today is world humanitarian day :)
My best friend, lovespring, took it upon her blessed heart to go to Haiti for the month of August to lend a hand. She did not go with an aid organization, but rather used her own funds and resources to arrange her trip. She singlehandedly organized a fundraiser from which in excess of $2000 CAD was raised, all of which is going to go to the Haitian people (my understanding is that the money can pay for a teacher for a few months at one of the local schools).
She's been there now for just over two weeks, and has been updating a blog daily: amou. "Amou" means "love" in Creole.
For anyone with any sort of interest in Haiti, I encourage you to take a look at her updates. Much of what she writes about is heartbreaking, there are some tough topics, but there is always hope and joy interlaced throughout. Her accounts are human to the utmost: honest, on the ground, witnessing that which is only hinted at or brushed over in the press. And most importantly, she is with the people, and hears their experiences, passes on their stories as well as her own.
Excerpts:
August 9: Yesterday Natalie, Julie, and I all planned to bring Guy and Veniel’s families out to the beach. We went to Kaliko, which is very close to Carries. ... Those kids live in tents, and are such open and wonderful people. It was so nice to see them get a chance to swim, and eat, and have fun - away from the pain and busyness back home. They had never swam before, so when they found out i spoke french they all asked me for lessons. They had water going up their nose and in their eyes and it stung but they just laughed and smiled and kept trying. Their smiles. They would come and jump on my back and ask me to tow them, or hug me, and give me a kiss on the cheek. AHH it was amazing to see that. Those kids look rough, but they each have a heart of gold. It was a blessing and priviledge to see those smiles. That’s what kids should be doing
August 12: Afterwards we went to a clinic in Cite Soleil, and talked to the people there. 12,000 patients since January 12th, and no doctor. Only volunteer nurses. They were running low on supplies, so we delivered somemore. Everywhere you go, there is incredible need. When you’re not face-to-face with it, you see these collapsed buildings everywhere. When you go downtown, and you see those massive buildings just pancaked to the ground, or floors slanting down, and to KNOW that you are driving or walking past hundreds of people still buried underneath - it gives you chills. I was pretty speechless all day. But Guy, Natalie and i try to keep each other strong. Guy would turn around and say “everything okay?” and give me his hand to hold. We joke around, and smile for goofy photos. If we don’t do this, we’d all either just fall into our exhaustion, or burst into tears. And also, if one or all of us want to cry, have space, or sleep - we’ll let them. It’s important to just be human, and to be as you are.
August 17: when Guy was talking about the elections, his voice starting cracking because he was so upset at what’s happening. He said he doesn’t feel good as a Haitian. Everybody who knows Guy has been pushing him to run for office, but he wants to work on developing his philosophy and his vision first. He has such a great heart, and is such a hardworker. Sometimes, when we’re leaving school some people are like “Mister Guy, i don’t have any money in my pocket”, and Guy will give him some money for the night. He’s just that kind of guy.
I don't have the heart for humanitarianism, it's not what I'm called to do, and that's fine. I support certain causes which are close to me and I do my best to support Sara whenever and however I can. I can't honestly speak highly enough of her; not a day passes that I'm not proud of her, for who she is and for what she means to do with her life and while in Haiti. She grounds and humbles me constantly and is a fierce force to be reckoned with.
So, happy humanitarian day :) Today, please spare a moment to think of those who choose to dedicate their lives to fighting for, looking after or working with those in need. They're the salt of the earth. ♥
She's been there now for just over two weeks, and has been updating a blog daily: amou. "Amou" means "love" in Creole.
For anyone with any sort of interest in Haiti, I encourage you to take a look at her updates. Much of what she writes about is heartbreaking, there are some tough topics, but there is always hope and joy interlaced throughout. Her accounts are human to the utmost: honest, on the ground, witnessing that which is only hinted at or brushed over in the press. And most importantly, she is with the people, and hears their experiences, passes on their stories as well as her own.
Excerpts:
August 9: Yesterday Natalie, Julie, and I all planned to bring Guy and Veniel’s families out to the beach. We went to Kaliko, which is very close to Carries. ... Those kids live in tents, and are such open and wonderful people. It was so nice to see them get a chance to swim, and eat, and have fun - away from the pain and busyness back home. They had never swam before, so when they found out i spoke french they all asked me for lessons. They had water going up their nose and in their eyes and it stung but they just laughed and smiled and kept trying. Their smiles. They would come and jump on my back and ask me to tow them, or hug me, and give me a kiss on the cheek. AHH it was amazing to see that. Those kids look rough, but they each have a heart of gold. It was a blessing and priviledge to see those smiles. That’s what kids should be doing
August 12: Afterwards we went to a clinic in Cite Soleil, and talked to the people there. 12,000 patients since January 12th, and no doctor. Only volunteer nurses. They were running low on supplies, so we delivered somemore. Everywhere you go, there is incredible need. When you’re not face-to-face with it, you see these collapsed buildings everywhere. When you go downtown, and you see those massive buildings just pancaked to the ground, or floors slanting down, and to KNOW that you are driving or walking past hundreds of people still buried underneath - it gives you chills. I was pretty speechless all day. But Guy, Natalie and i try to keep each other strong. Guy would turn around and say “everything okay?” and give me his hand to hold. We joke around, and smile for goofy photos. If we don’t do this, we’d all either just fall into our exhaustion, or burst into tears. And also, if one or all of us want to cry, have space, or sleep - we’ll let them. It’s important to just be human, and to be as you are.
August 17: when Guy was talking about the elections, his voice starting cracking because he was so upset at what’s happening. He said he doesn’t feel good as a Haitian. Everybody who knows Guy has been pushing him to run for office, but he wants to work on developing his philosophy and his vision first. He has such a great heart, and is such a hardworker. Sometimes, when we’re leaving school some people are like “Mister Guy, i don’t have any money in my pocket”, and Guy will give him some money for the night. He’s just that kind of guy.
I don't have the heart for humanitarianism, it's not what I'm called to do, and that's fine. I support certain causes which are close to me and I do my best to support Sara whenever and however I can. I can't honestly speak highly enough of her; not a day passes that I'm not proud of her, for who she is and for what she means to do with her life and while in Haiti. She grounds and humbles me constantly and is a fierce force to be reckoned with.
So, happy humanitarian day :) Today, please spare a moment to think of those who choose to dedicate their lives to fighting for, looking after or working with those in need. They're the salt of the earth. ♥