent and she longs desperately for one. She is 10, she is beautiful, courageous and smart. I wanted to tell her I would find her a sponsor parent. I wanted to tell her that we often don’t understand how important it is, that we write and the letter stays on our kitchen counters because we forget to mail it. I wanted to tell her that I’m sorry that people choose the babies first. I wanted to applaud her courage, her bravery, her articulation. I wanted to show her hope. So we did what we could at that moment and told her she had asked the question of a true leader and we got her information to find her a sponsor. We will find her a sponsor parent.

As we wrapped up our visit and walked over to the clinic I was brought to tears at her story. The importance of sponsorship, and the relationship was something I knew in my head, but had not experienced in this way before. This beautiful girl, full of hope and promise, and opened her heart to us and asked us a hard question, a question I couldn’t walk away from. I knew in an instant, with one phone call, I could likely have her a sponsor family and I wanted to promise it to her immediately. One girl recited a monologue during our welcome, one line stood out to me, “If you are my friend you will stand beside me and hold my hand.”

The clinic was an interesting experience. We had the opportunity to meet with a couple from Minnesota and a doctor couple running Haiti Mercy Mission. They have invested much time and money, the couple from Minnesota has spent the last 7 years in Haiti, into La Belle Mer and the community. Their scope of influence reaches far, but they too feel the strains and pressures of working in an impoverished area with little outside communication readily available and WV is sitting down with them to begin the process of partnership with them. It is an interesting an valuable meeting to be a part of. I am learning so many leadership skills in this trip. Moreouse, Senior ADP Coordinator is an amazingly talented, intelligent and gifted communicator. His skills in working respectfully in partnership with the people, the ADP’s and local government is outstanding.

We are gifted another buffet of lunch but I question the wisdom in eating so many carbohydrates and drinking so much pop before heading in the truck, back out onto the roads for a meeting with the parents and community leaders.

I am amazed at the many parents and community leaders at this meeting. We sit under the shade of a tree together in one big circle. These parents and leaders are passionate about the needs of their community and their desire to see change. One mother stands to share her experience with WV helping her child get the medical care he needed. A father stands to express his desire to create a play space in the community for his children to play with others. Another mother is thankful for the schooling her children are now getting, when just 3 short years ago they may or may not be attending school regularly. There is an intense sense of motivation and hope to continue with the project.

Segnol is translating, English, French and Creole today and the mental exhaustion catches up and he starts translating English with English and we all have a laugh together. I can’t help snickering as I remember him answering Laura’s question about what bird was crossing the road with the answer “donkey”. “Donkey?” I say. “In English, donkey is a kind of mule or horse…” we have had many fun times laughing together.

As the day comes to a close we return to La Belle Mer’s ADP headquarters for a meeting with the Coordination and Administrative Boards on the communities needs. One woman is close to tears as she shares her heart for better opportunities for the women in her community. She has gathered over 200 together and is longing for someone to show them further skills in food preparation and clothing. The hope and diligence, in this case amongst a group of volunteers who are all pushing with everything they have for a better tomorrow for the families in their communities, unites us together as we share. Sagnol shares with the team our story from the earthquake of Jan 12^th and we watch the immediate transformation in the room. Suddenly we are joined by common experience in a way that can not be explained in words. We watched it happen in Cobocol, there was an instant respect, a camaraderie birthed out of our shared experience, that could never have been created in any other way. I am brought to tears as I begin to see a small picture of God’s plan from Jan 12^th 2010. Over the last year there have been so many questions, so many unanswered why’s and how’s. I don’t claim to have them now either, but this glimpse of the bigger picture is a gift I am overwhelmed to be shown. There is a strong spiritual connection happening and we all walk away overwhelmed that God has put us together, that we are all one, we have differences, but we are brother and sister, hand in hand, arm in arm, following Christ together.

~H

Day 2 - Part 2

February 23, 2011 - Day 2 Part 2

11:30am check in and breakfast at l’hotel LErmitage de Pandiassou

12:00 travel to COBOCOL meet WV Headquarters staff and facilities

6:00pm COBOCOL to l’hotel l’Ermitage de Pandiassou

After giving the pilot a mini applause for his skill at landing the plane on the “landing strip”, we crawl out of the plane and are greeted by Sagnol and our two drivers. Sagnol comes from WV Headquarters in Hinche and he will be our travel guide and translator as we visit the ADP’s over the next few days. It seems everyone is quite interested in our arrival and a few children saunter over to watch us as well. We crawl into the trucks to take us to the hotel to drop off our “luggage” ;).

The streets are very busy and alive with activity. People, goats, cattle, dogs are everywhere, crates, dirt bikes, motorcycles crowd the streets. It is not a long drive to our hotel but it is apparent that Hinche is a growing village. We drive in to the gated area of the hotel and down a long “road” of rock, park in an area where building is going on and then walk down a stone walkway to the hotel. The lobby is nice with some beautiful woodworking in it. Unfortunately my room is not ready for me to drop off my “luggage” so I leave it in Laura’s room for now. It is weird being in a strange place for the first time, unsure what to make of it all and knowing you’ll need to make yourself comfortable enough to sleep there. The place seems ok, I know that WV puts us up in the best places possible, but I can’t help but wonder…

We have yet to eat breakfast because of our early start the staff of the hotel agree to give us a late breakfast snack to hold us over until lunch at the ADP. It is yummy, pastries of a sort and real lemonade! We are refreshed and ready to start out on the next leg of our journey. Little did we understand the words “rough roads”!

The road from Hinche to COBOCOL is a dirt, mud-caked, rutted cavernous strip of land. Never have I felt so at one with the settlers headed west to build America! Seriously I debated if travelling by wagon may have been easier! I know I’ve commented on it before but the driving is very aggressive in Haiti so consequently the driver guns it until he hits another pothole or cavern and then guns it again. Of course this sounds very fast, but is inactually very slow, hardly ever going faster than 30k/hr in between ruts, and the rock makes the road extremely rough. I am also sitting in the back of the truck, sideways, making the bumpy road even more interesting.

The poverty looks different here. The “shelters” are still not secure, most homes are pieced together, some plaster/cement, some wood, some material, but the space between them gives it a different feel, less destitute somehow. Goats, oxen, dogs, roosters, chickens are wandering along the road and land. A group of men are putting up cell towers in the most remote of places. I have never seen so much dirt and dust everywhere, covering everything. As we get closer to the COBOCOL ADP it becomes obvious that there is more of a sense of community here. Houses seem a little closer together, there are wells, and where there is a well there is a crowd of people gathered.

As we turn into the long drive into the COBOCOL ADP Headquarters I can’t help wondering what we will see there. We have waited a year and a half to finally get here and now we are arriving. I anticipate a staff member greeting us and taking us into the headquarters to show us around. As we pull up in front of the building, all of a sudden I get a glimpse of what is before us.

A long banner reads Welcome to COBOCOL ADP and there is an Haitian flag on one side of it and a Canadian flag on the other. Behind it stand a youth band, fully uniformed, waiting to welcome us with music. I can’t even explain the emotions I felt well up inside of me when I realized that they were waiting for us. We were warmly greeted by the ADP President and then the youth played for us a couple of songs, in the middle, the Canadian National Anthem. I can’t tell you what this did for me. It wouldn’t have occurred for me to do the same for them had they been visiting my country. This was an expression of what they valued, a gift of respect for our country. They had learned this piece especially to show us honour. There wasn’t a dry eye among us. This entire welcome was more than we could have anticipated, and honestly put us back a little that they would do so much to welcome us to their ADP.

After official greetings, including a piece presented by a student on the hope and appreciation they have because of our support, we are welcomed into the building for a tour. They are obviously very proud of their building and introduce us to many different department heads for Logistics, Heath Nurse, Education, Sponsorship, the secretary. The secretary just radiates joy, she is absolutely beautiful, her eyes dance, her face smiles, her countenance welcomes whole heartedly. As Bernie and I prepare to leave the sponsorship office I notice the picture of my sponsor child Micheala on the wall. My heart soars with the connection, there beside her is Bernie’s sponsor child, both with the supplies we brought with us last year. WE have an instant connection with the Director of the Sponsorship Program, as it is because of him that we have the connection we do have with our sponsor children.

From there we gather in the conference room and sit in a circle with 20 plus people, all united with one purpose, for the future and development of the people of COBOCOL. It is an amazing honour to sit with these people and listen to them and watch them as they proudly present their area of expertise, the developments and accomplishments they have made together, their biggest hurdles to overcome. I scratch wildly, pen to paper, trying to capture all that they have presented us, to take home to Frederictonians. I want to absorb and understand everything, so I can best represent these people.

At 2pm we break for lunch, a buffet of Haitian food. Rice with beans, fried banana, beet salad, lasagne, chicken legs and spice cake. We are waited on and treated like royalty. First they ensure all our needs are met and then quietly serve themselves as well.

From there we met with the 3 local government officials of the neighbouring community of Hinche. It was interesting to watch the 3 communicate with the World Vision staff. Each person bringing their expertise and concerns, values and objectives to the table and manuvering the dance of partnership together. From the passion of the ground workers to those in charge of processes. However, the lack of sleep coupled with the intense heat and high carb lunch made for sleepy Canadians, and our engagement began to dwindle toward the end of the meeting.

Thankfully from the meeting we went to further explore the facility. We were able to watch some students train in woodworking, sewing and making patterns. We watched grain be processed in their mill, visited the library and computer building and finally ont eh way home, the tree nursery. The nursery especially interested Bernie. I was travelling in the vehicle with the Director to the Mayor of Hinche, and as I was the only one who could speak French we were having a labored on my part, but very interesting discussion on a variety of topics. When he noticed Bernie’s particular interest in the soil I struggled to remember the name of soil in French. It was hilarious as I finally ended up referring to Bernie as a Dr. of dirt. I think I confused him more than anything. What is particularly awesome about this particular project is just how well done it is. Bernie was extremely impressed with how everything is run. Basically the staff grow healthy fruit trees to distribute freely to the ADP participants to combat deforestation, and in turn add the benefit of fruit like oranges, lemons, banana’s their diet at home.

It was a wonderful day. After little sleep, loosing or, at least, giving up our luggage, traveling by plane and truck the drive home on that horrible road in the dark was absolutely exhausting. All of us were extremely tired and longed for bed and sleep. Ready for whatever tomorrow brings!

~H